Photo courtesy of imagerymajestic/freedigitalphotos.net

I learnt independence at an early age. I got myself around by walking and catching public transport (as early as 10 years old), and entertained myself in my own worlds of sports and stories.

My two brothers and sister similarly were very independent growing up. Even though we’d come together regularly, we all cherished our alone time.

I’ve found it interesting my two boys are very dependent on others for entertainment and activity. Now that isn’t a bad thing at all. However, I’ve often struggled with their dependence and prided myself on my ability to get things done by myself.

“Many people view dependence as a despicable condition, so they strive to be as self-sufficient as possible.”¹

BAM!

Yep, that’s me. I’ve prided myself on my self-sufficiency.

It reminded me of some other words Sarah Young wrote in “Jesus Calling” :

“In the world, dependence is seen as immaturity. But in My kingdom, dependence on Me is a prime measure of maturity”²

As is so common with matters of God, He turns what the world accepts as reasonable, upside down.

Self-sufficiency has become habitual for me. And that’s a problem. I’ve been grappling writing the follow-up to Angelguard. I’ve got the story, the characters and the general outline. But the words just won’t come out the way I want them to.

So what do I do? I seek to find answers, to solve the problem myself. Do more research, study new writing methods, you name it.

But none of that works.

Like Children

In Matthew 18:1-4 as Jesus is talking to the disciples He makes this statement:

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Hmmm, become like children? What attribute of childhood could Jesus be referring to?

Dependence?

Children (especially when very little) need their mums and dads for everything. All the time, everyday. In addition, children:

-      are eager to believe (I still remember how distraught I was when I was told Santa Claus wasn’t real),

-      possess a readiness to receive, and

-      have a willingness to love and be loved.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Jesus didn’t just come to save us but also to be the example by which we should live. He demonstrated how to live like a child:

“The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”(John 14:10)

A lifestyle based on being dependent on the Father.

“This is not My way for you! I designed you to need Me continually – and to delight in that neediness.”³

A few years ago, a pastor prophesied over me one of many very well know verses from the Psalms:

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps 27:4)

Initially I focused on the second half of that verse. Fabulous, I’m going to receive the desires of my heart. Yippee!

Now I’m realizing to step into the prophecy (and write a half-decent manuscript) I need to let go of the desires and start delighting.

In Him.

No delighting, no receiving desires.

Oh, and about my writing. I’ve recently started meeting with a couple of guys from church who are passionate writers. This opportunity came out of the blue (God does that!) and it’s filled me with such positive refreshment.

What do you do to delight in the Lord? How do you keep yourself in a dependent state? I’d love you to share.

Notes: 1. “Jesus Today” Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson 2012, p 212. 2. “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson 2004, p183. 3. “Jesus Today” p212

I love a novel that stays in my mind long after finishing it. This is one of those novels.

Healy powerfully blends natural disaster, murder and the supernatural to compose a fascinating multi-layered story. Her mastery of the writing craft and ability to create intriguing multi-dimensional characters make Afloat a compelling read.

Even though the action commenced immediately, it took me a while to absorb the complexity surrounding the disaster and the introduction of many characters. I enjoyed this detail even though there were times when I found it challenging to visualize the full extent of the scene unfolding.

But once the survivors are thrown together the novel really takes off. Vance Nolan is a marvelous hero. He’s flawed with a troubled past, but selflessly courageous. Zeke, the blind man of faith, and a father figure, has invested years of love and wisdom in Vance and their relationship is a beautiful illustration of the power of committed friendship.

Most of the characters are complex. We see their foibles, inhibitions, hopes and fears. Developer Tony Dean is an excellent antagonist. Greed, power, lust, we see it everyday, but perhaps not so well portrayed in a fictional character like Tony Dean.

The reason this novel still lingers in my mind and why it is so special is there is so much to take away from it. Every reader will be grabbed by something different to ponder. And that is its’ magic. Whether it’s redemption, bad things do happen to good people, or sometimes faith involves staying put and waiting it out, there is so much in this novel. And I haven’t even mentioned the angelic intruders.

Highly recommended: 4.5 out of 5.

If you missed my Q&A with Erin Healy from a  few weeks ago, you can read it here.

I grew up fearful of dogs. It wasn’t that I didn’t like them, it appeared to me they didn’t like me much. Dogs, at school and in the neighbourhood, often attacked me. Yes, they smelled my fear.

