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The Sign Painter
From bestselling and award-winning author Davis Bunn comes a story about a mother struggling to get back on her feet after a loss leaves her family living on the street.
Amy Dowell had always considered herself a very good mother. But when she loses her husband to illness and her home to debt, she finds herself and her young daughter, Kimberly, living on the streets as she struggles to find a job that will get them back on their feet again.
When Amy meets Lucy Watts, the pastor in charge of the church program that fed Amy and Kimberly their latest meal, Lucy sets them up in temporary housing and gives her a lead on a job painting signs for a local auto dealership—but Amy is hesitant to let go and trust. Is this finally a legitimate break? Can Amy subject herself to the possibility of disappointment and hurt by hoping again?
Inspired by the true story, The Sign Painter is a tale of desperation, taking chances, and ultimately redemption. This heartwarming novel blends mystery, romance, and characters you’ll root for, will leave you wondering— Is home really where the heart is?
Amy Dowell had always considered herself a very good mother. But when she loses her husband to illness and her home to debt, she finds herself and her young daughter, Kimberly, living on the streets as she struggles to find a job that will get them back on their feet again.
When Amy meets Lucy Watts, the pastor in charge of the church program that fed Amy and Kimberly their latest meal, Lucy sets them up in temporary housing and gives her a lead on a job painting signs for a local auto dealership—but Amy is hesitant to let go and trust. Is this finally a legitimate break? Can Amy subject herself to the possibility of disappointment and hurt by hoping again?
Inspired by the true story, The Sign Painter is a tale of desperation, taking chances, and ultimately redemption. This heartwarming novel blends mystery, romance, and characters you’ll root for, will leave you wondering— Is home really where the heart is?
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
26 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Davis Bunn
112 books1,039 followersDavis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than eight million books in twenty languages.
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 18, 2023
This is at least the third time I’ve read this book, which is the case with a lot of Davis Bunn’s books. (I’m so disappointed that he’s focusing on magical fantasy now.) The Sign Painter has all the dramatic description and great action sequences I love about Bunn’s writing, and it’s also full of strong characters who cling to their faith in the middle of pain and loss. The story handles homelessness with a gentle touch, focusing less on the problems and more on the hope offered by people helping others. At the same time, it does not shy away from the truth that some people don’t want help, and it takes wisdom to know the difference.
The author interview at the end of this book does help put some of the story into perspective, as the romance does not follow the expected route. It’s a little jarring, in a way, but as an author, I certainly understand the difficulty of bullheaded characters who have minds of their own! This book isn’t primarily a romance anyway, and the thread that is there is the exact sort of gentle slow-burn that I prefer. I don’t fully agree with the extent of female leadership in the church setting, but overall, the church scenes contain a convicting reminder that we can be far too quick to turn a blind eye to problems we don’t want to deal with. Amy’s love for her daughter is sweet, and the developing friendships and theme of learning to lean on others are well written.
Of course, I’m usually in it for the action, and this book has plenty of that in Bunn’s punchy yet lyrical style. We’ve got some great good guys to root for and some nasty baddies to root against, all without an excess of graphic violence. If you like stories that weave faith and friendships with threads of suspense and danger, you’ll find this a good read.
Content warnings: violence, drugs, homelessness, veiled mentions of prostitution
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The author interview at the end of this book does help put some of the story into perspective, as the romance does not follow the expected route. It’s a little jarring, in a way, but as an author, I certainly understand the difficulty of bullheaded characters who have minds of their own! This book isn’t primarily a romance anyway, and the thread that is there is the exact sort of gentle slow-burn that I prefer. I don’t fully agree with the extent of female leadership in the church setting, but overall, the church scenes contain a convicting reminder that we can be far too quick to turn a blind eye to problems we don’t want to deal with. Amy’s love for her daughter is sweet, and the developing friendships and theme of learning to lean on others are well written.
Of course, I’m usually in it for the action, and this book has plenty of that in Bunn’s punchy yet lyrical style. We’ve got some great good guys to root for and some nasty baddies to root against, all without an excess of graphic violence. If you like stories that weave faith and friendships with threads of suspense and danger, you’ll find this a good read.
Content warnings: violence, drugs, homelessness, veiled mentions of prostitution
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
October 3, 2014
It just was not my cup of tea. I felt the story was a bit unrealistic.
March 1, 2024
Amy is a good mom to her daughter, Kimmie, even though they have been homeless for nineteen months. Two years ago, Amy's husband died from cancer, and she lost both her job and house. Now she goes from job to job in a ratty old camper painting window signs for businesses. She heard about a job offer in Florida, as well as a church that helped homeless people. She felt that God was leading her to move down there. Unfortunately, there is a major drug problem down there, and she gets herself into scary situations. However, the friends that she makes are determined to protect her and to crack down on the crime. This book was intense, and I could hardly put it down.
