The Missionary - Book Review!

review done by Winning Readings

Title: The Missionary
Authors: William Carmichael and David Lambert
Genre: Contemporary Christian suspense

Publisher: Moody Publishers
Physical Description: 382-page paperback 
List Price: $13.99 
ISBN: 978-0-8024-5569-7
For More Info: http://www.missionarynovel.com/

Synopsis:

David Eller is an American missionary in Venezuela, married to missionary nurse Christie. Together they rescue homeless children in Caracas. 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, led by the Hugo Chavez– like Armando Guzman. 

In a moment of anger, David publicly rails against the government, unaware that someone dangerous might be listening—a revolutionary looking for recruits. David falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son, with all the resources of a corrupt dictatorship at their heels.

About the Authors:

William Carmichael is an accomplished bestselling author of marriage, family, and parenting books. He and his wife, Nancie, are popular speakers across the United States and Canada. He is also the founder of Good Family Magazines, which published Virtue, Christian Parenting Today, and Parents of Teenagers magazines. The Missionary is Bill’s first novel.

David Lambert is senior fiction editor for Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. He is the author of nine books, including the Gold Medallion Award winning Jumper Fables (Zondervan), coauthored with Ken Davis, and four novels for young adult readers.

What I Liked:  

I was immediately attracted to this book because of the missionary component - the global worldview, the intense desire to help others, all of that. And it was definitely there.  I could even relate to David's frustration and need to act where the political regime is concerned, having been near Zimbabwe's political and financial meltdown.  

The authors did a great job of getting the reader inside David's head to understand how a nice, peace-loving Christian guy with a heart for humanity can end up in the wildest of suspense stories.  He's easy to relate to.

And yes, it is a wild suspense story - with lots of action and twists and turns and connections you never quite figure out until the end.  Definitely a page-turner.

Intertwined through the suspense was the story of family.  Mentor, brother, parents, child, wife - the relationships are solid, positive, not without challenges, but with a definite clarity on how important family is.  A refreshing picture compared to many popular suspense plots in stores now.

I also enjoyed the philosophical gems scattered throughout.  The book starts with "Life turns on small choices" - as you realize how something seemingly minor can have a huge impact on you, your family, and the world.  Choose wisely.  

Another one I am still pondering:  "Love sees the need, not the cause."  I like it, and I don't, and I'm still trying to figure out why.

If you're into family-friendly suspense, I definitely recommend this book.

What I Didn't Like: 

Nothing...

Thanks to Bring It On! Communications for the review copy of this book, and to Mamabuzz for coordinating the review.  (By the way, Mamabuzz is also giving away a copy of the book, winner drawn 4/25, if you want a chance to win...)