A Prayer for the Devil

by Dale Allan

Twin brothers Luke and Aaron Miller could not lead more different lives. Aaron, a rising political star who manages the campaign of a man many believe will be the nation’s next president, embraced his father’s Jewish heritage. Luke, on the other hand, honored his mother’s faith and entered the Catholic priesthood. When Aaron and the candidate he supports are killed in a bombing at a presidential stump speech, the Miller family’s core is destroyed. Fear of a terrorist threat grips the nation, but the FBI and the press seem more focused on the death of a presidential candidate than on the other innocent victims like Aaron. Suddenly, Luke begins to feel the lure of a vengeance that is stronger than the bond of faith.

As he falls deeper into the abyss of political intrigue that surrounded his brother’s mysterious professional life, Luke is tempted to break his promise to God and reassess his own sense of right and wrong. What sort of priest carries a concealed weapon? How can he judge others when he himself has strayed so far from his own flock?

Luke’s comfortable life in Boston collides with the faraway world of the Middle East as he sets out on a journey to unravel the truth behind Aaron’s murder. Will he take an eye for an eye?

In this murder mystery wrapped in a thoughtful meditation on the intersection of faith and justice, Luke’s journey through his own darkness propels him to a shocking ending that will leave readers breathless.


*Awarded the coveted Kirkus Star for books of exceptional merit.
*Winner Forward Reviews Book Of The Year - Silver Medalist Best
Thriller/Suspense
*Selected by Kirkus as one of the best books of 2013
*Winner Indie Excellence Awards
Best New Fiction
Best Thriller
Best Religious Fiction
*Finalist International Book Awards - Top 4
Best New Fiction
Best Mystery/Suspense
*Paris Book Festival - General Fiction - Top 10

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2012

About the author

Dale Allan is a graduate of Fordham University, has held several senior positions in Fortune 250 companies, and has traveled the world. A black belt in martial arts, avid fly-fisherman, political junkie, and devout Christian, the storylines of his novels reflect his diversified life.

When Dale was just twelve years old, his father was murdered while away on an extended business trip. A week before his death, Dale had struggled to write a letter updating him on the family's activities. When his father was buried with the handwritten note in his pocket, Dale fully understood the power of writing.

Reviews

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book from Net galley.

Luke Miller, a Catholic priest, loses his twin brother, Aaron, as a victim through an act of terrorism. Raised to practice Judaism, Luke struggles with the reason why God would allow evil to flourish and the innocent to suffer.

As the book progresses, Luke meets the sister of the alleged suicide bomber. She is in shock that not only is her sister now gone but that she could have even done anything as sinister as a suicide bombing.

Dale Allan is a genius at writing fiction. Still reading but it flows really well. It has some tender and heartfelt moments. Gritty and controversial. A really great read.

Recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense novels.

[Debbie Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I love about Dale Allan..... It is so refreshing to read a book that every word is necessary to the story. We have gotten away from such talent and I am often disappointed in pages full of nothing but unnecessary words, just taking up space and never really leading to much of anything. From the moment I started A Prayer for the Devil, I knew I was at the mercy of a great author. Dale Allan has done his research and definetely knows how to deliver fact and fiction in such a combination that you don't want to put the book down. Dale Allan takes you right up to that fine line and has the classiness to never quite cross it. This is so rare and truly a indication of great writing. I hope to read more of Dale Allan. I hope this for all who appreciate a great story. A gifted talent.

[Patrice Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book opens with the scene of Aaron Miller and Presidential candidate Brad Thompson being killed by an explosion in Boston, MA. Aaron Miller's twin brother Luke Miller is determined to find the people responsible for his brothers death. Although he and his brother had been estranged for some time regarding their religious choices, the bond they shared as twins trumped all that discord.

During the investigation into the death of his brother, Luke is sometimes faced with the hefty decision of doing the "priest-ly" thing or allowing hate and anger to dictate his path. For the most part, Luke is able to do the right thing. It makes him human. Allen does a great job at writing a humanized priest who understands that although we're all faced with choices, it's the ones we can live with that define us. Luke is a well developed character but he's probably the only one.

