Church of the Epistles
A Story of Guilt and Redemption
by Gareth Young
Church of the Epistles should have a wide audience among the many readers of general fiction who want both action and emotional depth in their novels. It will appeal to readers who have been the victims of prejudice and judgment, large or small, and who can therefore relate to the protagonists’ feelings of guilt, rejection and isolation.
Church has been enthusiastically received by both male and female readers, and has received its strongest reviews from middle-aged college-educated women. Although it is set in the context of a fundamentalist church in rural America, Church crosses religious boundaries, with enthusiastic support from fundamentalists, Catholics and other churchgoers, as well as from Buddhists and universalists.
The momentum of Church is driven by murder, an extramarital affair, and an FBI investigation. As the story unfolds innocence is lost, prejudice is laid bare, and conflict appears on every side. The religious context gives a familiar face to the moral and social issues encountered and is a foil in their development.
Church is an intelligent novel, taking the reader on a journey through the despair of guilt, to redemption. It is disturbing and yet leaves the reader optimistic, eagerly anticipating the sequel.