Dawn. The English Channel. A small boat arrives crammed with exhausted migrants, not all of whom will make land.
Some of the shattered occupants have already paid for their journeys. Others have arrived with a debt still to be paid. One of the migrants isn't fleeing anything. He's not from Europe, or Africa, or the East. He's from Texas, and he's wearing a robe.
When the traffickers take some of their passengers to pay for their journey, they also take the man in the robe. That was their first mistake.
As the full horror of how the debt is to be repaid emerges, so does the gang's second mistake.
Nathan Burrows is a writer based in Norfolk in the United Kingdom. His debut novel, Blind Justice, was published in March 2018.
Nathan's a keen reader as well as a writer. He occasionally runs marathons, has a Norwich City football club season ticket, and is the proud part-owner of a Daschund puppy called Bertie.
The Preacher is a Billy Bad A__!!!! His middle name should be WRATH. Those of you who cheer for the underdog will find this read very enjoyable. It took a while for The Preacher to get rolling but when he did it was like an unstoppable avalanche. Human trafficking is a sore spot with me, especially when children are involved. I found for every moment of anger that boiled inside me The Preacher put it out and gave me resolution. This is a worthy read my fellow GR readers. Enjoy the ride.
This book starts solid, giving serious old school Kung Fu tv series vibes.
An enigmatic drifter caught up in a human trafficking scheme.
You know that he is the only hope for the helpless innocents that accompany him. Because you know that inside that calm demeanor, just waiting the right moment to strike, is a tightly coiled packet of violence.
Who stays coiled.
And coiled.
And more coiled.
Passing up any number of opportunities to turn the tables.
While our hero is waiting who-knows-how-many chapters for just the right moment to act, we go back, over and over, into the head of a sexual predator as he happily recalls his "conquests," watches his staff as they abuse people, and fantasizes about his future abuses.
There is a word for such heavy-handed portrayal of sexual violence: gratuitous.
One scene was enough to establish how evil these people were, yet we get scene after scene inside the mind of this slime ball. No advancing of plot, just titillation.
And between these scenes, the characters make inexplicable choices, speak in unrealistic dialogue (using each other's first name in every other sentence.) and generally act unconvincingly.
To be honest, I probably would not have noticed these last few flaws if the story had actually progressed.
As it is, it is a first act stretched into an entire novel.
This book started out with some promise by the title alone. However, it went downhill from there on out. I cannot find any redeeming qualities in the characters or the story line. It left me empty trying to find some purpose for the book. I would say skip this one.
This is a very imaginative Thriller, with underlying themes not common to the genre.
Central to the book is the mysterious character named Caleb. Is he a contemplative monk, a martial arts practitioner, or just a good man protecting the downtrodden?
When a group of people are smuggled by boat into England by a shady crew, their individual fates are uncertain. It becomes apparent that the lives of the young women and girls in the group are in danger, targeted for a life in bonded trafficking.
Contemporary subjects of migration, refugees, and human trafficking are blended with the authors keen eye for intrigue. There is nonstop action, and a promise of things to come.
The Preacher, is he just an ordinary man or an Angel of wrath doing God's work. Young girls and women are being trafficked on a small boat but this time the preacher is with them. I really enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't put it down till I'd read it all. I hope there will be more books with the Preacher. Well worth five stars.
Well, this was a bit different, who or what is Caleb indeed. Great story even though subject is not nice. Other reviews likened him to Jack reacher, yes, would agree, others to David caradines kung fu character, yes, would agree, is he an angel? all I know is, he's the preacher. Have already downloaded next book. Very well worth a read.
I didn’t know what to expect from this novel as I stumbled across it by chance and although the first chapter almost lost me I highly enjoyed this. The Preacher is almost like a cross between a Preacher and a mercenary and I was really into this book. Highly enjoyed it
This is the 5th book by this author that I have read and have enjoyed them them all. The subject of this book is human trafficking which is a terrible thing happening today where terrible rich people take advantage of vulnerable people, mostly young immigrants. Nathan Burrows touches on the human side and still manages to instill some thrilling moments. Looking forward to reading more stories from Nathan Burrows.
This one is a 3.5 The plot moves at a snail's pace. It picked up a few times in the middle, but returned to its sloth like progression. I wanted to find out what became of the trafficked girls. I just wish the author had found a swifter and more interesting way to reveal this.
One of the worst KU books I’ve read. An action hero who spends all his time waiting for the right moment. Managed to stick to 50% through before I gave up.
“The Preacher” by Nathan Burrows is a riveting thriller that takes the reader on a journey into the dark world of human trafficking and sexual abuse. The story begins with a small boat arriving at dawn in the English Channel, crammed with exhausted migrants. Among them is a man from Texas, wearing a robe. He is not fleeing anything; he is not from Europe, Africa, or the East. He is much more than a preacher.
