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Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Priest's Graveyard

Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Center Street

The last thing Renee Gilmore remembers is being rescued by a pair of unknown arms after her drug-dealer boyfriend attempts to murder her. She wakes up in a beautiful glass house surrounded by doctors and the man that saved her life, Lamont Myers. Lamont offers her protection, if she abides by his rules. Among these; she must not leave the house, making her the bird in his gilded cage.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America to escape the bloodshed of his country and the memories of his own involvement. Danny is a priest who lives by a strict moral code, one which values the loving of others above all else. It is those that pretend to abide by religious and legal law but intentionally harm others that insence Danny. And he believes it is duty to show them the error of their ways. Those few that admit and renounce their behavior are forgiven and set free, but never without a severe reminder of their wrongdoings. Those that refuse to admit to their behavior are killed.

A year after Renee is rescued by Lamont he is murdered and she vows to seek revenge. At the same time, Danny has continued to carve a swath of judgement and punishment. In their individual pursuits, Danny and Renee's paths become entangled and before long it is clear that neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.


The Priest's Graveyard is a dark and disturbing book that explores the question of judgement and justice. The book is well written and well thought out. The story is told through both Danny's and Renee's point of view. It was really interesting to see how each of them interpreted the events of the story. Danny is a vigilante priest and Renee is an ex-junky. I spent a lot of the book wondering who was crazier. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, because it would really ruin the book. Let's just say, I didn't expect some of the events that occurred in the book. I do love an author that can surprise me!

While it kept me on the edge of my seat, I had to sit on it for a few days and think about whether or not I really liked it. I did, but I'm not sure I liked the ending. It left me a little unsettled. I think that is why I had to sit on it for a few days. Read it and you will see what I mean. I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators did a great job, which really added to my enjoyment of the book.

I definitely recommend this latest by Ted Dekker. It is the first I have read by the author. If his other books are like this, then I'll definitely try him again.

--Kari

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