Title: A Prayer for
the Devil
Author: Dale Allan http://www.daleallan.com/
Pages: 320
Year: 2012
Publisher: Emerald Books
When I first heard about this novel, my
interest was piqued because of the title.
Where was the author going to take a reader with a book that includes
prayer and devil in the title? Perhaps
you too have looked at a novel picture, title or author and whatever you
conclude decides whether you will read the book or keep looking for something
else. I read a couple of reviews and
decided to go to author’s website to read more about the author as well as the
book. Deciding to contact the author and
inquire about the contents of his book, I was pleasantly surprised when I
received a direct answer from the author himself. Then, having interacted with the author via
email, I proceeded to risk reading his debut novel. What I didn’t expect was one of the best novels
I have read by an author that is new to me.
A Prayer for the Devil is a novel
that really defies any one particular genre. There are multiple themes, stories,
locations, cultures, characters, and more included. There is a flavor of mystery, suspense,
thriller, and more as well. Inside the
multifaceted story is murder both at an individual level as well as national
level. A nation with certain
philosophies desires to destroy another nation for many reasons that come to
the surface the farther one reads.
Characters that live for selfish gain as well as those who would lay
down their lives for a complete stranger are portrayed. In some cases, it is based on just being part
of the human race.
Religious affiliation, national
governments’ philosophies, and freedom come into play as a plan from the past
has now come into fruition. During a
political speech for the presidential race, a bomb from the past explodes and
causes the death of key figures. As a
result many lives are irrevocably changed and not all for the better because
for some there is no closure. Luke’s
twin brother is one of the casualties. Suddenly
this priest finds himself temporarily changing vocations. Luke is no longer an unknown priest serving
parishioners; he now has decided to find out who murdered his brother.
Luke, however, has no idea how this
one decision is going to change the life of his parents, sister-in-law, nieces,
and countless others. The local
detectives have run into a dead end in their investigation, and now it has
become a matter for the FBI to handle.
Though the investigation doesn’t stop with the FBI, it becomes necessary
to involve the Vatican and their protective services. There are homeless people who offer clues as
to what they witness, even though what was seen in the past has some link to
the current tragedy. Would you even
believe that baseball has a part in the resolution of the plot?
There is so much more to what Dale Allen
wrote in what I can describe as an imaginative, peculiar, and illusive
spiel. Many times you will locate well
known places or climaxes that only continue to lead down paths to discovering
who has means, knowledge, purposes, and reasons. The priest goes from Boston to Dubai to
locate and hopefully conclude what he considers his sole purpose: Find the mastermind who killed his
brother. Yet, just as the priest is
about to get the answer that has driven his life for months, revelation for
both Luke and the nation will be more than anyone can even imagine.
The author is currently writing more fiction that
I hope proves to be just as captivating as A Prayer for the Devil. Don’t pass this one up! There are a few swear words and no sexual
content or innuendos at all.
My rating is 5+ stars!
Note:
I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
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@lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457
