A small southern town in the 1950s endures death, scandal, and the search for truth when the church pastor is found dead. What follows is a trail of suspicion and denial while Martha McRae looks for justice. Michael Hicks Thompson’s The Rector weaves a tale of mystery, suspense, and faith.

Once I started reading the book, it kept my attention. The plot is easy to follow, and the characters are well developed. It is one of those books that you can imagine being a part of. The people are realistic and you can picture the southern setting.

Though reading the story was enjoyable, there is something more in it that made the book better. Even with the sin and problems the characters face, God’s love and redemption were often spoken of. Especially when the topic of revenge would come up. Faith in Jesus was prominent, and trusting Him for guidance and protection were shown as something we need to do. There are also allusions to Bible passages and lessons.

I liked reading The Rector, but there are some parts that I feel warrant a caution. Since murder is part of the story, there are some mildly graphic descriptions of what happens. It isn’t too serious, and most people probably won’t think anything of it.

Gossip and lying come up frequently. Though these are not something we want to admit happens in the church, we know that it does go on. The fact that these are wrong is brought up, and I think, the book works to reinforce that they are wrong.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.