The Broken Man by Josephine Cox

Sometimes a damaged child becomes a broken man...

It's 1954 and Adam Carter is twelve years old, an only child with no friends nor any self confidence. His father Edward is a bully of a man. A successful and ruthless businessman, he breeds fear into the heart of his family. Adam's mother Peggy is too cowed to protect her son, so Adam's only support comes in the shape of Phil Wallis, the school bus driver.

One particular afternoon, when Adam is his last drop of the day, Phil decides to accompany him along the darkening wood land to his house, never suspecting that as they chat innocently, in the house at the end of the track a terrible tragedy is unfolding which will change Adam's life forever.