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| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE | CHRISTIAN Author: A through M | N through Z | SCI-FI | FANTASY | HORROR |
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| Delffs, D.J. | The Martyr's Chapel |
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Publication Date |
1998 |
| Number of Pages | 319 |
| Geographical Setting | United States-Tennessee |
| Time Period | 20th Century |
| Series | The Judas Tree |
| Similar Author/Title | Jan Karon/ the Mitford series |
| Plot Summary | Father Griffin Reed is the widowed rector for Avenell University, a private school located in a small town in Tennessee. Early one morning, Father Grif discovers the body of Pulitzer-prizewinning playwright and the university’s writer-in-residence, Gentry Truman. Unconvinced of the prime suspect’s guilt, he begins his own investigation, while attempting to provide spiritual guidance to members of the community. One of whom is guilty of murder! |
| Appeal | Compelling blend of intrigue and spirituality. Intelligent and compassionate male protagonist. Vivid descriptions of Tennessee: people, landscape. |
| Notes | First in series featuring Father Griffin Reed. |
| Reviewer/Date | April Cota-Hobbs, 7/13/00 |
| Diamant, Anita | The Red Tent |
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Publication Date |
1997 |
| Number of Pages | 321 |
| Geographical Setting | The Middle East and Egypt. |
| Time Period | The story originates around the biblical tale of Jacob in the Book of Genesis. |
| Plot Summary | Retracing three generations of old Testament families, this first person narrative describes in detail the lives of the women of this ancient time and reveals the traditions and turmoil which determined their existence. The main character, Dinah (Dee na), tells of life in the family camp of Laban, his wives and their children. Her story then progresses to Jacob's family with his four wives (the daughters of Laban) and their 13 children. Dinah is Jacob's only daughter. The later part of the story centers on her life. Dinah relates the growth of her family tree from the time of her grandmothers, Rebecca and Adah through her mothers, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah, and to her own life. There is romance and passion, intrigue and violence, treachery and values. Through tales of the sisters and brothers, midwives and mothers, the reader is carried through each of the joys and miseries that women of this family and time endured. |
| Appeal | Biblical base with an intense story. Carries a moral message of good surviving evil. Suspenseful. Powerful females. Tender and romantic. |
| Notes | Some sexual description. Some extreme violence. There is a disclaimer on the verso stating that it is "Based on stories found in the Bible but the actual events and characters are, non-the-less, fictional creations of the author's imagination." |
| Reviewer/Date | Chris Vander Weit, 7/10/00 |
| Hawkins, Don | flambeau@darkcorp.com |
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Publication Date |
1999 |
| Number of Pages | 142 |
| Geographical Setting | Unknown |
| Time Period | Modern times |
| Plot Summary | In an interesting twist on the "fly on the wall" scenario, readers are privy to confidential e-mails between two demons employees of Darkcorp, a multinational corporation run by the Devil. Through these communications Scraptus, vice president of North American Operations, counsels Flambeau, regional manager of Counter Operations, on the best methods for carrying out their plot to take over and acquire the Competition's (i.e. God's) employees. The plot is centered around the Demon's methods of business, successes, and failures as seen through their e-mail. |
| Appeal | "Behind the scenes" intrigue. Short chapters. |
| Notes | Inspired by The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Phrases from the Bible are footnoted. |
| Reviewer/Date | Stefanie Frame, 6/13/00 |
| Henderson, Lois T. | Ruth |
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Publication Date |
1981 |
| Number of Pages | 223 |
| Geographical Setting | Set in Old Testament Middle East (Moab and Bethlehem) |
| Time Period | perhaps 1000B.C.E. |
| Series | One of a series printed by Guideposts: others include "Hagar," "Abigail," "Lydia," "Priscilla and Aquila" |
| Plot Summary | Recently widowed Ruth lives with her mother-in-law Naomi and sister-in-law Orpah in her home country, Moab. All three, as childless widows in a society closed to women's rights, struggle to make ends meet. Rather than marry a shadowy newcomer, Ruth travels with her mother-in-law to Naomi's hometown, Bethelehem, in Israel. There Ruth faces ostracism due to her foreign origins, but works against the odds to make ends meet, trying to understand the faith the Israelites have in their God. Boaz, a wealthy male relative of Naomi's, offers kindness and friendship during Ruth's lonely days. But how will she survive the poverty and isolation of life in Bethlehem? |
