Saturday Book Stroll-The Missionary by Dave Lambert and William Carmichael

WELCOME to Saturday Book Stroll on my blog! Most Saturdays, I share books I'm currently recommending.


FEATURED BOOK & AUTHOR: The Missionary by Dave Lambert and William Carmichael
Publisher: Moody

ABOUT THE BOOK:
I would describe The Missionary as a novel of international espionage. Here’s the back-cover copy:

"Yesterday David Eller was an American missionary serving the poor in Venezuela. Today he's an international fugitive.

"David Eller rescues impoverished children in Caracas, Venezuela, with his wife, Christie. But for David, that isn't enough. The supply of homeless children is endless because of massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government.

"When the CIA gives David an opportunity to do something more-to heal the disease rather than working on the symptoms-he decides to go for it. But little by little, he falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son.

"Was he wrong to resort to the political solution?
And was it really the CIA that asked him to get involved?"

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
The Missionary is a debut novel for William Carmichael and the fourth for co-author Dave Lambert.

MY REVIEW:
This book was one of the best books I've read in years. I can totally see this book playing out as a major motion picture...and I sincerely hope it does get optioned for film.

This book had me crying by page 18. Partly due to the thread of the hero going after people who exploit children. Very touching and I loved that aspect of the book. Also, the book was extremely evocotive without being provocative. Highly action-driven, I finished this book in one sitting in a matter of hours that ran by so fast I couldn't believe I'd gotten to the end of the book. I admit that when I read the ARC copy, I was a little concerned as to how the author was going to pull off keeping my attention through the rapid sequence change from scene to scene every couple or few pages. But this method absolutely worked for this story and, though there were several threads playing out in simultaneous rapid fire sequence, the author wrote in such a way that I kept track of each thread and POV.

There were parts of this book that were so tense, I had fingernail marks in my chin and cheek where I apparently lost myself in the text and dug my nails in hoping a certain character would end up okay. Can't give much away except I'll say one word. The Davey aspect is a gut-clencher for sure. The writing had me talking to myself about how aggravated I would be if these character's I'd come to care about didn't end up okay. LOLOL! Especially riveting was the mother/son Davey aspect.

WOW. EXCELLENT READ. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

Can be purchased NOW anywhere books are sold.


Hope you will consider picking up this week's featured Saturday Afternoon Stroll book. It will stay on my keeper shelf for life. One of the best books I've read this decade.

Cheryl Wyatt