Another aspect of the book that I found to be pretty interesting and I wish a little more developed was the fact that it seemed so easy for the family to want to replace Aaron with Luke. It's almost as if they didn't care that he had his own life with the parish that he would have to get back to once his brother's killer is brought to justice. I understand that because they are twins, it seems like an easy fix by letting him wear his clothes, drive his car, or live his life that the lines can be blurred. But there should not be any replacement for a person and family should know this best.

My last gripe about this book which isn't that big of a deal but it's something that I did notice. I read a lot of political thrillers and it's usually pretty apparent who gets the bad cut. In this particular novel, Democrats got the hammer. The only two that were in the novel were spit flinging pro-lifer and a good for nothing Senator. It's not a huge deal since someone's gotta be the punching bag but it is something I noticed. The other hugely niggling fact in the back drop was the war on Islamic faith and terrorism. For reference read the end.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. There were no characters introduced that did not matter to the plot and there weren't any boring spots. The story moved forward in a very acceptable pace. Once I started reading I was unable to stop. I recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a quick read. This is a great jumping off point for Dale Allen and I'm anxious to see what his next book will be.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twin brothers chose dramatically different lifestyles, placing a wedge in their relationship. Brought up in their father's Jewish tradition, Aaron Miller is a successful, wealthy lawyer and an aspiring politician, while Luke has turned from his father's teachings to become a Roman Catholic priest. Additionally, Aaron lives an affluent lifestyle while Luke lives a life of humility and simplicity, offering assistance to the homeless community. In the Boston Commons during a political event a bombing kills Aaron, a presidential candidate, and several others. Father Luke is angry that a more intense police and FBI investigation into the Boston Bombing isn't taking place, and in his grief and anguish he decides to do some investigating on his own. Frustrated by anger over his brother's death, and guilt regarding his estrangement from his brother for the past year, Father Luke takes a leave of absence from his Parish and moves into his brother's mansion in order to offer comfort and protection for his brother's family as he begins his quest for answers regarding who killed his brother.

Numerous social and political issues are broached in this highly suspenseful story, including religious differences, politics, terrorism, cultural differences and practices, homelessness, suspicion regarding Muslim involvement in the bombing, and Father Luke's personal battle with anger and his relationship with God. Dale Allan has presented a fast-paced drama filled with intrigue, suspense, and terrorism. The cast of characters in A Prayer for the Devil are deep and skillfully portrayed and represent a multiplicity of distinctions. I was unable to put this book down! The rapidly moving plot kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. The descriptive elements and nonstop action in this book make this a truly impressive thriller!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Book Fun through the For Readers Only program, for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for the Devil is a brilliant, unassuming tour de force filled with enough international intrigue, present-day turmoil, and personal self-discovery to keep even the most hard to please reader hooked until the very end. What starts out as a personal vendetta of a priest in finding his brother’s murder ends in a horrifyingly, tangled mess that you will never see coming. Just when you think you have things figured out, the entire landscape morphs into something you least expect. The most important question to answer is who can be trusted.

A Prayer for the Devil not only has a brilliant plot, but is also filled with the most unforgettable and diverse cast of characters. They truly bring this story to life. Without them, this journey would not have the heart and soul that reaches inside you and pulls you into the story to feel every struggle and rejoice in each victory. Each of them are meticulously and meaningfully fleshed out and filled with such amazing depth.

The themes flowing throughout A Prayer for the Devil range from the mundane, everyday struggles we all face to the highly-explosive, controversial issues discussed in the political area. You will be amazed at how Dale Allen effortlessly flows from one theme to another without any warning. Allen will without warning completely immerse you in his world of how one simple man’s life can become entangled in the nefarious efforts of those located half way around the world. At the same time, Allen also shows you how one person can be a positive impact on those around him. One person can change a world. One person can open the eyes of millions. That one person is valuable no matter who they are.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer genius that Dale Allen shows in A Prayer for the Devil. I was pleasantly surprised at how I was immediately taken into this story. I couldn’t put this book down very easily. I had to know what happened next. Allen is an amazing storyteller, and I look forward to reading more from him. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a strong story and deep, meaningful characters. You will not be disappointed.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazon has glowing reviews for this book, with 38 five star ratings and no rating below four stars, so I plunked down my $3 and gave it a go.

I'm thinking that someone stuffed the ballot box on this one. This book is formulaic, brimming with ethnic stereotypes, and about as descriptive as a business memo. I forced myself to finish it in the hopes Allan would pull a rabbit out of his hat at the end, but there was no magic here. Allan's writing has no nuance, no character complexity and a rather Fox News-like moral. Spoiler alert ... Muslims are bad people.

