I'll preface this review with a "confession" of my own: I'm not a regular consumer of thrillers. My idea of a great book is one which leaves me with a lasting impression about the human condition. Of course, loads of suspense and lots of unexpected plot twists are an added bonus.
That being said, this thriller hit the nail on the head for me.
A kleptomaniac priest and a troubled journalist seeking the next story for his hometown newspaper converge on the scene of a bizarre murder. The victim is found with a loaf of bread soaking up the blood on his chest, and the name of his besetting sin scrawled on his arm.
What kept me turning the pages of this story, besides the masterful plot, was the depth of Bradley's characters. He manages at least a dozen or so main players in addition to some highly entertaining side characters like Mildred, the gossipy, knit-tastic senior staff member with a wild side. Or Phillip, religion professor Alex Brennan's unwelcome fanboy.
I found myself relating heavily to Candice, the priest, whose journey causes her to question her own beliefs and the passion that led her into the field of ministry. Compassion fatigue is a real phenomenon for people in ministry or "helping" professions. As a substance abuse counselor, not only clients but also friends and family project their insecurities onto you. The pressure to have your own life together--to never screw up and always know the answer to everyone else's situation--can be isolating at best.
Added to that is the vicarious trauma that one experiences when someone within their scope of care shares the devastating, sometimes horrific experiences for which they approach the minister for support. In Bradley's book, the character of Candice is both compelled and damaged by the trauma that happens to one of her parishioners.
I think the religious material in this book was exceptionally well handled. Despite the killer using an antiquated religious tradition as a calling card, it's clear that Bradley has no axe to grind. The various religious traditions held by the characters simply exist as part of their characters and stories. As the reader, I felt mercifully free from either an authorial critique of religion itself or an attempted sermon. As the story crosses paths with various denominations and religious symbols, I felt, with Bradley's characters, the simple curiosity of needing only to understand the different characters' faith traditions in order to better grasp their motivation, and ultimately the key to understanding how to stop the spree of killings that jarred this peaceful town.
In Bradley's book, there is truly "none without sin." No page is wasted on a Mary-Sue (or Gary-Stu) character. Everyone has their besetting situation that leaves them wondering if the serial killer who uses the Victorian "sin-eater" imagery as his calling card may target them next.
Michael Bradley's works are available on Amazon, or at his author page, Michael Bradley | Author (mbradleyonline.com).
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