June 6, 2023
This is a feel-good, refreshingly Christian book, mixed in with a little crime drama.
January 21, 2018
A wonderful book; full of hope and also plot twists.
October 28, 2014
You've knocked another one right out of the park, Davis. This was a perfect blend of edge-of-your-seat shoot'em up and heart wrenching drama...without being a sappy love story.
April 2, 2020
What a great book. It has everything from romance to mystery to Christianity. Real page turner.
June 3, 2021
In The Sign Painter by Davis Bunn, Amy Dowell has fallen on hard times. Her husband died and she lost her home. Now she travels in a camper with her young daughter. After charges of vagrancy and the threat of having her daughter taken away, she has a lead on a job painting signs for a car dealership. She comes across a church with an extensive ministry to the homeless, including temporary housing.
Just as things are looking up, she faces a dilemma. While working after closing hours one night, she discovers a salesman has left a significant amount of cash on his desk. If she leaves it, someone could steal it. But if she takes it to keep it safe, would she be accused of stealing? Would her record make her seem all the more guilty?
Meanwhile, ex-policeman Paul Travers has been hired to help the church find the best way to deal with a nearby house overtaken by drug dealers. Some of the church folks are already wary of the kinds of people the homeless ministry brings in. Having drug dealers in the neighborhood might push them into closing down the whole ministry.
I’m used to a more exotic locale in Bunn’s books, so it was interesting to read a novel of his set in the US. I appreciated what he said in a interview at the end of the book. The story was inspired by a news item he saw about homelessness in Orlando. He wanted to show the hardships, but not stop there. “I wanted to focus on the rebuilding. To my mind, too much attention is given to the falling down, and not enough to the getting back up again. So The Sign Painter aims toward hope and healing—a new future for homeless families, but also a reminder about the help our communities may be able to offer.”
The story took a little different turn from what I expected. I enjoyed getting to know Amy and Paul. I appreciated the glimpse into the challenges of those who are homeless and those who want to help.
Just as things are looking up, she faces a dilemma. While working after closing hours one night, she discovers a salesman has left a significant amount of cash on his desk. If she leaves it, someone could steal it. But if she takes it to keep it safe, would she be accused of stealing? Would her record make her seem all the more guilty?
Meanwhile, ex-policeman Paul Travers has been hired to help the church find the best way to deal with a nearby house overtaken by drug dealers. Some of the church folks are already wary of the kinds of people the homeless ministry brings in. Having drug dealers in the neighborhood might push them into closing down the whole ministry.
I’m used to a more exotic locale in Bunn’s books, so it was interesting to read a novel of his set in the US. I appreciated what he said in a interview at the end of the book. The story was inspired by a news item he saw about homelessness in Orlando. He wanted to show the hardships, but not stop there. “I wanted to focus on the rebuilding. To my mind, too much attention is given to the falling down, and not enough to the getting back up again. So The Sign Painter aims toward hope and healing—a new future for homeless families, but also a reminder about the help our communities may be able to offer.”
The story took a little different turn from what I expected. I enjoyed getting to know Amy and Paul. I appreciated the glimpse into the challenges of those who are homeless and those who want to help.
March 16, 2020
A story of several people finding "home" - whether that means a literal place to live, a community of loving friends, or a place of spiritual rest - The Sign Painter had some thought-provoking themes (homelessness, organized crime, and the church's response) and characters (a single mother, an estranged father/son duo, a woman in church leadership), but it ultimately left me uneasy, spiritually-speaking. My main concern was the way that characters in leadership (ones we are intended to admire) went about church "politics" - bypassing/hoodwinking the eldership and intentionally (and needlessly) ignoring guidelines set in place for the good of the church.
Davis Bunn is a gifted and skilled writer; he definitely drives you to want to know what happens next! And as I mentioned, he brings up some issues that are important to talk about as a church -- In fact, that was the reason I wanted to read this book in the first place. :-) Ultimately, though, I was disappointed by the manner in which problems were handled in this novel.
Davis Bunn is a gifted and skilled writer; he definitely drives you to want to know what happens next! And as I mentioned, he brings up some issues that are important to talk about as a church -- In fact, that was the reason I wanted to read this book in the first place. :-) Ultimately, though, I was disappointed by the manner in which problems were handled in this novel.
August 24, 2020
The Sign Painter is a fictional work based on a true story. I rarely read fiction that isn't. The events of this story fall into place way too easily to be very realistic. Davis Bunn adds just enough suspense to suit me - which means for most people, it will probably be lacking in that department. It is an easy read that held my interest throughout.
This spiritual book presented a reminder, for me, of the importance of prayer. It counsels that we are shaped by the events of our lives and must strive to heal from the grievous ones in order to be in control of our responses. "There will always be events that threaten to strip away your control."
A favorite quote of mine, from The Sign Painter is "...the real mark of courage (does) not come in being unafraid but in not allowing fear to dominate."