Take a pass.

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started off well enough and had the potential to be a good political thriller. However, it quickly descended into a pro-Christian, pro-western story. There are obviously problems in both the West and the East, and in Christianity and in Islam, but the author makes no attempt to be balanced. The Christian hero is a well rounded character while the Muslim villain is a one dimensional stereotype. Very disappointing.

[E.C. Ayres · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here is the plot in a nut-shell: A Catholic priest takes up arms against a secret Muslim-linked gang of murderous terrorists, who murdered his Jewish twin brother in a bombing in Boston. This gang of terrorists consists of a band of PRO-CHOICERS who are secretly backed by the evil Democrats in the White House. One suspects that the Koch Brothers are behind this book, somehow. Or at least Ted Cruz!

[Larry Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely awesome novel of extreme importance given the situation our world finds itself in today. Good versus evil with all the twists and turns you could imagine. A Catholic Priest finds himself in the middle of an international conspiracy, a suicide bomber, young children left in the wake. A must read for everyone. Five stars, a great work by a truly inspirational author.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

There haven't been many authors that, after reading my first book by them, that I've REALLY enjoyed the story and character development. This new novel by Dale Allan truly ranks up there with some of the best.

Father Luke Miller is a man on a mission. After receiving the news that his brother and several others were killed in an explosion in Boston, Father Miller starts his own investigation to get to the bottom of who killed his brother. Not knowing who to trust, he picks up a couple of confidantes along the way. His investigation will take him from Boston to Riyadh, and gain him enemies along the way. How does his brother's death tie into a construction company that only operated during home baseball games? Can the homeless man that's been arrested several times as a con artist really lead him to the answers? Will he ever get to the bottom of who killed his brother? Pick this book up and you'll never put it down. GO BUY THIS BOOK!

As I started this book, I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to truly "get into character". I felt that the characters were aloof and not understanding of what happens in the real world. As the book progressed, though, I saw the struggles that they went through and knew that Mr. Allan had found their soul. The plot is very thought out and deliberate. The pace starts out as a small pebble rolling down the hill, but ends up as a large boulder crashing through your expectations at the end.

Is this a "guy's book"? Yes, this has all the makings of a guy's book. Murder, intrigue, world travel and money, everything that you would want in a good book.

So why, you may ask, did I only rate it a "3" if I enjoyed it so much? My core audience is for "Christian Men's fiction". I review books that would be found in my church library, and enjoyed by the men. This book, however good it was, could have been "GREAT" if the author had omitted all of the foul language in the book. I was very disappointed to see this language peppered throughout the book. When I sit down to read a "Christian Fiction" novel, the language used in this book is not what I expect to see.

I received this book from the author after discovering him on bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion of his book.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for the Devil by Dale Allan follows the tragic and gripping journey of twin brothers, Luke and Aaron Miller, who lead vastly different lives. Aaron, a rising political star, is tragically killed in a bombing at a presidential campaign event, leaving Luke, a Catholic priest, devastated. As Luke delves into the dark world of political intrigue surrounding his brother's murder, he faces a moral crisis, torn between his vow of faith and the desire for vengeance. This suspenseful novel explores the intersection of faith, justice, and the complexities of right and wrong as Luke's quest for the truth leads to a shocking and unforgettable conclusion.

[Lisa Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning and very thought provoking.
Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Julie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review first appeared on my blog: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/20...

Luke Miller is a Catholic priest who was raised Jewish and disowned by his father when he gave up a UMASS scholarship for the seminary. His identical twin brother Aaron is high on the political scene, working as a campaign manager for Brad Thompson, a serious presidential candidate.

Luke's world is knocked off its foundation when Aaron is killed in an explosion that also takes the life of Brad Thompson and his wife. The two brothers, who had stopped speaking to each other the year before over a development deal, will now never have the chance to reconcile.

With the investigation focused on the now-dead candidate, Luke finds himself drawn into the mystery of the explosion. Was it the mob? Was it a terrorist attack? With an unlikely allies such as a homeless couple and a Muslim woman, Luke sets out on a journey that takes him as far as Riyadh to find the truth.

