Thin Places

by Diane Owens Prettyman

Finn Tully is clean, sober and on the downside of a prison term when he makes a promise to a soon-to-be executed man. He agrees to find the man's daughter and prove her father's innocence to her. But Finn is not prepared for what he finds. The daughter is involved in a smuggling scheme with the very man who framed her father.

Genres: Mystery, Amazon

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2012

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read my official OnlineBookClub review here:
http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...

[Diane Rapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A father’s love, a treasure, and redemption.

When a death-row inmate befriends Finn, he doesn’t realize the magnitude of the man’s final request—to find his daughter, Chloe, and prove he wasn’t guilty of murder. All inmates claim to be innocent but Calvary meant what he said. Finn was guilty of his crime and lost everything as a result—his wife, his daughter, and soon his mother. He’d leave prison and probably land back inside. Thin places are magical spots where the afterlife meets this world, and Calvary promises to meet Finn in those “thin places.” Finn sloughed off the idea until he felt the old man’s presence and learned to believe in God.

Chloe inherited a charter fishing boat from her father (who she thought had died long before) and tried to scratch out a living in Clam Harbor, Washington. She hardly remembered him and felt devastated when she learned he was on death row for murdering a man in Texas. She never expected to meet someone like Finn—a man who treated his dying mother to a charter and made Chloe fall in love with him. What was she to think when she heard the message from her father?

Calvary gave Finn a turtle named Sport and a box of meager possessions, a thin wallet with Chloe’s childhood picture, and a Bible with a cryptic poem inside the lining—a treasure map? Finn and Chloe need to decipher the message to keep her safe from the thug who framed Calvary for murder. That man wants the treasure and is willing to kill for it. Can Finn find redemption by helping Calvary prove his love for Chloe? Is the treasure real or is it just a special feeling in a thin place? Finn must help a father connect with his daughter before he can learn do the same with his own child.

This novel is special. It contains a message and introduces us to realistic characters and places, while it takes us on a journey of discovery. There is danger and intrigue, love and romance, and a murder to solve. Who doesn’t enjoy a treasure hunt? I recommend this well-written book. It will help readers learn to recognize those “Thin Places” in the world.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story could be awesome. I felt like there was so much the author could do with it but sadly she fell short. I almost recommended it to a friend but realized about half way thru she would be as disappointed as I was with the almost complete story. So many things were left unsaid and undeveloped in this story. Good try but I need a little more meat in my reading.

[Grkchkruns · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously? I chose this book because it was one of Oprah's Book Club. It's almost an example of a student level of creative writing, and not a very good one at that. Rediculous climax, predictable conclusion. Disappointed in Oprah.

[Annette DiSarno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Thin Places and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. The reason for not giving it a full five stars is the noticeable grammatical errors throughout the text. While these mistakes were somewhat distracting, they didn’t overshadow the overall impact of the story.

The narrative was a compelling blend of suspense, romance, and heartfelt moments that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. The author did an exceptional job of building tension and maintaining it throughout the book, making it difficult to put down. Each chapter seemed to end with a hook that drew me right into the next one, creating a reading experience that was as captivating as it was quick-paced.

Aside from the suspense, the romantic aspects of the story were well-developed and believable, adding depth and emotional resonance to the plot. The characters were relatable and well-rounded, and their interactions felt authentic, drawing me further into their world. There were also spiritual undertones that added a layer of meaning and reflection, making the story not just entertaining but also thought-provoking.

Despite the grammatical errors, I couldn’t find anything negative to say about the storyline itself. The plot was well-structured, the pacing was consistent, and the ending was satisfying. It’s clear that the author poured a lot of heart and effort into crafting this story, and it shines through in every chapter.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping, emotionally charged read that blends suspense, romance, and a touch of spirituality. Just be prepared to overlook some minor grammatical hiccups along the way.

[Winston Crutchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember how I found this book. I may have been searching for treasure hunting stories. That feels correct.

This was a really easy read. I flew through the pages and kind of forgot I was supposed to be on a treasure hunt. You meet the two principle characters and walk with them in turn until their lives converge. After that it’s just a matter of wrapping up loose plot threads.

I was trying to describe the book and it’s motif of “thin places” but couldn’t put a finger on the genre. It’s got a little bit of mystery, a little bit of treasure hunting, a little bit of romance, and just a smidgen of danger. My wife informed me it’s a “relationship novel.”

This is not a terribly complicated story. The plot and characters move along with comfortable familiarity and predictability. But it was quite an enjoyable read.

[Harmony Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about thin places

A luminous memoir...With raw emotions and describes many of the harrowing experiences, including being driven out of their home when a bomb was thrown through the window and moving frequently to avoid threats and the murder of a dear friend. It’s a beautifully written tribute to the healing power of nature.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of faith

Just like in everyone's ordinary life, people face extreme difficulties, not too many are lucky enough to have someone trying to lead them to peace and wealth, even fewer have the faith to listen to the plan and follow the directions to obtain it. I really enjoyed how this book ended.

