Crimson Snow (Lake Champlain Mysteries, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
Review: I wanted to like this mystery novel more than I did. The characters are "real people": you know them, you like them, you understand and share their foibles, their fears, their sins. And it is refreshing to find a mystery novel driven by religious belief: because the concept of the separation of church and state is so strong in our society, we've come to accept that religious belief should be separate from all aspects of our lives [read Stephen Carter's excellent "The Culture of Disbelief", when indeed it is central not only to our lives, but to our selves. But the author wasn't able to carry through what he began so well. Some scenes seemed contrived, and the ending was too pat to justify the earlier menace. Still, an easy read and I'll try this author again.

Rating:
Summary: I am not a fan of mystery novels, but this was exceptional.
Review: The characters are very real and believable. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn to ponder the smaller mysteries behind the lives of each character, making it a very enjoyable read. The personal spiritual applications are not heavy handed, but the Truth is there woven throughout the developing plot. I look forward to the next installment of the "Lake Champlain Mysteries", and am convinced you will too