This is a well-turned mystery - one that does keep the reader guessing, as there are some twists and unlikely turns. I did enjoy it, despite some quibbles that I had with it. One quibble - the portrayal of Muslims and the not-so-subliminal messages that Islam is basically evil. Another quibble (along the same lines) - the mislabeling of Sharia law as derived from two primary sources of Islamic law - Sharia law is actually a man-made deliberate misinterpretation of the Quran, twisted to fit the purposes of those who took it upon themselves to interpret it thus. I feel that we shouldn't be so quick to point fingers at other religions. As a Christian, I'm well aware of the bloody history of most major religions, including my own. ANY religion or religious text can be twisted out of context to justify many injustices; that doesn't make the base of the religion murderous or evil. MAN is responsible for those injustices - not the Bible or the Quran.

So ... off my soapbox there :)

There were also some points during the reading where the writing felt a bit awkward and stiff, but only here and there. As the mystery began to wrap up, I was drawn in enough to have a very uneasy feeling about it all and there was a scene or two that made me extremely sad.

All in all, if you like a good, clean mystery that still has enough bite to keep its edge, this would make a good choice.

QUOTE (from a galley; may be different in the final copy):

He nodded as she reached up and removed the white linen Roman collar from his shirt while pulling him down to place a black kippah on his head. "Luke, just for today, don't be a Catholic, be a Jew."

Writing: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Characters: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Reading Immersion: 3.5 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING: 3.6 out of 5 stars

[ChrisGA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayer for the Devil is an intriguing suspense story. The book opens with a terrorist bomb blast that killed a presidential candidate, a Muslim peace activist, and the brother of a Roman Catholic priest. Father Luke, the priest, deals with his grief by trying to discover who placed the bomb and why. Along the way, he is helped by a variety of colorful, well-described characters. The pace of the action starts slow and builds as Father Luke stumbles his way toward the truth. The tension mounts as he begins to have some sense of what happened but is afraid for the safety of his family and those helping him when more deaths occur. Still, he presses on to be able to find justice for his slain brother.

Father Luke is an interesting character, sincere but far from perfect. He uses “temptation” as his ATM password which I thought appropriate. He readily admits he struggles with anger and must deal with the temptation of violent reactions. He is also very aware of the lure of stepping into his brother’s shoes with their parents and his brother’s wife and children. Everyone expects Luke to take his place, which must be tempting for a celibate man to experience normal family life. It is fun is see this man who gives generously to the poor and befriends the homeless react to the over-the-top luxurious lifestyle of his brother.

Several things could have detracted from my enjoyment, but fortunately didn’t. One was the sprinkle of cuss words—not a lot but present. The second worry I had was that the author was going to go on an anti-Muslim crusade. Thankfully, Mr. Allen avoided stereotyping and actually had positive Muslim characters like Jami and her sister. All in all, this was an enjoyable reading experience,
I received this book through bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion which this is.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful Political Intrigue (4 Stars)

A Prayer For The Devil by Dale Allan (Emerald Book Co.)

Luke Miller is a Catholic priest raised in the Jewish faith from a Jewish father, a Catholic mother, and his twin brother on the campaign trail with Brad Thompson who is running for president on a conservative platform. Things look a little complicated, don’t they? You don’t know anything yet! The first chapter, actually the prologue, set the stage for the coming political intrigue that will keep you up reading.

I did like the main character, Father Luke Miller. He’s caught in a difficult position and he’s determined to find out who is responsible for the actions that happen in the prologue (I’m not giving anything away!). His concern for the homeless and his trust in certain people is awesome, but what would you expect from a priest. I'm not Catholic so I don' have any experience to pull from, but I really liked Father Luke.

There’s lots of action and it was hard to put down. There were a very few cuss words scattered throughout the book, nothing bad, but I just wanted to mention it in case someone was really opposed to a few bad words, but like I said, it was mild considering what most secular books have today.