| Appeal | Fictionalized
story of Biblical character.Gentle read. Interesting characterizations.Lots of dialog. |
| Notes | Based on Ruth, a book of the Old Testament Bible.Out of print. |
| Reviewer/Date | Stephanie Deininger, 7/13/00 |
| Karon, Jan | At Home in Mitford |
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Publication Date |
1994 |
| Number of Pages | 446 |
| Geographical Setting | North Carolina |
| Time Period | Present |
| Series | At Home in Mitford.1994; A Light in the Window.1996; These High, Green Hills. 1996; Out to Canaan.1997; A New Song. 1999. |
| Plot Summary | The story revolves around Episcopal priest Timothy Kavanaugh, a 60 year-old bachelor, whose life suddenly changes when he becomes responsible for a wild child from a broken home. Among the many situations Father Tim deals with are: managing a large endowment for a nursing home from the town's benefactress, resolving a love affair between his secretary and the postman, and coping with a recent onset of diabetes. He also falls in love with his neighbor who later becomes his wife. |
| Appeal | Christian message, but not preachy. Heartwarming story of ordinary events. Joyous and serious situations are handled by faith, humor and humanity. Reestablishes moral codes within the family and the community. Likable characters; readers may follow character's lives in the Mitford series. |
| Notes | A Mitford Website. Many characters: Dooley Barlowe, adopted son; Miss Sadie Baxter, benefactress; Hal & Marge, vet and his wife; Emma Garrett, church secretary; Miss Rose & Uncle Billy Watson. |
| Reviewer/Date | Susan Cook, 7/14/00 |
| La Haye, Tim and Jerry Jenkins | Left Behind |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 470 |
| Geographical Setting | Chicago, New York City plus other international cities |
| Time Period | Modern Day |
| Series | Left
Behind Series: Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assasins |
| Plot Summary | Toying with the idea of having an affair with his beautiful, young flight attendant, pilot Rayford Steele rationalizes his guilt away, blaming it on his wife who has steadily found comfort in her new Christian faith and church, rather than in their marriage. That is, until a cataclysmic world event changes his, and the life of everyone else who is left behind, forever. Struggling to make sense of what is left of his life, Steele seeks answers to his own questions of immortality. All the while, he and the other dynamic characters slowly discover that seemingly coincidental world political events are actually setting the stage for the Revelation and the end of the world as foretold by the Bible. |
| Appeal | A suspense-filled, gripping novel of mystery and intrigue involving politics and religion, combined with a believable interpretation of biblical prophecy. Excellent writing and alternating first person narratives by the main characters, tell a story that few readers could put down without experiencing a heartfelt reaction of empathy for all of humanity. |
| Notes | Somewhat preachy, but done under the guise of "telling a good story". One graphic descritption of violence towards the end of the book. Good set up for the series' sequels. |
| Reviewer/Date | Carolyn Tutt, 7/13/00 |
| LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins | Left Behind |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 468 |
| Geographical Setting | Illinois, New York, London and Israel |
| Time Period | The present |
| Series | The Left Behind series (7 have been published so far; 4 more are scheduled) |
| Plot Summary | There have been sudden, unexpected disappearances of millions of people from around the world. They vanished instantaneously, leaving their clothes and belongings behind. A middle-aged airline pilot named Rayford Steele, whose wife and twelve-year-old son had been among the vanished, finds the answer behind this phenomenon in the Bible, along with a terrifying prophecy revealing what was yet to come. In the meantime, a young journalist named Cameron “Buck” Williams follows the political path of a charismatic young politician from Eastern Europe who is quickly rising into a position of considerable power. |
| Appeal | Fast pace: brief on description, strong on action and dialogue. Political intrigue. Suspenseful. |
| Notes | Fundamentalist Christian views. Violence and bloodshed. Told in the third person and alternates in the point of view between Rayford and Buck. |
| Reviewer/Date | Donna Marie Atmur, 7/13/00 |
| LaHaye, Tim and Jerry Jenkins | Left Behind |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 468 |
| Geographical Setting | America, England and Israel |