This spiritual book presented a reminder, for me, of the importance of prayer. It counsels that we are shaped by the events of our lives and must strive to heal from the grievous ones in order to be in control of our responses. "There will always be events that threaten to strip away your control."
A favorite quote of mine, from The Sign Painter is "...the real mark of courage (does) not come in being unafraid but in not allowing fear to dominate."
October 15, 2019
“Cute” story with some very improbable story lines. A novel of faith and getting back up after losing it all.
Gave the novel 2 stars for effort, but there’s one line in the novel that truly bothers me, I can’t understand what the author is trying to convey.
On page 103, the author writes, “He was almost too black to be American.” What????
Would I recommend this? Probably not, a lot better stuff out there.
Gave the novel 2 stars for effort, but there’s one line in the novel that truly bothers me, I can’t understand what the author is trying to convey.
On page 103, the author writes, “He was almost too black to be American.” What????
Would I recommend this? Probably not, a lot better stuff out there.
April 16, 2022
What do you expect from a sign painter?
It's been too long since I've read a Davis Bunn book, but I can't think of one this compares to, except for the quality.
I had no idea where the story was going when I started it. It was amazing. It highlighted the importance of ministry and getting out of your comfort zone. It showed how God can use all kinds of gifts. There was danger, suspense, and even a bit of romance. Something for everyone.
It's been too long since I've read a Davis Bunn book, but I can't think of one this compares to, except for the quality.
I had no idea where the story was going when I started it. It was amazing. It highlighted the importance of ministry and getting out of your comfort zone. It showed how God can use all kinds of gifts. There was danger, suspense, and even a bit of romance. Something for everyone.
June 25, 2017
Good read.
Good read. Felt a little choppy, though, as if the editor forced a word count that didn't allow for more character development. And, the plot was not as believable as some of Bunn's other books. Still a good message of hope and restoration. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an encouraging read.
Good read. Felt a little choppy, though, as if the editor forced a word count that didn't allow for more character development. And, the plot was not as believable as some of Bunn's other books. Still a good message of hope and restoration. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an encouraging read.
March 8, 2023
Glad to finally finish this book. Wasn't my favorite. I found myself lost for most of the story. What started out as a good book just got more and more confusing. Wasn't a fan of Amy being pursued by someone old enough to be her father. The only sweet part was Kimmie, but even she didn't seem like a very realistic 5 year old.
October 15, 2024
Another book showcasing Bunn's talent for taking a disparate group of people and melding them into a family/community. A single mom down on her luck, the owner of a vehicle showroom, a retired federal agent, a church that serves the homeless, and a problem - a drug house that's set up a block away, which the local police are told "don't touch."
The best of Christian fiction based on fact.
The best of Christian fiction based on fact.
September 11, 2017
it's truly a pleasure to read a book not about the sex..or blood and gore. though I do love some, this is a nice change. a story of hope and a leap of faith, people standing together, family and friends. I think it is a wonderfully inspirational read.
October 16, 2018
I always enjoy Davis Bunn's writing and this book did not disappoint. I appreciate that he incorporated contemporary issues and how a local church can engage themselves in helping to be part of the solution. A nice engaging story of hope!
January 8, 2019
I love this author! He has a unique capability to take us inside his characters, revealing thoughts that most people would not want to express. His ability to steer his story through conflicts while drawing out and strengthening inner faith is unusual.
October 12, 2024
love it
so much more than a feel-good action-with-a-happy-ending story. Real insight into the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of homelessness. Hope and light and life is possible with friends and helping up rather than handing out.
so much more than a feel-good action-with-a-happy-ending story. Real insight into the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of homelessness. Hope and light and life is possible with friends and helping up rather than handing out.
December 18, 2025
This story is primarily one of different people searching/finding "home", be that physical, emotional or spiritual. Combine that with a little detective work, a crime ring, and the fierce love of a mother for her child and you have a story that held my attention, despite it's not being "perfect."
May 12, 2017
This was a great book! Fast read and lots of action. Not too much romance either.
July 13, 2017
Great read!
August 8, 2017
This book was pretty good... Took me a while to read it but every time I picked it back up I enjoyed it.
October 3, 2017
I would probably give it a 3 1/2 stars because of how choppy it was. But the story itself gets a 4 star from me.
March 13, 2018
A little scary, but I definitely wanted to keep reading to see how it ended.
June 4, 2018
A very good book.
July 16, 2018
This book kept me reading and surprised me a little at the end. Definitely makes you think more about homeless people and how they got that way and what you can do about it.
August 9, 2018
I didn’t like this book, and never finished it after giving it a worthy try by reading more than halfway through. It seemed rather shallow for being inspired by a true story.
December 23, 2018
Very entertaining story with a good ending.
January 24, 2019
This book surprised me in all the right ways.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews