Death in the Choir by Lorraine V. Murray181 pages
Review of Death in the Choir:
Short and sweet (but not too sweet!) and seasoned with suspense—this is how I sum up Death in the Choir, a cozy mystery by Lorraine V. Murray.
Francesca, a lonely thirty-eight-year-old widow with no children, lives with a cat and a dreams of meeting someone special. For this purpose, she joins the choir at St. Rita’s Catholic Church. She encounters a few romantic possibilities, but when death strikes, her focus shifts to uncovering the truth. Was it suicide—or murder? Everyone seems to have a motive. Suspects include choir members, relations of the deceased, even Father John and a handsome police detective.
Featuring a tight plot sprinkled with clues and humor, Death in the Choir reads smoothly and enticingly. The characters are convincing and well-rounded. From Francesca lying on the floor doing stomach-flattening exercises (and being interrupted by the doorbell and frantically preparing to answer it), to her mentally justifying taking “just one more” donut or muffin, she is real, she is flawed, and she is lovable. She is someone you could imagine being friends with.
At 181 pages, Death in the Choir is just the right length for a rainy-day read; it has the perfect amount of everything (plot, description, characters, dialogue), without a clutter of excess.
I thought I’d figured out the mystery, but I was wrong. The story keeps you thinking and guessing—and that’s what you want in a mystery.
Death in the Choir is a satisfying and recommended read. And it is certainly refreshing to find a Catholic mystery geared for women readers! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Death of a Liturgist.
Poor Banished Children by Fiorella De Maria
Published in 2011 by Ignatius Press
299 pages
Review of Poor Banished Children:
Poor Banished Children by Fiorella De Baria is a truly unforgettable historical novel about rejection, survival, despair, and redemption. I feared it might be a ponderous read, but in contrast it was swift-paced and completely compelling. Scenes will be seared in your mind long after you close the book.
Set in the 1600s, this tale (completely untainted by modernism) is about a young Maltese girl who is spurned by her family, taken in and nourished in both body and soul by a physician priest, before being torn from her religious life by Barbary pirates and sold into a savage world of slavery in Muslim North Africa.
Be warned that this is no story for light entertainment. Exciting as it is, and as hard to put down as it is, it is also hard to read because it is fraught with the most wretched of abuses and suffering, unspeakable atrocities made painfully vivid by such expert writing. Not for weak stomachs or the faint of heart! Make sure that you can handle the strong depictions of degrading, inhuman treatment of slaves, the merciless torments, misery and horrors. In many ways, Poor Banished Children is more frightening than inspiring.
And yet . . . I couldn’t put it down (even when I should have been sleeping). I had to read on, hoping for mercy and redemption. The main character struggles and fights and prays and despairs as she relives her tale during what she feels must be her death-bed confession. She clings and falls from her Catholic faith, convinced that she is unworthy of love, unable to be saved, and yet she yearns for absolution.
Poor Banished Children is a powerful Catholic historical adventure story in which the main character fights for survival of both her body and soul. It is gripping and haunting, filled with many religious elements that enrich the story and are never superfluous. Poor Banished Children is highly recommended for adult readers, Catholic or not—just make sure you are up to the challenge of a truly soul-shaking journey!
The Soul Reader by Gerard D. Webster
Published in 2011 by WestBow Press A Divison Of Thomas Nelson
260 pages
Review of The Soul Reader:
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a common saying, but in the case of The Soul Reader by Gerard D. Webster, the book’s captivating cover caught my attention immediately, and the image of a man hooded in shadows does a great job of conveying the dark suspense lurking within this book’s pages.
The Soul Reader, Webster’s second novel, is the sequel to In-Sight, and while I highly recommend reading In-Sight first, it isn’t necessary. The Soul Reader stands strong on its own merit, complete with living and breathing characters, a well-layered plot, colorful images, interesting settings, and a dynamic story.
Ward McNulty’s life is fast flowing downhill after a tragic accident, a painful breakup, and the murder of his father. Ward lost his job, and now he’s losing his home. Just as he is preparing to move back in with his mother, ex-girlfriend Carrie Hope re-enters his life, trying to convince him to collaborate on a high-profile book dealing with the disastrous North Beach Project.
Refusing at first, Ward is ultimately roped in by his need to protect Carrie. He has a special “gift” that is also a curse: to see into the very soul of others, to see if they are spiritually dark and dead, or full of the divine life of grace. But even seeing where evil lurks may not be enough to save Ward and Carrie from those who don’t want the corrupt details of the North Beach Project revealed; these people are willing to stop the investigation at any price—and the price may just be Ward’s and Carrie’s lives.