I read the book in two days, it was hard to put down and I’m wondering if there will be a sequel. I would love to follow Father Luke and his family and see what may happen a few years down the road.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from The Book Club Network for my honest opinion and did not receive any compensation for a favorable review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Michelle Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayer for the Devil by Dale Allen
This book is outstanding. It is full of action, mystery, political intrigue. My curiosity was piqued at the title. You have the Catholic faith, the Jewish faith and the faith of the Muslim represented in one suspenseful book. Twin brothers Father Luke and Aaron Miller are as different as their faith. Luke followed his mother’s Catholic faith and Aaron follows his father’s Jewish heritage. Aaron is a political campaign manager for the up and coming presidential candidate. He is killed alone with other political and religious leaders in a terrorist bombing. Father Luke decides to find his brothers murder when the local police and FBI fail. He finds help in unlikely characters, two homeless men, the adopted brother and sister of a terrorist, the wife of a political leader, sister of a Muslim leader killed and the Vatican. His quest for answers takes him half way around the world, to Dubai, in the Middle East. Father Luke’s search has the potential to change lives, from the homeless, to his family and the families of others killed with his brother. His quest for revenge puts into question his true commitment to the priesthood, and the pull of right and wrong in the name of justice. The author Dale Allen writes in a believable fast paced style that will draw you in and have you coming back for more. This is the only book I have read by him but will surely read anything else he writes. I highly recommend this book, as being of a Christian, political thriller nature that is clean, without dirty scenes or foul language. I would like to thank BookFun.org, the author Dale Allen and publisher for this book in exchange for my honest option. I give this book 5 stars.

[Cherie Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for the Devil
By Dale Allan
Hardback Copy

This is not a title I would have picked up just looking at it, but I am really glad that I had a chance to read it.
The family of Luke and Aaron Miller are all thrown into a tailspin when a bomb is set off during a political speech. Aaron was the campaign manager, and on the fast track to running for President himself. There were also other important people, who were killed in the blast, but to Luke, the twin brother left behind, the death of his brother Aaron was all consuming.
Luke and Aaron were the children of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. The children were raised Jewish, but Luke changed to become Catholic during his high school years and eventually went into the Priesthood. Luke has, at times, the tendency to feel things he shouldn’t be feeling. But, what he did, seeking out the truth behind the bombing lead him on an exciting and suspense-filled story.
The author, Dale Allan, wrote an exceptional mystery, suspense and faith-filled story. The characters are exactly what you would think they would be if you had to describe them. The push and the pull of the story keep you reading from front to back. I read the book in two days, didn’t like to put it down at all. You have got to read this book to see what happens in the end, but are sure and enjoy the journey along the way.
I think this book is a perfect example of Christian Fiction with suspense, mystery, faith, love, life, and a little fear thrown in. I can heartily recommend this book.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn Gelb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for the Devil

The prologue of this fictional book, A Prayer for the Devil, by Dale Allan begins with several people being killed in a bomb attack in Boston. Brad Thompson, a politician running for president, Aaron Miller, a lawyer and campaign manager for Brad, Father Fatone, Brad’s pastor, and Ablaa Raboud were some of those who were killed.

When it seemed to Luke, Aaron Miller’s twin, that the case was not making any progress, Luke decided he would look into the case himself and see if he could find his brother’s killer and find justice for him and those murdered. Since he was a priest, he had to ask Monsignor for an extended leave. He didn’t at that time know that solving the mystery would involve international travel to Saudi Arabia, murders, money, Islamic extremists, twists and turns, corruption and a surprise at the end of the book which, to avoid ruining the story, I will not disclose.

This detective thriller was suspenseful, action-packed, and exciting from beginning to end. The characters were well developed, interesting, and strong and the story line was intriguing. It was an outstanding novel.

I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this book so that many of my questions will be answered. Does anything happen between Luke and Deborah? What does Luke do with the money he inherited? Does Jamie live happily ever after?

Thank you Dale Allan for offering it free in exchange for my honest opinion and BookFun.org that made it all happen!

[Cleve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: A Prayer for the Devil
Author: Dale Allen
Pages: 320
Year: 2013
Publisher: Emerald Book Co.

Dale Allan's premier novel, A Prayer for the Devil, is awesomely written with seat-of-you-pants mystery and thrilling action. This book is intriguing, and, in light of current events, is somewhat prophetic. The story centers on a priest who takes upon himself a personal investigation into the death of his twin brother, an up and coming candidate for the U.S. Senate. Along with the priest's brother, several others, including a presidential candidate, are killed in a terrorist bomb blast at a rally in...(This is what is so uncanny about the story)...Boston. Keep in mind that this is a fictional story that was released a few months ago before a recent terrorist bombing during the recent Boston Marathon.

