Author: Regis Schilken

Publisher: Turnkey Press, 2005

ISBN: 0-9764981-3-8

The following review was contributed by:  John Walsh & CLICK TO VIEW John Walsh's Reviews

When a crucifix in a catholic church in a small American town near Pittsburgh starts to weep, many of the faithful believe they are witnessing a miracle. Words gets round and visitors start to flock to the church for the Sunday evening benediction when the so-called miracle takes place. Donations are made and the church flourishes, rising up from penury to wealth. So all is well therefore? Well, life is unfortunately not so easy. Not only do many of the faithful, priests included, not actually believe in miracles but there turn out to be evil forces seeking to thwart those who would investigate the phenomenon too closely. Finding out exactly what is going on is the responsibility of local police officer, Tim Comstock, his spouse the teacher Martie and the Parish Priest Father Logue. Who are these evil forces – villains seeking somehow to take advantage of the miracle or the devil himself, coming to earth to meddle in the affairs of humanity once again.

Regis Schilken’s thriller mystery is as interested in issues of good and evil and of ways to behave in the modern world as it is in developing the plot. Nevertheless, he maintains a good enough pace and the prose is generally plain and comprehensible in a manner commensurate with the genre. This is perhaps due to the intervention of the editor, Mary Powell, who is effusively thanked by the author in the acknowledgements. I have written in it seems dozens of reviews that the book concerned would benefit from a competent editor and so I should praise an author for realizing this need in his own work. Even so, as even Homer nodded so too can Mary Powell and there are occasional lapses, both in verb choice and, more importantly in my view, in the dialogue. While I understand the purpose of the conversations between Comstock and the Vietnam War veteran and the various priestly types in which he helps them to forgive themselves for matters beyond their control, I would rather they were not handled in such an unrealistic manner – these areas read like melodramatic television drama and books should be better than mainstream television.

This is an enjoyable read by a thoughtful author and will prove entertaining and enjoyable for many readers. Those with a catholic upbringing or beliefs will no doubt be intrigued to discover how the author treats the clergy.

John Walsh, Shinawatra University, September 2005