[Shelley Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thin Places by Diane Owens Prettyman was a fun read. The main character, Finn Tully, is really a good guy but I would consider him an underdog and definitely his own worst enemy. Making mistake after mistake seems to be what Finn is good at. You feel for the guy that is nearing the end of his prison sentence. He is serving time because of actions related to his heroin addiction. Finn is assigned to mop the floor on death row and befriends a death row inmate, Calvery Thomas. Calvery's dying wish is for Finn to find his estranged daughter, Chloe, and help prove to her that he is innocent and was framed for murder. While Finn was grieving for the loss of a friend the hits just kept on coming. He learned his mother, Lucia, has terminal cancer, and his wife, Brooke, not only filed for divorce but also petitioned for sole custody of their young daughter. When Finn is released from prison, he confronts Brooke but learns she is with another man. Finn then finds his absent father to confront him and they get in an altercation. Distraught, Finn is on the brink of turning to heroin once again. He thinks of his friend Calvery and the promise to find his daughter. He convinces his sick mother to take a road trip to Washington State to locate Chloe, deliver her father's belongings, and inform her of her father's innocence. You can feel the father's love, even from the grave. Once Finn and Lucia arrive in Washington the remainder of the story is filled with romance, mystery, suspense, and a treasure hunt.

I enjoyed the characters in this book from the main character Finn Tully to the other prisoners, Jacob, Finn's mother, Lucia, Chloe, Millard, Butch, and Ovid. The turtle was a great addition. This was a wonderful story of mystery, forgiveness, and redemption. The book was full of family dynamics. I adored Finn and Lucia's relationship. Lucia got to really live life to the fullest in her final months with excitement and adventure. Not only did she aid in bringing down the man who framed Chloe's dad but also experienced new love. Finn's hope and love for life were rekindled. It was nice that his character was able to overcome his evils.

This story grabbed my attention early but it did drag in a few places. A few parts of the story were a little unbelievable. Overall, this was a great read but I did not care for the ending. During the treasure hunt, I was waiting and hoping for more. This is the area of the book I feel needs to be developed more.

I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a light fast read. This would be a good beach reach.

[Jody Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thin Places is a fine novel with an intriguing storyline about a young man, Finn Tully, incarcerated in a Texas prison from actions related to his heroine addiction. While in prison, Tully, assigned to mop floors, befriends an almost mystical death row inmate, Calvery Thomas, who professes his innocence to Tully. Thomas’s dying wish is for Tully to let Thomas’s estranged daughter, Chloe, know that Thomas never committed murder and was framed. Thomas leaves Tully all his belongings which fit in a shoebox.

While in prison, Tully’s mother, Lucia, develops terminal cancer and his wife, Brooke, files for divorce, petitioning the court for sole custody of their young daughter. Tully confronts Brooke as soon as he is released from prison, only to find that she has taken up with another man. Tully also goes to confront his father, a man who never took interest in his only son, and punches him in the face. Distraught, Tully is on the brink of turning to heroine once again, but the wise words of Thomas and the promise he made to Thomas save him. Tully convinces his dying mother to take a road trip with him to Washington State to locate Chloe, deliver her father’s belongings to her, and inform her of her father’s truth.

The story rapidly develops into a mystery and a romance with a splash of mysticism. Prettyman’s development of Tully’s character in a true literary style is the highlight of the novel. She writes beautiful prose, offering powerful, descriptive images, such as: “Spud worked as a rancher on the side and was a bull of a man with a heaping helping of dough around the middle.”

I found the author’s switching the point of view from first person for Tully and third person for Chloe a bit confusing. In fact, a couple of times the author switched to the wrong point of view for the character in mid-sentence. Nonetheless, I will certainly forgive the author for a few grammatical and editing errors for such a good read as this. I highly recommend this book.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I was drawn into the story right from the beginning. At first I was disappointed that the main character isn't a female, rather is a male inmate. He is an interesting character, though, flawed but with sparks of goodness fighting to get out. Somehow I liked him enough to keep reading.

Then I met the strong female, Chloe. Wow, she's impressive! Boat captain extraordinaire!

I loved feeling like I was there in Washington enjoying time out on the ocean.

The story kept me engaged and wondering how all the bits and pieces would fit together. Even when I had figured out the ending, I didn't know how the author was going to get there. I enjoyed the ride.

If you're looking for a nice adventure, I recommend Thin Places.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thin Places offered the adventure, intrigue, suspense, and yes, just a little romance, that allows readers to escape. The characters quickly become like friends or neighbors we've known for a lifetime. We feel what they feel because we know them. We understand their thoughts and emotions. The settings are subtly drawn and become clear images, bringing us into the sights, sounds, and smells of distinctly different worlds.
The mystery and suspense builds up to on-the-edge-of-our-seats apprehension and tension that we expect from a great mystery novel. A great "Read"!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh, what a good story of redemption, of reuniting of families, of walking away from the bad stuff, of carrying on after loss, of doing ones best to make things right. Loved Chloe and Finn. I also loved the reference to 'Thin Places'. I believe there are thin places where the separation between us and those who have passed on is very thin and sometimes translucent. I love, and often live for, those moments to feel loved ones around me. It's a beautiful thing!!

[Claire Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line & I enjoyed the twists & turns. It really was a full on journey for Finn who I felt sorry for to begin with but who turned his life around & I wanted to high five him at the end! I enjoyed this book a lot & will be reading it again.

[Shirley R Keller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good read

I had to finish this tonight even though I am fighting a major migraine. We had so many visits today from children and grandchildren that I didn't get a chance to finish it earlier.
All the twists and turns in this book had me hooked from the start to the end.

[Janett Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A good easy reader.

[Chris Yorgason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book as a Read for Review and quite enjoyed it. It was a good story, with characters who felt real. I suppose more of a romance than a suspense novel, but a fun read just the same.

[Janell Barney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 on this one. Good easy read.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy able read.

It's a good read. I like the narration.
This book reminds me of good people and bad choices. Don't judge a book by its cover.