Forgiving Solomon Long

Rating:
Summary: Forgiving Solomon Long cleans up
Review: Forgiving Solomon Long opens with the title character gunning down Father Mac in a confessional booth since the priest was part of a group standing up to mob boss Frank "Fat Cat" Catalano.
And Christopher Well builds steam from that promising beginning, whipping up a magnificent concoction that is part Sopranos, part Carl Hiaasen, and part Elmore Leonard. But mostly, it's all an edge-of-the-seat romp through Kansas City's underworld - with the breaks off.
Well creates some unforgettable characters here. None is better drawn than Solo Long, the clean-freak hitter. But there's also mobsters bantering about The Odd Couple, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Singing in the Rain and just about everything in between. And then there's detective Tom Griggs, whose single-minded pursuit of Fat Cat is coming at the expense of his marriage.
That opening scene is also your first hint that Forgiving Solomon Long isn't your run-of-the-mill CBA fiction. But body count - and don't kid yourselves, there are dead bodies strewn all over the Midwest by the end - isn't all that separates Forgiving Solomon Long from most works coming off Christian presses.
It is edgy and contemporary and hip, without compromising its Christian message. It's also a lot of fun.


Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Too often Christian writers settle for being imitative instead of original. Thankfully Chris Well is not the Christian answer to Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen; his voice and style is unique. While fans of Leonard and Hiaasen - and Shakespeare - will enjoy this novel, it will be because it presents a fresh and funny take on the mob scene, instead of the all-too-typical over-moralized Christian fiction knockoff.

Forgiving Solomon Long is the story of a contract killer who develops a conscience late in his career. It's also the story of mobsters who quote everything from Chekhov to The Odd Couple (and, unfortunately, Punky Brewster), pop decongestants like tic-tacs, and try to find their way in a world that has stopped making sense. And then there are the men and women of law enforcement, whose worlds are beginning to fall apart as well. All of it told in a fast-paced, funny style that will keep you laughing as the chapters whiz by.

My only problem with the book comes at the ending. In an effort to keep things fast-paced, description and imagery are sacrificed, characters are forgotten (although that seems somewhat intentional based on a literary observation by one of the gangsters), pop culture references all but disappear, and the story gets stretched a bit thin. It's not enough to detract from the brilliance of the first three-quarters of the book, but still - bada-bing - there it is.

If you're looking for a book with engaging characters and an entertaining plotline, that deals with issues of faith without preaching, and tackles Shakespearean tragedies (e.g., Macbeth, King Lear, Julius Caesar) without being overly blatant, pick up a copy of Chris Well's breakout first novel. You might not forgive yourself if you don't.

Rating:
Summary: Not your typical CBA fare
Review: What a fun ride. Chris Well's debut masterfully weaves humor and a Sopranos-like attitude through this well-crafted thriller. Recommended for any book fan primed to embrace both a Christian worldview as well as the cynical wit of Hiassen and/or Leonard.