What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Confession
Since she was a child, Maggie Callahan has been intrigued by the family legend that her great aunt shot a priest. But family members have never been able to tell her why—or what happened to the priest. But now that she’s a career journalist, Maggie decides to use her investigative skills to find out the truth behind her family’s scandal.
Knowing only that the event happened in the mid-1930s, during the building of the Grand Coulee Dam, Maggie begins her quest with the bishop of the Archdiocese of Spokane. She quickly discovers that he, like so many others, will do whatever it takes to keep any hint of dishonor behind locked doors and to protect the Catholic Church. But Maggie finds an unlikely ally in Father Matthew, a parish priest who has been given the task of stalling her.
The Last Confession deftly explores the twin mysteries of romance and faith in a story of past and present love affairs that both test a priest’s commitment to his vow of celibacy.
Ultimately, will the truth about her ancestor’s sins be the key that unlocks Maggie’s future?
Knowing only that the event happened in the mid-1930s, during the building of the Grand Coulee Dam, Maggie begins her quest with the bishop of the Archdiocese of Spokane. She quickly discovers that he, like so many others, will do whatever it takes to keep any hint of dishonor behind locked doors and to protect the Catholic Church. But Maggie finds an unlikely ally in Father Matthew, a parish priest who has been given the task of stalling her.
The Last Confession deftly explores the twin mysteries of romance and faith in a story of past and present love affairs that both test a priest’s commitment to his vow of celibacy.
Ultimately, will the truth about her ancestor’s sins be the key that unlocks Maggie’s future?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2017
287 people want to read
About the author
Pat Kelley Brunjes
2 books10 followersA retired educator, Pat’s been in education all her life in the areas of speech, writing, theatre, librarian, and school administration. Today she teaches classes to all ages about writing poetry, the art of writing, how to be speak to groups of any size and sell yourself to the audience, and how to give an outstanding book signing. Pat has won or placed in five poetry contests. Her book Poetry from the Desert Floor, is photographs and poems about her love of the southwest desert and the people, places, and things that inhabit it. She has co-directed writer’s conferences and retreats. She teaches speaking skills and mentors young writers. “I am a writer helping writers.” She lives on an island in Puget Sound.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 22, 2017
*Thank you to the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Actual Rating: 5
This was great! I've always been a little hesitant about reading books where religion is involved, but definitely don't let that stop you from reading this book.
The Last Confession begins with a story. Legend says that Maggie's great-aunt Milly shot a priest. But no one in Maggie's family explains why or how, and now Maggie is determined to figure out the truth. The journey to answers, though, is not that easy.
The plot for this was a wild ride; I loved how the story did not completely center around Maggie investigating the family legend. Along the way, we got to see glimpses of Maggie's job and family, and this allowed me to gain a very well-rounded perspective of her journey and everyday life. Maggie's path to the truth was extremely engaging. This was the type of mystery that I could completely immerse myself into, and I couldn't wait to get to the end.
I loved the characters - the protagonists were flawed but likeable, and the antagonists were very complex. It seemed as though every character had their own personalities and histories, and this really helped make the story seem realistic and seamless. Maggie, the main character, was someone who was headstrong and persistent, but not mindlessly so; she could hold her own in a debate, and she had her own opinions about gender issues and religious matters. I very much enjoyed reading the discussions she had with other characters about celibacy - there are endless clashes between tradition and modernity in the current political and social sphere, and I loved the glimpse of real world problems we got.
The writing style was very engaging, and I loved how the author set up the final reveal. The story was very well thought out, and the way the book was structured really made it a page-turner.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this for everyone who enjoys reading mystery. I promise you'll be hooked!
Actual Rating: 5
This was great! I've always been a little hesitant about reading books where religion is involved, but definitely don't let that stop you from reading this book.
The Last Confession begins with a story. Legend says that Maggie's great-aunt Milly shot a priest. But no one in Maggie's family explains why or how, and now Maggie is determined to figure out the truth. The journey to answers, though, is not that easy.
The plot for this was a wild ride; I loved how the story did not completely center around Maggie investigating the family legend. Along the way, we got to see glimpses of Maggie's job and family, and this allowed me to gain a very well-rounded perspective of her journey and everyday life. Maggie's path to the truth was extremely engaging. This was the type of mystery that I could completely immerse myself into, and I couldn't wait to get to the end.
I loved the characters - the protagonists were flawed but likeable, and the antagonists were very complex. It seemed as though every character had their own personalities and histories, and this really helped make the story seem realistic and seamless. Maggie, the main character, was someone who was headstrong and persistent, but not mindlessly so; she could hold her own in a debate, and she had her own opinions about gender issues and religious matters. I very much enjoyed reading the discussions she had with other characters about celibacy - there are endless clashes between tradition and modernity in the current political and social sphere, and I loved the glimpse of real world problems we got.
The writing style was very engaging, and I loved how the author set up the final reveal. The story was very well thought out, and the way the book was structured really made it a page-turner.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this for everyone who enjoys reading mystery. I promise you'll be hooked!
November 30, 2017
Reviewed by Megan Weiss for Reader Views (11/17)
“The Last Confession” by Pat Kelley Brunjes is about a young female journalist, Mary Margaret (Maggie) Callahan, delving into a local Church’s past in order to learn the truth about a decades old family legend: that her great-aunt had shot a priest in the 1930s. The premise of the novel is unique and offers intrigue, but I felt that the writing of the story itself was rather two-dimensional at times. “The Last Confession” seemingly centers around themes of faith, finding oneself, trust, and love. I believe that the novel is intended for a general adult audience.
“The Last Confession” is written with language that at some points tries to be too flowery, but still creates some beautiful images in the minds of a reader. The author definitely has a knack for describing the physical aspects that make up the environmental surroundings of a good story. I did note, however, that there were quite a few typing errors in this particular version, so it may be beneficial to go back through and edit more closely for mechanical errors.
Brunjes’ novel has wonderful potential, but to me it falls short. It’s missing that “hook” which really incites interest in readers and makes them want to read and read and read until they have reached the end of the story. There is a lack of characterization in reference to the main character. I also found some confusion pertaining to what decade this story takes place in. There is no indication that it takes place in any time other than modern day America, but some of the language used by the characters made me question the realistic-nature of the setting for the novel. For example, it is notable that having a mobile phone is something that Maggie felt was unusual or pretentious enough to use her work as an excuse for having one in the first place. Cell phones have been around for quite a while now, so this kind of reference felt out of place in this particular setting.
My conclusion about the shortcomings of “The Last Confession” by Pat Kelley Brunjes, make me believe that the author simply tried too hard in some places to make the novel seem extraordinary. Sometimes in writing the simplest words can have the greatest impact, and I know personally that when I have focused too much on what I want for the outcome of a story, I often overcompensate. I have definitely had many professors and peers tell me that I used too much ‘flowery language’ and that led to too much exposition. I have also learned that trying to write more simply also ironically helps when trying to deepen a plot or character. As writers, we want readers to connect with our stories as much as we want them to admire our talents as authors, and we have to remember that general audiences are not looking for grandiose vocabulary and density, they just want stories that they can find themselves in. Reading is about both escaping to a new place and becoming a different person and using the story to help us learn secrets about ourselves along the way. As stipulated by Occam’s razor (which coincidentally was coined by an English friar): most of the time the simplest answers are the best ones.
“The Last Confession” by Pat Kelley Brunjes is about a young female journalist, Mary Margaret (Maggie) Callahan, delving into a local Church’s past in order to learn the truth about a decades old family legend: that her great-aunt had shot a priest in the 1930s. The premise of the novel is unique and offers intrigue, but I felt that the writing of the story itself was rather two-dimensional at times. “The Last Confession” seemingly centers around themes of faith, finding oneself, trust, and love. I believe that the novel is intended for a general adult audience.
“The Last Confession” is written with language that at some points tries to be too flowery, but still creates some beautiful images in the minds of a reader. The author definitely has a knack for describing the physical aspects that make up the environmental surroundings of a good story. I did note, however, that there were quite a few typing errors in this particular version, so it may be beneficial to go back through and edit more closely for mechanical errors.
Brunjes’ novel has wonderful potential, but to me it falls short. It’s missing that “hook” which really incites interest in readers and makes them want to read and read and read until they have reached the end of the story. There is a lack of characterization in reference to the main character. I also found some confusion pertaining to what decade this story takes place in. There is no indication that it takes place in any time other than modern day America, but some of the language used by the characters made me question the realistic-nature of the setting for the novel. For example, it is notable that having a mobile phone is something that Maggie felt was unusual or pretentious enough to use her work as an excuse for having one in the first place. Cell phones have been around for quite a while now, so this kind of reference felt out of place in this particular setting.
My conclusion about the shortcomings of “The Last Confession” by Pat Kelley Brunjes, make me believe that the author simply tried too hard in some places to make the novel seem extraordinary. Sometimes in writing the simplest words can have the greatest impact, and I know personally that when I have focused too much on what I want for the outcome of a story, I often overcompensate. I have definitely had many professors and peers tell me that I used too much ‘flowery language’ and that led to too much exposition. I have also learned that trying to write more simply also ironically helps when trying to deepen a plot or character. As writers, we want readers to connect with our stories as much as we want them to admire our talents as authors, and we have to remember that general audiences are not looking for grandiose vocabulary and density, they just want stories that they can find themselves in. Reading is about both escaping to a new place and becoming a different person and using the story to help us learn secrets about ourselves along the way. As stipulated by Occam’s razor (which coincidentally was coined by an English friar): most of the time the simplest answers are the best ones.
February 19, 2017
The Last Confession is one of those books where I didn’t mind losing sleep so I could just read one more chapter. It didn’t take long for me to make a connection with Maggie Callahan and her need to get missing answers to her family history, specifically rumors about her great aunt Milly. She informs her brother, Lucas, she is going to Spokane to see if she can find out the truth about her aunt. Lucas feels it’s a waste of time and she should just leave the past in the past.
Despite what her brother thinks, Maggie sets off to find out about her family’s history. When she arrives at the Church of St. Francis in Grand Coulee for her appointment with Bishop Davis she meets Father Matthew Brannigan. After explaining her situation and her desire to search the church records her adventure begins. Father Matthew becomes her partner in the search for the truth.
Maggie is repeatedly met with roadblocks, courtesy of Bishop Davis. It’s apparent he knows what happened back in the 1930s when her aunt Milly was alive but he does not want those secrets out as it could harm the church. Despite seemingly getting nowhere, Maggie and Father Matthew continue on their journey for the truth. Along the way they make additional allies, confront realities of life serving in the Catholic Church, and form a close friendship. The only question is, will Father Matthew and his connections help her find the answers she’s after or leave Maggie disappointed?
I highly recommend this book to anyone. It is a fast, fun, thrilling read filled with multiple twists. Don’t let the fact religion is involved keep you from picking up this book. It truly is a must read!
Despite what her brother thinks, Maggie sets off to find out about her family’s history. When she arrives at the Church of St. Francis in Grand Coulee for her appointment with Bishop Davis she meets Father Matthew Brannigan. After explaining her situation and her desire to search the church records her adventure begins. Father Matthew becomes her partner in the search for the truth.
Maggie is repeatedly met with roadblocks, courtesy of Bishop Davis. It’s apparent he knows what happened back in the 1930s when her aunt Milly was alive but he does not want those secrets out as it could harm the church. Despite seemingly getting nowhere, Maggie and Father Matthew continue on their journey for the truth. Along the way they make additional allies, confront realities of life serving in the Catholic Church, and form a close friendship. The only question is, will Father Matthew and his connections help her find the answers she’s after or leave Maggie disappointed?
I highly recommend this book to anyone. It is a fast, fun, thrilling read filled with multiple twists. Don’t let the fact religion is involved keep you from picking up this book. It truly is a must read!
March 29, 2017
A wonderful mystery with great characters and dialog. Fun to read and hard to put down.
April 1, 2017
I was the lucky winner of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed it very much. I do not want to give anything away but I enjoyed the mystery and the way it resolved itself in the end.
April 1, 2017
Enjoyed very much my read; it was fun seeing places I knew personally used in the book. The suspense built nicely, and the ending was quite unexpected. Great read.
April 23, 2017
This book is really well-written and a very interesting story, that's both well-researched and offers interesting perspectives. I'd like to learn more about Maggie and her adventures as a disaster journalist and statistician, as well as what the future holds for her relationship. A great book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews