7th Heaven
By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Little Brown, New York,2008, $27.99
7th Heaven is the seventh in the Patterson/Paetro Women's Murder Club series. Seldom can a book be judged by one line, but this is the exception that makes the rule. Here it is. You be the judge.
"Campton whipped around, pointed his SIG at Hawk's chest, and squeezed the trigger. BANG!"
BANG??????
--reviewed by Jim Turner
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heartfelt sermons and never judgmental counsel. In short order his office is busy and his calendar full with the endless job of caring for his flock. While the parishioners adore their handsome and charismatic minister, they are less enamored with Lauren, his free-spirited wife. Lauren wears makeup, smokes, and swears; she can't cook and doesn't see why anyone would want to, in particular the neighbor ladies who have little else with which to entertain themselves. Lauren's wealthy and dissolute parents, dismayed by their daughter's decision to marry down, mostly vanish. The very bored and somewhat depressed Lauren finds solace in becoming a mother, but shortly after the birth of their second daughter, she becomes ill and dies of cancer.
After a short period of support, the congregation reverts to its previous self-absorption, and Tyler tries to soldier on by ignoring the need to grieve. As a result, his life deteriorates. His sermons go from gripping to grimace-inducing, his house falls apart, his mind drifts, and his eldest daughter, Katherine, unkempt and ill-nourished, nearly turns feral. The congregation, sensing it has lost its anchor, begins to drift into the rock-strewn shallows of backstabbing gossip, depression and adultery. Tyler relies more and more on his housekeeper, Connie, who is looked down on by the congregation for never attending church. When Connie ultimately disappears, followed by rumors of her having embezzled from a nearby rest home, his daughter's spiteful young teacher invents a rumor that Connie and Tyler were having an affair. The parishioners begin to shun the young minister.
Finally, Tyler determines to take control of his life. He composes and rehearses the perfect sermon with which to herd his flock back to righteousness. On Sunday the church is packed. The faces of his parishioners are hostile. Tyler Caskey stands before them, but he is unable to speak. Tears stream down his face. The congregation watches in horror. Suddenly organ music pours forth from the choir loft, as the contentious choir director plays a favorite of Tyler's. A taciturn war veteran takes Tyler's arm, and leads him back to the minister's study.
While Tyler and Katherine find healing sanctuary with Tyler's mentor from ministerial college, his breakdown galvanizes the church. Ashamed, they revert to good behavior. The Pulpit Committee lobbies Tyler to return. Before agreeing, Tyler asks for a better house, increased salary, and household help.
Strout invites us into the world of a self-sufficient, remote small town, as seen through the eyes of a naïve and absentminded, but truly holy man. While the ending is a bit neat, Abide with Me is a satisfying and uplifting read.
-reviewed by Lynne Spreen
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Abide with Me
by Elizabeth Strout
Random House, New York, 2006.
In 1959, the Pulpit Committee of the tiny New England town of West Annett hires young Tyler Caskey to replace their retiring, long-time minister. The self-effacing Reverend Caskey accepts substandard housing and an inadequate salary without question, and sets about in his big, quiet way to share his vision of God with his first congregation.
The good Christians of West Annett are smitten by young Caskey's
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