The worst situation involved a big sheepdog charging out from behind a brush fence, tore off the rope leash restraining it to maul little ole me. A tetanus shot, blood-drawn bite marks on my chest and a ruined tee shirt summed up that particular episode.

Brandy

I met Brandy as a pup. It took me a while to feel comfortable with her, in fact probably a year or so. Even though a pup, she was a jumpy one, as I learnt was common with many dogs.

As I gradually took on more responsibility for caring for her, plus the daily walks/runs, I began to understand why people could be effusive about dogs. My wife and I have this joke that she will gush over every dog that passes and I’ll fuss over every baby. Seriously, it’s like Fi has a special dog-tracking sensor. She’ll notice them from miles away. Pity I didn’t possess that talent in my youth as it may have prevented some of my scars.

But it was when I took a sabbatical to write Angelguard that my bond with Brandy began to increase. She would lie by my side as I wrote each day. When it was time for lunch or for a walk she’d nuzzle up to my lap to remind me. She got used to those moments of exhilaration when I cracked what I thought was a good scene or the yells of frustration when the words were just not coming out.

Over the course of the next nine years that bond tightened and my love for her, well you know, gushed as a parent does for a child.

Sixth Sense

What amazes me about dogs is their willingness to serve and love selflessly. I still find it fascinating that “dog’” is an anagram of “god”. Did God give Adam a particular nudge when it was this animal’s turn to be named? Dogs possess a natural selflessness and empathy that we humans struggle to express.

Whether it’s comforting you when you’re not well, or being able to size up other dogs and humans on approach, I’m in awe of God’s creation. Many a day has passed when I wish I possessed their perceptiveness about others, human or dog.

Moments

Brandy was 15 and increasingly struggling with arthritis. Having consulted the vet who knew her well, we agreed it was time to let her go. Fiona and I were fortunate to have been able to determine the time and so our grieving commenced ahead of her passing.

On the day she passed I was struck how quickly it was all over. One minute, she was alive and happy. Sixty seconds later, she was gone. Life is simply a series of moments.

Community

This is Beanie-boo, our now six-month old x-kelpie something. She’s an absolute bundle of joy. As I write this post she is doing what Brandy did for all that time: lying peacefully by my side.

We’ve discovered the wonders of the dog park. Brandy wasn’t dog-friendly so this time around we wanted to ensure Beanie would be. Five minutes from home is a football oval converted into a fenced in dog park. Every afternoon before nightfall it is overtaken by large numbers of dogs of all shapes and sizes who meet up for their daily fun. Some owners take the time to do their own exercise, conduct business over the mobile, or simply catch up with fellow neighbours to talk everything canine.

This is community: people with a common interest mingling to share and care. We swap each other’s dogs name before we introduce ourselves. They may be an international footballer or a prominent businessperson but at the park that’s inconsequential. What binds us is a common love for … our dogs.

What amazes you about dogs?

Pastor Giles takes us through the stories of key Biblical figures: Jesus, Solomon, Moses, Samson, David, Gideon to name a few. He demonstrates using Scripture how they only “succeeded” by emptying themselves to fully surrender their lives to God. Samson, for example, was only powerful because the Holy Spirit equipped him with incredible strength.

This book comes at an important time for the church where I believe we may have forgotten this critical aspect of faith. God can only use us when we let Him by depending on Him. All of these Biblical people were weak so they depended on the Father to provide the power.

Well written with strong Biblical references. My only suggestion for improvement would be if we saw some modern day examples of this phenomenon. I get the concept and want to do it, but I’m still not quite sure how to. What do I need to do when I wake up each day to be “weak” and therefore depend on Jesus?

Highly recommended – 4/5

Too often our prayer can be too needs-based, ie, it’s all about us. Whilst in taking us through The Lord’s Prayer and then Paul’s priorities in prayer, MacArthur provides a challenge to allow prayer to be more God focused. Most of the book walks through MacArthur’s reflections on the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve been using The Lord’s Prayer a lot recently, so I found this a good reminder of Jesus’ intentions when reciting this prayer.

However, it’s the last two chapters that spoke to me the most. MacArthur moves from Jesus to Paul’s prayer life to outline what Paul prioritised in His prayers. He highlights two key priorities:

1. “That we would be worthy of our calling.” I’d never noticed that Paul exhorts each of the Epistle churches with this command. Rather than being needs based (God has promised to look after these re: birds of the air, flowers of the fields in the Gospels) Paul emphasises a focus on our spiritual health (and our brothers and sisters). As we are growing holy, God’s light will shine through us, enabling us to serve.

2. Pray for the lost. “Evangelism begins with prayer”. As a church we often feel compelled to make a noise about issues we don’t agree with and effectively can become a disruptive element. MacArthur suggests by reference to Paul’s letters we live a quiet life committed to praying for those who don’t belief. Particularly, for those we disagree with and the leaders of our nations that we may struggle with. Our weapons are “divinely powerful”. We can achieve little, but God can achieve much, so long as we are praying.

I’d recommend this book for anyone seeking refreshment in their prayer life. I know it has adjusted mine.

Soon after I discovered this, Ted and Erin collaborated on a couple of novels: Kiss and Burn. The editor became the novelist. During this time, Erin published her first standalone novel: Never Let You Go where she explores the “thin places between heaven and earth.” Since then Erin has produced a further 4 novels, including her latest Afloat which was released earlier this month.

I’ve found Erin loves connecting with readers. We’ve had an ongoing dialogue now with the launch plus Erin has written some beautifully penned blog posts that are both revealing a little of what’s in her heart whilst also relating to the themes of Afloat.

Erin’s exploration of the “thin places” plus her remarkable story telling and word crafting abilities continue to inspire and intrigue me.

Erin was gracious to give me some time in her busy schedule to answer a bunch of questions I proposed.

It’s my absolute delight to introduce, Erin Healy.

Perhaps first tell us a little about yourself.

Erin, in little bits: wife, mother, sister, auntie, reader, writer, editor, thinker, Christian, faithful skeptic, Southwestern American; methodical, pensive, busy, happy; lover of family, friends, music, thunderstorms, stories, good dogs, coffee, layered clothing, white noise, mountain air, and hot running water.

You’re an editor as well as an author. How many novels would you typically edit in a year? 

When I was editing only, I would do about twenty books per year. These days I’m writing almost full time, editing only about four books a year. But a freelancer’s work is always in flux. Those numbers change.

What particular unique challenges are there being an editor when you’re doing your first draft? How do you overcome them?

The biggest challenge I faced was the realization that writing and editing use completely different parts of my brain. The way I write (creative work) is completely different from how I edit (analytical work), and I expected them to have more in common. The only way to overcome that was to become a new kind of student of the craft. I had good editorial muscles, but my writing muscles needed everyday training. As for my editorial self getting in the way of the first draft, I’ve found her to be much more of a helpful coach than a critical couch potato. She doesn’t give me too much trouble.

There are many more questions I could ask about editing/writing but might leave them for one day we’re chatting over a cup of tea. I got first hooked on your writing when I read your description of yourself being an “Irish girl fascinated by the concept of thin places”. Could you explain this in a bit more detail and is there a particular experience you’ve had of the “thin veil between the physical and spiritual realities”?

I will look forward to the tea and conversation! In the Celtic tradition, thin places are locations in the world where people can have a physical experience of a spiritual reality. These experiences are tied to a spot on a map. What I love about the concept is the notion that our lives aren’t as compartmentalized as we sometimes treat them. The physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual parts of ourselves form a whole, as God created us.

I have had a couple of experiences with physical locations where I felt the spiritual darkness of a particular place. Very spooky. But these negative sensations contrast with a more familiar and constant sense of peace and light that I carry with me, which doesn’t seem to rely on my surroundings. I believe this is because the Holy Spirit goes with me wherever I am. And isn’t that a remarkable notion? What if we ourselves, when indwelled by God, become a type of thin place for everyone we encounter! The possibilities of that thrill me.

For those new to your novels, how do you typically reveal this thin veil? 

Generally speaking I use the concept metaphorically. A “thin place” is about the collision between spiritual and physical realities as it might happen in a variety of ways. In Never Let You Go and Afloat, the spiritual manifests in the natural world in the form of supernatural beings and events. In The Baker’s Wife, I turn one woman’s spiritual capacity for compassion and turn it into a physical event. (This “gift” of hyper-empathy enables her to feel others’ pain.) In House of Mercy I wonder aloud about the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit by turning him into a wolf who guides a young woman on an important journey.

