Joline (February 26, 2025)
Father Tom heads up to the small coastal village of Belfast, Maine, to visit a friend from the seminary in the sixth book of this award-winning series. While there, 19-year-old Joline is found dead floating in the harbor waters, and the town doesn’t know if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. Moved by compassion for Joline’s family and friends, Father Tom sets out to do what he does best, and the local sheriff, J.C. Coombs, begrudgingly comes to rely on Father Tom and his sidekick, Angelo, for help to uncover clues and a history of secrets and wounds of the intriguing characters who live in this small fishing village. Rich with faith, humor, friendship, forgiveness, redemption, and emotional healing, the plot keeps the reader guessing with twists and turns until the end as the town comes to terms with its loss.
Amazon Best Seller - #1 New Release Religious Mystery and Roman Catholicism Categories
Reviews and comments:
This is the eighth novel from the pen of Jim Sano that I have read. It is the sixth that is in the Father Tom series. This one was so hard to put down, in fact I devoured it over a couple of days, and if work had not been so busy it would have been much quicker. This one is much darker than the earlier volumes, and even darker than the last offering. It is an excellent story about a loss, abuse, and has some troublesome murder. Father Tom and Angelo end back in the thick of things, based on the crimes, and the events taking place, Father Tom’s holiday visiting a parish or a seminarian friend ends up not being so restful.
Like the other Father Tom stories this book has excellent characters, a great plot, and it has wonderful pacing. With each volume from Jim I read I appreciate his writing more. I love the Father Tom books and this story keeps you guessing the whole way through. I am certain the story will draw you in and keep you hooked.
This story is a contemporary fiction tale. It is a story about finding out how a young girl died on the evening she graduated high school. It is what Madeleine L’Engle referred to as realistic fiction. It is set in our world, in our time, and with our issues and struggles. In this one Father Tim uncovers some long ignored abuse, and sees its impact on the individual, their marriage and even the victims children. In this story we have a few main characters, and several supporting characters that play key roles. But in some ways this one reads like a Christian or Catholic version of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer or the Spencer stories by Robert B. Parker. The description of the book is:
“Father Tom heads up to the small coastal village of Belfast, Maine, to visit a friend from the seminary in the sixth book of this award-winning series. While there, 19-year-old Joline is found dead floating in the harbor waters, and the town doesn’t know if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. Moved by compassion for Joline’s family and friends, Father Tom sets out to do what he does best, and the local sheriff, J.C. Coombs, begrudgingly comes to rely on Father Tom and his sidekick, Angelo, for help to uncover clues and a history of secrets and wounds of the intriguing characters who live in this small fishing village. Rich with faith, humor, friendship, forgiveness, redemption, and emotional healing, the plot keeps the reader guessing with twists and turns until the end as the town comes to terms with its loss.”
I have long been a fan of the Priest detective genre. Thirty years ago I read numerous of the Andrew M. Greeley novels, and my favourites were the Bishop Blackie Ryan novels, the Father Tom books have now eclipsed those. The big difference is Greeley’s works reached a point where I struggled with his presentation of Catholicism, living the faith and even God. The Father Tom books keep the faith and do an amazing job of showing faith, doubt, struggles, and ultimately learning to trust in God. In many ways this is like Fiorella de Maria’s Father Gabriel Mysteries, in that it is a great mystery with faith and fiction blended into an excellent story.
I stated of the last that it was the most intense Father Tom story, And I agree it was more intense, but this one is the most heart wrenching. Sano has done an excellent job of balancing writing a murder mystery without crossing the line of over doing the violence. He also handles an adult confronting abuse they suffered as a child very well. This story was tougher to read than the first few in the series. It deals with very serious subject matter. It is written in such a way that it will inspire and encourage as well.
Returning to a volume with Father Tom and Angelo was like a visit with old friends. It was great to catch up with them, even if they were trying to solve the murder in in the small town of Belfast, Maine. Jim’s characters are wonderfully written. It is an excellent read from the pen of Jim Sano. It is a story about faith, family, friends and overcoming past hurts and wounds, and a small community dealing with loss. It is well written, and the characters will stay with you long after you finish reading the story.
Another excellent read from Jim and Full Quiver. I highly recommend the book and the series. ☆☆☆☆☆
Book Reviews and More, Steven McEvoy
Jim Sano’s writing is always top notch! The best part is that wonderful sense of humor that is mixed in with hopeful Christian faith. Love it! ☆☆☆☆☆
Nancy Rohde
This new Father Tom is certainly a suspenseful read. Sano always leaves you with something to ponder. ☆☆☆☆☆
Blessed