The narrative is compelling and the plot is well thought out. The characters are vivid, and the action is nonstop. The protagonist, known only as “The Preacher,” follows a path disclosed only to him to find evil and rip out its roots. In this journey, he encounters some special people that he is destined to protect. This journey will take him into the dark world of human trafficking and sexual abuse of females.
The author, Nathan Burrows, is a writer based in Norfolk in the United Kingdom. His debut novel, “Blind Justice,” was published in March 2018. He is a keen reader as well as a writer. He occasionally runs marathons, has a Norwich City football club season ticket, and is the proud part-owner of a Daschund puppy called Bertie.
The narration by Bradford Hastings adds another layer of depth to the story. His voice modulation and tone bring the characters to life, making the listening experience immersive. The pacing of the narration is just right, keeping the listeners on the edge of their seats.
However, some readers found the story to start out slow and doesn’t pick up until halfway through. Despite this, the writing is well-done, with few errors.
In conclusion, “The Preacher” is a gripping thriller that explores the dark underbelly of society. It is a story of resilience, courage, and the relentless pursuit of justice. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the narration by Bradford Hastings enhances the overall experience. It is a good ead for fans of thrillers and those who appreciate a well-told story. Despite some minor pacing issues, “The Preacher” is a commendable work by Nathan Burrows and a worthy addition to the thriller genre.
My Thoughts: I like the supernatural element in the book even if it is just a very tiny bit of the story.
This is my first Nathan Burrows read and I'm glad that I've found him. Will be reading more of his work. Already bought the second book in this series. Although I am not very fond of his writing style where he presents the scene first and then tell the backstory of it later. That means that the first time a reader encounters the "scene", it does not make a lot of sense. It is only later on that it makes sense when the backstory is told. To do this once or twice is fine. But to do this repeatedly is annoying. When I encounter a scene like this, it discourages me from reading on because it does not make a lot of sense to me. Like why would Caleb just let Aleksander rape and even murder Katya if he is supposed to be a kick-ass good guy? That made me stop reading/listening for a while until I forgot my annoyance and picked the book up again. This slowed the reading pace of this book down despite the convenience of the audiobook format.
This is also my first Bradford Hastings audiobook and will be listening to him again.
The audiobook has a bonus novella at the end which is not in the ebook. It is the story of how Caleb started on his journey as a Preacher. I am just wondering if the authorities would put Tommy's death down as a gang rivalry or would they look for some other causes?
Quantitative Evaluation: Story telling quality = 4.5 Character development = 4.5 Story itself = 4.5 Writing Style = 3 Ending = 3.5 World building = 5 Cover art = 4 Pace = (14 hrs and 41 mins listening time) Plot = 4 Narration = 5
This was an absolutely cracking story! It all unfolds around a small group of migrants who have arrived in England by boat. With a murder in the first chapter, the action kicks off from the get-go and it just keeps on going. Caleb is a mysterious man in a robe who turns out to be not your idea of the average preacher. This man from Texas combines some very resourceful physical justice with his bible quotes as he takes on the job of rescuing Katya and her two young female students from the people smugglers. Everyone in the chain seems to be involved here - the traffickers on the ground doing the grunt work, the ones doing the organising higher up and those who have the money to demand the supply in the first place. There are definitely no saggy or slow bits in this book! It really bounds along and had me keen to see what would happen to who next. This author easily engages all your senses and I just love it when you can really feel a story playing out. There is great dialogue here and some bits that gave me a laugh as well. It was an engaging read and hard to put down. There is enough that you don't get to find out about preacher Caleb which has you looking forward to his character and backstory being fleshed out more (hopefully!) in the future. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, and I'd recommend it 100%, no risk!
From the first chapter the writing style was very engaging and something I was sure I would enjoy. I quickly became fully enmeshed with the characters and the story line. The momentum kept building and before I knew I was on a run-away roller coaster being swept along for the ride! The mysterious Preacher character reminded me positively of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher character with his methodical thinking, application of logic and sense of right. He seeks justice and protects the innocents.
The story itself is enthralling; there is suspense, intrigue, action and so much more. After the mid-point of the story, I had a hard time putting it down and was drawn to finish it in one setting. I very much look forward to reading more in this series, and by this talented author. I was provided a copy of this book by the author, and am leaving this review that reflects my opinion of the book voluntarily.
Stumbled across this book as I was just searching for interesting reads. The book jacket intrigued me. Women being brought over in a boat to start a new life but little did they know their escorts were human trafficers except for the man in the back who wore a monks robe. He was more than a holy man. Interesting premise right?
Yeah I thought that. The book is about 125 chapters each chapter 3-5 pages. It wasn't until chapter 75 that the plot moved to action. The first 74 chapters were talk and talk and more talk. "He said this, then the other guy said that. Just blathering on like a bunch of people standing around in Starbucks.
Well I finished the book but that was it. What a shame too because there is 5 books in the series but the author must get paid by the word because I shudder to think how the others are setup. It was an interesting premise with the monk angle but the author needs to reexamine his setup.