Allan's novel is a mystery thriller that kept me interested as I tried to anticipate what the priest would uncover in the clues that he found while looking for the truth. I thought that the characters were very believable and down-to-earth people from various walks of life. The situations involved include politics, religion, and friendship as well as hints of a government cover-up which leads to a possible sequel. According to the author, this book is in the process of one day becoming a movie. If it makes it to the big screen, I am confident that it will be a blockbuster!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale Allan’s eBook Prayer for the Devil was an interesting who dun it? from the beginning. When one of the identical twin brothers, Aaron-works for a presidential candidate, is killed in a bombing, it is left to his brother, Luke, a Catholic priest to figure out the who and why. His journey leads us to many interesting characters, and always with a little bit of anxiousness never knowing what he is walking in to. It is a road of many twists and turns, both on the home front with his family, especially living with his brother's family, and on the mystery maze.

I loved how Dale made Luke real human with his feelings towards his sis in law, and his deep concern for all involved. It is too easy to think that ministers, especially Catholic priests, are supposed to be 'above' all that. We forget sometimes that they too are human, just like us. I loved too how when stressed, he would get away and pray. We could all learn something from this.

With all that is going on in today's world it is an easy to believe story, including how long these actions have been in preparation, and is an eye opener of just how in depth this desire to hurt America, especially, is.

I can't wait for the next book!!

Dale Allan’s Prayer for the Devil is a book that I would highly recommend to those in need of a good mystery, with a lead character strong in his faith!

I was provided this ebook by bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for the Devil is an intense, unnerving, suspense mystery that will keep you flying through the pages. I believe this is the first novel that I have ever read in one day. It is a must read chiller of a story too close to current events in this country. If you have read the Harbinger, this novel takes it to a much more personal level.

This is a fictional piece involving twin brothers; a priest and a lawyer. Luke, the priest, searches relentlessly to find his brother’s murderer after a bomb in Boston kills him along with many others. (See what I mean by unnerving and current events?)

The deeper he gets involved in this investigation, the closer he gets to extreme danger. Putting himself and his loved ones’ lives at risk, he will stop at nothing to find the truth.

Dale Allen, the author, tells an amazing story while educating the readers on Islam and the dangers America face. After watching this morning’s news, I believe we are in even more danger than he points out in this mystery.

I wish every American could read this novel. Honestly, I would be surprised if non-Christians don’t enjoy this suspenseful book. Well, except for those terrorists that are hiding in our country, fitting in as an average Joe.

I hope to see it on the big screen. It’s just that good.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayer for the Devil....i am not sure that another title might not have been more appropriate, and also might have more picking up this book or ebook, as the case might be, which is really too bad as this is a fantastic novel that I would highly recommend. I do realize that the publicity group of the publishers does the marketing The main character is a catholic priest, having be raised as a Jew (his father was a Jew) which of course adds the affiliation of religions into the mix of intrigue and suspense. I am not a catholic, and this does not add or detract from the story except as noted above. In the midst of all the action and drama, I was able to pause and reflect on the motives and the responses of the characters. This is a fast paced novel, and the ending comes too soon, and although there is nothing to indicate that a sequel is soon to be released or even in the works, I am thinking there will be, because the answers to the questions just lead to more, and I will be anxiously waiting to hear more from Dale Allen and Luke Miller.
Thank you to Fred and Nora at bookclub.org for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

How quickly can the author write a sequel?
This is a story of a terrorist bombing in Boston. Sound familiar? The facts are different, but the setting is the same. In this case, the victims are a Presidential candidate, his campaign manager, and some others involved in his campaign. When the police and FBI do not seem to have any leads to solve the crime, Luke Miller, a priest and brother of victim Aaron Miller, decides to get involve. The more he investigates, the greater the web seems to be. As it turns out, Luke uncovers information that has the FBI concerned and the police puzzled.
As Luke seeks his brother's killer, he discovers things about himself that he realizes are not a reflection of Christ's redemptive work in his life - vengeance, violence, and prejudice. In the climax of the story, when Luke confronts the person responsible for Aaron's death, he has to make a choice on whether he will give into these impulses or rely on God to deliver him.
This book is filled with many twists and turns, making for an exciting tale. It does leaves the reader with many unanswered questions. Hopefully, the sequel is coming out soon.
I received this book from bookfun.org and was not required to submit a favorable review

