The Body Under the Bridge - Book Review

The Body Under the Bridge

A Father Gilbert Mystery

By Paul McCusker

9781782641070 | $14.99 | Paperback | Lion Fiction

About the book:

First in a series of modern whodunits from an accomplished author with a worldwide following

A former Scotland Yard detective, Father Gilbert knows about death. But, now a priest of a modest Anglican church in the small town of Hailsham, he didn't expect it to show up like this--in the suicide of a man who threw himself off the church tower, and in the discovery of a two-hundred-year-old body beneath an ancient bridge.

The deaths are linked. The mummified corpse under the bridge, a murder victim, reignites a centuries-old battle between two local families--the Todds and the aristocratic Hayshams. Then both David Todd and Lord Haysham begin to act strangely. They are fearful for reasons they won’t explain.

When Lord Haysham is murdered, David Todd is the prime suspect. But Todd is maniacal, claiming great forces of evil are at work. An entire history of violence and depravity begins to emerge, interweaving the history of several local families with a secret occult society that engages in Black Masses. Has the Society emerged again?

My Review:

Let me preface this review by stating that thoughts on books are highly subjective. What I like, you may not, and vice versa. My purpose for writing these book reviews is to let other parents/adults know what is in them. Just in case someone out there is as picky as I am.

With that said, here we go.

Pros:

I was very excited to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Kregel. The cover is striking; it sparked my interest and made me want to delve into this mystery. 

There were plenty of twists and turns in this plot. This propelled the story forward.

The author wrote about new things I haven't seen in print before. However, to be blatantly honest, I don't read a ton of books. I simply don't have time, so I could be wrong about that.

Cons:

I was very disappointed on how much the author delved into sexual thoughts. While those thoughts weren't acted upon, the point was there and it was uncomfortable. I don't read books with sexual overtones. I have raised my children to know that if a book is here in my library, they are more than welcome to read it. This is one that I feel I have to hide. There's quite enough in the world to make child rearing difficult that I don't need to put temptation in their path. Home should be a place of safety and refuge, not refuse (garbage).

I picked this book because I knew the author was associated with Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey series. This isn't something that settles well with me. I understand wanting to branch out, believe me. I myself am writing a speculative fiction novel that deals with unexplainable things that some Christians may not accept. But I do not delve into the sexual. I feel the Bible expressly discourages such subjects as sex was made only for marriage so I treat it as a subject that shouldn't be in Christian novels. If I wanted to read a worldly book, there are plenty for me to choose from.

I also understand that this review is harsh and I do apologize. I feel terrible for that, but I cannot in good conscience with God nor myself recommend this book. If I'm uncomfortable having this book on my shelf, I feel it is my duty to warn others that may feel the same as I do. I won't be reading any more Father Gilbert books.