Hmm, this one is hard to rate. On one hand the story and plot were both averagely entertaining, the pace was slow and quite dragging. But on the other hand, Kaleb aka The Preacher is a mystery that made me keep reading just to find out what or who is this guy. All we know was he's an American dressing and acting like some kind of monk but called himself The Preacher. He seems to have so many ability; combat skill, military strategy and yes, he moves like an assassin. He also likes to read and have a variety of knowledges and he loves to quote the Bible. But the weirdest thing is his (implying) supernatural power like sensing people's mind; their thought, their aura and their past. The second part told the origin of Kaleb but not all. Yes, this is a series about Kaleb whose character will be peeling off in each book like an onion to see the real Preacher.
With the subject of migrants and refugees, this is a very contemporary story. With this in mind, I did admittedly, expect a rather more analytical, lofty thoughtful piece about the subject, and the malevolence and evil behind those involved in it. However, this was not to be so. While the book developed characters, while telling the story involving corruption at different levels, it really is simply a good thriller. It is very readable with an interesting but a rather comic book hero with the mysterious past, and an undisclosed mission Io fulfil over new books. And to be honest I look forward to finding out more, especially as the actual writing itself is well done with good flowing description, dialogue. Changes in pace and even some humour.
Was boring/slow going for the first half - then the pace picked up and the storyline became much more interesting
“Dawn. The English Channel. A small boat arrives crammed with exhausted migrants, not all of whom will make land.
Some of the shattered occupants have already paid for their journeys. Others have arrived with a debt still to be paid. One of the migrants isn't fleeing anything. He's not from Europe, or Africa, or the East. He's from Texas, and he's wearing a robe.
When the traffickers take some of their passengers to pay for their journey, they also take the man in the robe. That was their first mistake.
As the full horror of how the debt is to be repaid emerges, so does the gang's second mistake.
The man in the robe is much more than a preacher.”
This is a well-told story on a difficult and sensitive subject. Well written, the characters come to life, they just jump off the page as you swipe the pages on your Kindle to see what's going to happen next. Twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat as this story unfolds. Realistic and not for the faint of heart, descriptors are graphic and IF you are easily triggered, this might not be the best choice for you. Otherwise, GET THIS BOOK. If Nathan Burrows is a new author to you, this is a great place to start. You won't be disappointed.
The reviews and synopsis I read intrigued me. I will admit that, even though I liked the character development, it was hard to get into this book in the middle. I knew Caleb was more than he portrayed , but waiting for something to show that was slow developing. Once the book started on Caleb's unique skills, the story became great. The twist at the end was perfectly placed. I did not see it coming. Because of its slow development, I need to knock it down a bit. A 4 out of 5 rating.
The Preacher follows a path disclosed only to him to find evil & rip out it’s roots. In this journey he encounters some special people that he is destined to protect. This journey will take him into the dark world of human trafficking & sexual abuse of females. In it he will find those special people including two young girls. He will protect what he must, kill when he must & meet out justice to perpetrators. Would that The Preacher was real. A captivating, intriguing & fabulous book. I will be reading others of his journeys.
A new recommended series that has similarities to the Reacher and Jason Bourne novels. The hero, Caleb, in this series is a stout preacher whose mission is to punish the evil doers and protect the innocent. After getting picked up by a human trafficking ring, Caleb connects with a woman and two girls to help them escape from perils of this evil institution. I really liked the story, however, it dragged throughout as the author moved from many different perspectives. I'm not sure if I will read the next book.
Human trafficking addressed in a realistic manner with a " hero" that I look forward to following further along his journey to righteousness. This is a man with a strong moral code who does what is moral and "good" for no monetary gain or fame, but rather because it is " right " and to protect the innocent who need help. A deeply touching sort of honor.... and very rare.
I don't have much to say other than I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love Caleb, I love the itinerant preacher motif, and I love the care with which he's written. This is going to be a wild parallel, but it feels a lot like Stephen King's "The Gunslinger" in a weird way. Different story, different character, same spiritual vibe. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm excited to read more.
Compulsive and gripping! Suspenseful, addictive and complex! A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. The suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. Worthy of your TBR list.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Who is this person that is saving illegal girls and women from becoming sexual slaves? Can he untangle everything and save these women/girls? All of this plays out in this well-written novel where the ending will surprise you. Has you rooting for the title character and the strong woman who he falls for.
Starts off with a casual murder at the flick of a wrist. Shockingly so. Done as a diversion. At the center of the story is an enigmatic man, a preacher... or is he. Once you get into the story, you find an action laden thriller that will keep you up nights. I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion of the tale.
A truly different sort of book from this author. The first in a trilogy.
Caleb is not your ordinary man. He wears a plain brown robe and carries a small bag slung over his shoulder. His story is filled with equal parts faith, steadfast purpose and ethereal qualities. His mission is both devine and sadistic. His form of justice is swift, brutal and total.