[Betti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from The BookClub Network in return for a candid review. While the busyness of life interfered with my ability to sit down and read this book without stopping, that in no way takes away from how much I enjoyed reading it. Dale Allan has done a fabulous job of keeping one hanging and wondering what on earth could happen next.
The book begins with a speech that many might wish we would hear from a presidential candidate. In light of the current political environment, this candidate would be a welcome change. With the boom of a bomb, lives changed! The author continues the story with Luke, the identical twin brother of one of the bombing victims, in his attempt to discover who killed his brother. The protagonist is a priest, who seems to struggle at times with the same feelings of revenge, etc. that any of us would have to deal with under such circumstances.
The book touches on homelessness, and shatters our stereotypes with introducing us to well educated people who just have lost everything, and thus are homeless.
In all, a wonderful, well-written book.

[❤Marie Gentilcore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mystery surrounding the bombing murder of a political candidate and others in his circle a couple weeks before the election. One of those killed was the twin of a priest who is determined to find his brothers murderer. This was a Goodreads giveaway that had a very nice inscription from the author, Dale Allan. Mr. Allan did a great job writing in an easy to read style that was fast paced and kept my interest throughout. I looked forward to spending my evenings reading this book. My only criticism would be that I felt a little bit of intolerance toward Islam. I get that there are extremists who hold radical Islamic views, but there are extremists in all religions who pervert what their religion teaches in the name of their cause. Other than that it was a very enjoyable book. I look forward to reading more from Mr. Allan.

[Lori Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Prayer For The Devil" is an excellent political suspence. The author, Dale Allan, has a way of keeping a reader in suspense and wanting to know what was going to happen next. The story revolves around a bombing and killing of a presidential candidate, his wife, and campaign manager. The manager has a twin who is a Catholic priest who takes it upon himself to try to solve the bombing after the police get nowhere. Along the way, the are many ups and downs. He meets many interesting characters that he attempts to help in his own way. His family continues to grieve.
Father Luke has many tests of faith in his attempts to find his brothers killers. He handles them with true faith.
Dale Allen has a true winner here and I can't wait to see if he has any books to follow this one.
I recieved this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion.

[Denise Chasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Prayer for the Devil" by Dale Allan

This novel was intriguing! Dale Allan has the art of writing suspense in a way that keeps you guessing who the real culprit is! Mr. Allan took his characters far beyond a simple act of faith. He twisted and confused and ended up with a most wonderful story of grief, joy, fear, elation, all mixed up in a festinating mystery.

I know twins and there is a major identity issue. Mr. Allan addressed that issue in a clear and honest way. I loved this book. The ending had me in tears! I won’t spoil it but I WILL suggest you get this one! I was SO glad I was able to read it!

Thank you Dale Allan and bookfun.org for letting me pre-read “A Prayer for the Devil”. I have NO problem shouting its merits everywhere I can!

[Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Prayer For The Devil" by Dale Allan.... The best way I can describe how I am feeling after finishing this book is by saying this: "I started reading this book this morning and have not been able to put it down". I finished reading just a few minutes ago, at 8:16 pm to be exact, and I hope that the author has another Father Luke story in the works.

This writer has an amazing way with character and plot development. It has been a while since I have read a political thriller that dragged me in and would not let go until the very last word was read.

The mixture of a faith based story, murder, political corruption and foreign beliefs make this a truly exceptional read.

I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

[Thane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayer for the Devil is a fantastic read. Strangely enough, it involves a terrorist bombing in Boston. I started reading only a day or two after the Boston Marathon bombing, what a shock! This one hit very close to home. It's well written and not a word seems to be wasted.

I saw some complaints that there are cookie cutter Islamic terrorists and wondered if people read the same book as I did. Their are many Muslims in the book, all with differing motives and some are helping the protagonist.

All in all, a great read. I should warn you that there is a bit of colorful language sprinkled through the book, but not much.

Excellent work, Mr. Allan.

[Darbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the title of the book I wasn't sure that I would like it but then I read the description and it caught my attention.

I really enjoyed the book and the way it encompasses a lot of what goes on in today's world..

The characters were well thought out and the plot was awesome and it kept me guessing to the end..

Especially the Epilogue.. It definitely makes one think..

I want to thank bookfun.org and the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.. And for being allowed to give my honest opinion (good or bad)..

I will definitely keep an eye out for other works by this author..