Joline

by Jim Sano

Father Tom heads up to the small coastal village of Belfast, Maine, to visit a friend from the seminary in the sixth book of this award-winning series. While there, 19-year-old Joline is found dead floating in the harbor waters, and the town doesn’t know if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. Moved by compassion for Joline’s family and friends, Father Tom sets out to do what he does best, and the local sheriff, J.C. Coombs, begrudgingly comes to rely on Father Tom and his sidekick, Angelo, for help to uncover clues and a history of secrets and wounds of the intriguing characters who live in this small fishing village. Rich with faith, humor, friendship, forgiveness, redemption, and emotional healing, the plot keeps the reader guessing with twists and turns until the end as the town comes to terms with its loss.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2025

About the author

Jim Sano grew up in an Irish/Italian family in Massachusetts. Jim is a husband, father, life-long Catholic and has worked as a teacher, consultant, and businessman. He has degrees from Boston College and Bentley University and is currently attending Franciscan University for a Master’s degree in Catechetics and Evangelization. He has also attended certificate programs at The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John’s Seminary and the Apologetics Academy. Jim is a member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild and has enjoyed growing in his faith and now sharing it through writing novels. Jim is the winner for twenty-eight book awards and each of his first four have received the Catholic Writers Guild’s Seal of Approval Award for editorial integrity and faithfulness to Catholic teaching.

Jim resides in Medfield, Massachusetts with his wife, Joanne, and has two daughters, Emily and Megan.

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh novel from the pen of Jim Sano that I have read. It is the sixth that is in the Father Tom series. This one was so hard to put down, in fact I devoured it over a couple of days, and if work had not been so busy it would have been much quicker. This one is much darker than the earlier volumes, and even darker than the last offering. It is an excellent story about a loss, abuse, and has some troublesome murder. Father Tom and Angelo end back in the thick of things, based on the crimes, and the events taking place, Father Tom’s holiday visiting a parish or a seminarian friend ends up not being so restful.

Like the other Father Tom stories this book has excellent characters, a great plot, and it has wonderful pacing. With each volume from Jim I read I appreciate his writing more. I love the Father Tom books and this story keeps you guessing the whole way through. I am certain the story will draw you in and keep you hooked.

This story is a contemporary fiction tale. It is a story about finding out how a young girl died on the evening she graduated high school. It is what Madeleine L’Engle referred to as realistic fiction. It is set in our world, in our time, and with our issues and struggles. In this one Father Tim uncovers some long ignored abuse, and sees its impact on the individual, their marriage and even the victims children. In this story we have a few main characters, and several supporting characters that play key roles. But in some ways this one reads like a Christian or Catholic version of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer or the Spencer stories by Robert B. Parker. The description of the book is:

“Father Tom heads up to the small coastal village of Belfast, Maine, to visit a friend from the seminary in the sixth book of this award-winning series. While there, 19-year-old Joline is found dead floating in the harbor waters, and the town doesn’t know if it was an accident, suicide, or murder. Moved by compassion for Joline’s family and friends, Father Tom sets out to do what he does best, and the local sheriff, J.C. Coombs, begrudgingly comes to rely on Father Tom and his sidekick, Angelo, for help to uncover clues and a history of secrets and wounds of the intriguing characters who live in this small fishing village. Rich with faith, humor, friendship, forgiveness, redemption, and emotional healing, the plot keeps the reader guessing with twists and turns until the end as the town comes to terms with its loss.”

I have long been a fan of the Priest detective genre. Thirty years ago I read numerous of the Andrew M. Greeley novels, and my favourites were the Bishop Blackie Ryan novels, the Father Tom books have now eclipsed those. The big difference is Greeley’s works reached a point where I struggled with his presentation of Catholicism, living the faith and even God. The Father Tom books keep the faith and do an amazing job of showing faith, doubt, struggles, and ultimately learning to trust in God. In many ways this is like Fiorella de Maria’s Father Gabriel Mysteries, in that it is a great mystery with faith and fiction blended into an excellent story.

I stated of the last that it was the most intense Father Tom story, And I agree it was more intense, but this one is the most heart wrenching. Sano has done an excellent job of balancing writing a murder mystery without crossing the line of over doing the violence. He also handles an adult confronting abuse they suffered as a child very well. This story was tougher to read than the first few in the series. It deals with very serious subject matter. It is written in such a way that it will inspire and encourage as well.

Returning to a volume with Father Tom and Angelo was like a visit with old friends. It was great to catch up with them, even if they were trying to solve the murder in in the small town of, Belfast, Maine. Jim’s characters are wonderfully written. It is an excellent read from the pen of Jim Sano. It is a story about faith, family, friends and overcoming past hurts and wounds, and a small community dealing with loss. It is well written, and the characters will stay with you long after you finish reading the story.

Another excellent read from Jim and Full Quiver. I highly recommend the book and the series.

This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Cathy Parsloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jim Sano understands that a great mystery is fundamentally driven by character, not just the puzzle of whodunit. In his latest novel Joline, Jim presents his cast, their struggles, and their past sins with such raw vulnerability that we, the readers, feel deeply connected to them. We empathize with their suffering and, as the clues unfold, the suspense intensifies precisely because we desperately don't want any of them to be the guilty party.

While we draw connections to the moral failings and suffering of the suspects, the reader simultaneously experiences the deep, abiding comfort of Father Tom's wisdom—a constant spiritual refrain that God is always with us. More than just a quiet sage, Father Tom is also an intellectual sounding board, challenging the perspectives of those around him.

This is best exemplified in a particularly resonant conversation with Father Paul, where Father Paul observes that "we share our faith in a way that we propose it versus imposing it," and questions if his approach is ever too passive. This theological nuance offers a profound reflection on the balance between conviction and gentleness in spiritual guidance. For many, including my book club, this scene became a central talking point, illustrating how effectively the author uses a murder mystery to explore deep, real-world issues of belief and responsibility.

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it!

[Bill Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Joline this past week for a monthly book club meeting I attend. Joline is the 6th book in the Father Tom series. I have read all six. A reader would not need to have read the previous five books to enjoy this one, but I would recommend reading them all. The story is a very compelling murder/mystery/whodunnit book. With its short chapters, compelling story, and relatable characters, the book, as with the others, is a real page turner. Woven prominently, yet subtly into all of Jim Sano`s books are a bit of no-nonsense catechesis that helps the reader see the ways God works in our lives and the lives of others. The main character is a priest after all. There is a powerful lesson in this book and the others of the way that God always finds ways to turn the worst of situations into a powerful good and use them to reveal the way that God`s plan of loving goodness is always at work such that light fills even the darkest void. Themes of love, forgiveness, caring, and redemption never fail to make a reader feel that the time spent on a book was very worthwhile. I highly recommend this book.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in the Fr. Tom Series just keeps getting better and better. This one is loaded with hints and clues. Always keeps you guessing, so much that you just cannot set it down. We'll done Jim Sano!

[Blessed · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Father Tom story set in Maine. Suspenseful read. Sano always leaves you with something to ponder.