The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer
WaterBrook Press –
June 21, 2011
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Goodreads: Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere
safe when Evil is hunting you? She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped
around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged
kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But
her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something
dark. Something compelling her to run for her life. All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the
anniversary of his daughter’s death alone. But when his student Jaimie
comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a
tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.
Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious
secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his
discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest
seat of power in the world—the Vatican
Demons.
Evil. Childhood abuse. Satanic Rituals. Perfect possession. Vatican City. In
the end, you’re still not sure what side of the fence you’re on –even if you
believe in angels and demons. I mean, at least I wasn’t. Either it’s all real
or it’s the most elaborate scam that anyone has ever attempted. As far as the book
goes, I am not sure that it matters which story you choose to believe. You’re
pulled into the story right at the beginning, and Brouwer doesn’t realize you
until well after the book has ended. Maybe
things wouldn’t have played out the way that they did if Crockett wasn’t
already vulnerable, if he wasn’t “that type of a guy”. Maybe it’s not only the
abused that have cracks in their psyche that gives the devil room to play.
This
is not your typical good conquers evil story. In the end, good isn’t all that
good. It’s just not evil. While some readers may take this to be commentary
about the Catholic Church, I believe that it speaks more to the depravity of the
human condition. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be any of the
characters, and I honestly wouldn’t want to know. But the characters were real
and relatable. I think everyone would hope that they would have the strength
and determination to fight the way that Crockett did, but those that came to
his assistance is not available to everyone.
It’s
hard to mention the abuse that’s been meted out by the hands of Catholic
Priests and not have a reaction. Brouwer does an amazing job of playing on the
fear of the far reaches of the Vatican. The reaction to the abuse is intensely
stronger when on thinks that the Catholic Church is a breeding ground for
pedophiles and an institution with enough reach to cover it up.
There
was one spot that I didn’t like, the writing confused me. It was at the end of
Chapter 63 when the Cardinal comes into the picture. But other than this part, I
thoroughly enjoyed the suspense in the book. This is the first book that I’ve
read by Brouwer, but it’s not the first that I’ve heard of him. I know that I
will definitely be reading more of him.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.
Rating:
Always Shine,
Starr K
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