This
first novel in a new series by Mapes is a character study of three
men, interwoven with action and suspense. Jack is an investigative
reporter for a newspaper in a relatively small town in Ohio. He is
assigned the story of Evan, a pastor who has disappeared, having left
what appears to be a suicide note. But Jack's life is interrupted by
a break-in at his home. His wife, Pam, and two young daughters manage
to escape to neighbors. But the break-in is not a one time event. The
man stalks Pam and the suspense heightens. It comes to light that the
stalker is someone Pam knew in high school, a maladjusted student
named Granger.
As
the novel progresses, we follow the lives of Jack, Evan, and Granger.
Of particular importance is the spiritual lives of these men. Jack is
a good Christian but struggles with his belief in God when Pam is
kidnapped. Evan is a pastor who struggles with depression. He is
overwhelmed with the problems at his church and is devastated that he
has experienced romantic feelings for a widow he was counseling.
Granger had a horrible childhood, being mistreated by his overly
strict and narrow minded Christian parents. He remembers Pam as the
only person who was nice to him so now, years later, he seeks her
out. The lives of these three men and their actions intersect several
times as the novel nears its end.
Mapes
has created realistic and seriously flawed characters. Jack
practically goes crazy when Pam is kidnapped. His faith in God is
severely tested and he finds no comfort or peace from that faith.
Evan has recently taken himself off his depression medication and is
making irrational decisions.
Granger
is probably the most troubling character to me. He was raised in a
Christian home but by parents who must have hated him. His father was
a deacon in the church but a mean man. Granger was terribly scarred
by his “Christian” parents. I was troubled that church going,
Bible believing Christians would be portrayed as so mean and
horrible.
The
character that I liked the least was Pam, Jack's wife. I find that an
author writing a character of the opposite sex sometimes gets it
wrong and I think Mapes did that with Pam. She is generally a smart
and competent woman but there were times when she made the most
stupid decisions. As a woman myself, I would never drive by
the childhood home of the person stalking me, especially knowing that
he was on the run and might, in fact, go back to that home.
And
that brings up another issue that bothered me. There is a great deal
of suspense in this novel. The suspense at the end was great.
However, much of that suspense, especially with Pam, was because of
stupid choices. I love it when the “innocent” character is in
dire straits through no fault of her own and the suspense builds as
rescue seems impossible. But when the person has made a stupid
decision, putting herself into the dire straits, well, somehow the
suspense looses its impact.
While
the ending seemed contrived, there was the undercurrent of God
orchestrating the whole thing so it was acceptable.
People
who like suspense will like this novel. Be prepared, however, for
pages of the characters thinking at length about their situation.
Also, be prepared to see many Christians not at their best.
Creston
Mapes is a best-selling author of three previous novels. He works
from home as copywriter and editor for some of the nation's top media
companies, Christian ministries, and large corporations. He has also
ghostwritten and edited seven non-fiction titles. See more at
www.CrestonMapes.com.
David
C. Cook, 448 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of this review.
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