| Time Period | Now |
| Series | There are at least four books in the series. |
| Plot Summary | Some people disappear from the Earth, while others remain. Could it be "The Rapture" or is it something else? The world seems to be moving towards a New World order. Is this another sign that the world is moving towards the End of Times? The two heroes have to find out the answer to these questions and respond as God meant them to respond. They need to identify the Anti-Christ and fight for the triumph of Good over Evil. |
| Appeal | Evangelical Christians who are interested in the "Last Days." |
| Notes | May be offensive to non-Evangelicals, both Christian and non-Christian. Much talk, no action. Dull. |
| Reviewer/Date | David Stephens, 7/13/00 |
| LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins | Left Behind: a Novel of the Earth's Last Days |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 470 |
| Geographical Setting | Several U.S. and world locations: primarily Chicago and New York, but also a mid-transatlantic flight, Israel and England. |
| Time Period | Contemporary (mid-1990’s, prior to the Millennium) |
| Series | To date, seven books have been published in the “Left Behind” series. This novel is the first book in that series. |
| Plot Summary | Millions of people all over the world have mysteriously disappeared. It appears as if they have simply “vanished into thin air” all in the same cataclysmic moment, leaving behind only their material possessions…clothes, hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lens. Many theories arise as to exactly what has happened. Some say it was the work of terrorists, while others say it was caused by UFOs and aliens, and still others say it was a scientific reaction to combined nuclear and other human-made forces. But pilot Rayford Steele is thoroughly convinced he ‘knows’ the reason behind the disappearances. His wife, a devout Christian, and his young son were among those missing. Rayford, a part-time Christian who has wandered from the church, is convinced the “Rapture” has occurred and that God has taken the chosen people directly to Heaven. Rayford feverishly begins to read his wife’s Bible to seek the “truth." He learns of the Antichrist’s Tribulation and the Bible’s prophecy of seven years of war, famine and catastrophes to immediately follow the Rapture. Although Rayford feels he must convince others of the "truth” he has discovered, his primary concern is with saving his daughter, Chloe, who like himself was one of those “left behind.” Meanwhile, a young journalist, Buck Williams, is following a separate political story which is unfolding in New York and Israel… a young Romanian President, Nicolae Carpahtia, is emerging as a charismatic new world leader. As these separate stories converge, the mystery of…(I’ll leave the rest to you)…is revealed. |
| Appeal | An apocalyptic novel with great Christian appeal, especially to “born-again Christians.” |
| Notes | Controversial depiction of Jews. Over 2 million copies of this book have been sold, and a new series “Left Behind…the Kids” is now being published for juveniles and Young Adults (ages 12 and up.) |
| Reviewer/Date | Jacquie Foster, 7/13/00 |
| La Haye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins | Left Behind |
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Publication Date |
1995 |
| Number of Pages | 468 |
| Geographical Setting | United States |
| Time Period | Present |
| Series | Left Behind series |
| Similar Titles | The rest of the titles in the Left Behind Series |
| Plot Summary | The first in the series, this book sets the stage for what happens immediately after the rapture in which Jesus comes back for his true Christian believers. Raymond Steele, a commercial airline pilot who is devastated by the loss of his born-again Christian wife and his son Raymie, becomes a Christian and tries to convince his daughter Chloe to do the same. Meanwhile, Buck Williams, a news reporter, covers the unusual rise to power of Nicolae Carpathia. Bruce Barnes, a pastor, brings them all together to explain the rapture, and the rise of the Antichrist who falsely claims to bring peace. |
| Appeal | Conversions to Christianity. Suspenseful. Strong father/daughter relationship. Descriptive apocalyptic effects. |
| Notes | Predicted conversions from Judaism to Christianity. Jewish person portrayed as working with the Antichrist. Some violence. Strong overtones of converting to Christianity. Death. |
| Reviewer/Date | Amy Collen, 7/13/00 |
| LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins | Tribulation Force-A Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind |
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Publication Date |
1996 |
| Number of Pages | 450 |