With the help of a private investigator, Ward and Carrie begin to probe into the truth behind the mysterious deaths of three powerful people who were linked only by their connection with the North Beach Project. Ward visits his father’s murderer in prison and, following a lead, slips away to Columbia, where grave danger confronts him as he tries to escape the grasp of Culebra. Spanish for “snake,” Culebra is the nickname of a dangerous assassin who strikes quickly and leaves his signature in the form of a piece of snake skin laid over his dead victims’ eyes.
The Soul Reader may appear to be more of a guy’s novel, but I can attest to that fact that it can definitely be enjoyed by women as well. Webster’s writing is vivid, lively, and entertaining. Images are original and the story intriguing. This novel goes deeper than just a suspenseful adventure, addressing matters of the heart and soul, as well as forgiveness and redemption. The ending literally sent a shiver through me, and I can’t offer a better testimonial than that!
Published in 2011 by Full Quiver Publishing
201 pages
Review of Stealing Jenny:
When I first read the back cover of Stealing Jenny, Ellen Gable’s latest novel, I was intrigued by the promise of a suspense-filled contemporary story involving the kidnapping of a young pregnant mother. I was not disappointed. Stealing Jenny was everything I’d hoped, and more!
From page one, I was pulled into the story. Jenny Callahan, a young Catholic mother of five, is nearing the end of a precarious pregnancy and longing to cradle her new baby safely in her arms. With only days to go until the necessary scheduled C-section, Jenny is unaware of the unbalanced woman who is stalking her and plotting to tear this baby away from her at any cost.
When Jenny is kidnapped from a rural bus stop, her three-year-old son is the only witness. Jenny’s stunned family is desperate to find her. The abduction quickly becomes a high-profile case, with news media hounding the Callahans. Father Paul, the parish priest, offers comfort and assistance to the Callahans, and he leads a public rosary for the intention of Jenny’s safe return.
Meanwhile, Jenny awakens to find herself in a living nightmare: chained to a cot in a remote cabin, at the mercy of a sad, sick, and desperate woman. If Jenny can’t escape before her labor begins, she and her baby are both in extreme danger of death.
When I had to put this book down, I literally could not wait to pick it up again. The perfectly-paced story features a stellar cast of believable characters. Jenny is the main character point of view, but the author skillfully shifts to other character viewpoints including those of Tom (Jenny’s husband), Chris (the Callahan’s oldest daughter), Denise (the villain), and Sergeant Kathy Romano (in charge of the investigation). Also, the story is interspersed with well-timed, poignant flashbacks of Jenny and her husband before they were married, which add to the richness of the story.
Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident.
Ellen Gable is a masterful storyteller. At 201 pages, Stealing Jenny is the perfect length for an intense day of uninterrupted reading. I wished the novel was longer, not because it wasn’t complete in itself, but because it was such an enjoyable read, I never wanted it to end. I’m rooting for a sequel!
Viper by John Desjarlais
Published by Sophia Press 2011
Viper is an intriguing mystery novel starring Selena De La Cruz, a Latina insurance agent who used to work as a Special Agent with the DEA. At the beginning of the novel, Selena agrees to meet her old supervisor, Del Bragg, soon after All Souls Day (and the subsequent El Dia de Los Muertos, on November 2, a Mexican national holiday) at her home church where she learns that her name is recorded in the parish’s Book of the Dead, preceded by several other names of men who are being murdered one by one in the order they are listed.
Selena finds out that a young girl has been seeing “visions” of a “Blue Lady,” who announces the next killing. Selena is asked to return to her old job in order to assist law enforcement in solving the mystery before the killer reaches her name on the list.
Selena is unsure who the culprit could be, whether it’s her nemesis, “The Snake,” a notorious drug dealer Selena helped to put in prison, or perhaps someone more insidious.
I loved everything about Selena (from her ‘69 Dodge Charger to her zapatos) and found her to be believable and well-rounded. In the midst of this mystery, Selena finds herself returning to the Catholic faith of her childhood. I liked the fact that her boyfriend is Reed Stubblefield (protagonist from Desjarlais’s previous novel, Bleeder) and I thought this was a nice touch. I especially appreciated the relationship that Selena develops with the little girl who is seeing visions of a “Blue Lady.”
