War Bug: A Novel

by Henry G. Brinton

The United States is more fractured today than it has been since the Civil War. What hope do we have for the healing of our communities, shattered by a global pandemic and a toxic political environment? War Bug opens a window on the riverfront town of Occoquan, Virginia, and offers glimpses of social upheaval through chapters that alternate between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. In 1862, Quaker resident Ann Bagley fears that her sons will abandon their pacifism and join the newly established Confederate army. Troops march through the town and shots are fired, enflaming secessionists and Unionists alike. Many pledge their support to the South and send their sons to fight, while others favor the North and take stands as abolitionists. In 2022, Harley Camden, the pastor of struggling Riverside Methodist Church, fears that civil war will return to Occoquan. Facing cultural and political polarization, he tries to care for his congregation and keep the peace, even as he lends a hand in the archaeological dig of a Quaker house with a mysterious grave. But when people begin to die in acts of brutal violence, he encounters an evil that is deeper than history and more deadly than partisan strife.

Genres: Nonfiction

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

About the author

Henry G. Brinton is an author and a Presbyterian pastor who has written on religion and culture for The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Huffington Post. A frequent speaker at workshops and conferences, he is the author of books ranging from City of Peace to The Welcoming Congregation: Roots and Fruits of Christian Hospitality. Henry and his wife, Nancy Freeborne-Brinton, have two children, Sarah and Sam. An endurance athlete, Henry has completed a marathon, triathlon, or century bike ride a year since the year 2000.

Reviews

[David Crumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can lessons from the American Civil War help us avoid doing violence to each other today?

Despite spikes in bigotry, hate crimes and political violence in 2024, pastor-novelist Henry G. Brinton has not given up on us, thank God!

I mean that sincerely. It’s a real treat to immerse ourselves in Henry’s version of our world where people do have the capacity to learn life-altering lessons and most of the bad guys—not all,but most of them—can find some form of redemption in the end.

In War Bug, Henry is inviting us back for a third pilgrimage to his beloved Occoquan, Virginia, a historic riverfront town that really does exist west of Alexandria, Virginia. Or perhaps I should clarify that War Bug represents both a third and a fourth trip back to Occoquan. That’s because, this time, Henry sends us time traveling with one complete storyline set during the Civil War—and a second story-line laid out in alternating chapters about very contemporary conflicts in that little town.

Rest assured that Henry and his friends have not run out of the warm hospitality and spiritual wisdom needed to survive the worst that extremists can throw at them—either “then” in 1862 or “now” in 2024. At this point, Henry’s readers expect him to close his novels with hopeful endings that include at least a few fascinating surprises that I won’t reveal.

Fans keep coming back to Henry’s novels because a lot of us would love to live in Henry’s town! I treasure his prose because of its pitch-perfect understanding of small-town life coupled with authentic reassurance that, in the end, all will be well.

In fact, my main emotional response to his three novels is that I wish my wife and I lived near his Fairfax Presbyterian Church, west of Alexandria, so we would never miss one of his sermons. He's well known in his denomination for his unusual blend of reassurance along with prophetic calls to follow Micah's timeless plea: "What does God require of us? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God."

Henry's regular readers also know that he can't resist including memorable passages from sermons in his novels. I mean this as high praise. I applaud the way he models the relevance of contemporary preaching through his fictional protagonist in these three novels: the Rev. Harley Camden.

Pastor Harley pretty much is pastor Henry. They both live in the same Occoquan. There are a few minor differences: Henry is Presbyterian; Harley is Methodist. Henry is married; Harley is widowed. But in many ways Harley serves as Henry’s avatar. And, in this third novel, the fictional Harley preaches at least three memorable (and very quotable) sermons, driving home the spiritual lessons his characters learn along the way.

And please hold on before adding a critical comment on this point. I know that many readers might recoil at the idea of sermons showing up in a work of fiction. But Henry makes it work. In fact, this is the very reason my wife and I are hooked on the British cozy-mystery series Grantchester. Every now and then in that TV series, we get to hear some memorable preaching from the Grantchester clergy that softens all the murder and mayhem.

I celebrate Henry’s creative courage in trying to live out all aspects of his life through the lens of his spiritual vocation. What do I mean by that? Consider, for example, this excerpt from the mission statement of Henry’s real-life Fairfax Presbyterian Church, which strives to be “an uncommon Christian community, embracing all people with God's love and grace. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with honesty, joy and imagination; nurture our lives of faith in Christ; extend hospitality and grace to all people; serve a world in need; and work for reconciliation among peoples of diverse perspectives.”

