Inspirational thriller: Brother Half Angel book review

Brother Half Angel book review

Martin Roth

November 2013

Amazon Kindle 3.99

Paperback: 10.40

 
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From the publisher:

In this book from Martin Roth's series of international thrillers, Brother Half Angel is the leader of a secret new church military order, dedicated to helping Christians under attack around the world. He is sent to China, where an underground seminary is under siege from fanatical sword-wielding members of a local cult who still pay homage to the bloodthirsty extremists who tried to expel all foreigners from China in the nineteenth century.

But while under attack from external forces, the seminary has its own internal divisions. The director, Uncle Ling, a hero of the underground Chinese church, holds secrets that he cannot reveal. And now the tensions are threatening the marriage of idealistic young American missionaries Daniel and Jenny Westloke.

This gripping thriller offers relentless suspense while raising serious questions – how far can Christians go to defend themselves? When should they turn the other cheek? What happens when a Christian kills in self-defense? And should those who live by the sword really expect to die by the sword?

My review:

Without spoiling the ending, I just want to say that it comes very abruptly. This book is part of a series, but the story stands alone. There are brutal moments, but they aren’t gratuitous; faith prevails through every page. I very much enjoyed the story line and felt a lot of frustrations with the missionaries and the church involved.

Roth is a beautiful writer with the ability to take his reader directly to his settings and plunk them right into the action. Although I felt a bit of whiplash when Brother Half Angel came to an end, it was a thought-provoking stopping point, and not wholly unexpected when I think about it. And that’s what we want as writers, isn’t it?

Idealistic missionaries, as the author describes Daniel and Jenny, is correct. Their story of following God’s will above the advice of their earthly supervisors leads to challenges and revelations which they need in their young marriage. Brother Half Angel is a character I plan to spend more time with in other novels of Roth’s. He is willing to wear and act upon his faith in what seems to be an undisciplined way until the people around him stop to analyze his actions.

Powerful read. Gripping. Recommended for those who like inspirational action in multicultural settings.