The Mural

by Jeffry R. Halverson

A routine story sends one reporter on the search of a lifetime in Jeffry R. Halverson’s fantastical new novel, The Mural.

Tyler Anderson, a talented young reporter for The Valley Observer in Phoenix, looks forward to escaping the daily grind when he is sent to Ketchum, Arizona, for an exclusive scoop.

A mysterious mural, having appeared inexplicably one morning on the side of a local warehouse, is capturing the town’s imagination—and heart.

With crowds rolling in to get a glimpse, Anderson’s mission becomes clear: find the artist responsible for this one-of-a-kind work of art.

But time is running out. Tensions in town are surfacing. The warehouse owner threatens to whitewash the whole thing.

In a desperate search for the remarkable artist, Anderson finds more than he anticipated in the small town. The eclectic townspeople, like local restaurateur Abdullah Park, have their own mysteries. And Anderson soon finds their lives intersecting with his own.

Finally, as the hours tick away, Anderson makes a profound discovery that lies far beyond his imagination.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

266 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Jeffry R. Halverson is a professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Coastal Carolina University (SC). Previously, he served as an assistant research professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University (Tempe).

Halverson is the author of Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), the lead author of Master Narratives of Islamist Extremism (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Islamists of the Maghreb (Routledge 2017), and the author of Searching for a King: Muslim Nonviolence and the Future of Islam (Potomac, 2012). He has also published in academic journals, including The Muslim World, The Journal of Communication, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Politics & Religion, and Media War & Conflict.

His debut novel, The Mural, was published in 2014.

Reviews

[Christopher Sword · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mural is less about the title subject than it is the effect the phenomenon has on the small Arizona town's regular and temporary inhabitants. Yes, it's a puzzle and celebrity all on its own but a good novel is always judged by the trials and transformations of its characters and The Mural has no shortage of goods in this respect.
There is an unusual sequence in the second half which sees several chapters devoted to a secondary character which I thought interrupted the flow of the main story but it did effectively tell the story of this somewhat mysterious character.
There are a multitude of different characters in the story, all easy to distinguish from one another and all with hidden backstories that slowly come to light, explaining either a pivotal plot point or a personal revelation critical to the apex of the story.
I started reading this novel worried that it might easily stray into spiritual waters. I'm happy to say that most of the novel steers clear of spiritual preaching and when the topic does appear it's done with light philosophical handling.
An enjoyable quick read and a memorable one too.

From the author of A Drop of April Snow.

[Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for the most part. It was interesting to read into the lives of these random people, both city slickers and the boonies. The little pieces of the small town folk's lives all piecing together a whole story of how they have come to be united. I really liked that. I also enjoyed the conflicts regarding the mural. What I did not like was how the book twisted into Tom having this "transformation". I was happy and hopeful in regards to the mural returning, but the transformation was a bit much. Especially since it did not appear to be metaphorically. It just did not seem to fit the feel of the rest of the story. I loved the very end where he began to write his novel though, it was a very nice way to wrap up the story in an interesting loop.

[Lynette Snell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and the characters well developed. I enjoyed the story but got a bit distracted by the back story of the characters which I felt didn't contribute to the actual story to any extent.

[Darrelle Dore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mural is a wonderful book. It explores our human dilemma with life and the constant hills and valley's it throws us. The characters are well defined and interesting, the story is compelling. You want to read to the end to find out what happens. I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys reading a well written book.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Ann-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the writing style, the back stories of key character's were interesting, would have liked to have read more about them, and a few others.

[Marie Tippen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great wee story, easy to read, would recommend!