That also describes the fictional world Henry brings to life in his novels. In the first one, his fictional pastor Harley Camden has just lost his wife and daughter to a terrorist bombing and is sent to recuperate in little Occoquan, which is supposed to be a City of Peace . The lesson here is that no one can escape the world’s toxic bigotry even in a tiny historic town. Then, in Windows of the Heavens , Harley’s Occoquan suffers a far different kind of collective trauma—massive floodwaters. Now in 2024, this new novel tackles both the legacy of the Civil War and present-day political conflicts roiling our country.

So, please, join me and other fans in taking this immersive trip into Harley’s world—and you will discover enough fascinating real-life details along the way to make you want to swing by this little town on your cross-country travels someday. Who knows? You might even pop into the real-life Fairfax church some Sunday when Henry’s preaching.

[Sadie Brinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and thought-provoking. A great addition to the Mill Street Mysteries series!

[Sheila Hutcherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the way the ideals of this book are relevant no matter the time period.
The stories flow together with a terrific twist at the end!
Had this not been suggested in my book club, I wouldn’t have thought to read it. I enjoyed it so much that I will probably read the previous two books featuring Harley Camdon.

[Barbara Blindauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about Occoquan, Virginia and also about the Quakers in Occoquan and their beliefs. I belief Harley and the people of Occoquan are showing growth since the first book in this series.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm from the DMV area so I'm familiar with Occoquan which is the location of the story. I also know about Lorton which is an area near Occoquan, mentioned in the book so I did like that.
I liked learning about the history of the area.
I also learned about the Quakers & the civil war in that area. I never thought about it.
I'll pass by signs or historical markers now & then but you do forget that history happened where we are currently living. VA was in the center of the Civil War but I forget about that in my daily life.
It's always interesting to learn new things about someplace you think you know b/c you'd lived there or even visited.
For example, I've been to Boston but how often did I think about the Revolutionary War that also took place there while I walked around w/my friends? Or NY's history when I'm on the subway? Not to mention CA or the Southwest which was the center of pioneers, American Indian Wars, etc. I don't think about it much which makes me look at things in a new light now.

This is the third book featuring Pastor Harley as the protagonist. This time, the POV is alternated b/w the present day Harley & the trouble gang crime in the area and the Quakers during the beginning of the Civil War in 1862 being pacifists & abolitionists.
The story in 1862 was a parable for current day so it worked.
Lots of mentions of God & Religion which is no surprise given the writer & lead character are Ministers. It didn't bother me too much as it was in context but I also skim read.
This is also the shortest of his books so it was an easy read.
But my big negative was that it was wordy.
There is a small twist toward the end.
Also, I would have liked a bit more of the past POV to explain the fire, the later fighting in Occoquan and what happened in the future to some of the characters even though William's story is explained which I appreciated.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up War Bug at a Barnes and Noble book signing. Brinton's a Presbyterian pastor, one who's convinced that one of the best ways to share the graces of the faith is through storytelling. This is the third of his Harley Camden mysteries, all of which follow the life of a Methodist pastor in Occoquan, a waterfront town in Virginia.

War Bug follows two separate narrative tracks. One is of a Quaker family living through the American Civil War in Occoquan. The second tracks Pastor Camden, as he wrestles with the day to day challenges of a declining church...and a mysterious vigilante gunman. The parallels between the division that once tore apart the United States and the divisions we now experience are woven throughout these two stories, which coalesce nicely at their conclusion.

A good read for faithful readers, and for those interested in history and its lessons for today.

[James A. Bridger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative and enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book and it's alternating chapters between the present and 1862. The characters are developed very well and the author makes subtle references to our divisiveness without being political. I have known Henry since he was a boy in our church and knew his Dad and still see his Mom. This connection makes Henry's books special.

[Jean Dudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

War Bug comprises two intertwined stories, set in the same town of Occoquan, Virginia, with chapters alternating between 1862 (Quakers torn between their desire for abolition of slavery and their commitment to pacificism while also negotiating their relationship with non-Quaker neighbors) and 2022 (political and cultural divisions we are all familiar with). This book is thought-provoking regarding the issues of acceptance and tolerance.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

In three months, I read like 56 pages! I couldn't go on. I really only attempted this for a book group. Why must they torture me like this?! 🤣🤣 The chapters written in the past wasn't bad, but not good enough to keep my attention for an entire book.

[Heather-le Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and thought provoking. I enjoyed the perspectives from two different time periods.

[Stephanie Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories

Thus book brings back memories of reading Fr. Greeley's mysteries and I love it Great messaging and entertainment. Love the way it ties the past to present