Good novelists make us believe that the characters are actual living, breathing persons. The author (a non-Hispanic male) handles the ethnic Hispanic part of the novel so expertly that I truly felt I knew Selena. Desjarlais is a top notch writer and he has created well-developed, believable cast of characters and dialogue. I especially loved the rich and well-researched history of the Aztecs and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Not only did I enjoy this story immensely, I also learned a lot about Aztec history.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an intriguing mystery with great characters!
Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach
The above book review of “Viper” by John Desjarlais was contributed by Catholic writer and editor
Ellen Gable Hrkach
Read about her exciting new book:
“Stealing Jenny”
coming…September 15
Ellen Gable Hrkach’s other credits:
Editor, “Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship”
Author, “Emily’s Hope” (Honorable Mention 2006 IPPY Awards)
Author, “In Name Only” (Gold Medal winner 2010 IPPY Awards)
www.fullquiverpublishing.com
www.twitter.com/EllenGable
BOOK SIGNING of Gerard D. Webster’s new Catholic suspense novel The Soul Reader
(sequel to In-Sight)
ONE DAY ONLY, Saturday, July 30th, at Queen of Angels Catholic Store, 11018 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, FL. A limited # of “pre-release” copies are available at Queen of Angels bookstore now. For directions, call 288-0062.
Product Description:
“The Soul Reader is the exciting sequel to Gerard Webster’s award-winning debut novel, In-Sight.
The two people Ward McNulty most wished he could forget were the woman he once loved and the man he still hated.
He succeeded sometimes by smothering their memory under mounds of activity-his physical rehabilitation, looking for a job, and staving off foreclosure. But try as he might, it was always there-just under the surface, like smoldering embers embedded in layers of ash, needing only a breath of oxygen to burst into flame. And that’s exactly what happens one sunny Saturday afternoon, when Carrie Hope unexpectedly breezes back into his life.
It is a year after his father’s murder when Carrie asks Ward to assist her in writing a book about the North Beach Project, the money-laundering scheme that led to his father’s death. Ward initially turns her down. He knows that reopening the investigation would be dangerous for three reasons. First, it could cost them their lives-the identity of the man behind the scheme remains a mystery, and he would do almost anything to keep it that way. Secondly, it may cost Ward his very soul if he gets sucked back into the vortex of hatred and revenge that he has just escaped. And finally, Ward does not know if he or Carrie could survive falling in love and hurting each other yet again.
But when Carrie decides to pursue the investigation without him, Ward is faced with a difficult choice: he can allow her to go it alone and possibly get killed … or he can join her in hopes of being able to protect her. Ward’s uncanny insight might give him an edge-and allow him to see the evil coiled in the jumbled foliage of the North Beach Project before it has a chance to strike. He decides to collaborate with her on the book, but on his terms, and thereby launches a series of events that span the globe-from Colombia to Rome-and make Ward and Carrie the target of the most dangerous assassin in the western hemisphere, a man known only as ‘Culebra.’
It is in seeking justice that Ward discovers mercy-and love-once again.”
260 pages
Publisher: WestBow Press A Division of Thomas Nelson (June 30, 2011)
The Perpetual Mystery by Charles Gill
Published in 2009 by Catholic Adventure Books
322 pages
Review of The Perpetual Mystery:
The Perpetual Mystery is the story of a family man, Scott Summit, who meets a mysterious woman named Karla in Europe. The discovery of a thousand year old manuscript describing a perpetual motion machine and the revelation of Karla’s secret leads them on a mysterious journey of adventure and discovery. Strange clues lead them to Rome where danger awaits them. The twists and turns of this book end with Scott and Karla running for their lives with only the knowledge of the clues and their faith to save them from the violence of their adversary. This is a solidly Catholic adventure that is good for adults as well as teenagers (age 14 and up).
Alex O’Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves by Regina Doman
Published in 2010 by Chesterton Press
218 pages
Review of Alex O’Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves:
In the mood for a thought-provoking adventure with Catholic morals? Grab this book and “Open Sesame!”
Since this is Regina Doman’s fifth fairy tale novel, I knew when I opened Alex O’Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves, that I was in for quite an adventure. I was in no way disappointed. From start to finish, Alex O’Donnell was an exciting read filled with vivid descriptions, quirky characters, and a fully-loaded plot.
Fans of Regina’s previous novels will already be familiar with the two main characters, Kateri and Alex, and will enjoy how this book gives them front and center stage, plenty of room for character development, and adventures all their own. The story picks up momentum as you read and climaxes with a breathtaking, action-packed showdown.
Kateri, a level-headed hard-worker, wants an orderly life perfectly on track and true to her ideals, so she finds it perturbing that she is so attracted to Alex. He cannot possibly be the right guy for her, can he? In her mind, Alex is too carefree, irresponsible, and unrealistic. After all, his life is devoted to video-game playing, martial arts, and sword-fighting!
Nonetheless, uptight Kateri agrees to come for a visit to Alex’s home in northern Virginia. Meanwhile, a mysterious check arrives for the O’Donnell family, seemingly out of the blue, for over one million dollars—some kind of “winnings” from a sweepstakes the family never knew they entered. (But Alex’s computer-hacker dad knows more than he’s telling.) Kateri meets the O’Donnells and finds an endearing family including two amusing younger brothers and a mom who doesn’t let her multiple sclerosis get the best of her. Kateri does, however, have misgivings about Alex’s dad.
When the O’Donnell family uses the mystery money to open a family business, Kateri ends up moving away with them to work as their assistant manager for the ominous Twilight Hills Hotel. Before long, she is bound up in an intricate cyber-plot against the O’Donnells that will have very real life—and death—consequences.
Incidentally, Regina took her inspiration for this novel from the Arabian Nights Tale of “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” but reworked it so that the resulting story is unique and refreshingly modern—yet the story still pays homage to the old tale in the most clever ways!
Readers are sure to enjoy unique touches of humor, and Regina skillfully brought the complicated computer tech information down to an understandable level. At the same time, this novel addresses the question of technology—its use and overuse—in our modern world and whether it is possible to achieve a healthy balance.
Besides being a fun read, this book has a moral core. The characters do more than simply believe in God, they turn to Him; they care about God and their eternal souls. Yet they don’t expect to sit back and do nothing while God solves their problems for them. These character take action. This novel proves that Catholic characters don’t have to be boring, overly pious, or stodgy—they can be off-beat, exciting, and just as flawed and confused as real people.
I promise this book will be very different from any other novel you’ve read. Alex O’Donnell is an exciting and worthy addition—or start—to any fiction collection, Catholic or not. Highly recommended for readers 13 and up!
Published in 2009 by Full Quiver Publishing
406 pages
Review of In Name Only:
In Name Only by Ellen Gable, is a powerful Catholic historical romance novel layered with rich story lines, vibrant characters, and authentic atmosphere. I read this 406 page novel over the course of one week, and when I wasn’t able to indulge in reading, I found myself pondering the story—it was that absorbing!
In Name Only is Ellen Gable’s second novel, and she has once again written a finely crafted Catholic romance. This time, she demonstrates her diverse writing abilities by transporting readers back to 1876 Philadelphia. Amidst a convincing historical setting, readers follow Caroline Martin through the course of several years during which she faces challenges and heartaches which cause her to grow and mature. At the start, nineteen-year old Caroline journeys by train after her father’s death to live with her wealthy (and practically unknown) uncle and cousin in an impressive mansion. Caroline also meets her new neighbors, two brothers—Liam and David O’Donovan—who apparently couldn’t be any more different. While Caroline admires gentle Liam and even grows to love him, she despises David, who lives a callous, crude lifestyle and seems to have no sense of shame or remorse.
When tragedy strikes, Caroline’s life shatters. David’s presence only increases her torment, yet she cannot escape him. But God works in mysterious ways, and Caroline discovers first-hand how He can bring good out of evil, and that God’s plan really is more amazing than anything she could imagine. Ellen Gable manages the Catholic elements deftly, without preaching and slowing the story’s pace. The religious aspects are not forced, but interwoven naturally and believably. (Incidentally, I enjoyed the inclusion of the Latin Mass and Douay Rheims Bible.)
In Name Only reads true to life, with crosses, temptations, blessings, redemptions, and happiness. Despite how it sweeps you in, this is not a light and airy romance novel; it has substance and does not skirt serious issues, nor rely on graphic “love” scenes to hold your attention. Indeed, it depicts true love. The preciousness of life—particularly of the unborn—is emphasized. In addition, In Name Only illustrates the weakness of human nature, the far-reaching consequences of giving into temptation, and the power of forgiveness. Serious issues involving abortion, chastity, conversion, and marriage are dealt with skillfully. Due to such mature themes and subjects, please note that this is not a novel for young teens. One other warning: You may need a box of tissues. But your heart will glow at the story’s end.
In conclusion, this is the the best book I’ve read in a long time. It has all the qualities that make for an outstanding, memorable novel—and it’s Catholic as well! I highly recommend it!