| Geographical Setting | Mostly set in Chicago, Illinois but there is reference to other major parts of the world like N.Y. and Israel. |
| Time Period | Apocalyptic late 20th century |
| Series | Left Behind; Nicolae; Soul Harvest; Apollyon, Assasins |
| Plot Summary | This Apocalyptic Christian fiction thriller novel is the sequel of Those Left Behind. Tribulation Force is the group of new believers after the disappearance of millions of Christians around the globe caused by the Rapture. Comprised of Pilot Rayford Steele, his daughter Chloe Steele, journalist Buck Williams, and Pastor Bruce Barnes, this force bands together and this group’s mission is to challenge the forces of evil and fight the opponents of God during the next seven years. They witness the truth and battle the enemies of God. The main enemy in this crisis is the ruler of the new Global Community, who the Tribulation Force believes to be the antichrist Romanian Nicolae Carpathia. They learn that the disappearances have ushered in the next most perilous seven-year period, Tribulation, during which the earth will suffer from the most catastrophic calamities in its history. |
| Appeal | Apocalyptic Thriller, Bible Prophecy, Romance, Religion and Spirituality, Rapture, Science fiction and Fantasy. |
| Notes | Dominant Christian perspective, could be construed as Anti-Semitism, many Protestants were left behind, the right hand man to the “antichrist” is Jewish. Controversial. |
| Reviewer/Date | Mónica López, 7/13/00 |
| Lawhead, Stephen R. | Avalon |
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Publication Date |
1999 |
| Number of Pages | 442 |
| Geographical Setting | Scotland and England |
| Time Period | Near but indeterminate future |
| Plot Summary | Edward IX, the last English king, drunk and dissolute, commits suicide in exile in Madeira. In London, the ambitious Prime Minister Thomas Waring moves forward with his plans to finally abolish the British monarchy, supported by the vast majority of a public weary and disgusted with the scandals of Edward IX and his predecessors. In Scotland, James Stuart, former army captain and now caretaker of the vacant estate of Blair Morvern tries to untangle the legal mess of its inheritance when he encounters the mysteries Embries. The latter establishes that James is the heir not only to Blair Morvern but also to the throne itself through the old Stuart line. James is highly skeptical and considers the monarchy an anachronism, but Embries convinces him otherwise. The monarchy, Embries asserts, is a relevant and unifying force that can help guide Britain to a glorious future. Embries, it seems, is very difficult to resist, so James takes the leap of faith and declares himself king, despite the odds and a nasty smear campaign orchestrated by the Waring camp. And Waring himself is being manipulated by another power with a keen interest in destroying James… |
| Appeal | Strong parallels between James and King Arthur, whom James adopts as a model. Strong parallels between the relevancy of the monarchy and the relevancy of religious belief in the modern world.A Christian fiction that generally isn’t preachy and doesn’t favor one particular viewpoint over others. |
| Notes | Not a “gentle read”: a fair amount of language (mostly from Waring and his cronies); some violence. Glimpses into British politics. |
| Reviewer/Date | John McPike, 7/12/00 |
| Lewis, C.S. | The Screwtape Letters |
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Publication Date |
1942 |
| Number of Pages | 93 |
| Geographical Setting | Hell |
| Time Period | Middle 20th Century AD (World War II) |
| Plot Summary | The demon Screwtape, having risen to the position of under-secretary in a department of Hell, begins a correspondence with his nephew, Wormwood. In a series of letters, Screwtape advises the somewhat inexperienced Wormwood, a junior tempter, in the best approaches and techniques to use in securing the soul of his mortal “client”. Screwtape provides his nephew with numerous insights into the human psyche and its frailties, and discourses on the insidious, not to mention patently unfair, tactics employed by the Enemy, i.e. God, in protecting and nurturing his creations. |
| Appeal | An imaginative, tongue-in-cheek view of Hell as a departmentalized bureaucracy which is alternatively darkly humorous and chillingly frightening. An illuminating tale describing the nature of sin and temptation and, more importantly, man’s relationship with God. Contains insights on Christian theology and religion in the modern era. |
| Notes | Strongly
oriented toward traditional Christian ideas, theology, and values, though non-Christians can still enjoy the imaginative storyline. |
| Reviewer/Date | Kyle Samudio, 7/13/00 |
| HOME | WESTERN | CRIME and MYSTERY | ROMANCE | CHRISTIAN Author: A through M | N through Z | SCI-FI | FANTASY | HORROR |