In other words, I hold the traditional notion of thin places very loosely and with a lot of creative license. My fascination with them is all about the intersection of various parts of our lives, seen and unseen, and that is the constant in my stories.

Which authors inspire you and which are your “comfort food” authors?

I admire those authors who have a mastery of words, who can craft a beautiful sentence not just here and there, but on every page and in nearly every paragraph of their books (Geraldine Brooks, Marilynne Robinson). I also love authors who help me to see the world in ways I’ve never considered, and to see myself standing in it (Chaim Potok, Marcus Zuzak). My comfort food authors are much more commercial–I’m riveted by good suspense (Dean Koontz) or a character-driven mystery (I just spent the year reading all of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache novels). There are too many fine writers to name them all.

A couple of great Aussie authors there. You’ve co-written two novels with Ted Dekker: Kiss and Burn. How did that process work? For example, who had the original concept and how did you share the writing?

Those books were highly collaborative. I had a general idea about a woman who could steal memories; Ted put the flesh of a story on it and we developed Kiss. When it came time for Burn, Ted and I were independently kicking around story ideas that involved one event leading to multiple endings. We merged those ideas into a new concept. For both novels, I wrote and Ted directed. We spent hours and hours and hours on the phone. It was an exhausting but rewarding process.

Tell us about Afloat and the seed of an idea that started it?

My publisher approached me with the idea of writing a pre-apocalyptic romance novel set in an isolated location. As novels do, this one quickly evolved into a broader type of love story, i.e., can we love others well when our own survival is on the line? And so the story became about living in community with strangers as well as loved ones when the stakes are very high.

What key message(s) do you hope readers will take away from Afloat?

Afloat is the most overtly “Christian” of my novels to date. I hope readers will close the book having been entertained. I hope they will also have a renewed sense that for those who believe in Jesus, death is nothing to fear; our survival is guaranteed. How we love each other, however, is entirely up to us.

What can your fans expect next from you? Any future plans for co-writing? 

No co-writing in the foreseeable future. Next up is Stranger Things, in which my thin place is tied to a physical location (an abandoned house) for the first time. In Stranger Things a man dies saving a woman he doesn’t know on the same day that she’s publicly ruined by false accusations. Now a suspect in his murder, the only way to clear her name is to play a dangerous game with the real killer, and admit to a crime she didn’t commit.

Wow, can’t wait for this one.

Erin and I are very excited to be doing a special give away to two keen readers. We’ve got two twin packs, both featuring a copy of Afloat and one other novel of the lucky readers choosing. That’s right, any one of Erin’s six other novels including the two written with Mr Dekker. Just express an interest in Erin’s novels in your comment below. The winners will be notified by email next Wednesday 29 May.

Thanks Erin and wishing you every success with Afloat.

Visit Erin’s website

And follow Erin on Twitter and Facebook

Check out all Erin’s books at her Amazon author page

Purchase Erin’s books at Amazon and Koorong (for the Aussie readers)

Kendig has created a great character in Dane ‘Cardinal’ Markoski. Cardinal has a troubled past which is intriguing and it simmers below the surface for the entire novel until it crashes into the present in it’s climactic ending. Great, great writing

I hope Kendig builds a series around Cardinal. She has developed a character with wonderful apparent complexity (or is it just male aloofness?) that drives both the action and much of the dialogue.

Aspen, his romantic interest, didn’t really grab me. There was too much reference to flicking curls away but more significantly I didn’t see the underlying strength of character that her colleagues in the book saw.

Talon, the Labrador Combat Tracking Dog, was masterfully crafted. He was an emotional wreck through losing his handler and throughout the story we see his journey from skulking under buildings through fear and uncertainty to tentative steps of courage to a heroic final encounter that brought tears to my eyes.

The fast-paced action, the supporting cast, and a story that takes us global to Djibouti, Africa all make this an absolutely compelling novel.

I so wanted to give this novel 5/5, however, there are a couple of plot points that I struggled with that led me to rate it 4.5/5.

The third in the series, starring Beowulf the beast, handler Timbrel and her suitor, Candyman, is set up to be an epic. Can’t wait!

I’ve admired Mike and his writing for a number of years now. When I was looking around for endorsers for Angelguard, I was very fortunate that Mike, amongst his very busy schedule, didn’t hesitate to accept my request.

Enough of that, let’s hand over to Mike as he responds to a bunch of questions I threw his way recently.

Many of my readers don’t know much about you, so perhaps if you could share a little about yourself.

Sure, I’m soon-to-be 41 years old, been married for 16 years, have four daughters (ages 14, 12, 10, and 2). I was born in Baltimore, MD and now live in a small town in Pennsylvania. I started writing in 1998 as a way of dealing with a tragedy that occurred in our family. Writing became my therapy, my way of making sense of what had happened. Also, having been a severe stutterer my entire life, writing became a way for me to share myself, my thought, my words, without stuttering. My first novel was picked up and published in 2008 and I’ve published six novels and one novella since then. Fearless is my most recent.

When did you realise you wanted to be an author?

The moment I started writing back in 1998. Honestly, it was like being born again. I was a non-writer, then I was a writer, fully in love with writing. It was that dramatic of a change. I’d found my calling and new immediately that writing was what I was meant to do.

So once you decided you wanted to be an author, what key steps did you take to realise that ambition? Did you study creative writing or what?

I read A LOT and did A LOT of self-study. I read anything I could get my hands on about the craft of fiction writing. And then I wrote A LOT. Practice, practice, practice. When I had a manuscript completed I went to a writers conference and there found another author who referred me to an agent. A few months later I was signing a contract. Now, when I read other authors I admire I read not just for the enjoyment of it but to learn from them. I study how they write, their word choices, pacing, sentence structure, character development. All of it. I’ll always be a student of writing.

I’m always amazed how you manage to juggle a full time job, home life with your wife and 4 young kiddies, plus churn out a new novel every 6 months or so. What are your tips for juggling these areas of your life?

For me, there are a number of techniques I use to manage my time and make sure I get the most out of the time I set aside for writing. I think the most important thing is to know what I want to write and why I want to write it. I know this has little to do with the actual writing and little to do with the actual time involved in writing but if you know what you’re doing and where you’re going the time spent will be so much better spent. Another issue is priorities. You have to have your priorities in line. There are a lot of things out there that will want to take your writing time. You have to be very intentional about setting time aside and not allowing it to be interrupted. For me, that means getting up very early, before the rest of the family awakens, before the sun rises, and using that time to write. It works for me.

I’m very sensitive about not allowing my writing to interfere with family time so I plan it at a time of day when it’s sure to not get in the way of other things. I wrote a short non-fiction e-book about this whole time management thing called Writing Time. It’s available on Amazon for only $0.99 and might just be the most valuable dollar you’ve ever spent. It’s full of practical tips and advice about making time to write and making the most of that time.

Yep, best 99 cents I’ve spent in a long time. Now, tell us a little about Fearless.

Fearless is about a little girl with a very special gift. It’s also about a couple struggling to hold onto their marriage after suffering a tragedy. The story really centers around the girl, Louisa, and mystery surrounding her. When her gift brings her into contact with a serial killer she becomes the next target. And then it’s an all-out race to protect her and eventually save her from evil’s grip. The story is fast-paced, intriguing, mysterious, and a little creepy. I’ve been on a kick with including children in my stories. I think their innocence and vulnerability is the perfect contrast for the evil villains.

What do you hope readers will take away from it?

I want readers to be pushed to think about their faith and the trust they have in God. Do we really trust Him? Do we really believe He cares about us and what happens in our lives? Do we have the faith in Him we say we do? Even when times get hard and it appears there’s simply no way out?

You create great bad guys like some of the very good TV shows like “Criminal Minds”. What’s your process for visualizing your characters?

I put myself in their shoes. It’s really not much more complicated than that. I’ve studied people and human behavior for a long time and I’ve become pretty good at putting myself in someone else’s skin. But for villains specifically, one of the best things I can do for them and for the reader is to give them a strong, interesting motivation. I want to paint villains as real people, too. People who want something and struggle to come to terms with their often misaligned need. They are people who are deeply psychologically scarred. I try to portray them with a certain sense of empathy so the reader may feel some sympathy. These are hurting people who have turned to evil to fulfill their needs. Pretty sad when you think about it.

What’s one great story that a reader shared with you after reading one of your novels?

I really can’t pinpoint just one. My favorites are the ones where readers say they have been struggling with exactly what the story deals with. For instance, I had one reader email me saying she had been struggling with fear for a very long time. She didn’t even know what she was afraid of. After reading my book Darlington Woods, which deals with fear and overcoming it, she found a new strength and determination to give her battle to the Lord and let Him fight her fears away for her. Those are the kinds of stories that move me the most because it’s confirmation that I’m doing what God wants me to do and that it’s making a difference in the lives of others.

Are you able to share a little about what you’re presently working on?

I’m really not working on anything big. I’m in-between contracts and have been taking a break from novel writing. I’ve been doing some short projects but nothing elaborate. I’ve been enjoying this downtime. Hopefully, soon I’ll get something going. I have an idea for a psychological thriller, kind of a cross between Jason Bourne and Shutter Island.

I’m sure I speak on behalf of all your fans that we hope that idea soon germinates into another one of your novels.

I’m excited to give away a copy of not only Fearless but also Frantic, the thriller that proceeded it. Just express an interest in both novels in your comment below. The winner will be notified by email next Wednesday 22 May.

Here’s my review of Fearless and Frantic.

Thanks Mike and wishing you every success with Fearless.

Visit Mike’s website

And follow Mike on Twitter and Facebook

Check out all Mike’s books at his Amazon author page

Photo courtesy of Bethany House

“Satan endeavours to become the master of the Christian prayer time.”

That statement is written on the third last page of this marvellous book but is a great reminder of where the battle for our souls is played out. The enemy knows we are ineffective against him if we aren’t praying.

Andrew Murray in this relatively short book emphases the power of prayer by exploring Jesus’ commitment to it. His ministry wouldn’t have been as effective if it weren’t for His prayer life. I know I often forget this.

Murray regards prayerlessness as the scourge of the christian community: we just don’t pray enough. This book needs to be read diligently as Murray explores many new ideas. It isn’t a “To Do guide” only featuring the one small chapter on how to spend one’s prayer time but rather by focusing on the Word, the lives of Jesus, Paul and some more modern day Christian heroes like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor, encourages us to greater commitment to prayer.

It got me praying more which is the best recommendation I can make about a book on prayer.

Photo courtesy of Mike Dellosso

Mike’s one of my favourite suspense authors. I’ve read most of his catalogue and continue to be impressed with his ability to create spine tingling suspense.

He is truly a master craftsman of the suspense genre.

I was fortunate to receive an advance reading copy (ARC) of “Fearless”, his latest creation. Here’s the cover blurb of the novel:

When a nine-year-old Louisa mysteriously appears in the middle of a house fire with no memory of how she got there or where she came from, Jim and Amy Spencer agree to take her in. Wrestling with the recent loss of their own child, they soon discover Louisa has a special gift. But when the same gift unknowingly puts her in contact with a serial killer, the grieving couple must unite to face all odds and save themselves and Louisa before it’s too late.

And here’s my review:

This is another gripping novel from Mike Dellosso.

Unlike Mike’s other thrillers this one took a little longer to warm up as the key characters are revealed in a deeper way. We meet Jim and Amy, a married couple recovering from personal trauma, Alicia who is being traumatised by her boyfriend Derek, a killer so desperate for respect he kills innocent people and in so doing earns it, and Louisa.

Louisa is very special. A nine-year old with no history appears out of the fire.

But who is she? Is she someone’s daughter? Or is she an angel?

Once we’re sitting comfortably, Mike does what he does so well: he takes us on a thrilling stomach-churning roller coaster ride that doesn’t let up until the end. There is one chapter that is simply breathtaking in its edge-of-your seats terror. I was reading it with my hand in front of my face, racing to read on but anxious about what might occur. That’s masterful storytelling.

Mike’s bad guys are really bad. And this one is no exception. One interesting aspect of this story is 2 other characters at different stages are given a glimpse of the extent of the killer’s capacity for evil. This increases the tension.

The innocence of Louisa and her faith are incredible reminders of Jesus’ rebuke of his disciples regarding children. Mike takes the reader on a journey with each of the key characters as they battle their own demons. Some survive, some don’t.

Another terrific thriller from a gifted craftsman.

Remember to come back next Wednesday when Mike will be featuring on the blog, answering some questions. We’ll also be giving away a copy of “Fearless” and another of Mike’s novels.