Miracles

by John Vanek

Father Jake Austin assumes multiple, often seemingly incompatible roles of physician, priest, healer and detective. Jake must serve the young Catholic parents of a comatose infant while working with the local chief of police to investigate the possibility of SIDS. Meanwhile, the Bishop asks Jake to investigate the reports of a Virgin Mary statue that weeps blood. Jake is also a full-time uncle, as his half-sister terminally ill with leukemia is living with her son in the rectory. With each case, Jake hopes for miracles.

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2019

About the author

John Vanek is a consultant and speaker focusing on human trafficking and the collaborative response to modern slavery.

He has worked with the United States Department of Justice, the Office of the United States Attorneys, California’s Office of the Attorney General, California POST, the California District Attorneys Association, the National Law Enforcement Training Network, the Not For Sale Campaign, the Freedom Network Training Institute, and other governmental and private organizations.

John is an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of International Policy & Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

John retired in the rank of lieutenant from the San Jose Police Department, where he managed the San Jose Police Human Trafficking Task Force, and holds an M.A. in Leadership from Saint Mary's College of California.

To contact John or see more of his writing on human trafficking, collaboration, and leadership visit: www.johnvanek.com

For updates on topics addressed in The Essential Abolitionist, useful links, and anti-trafficking job openings, visit:

www.facebook.com/theessentialabolitio...

Follow John on Twitter: @JohnJVanek

Reviews

[Mary Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is never a dull moment as there are several stories going at the same time.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Jake Austin, a physician/priest, must serve the young Catholic parents of a comatose infant while working with his bff, the local chief of police, to investigate the possibility of SIDS. His bishop, whom he frequently butts heads with, asks Jake to investigate the reports of a Virgin Mary statue that weeps blood. And in addition to his full-time jobs, he’s also helping his recently found half-sister deal with her leukemia and take care of her young son. He’s hoping for a bunch of miracles, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to get his wish. He’s also dealing with unrequited love for his high school sweetheart who has come back into his life – not as a girlfriend, but as a friend.

I thoroughly enjoy this series, which reminds me of the William X. Kienzle Fr. Koesler books. Austin is human being first, and then a priest and a doctor. He frequently finds himself “at the crossroads of duty and conscience”, straddling the line between living his beliefs and remembering what being a person with human frailties is like. He almost knows too much, which makes giving comfort to his parishioners or his sister particularly difficult and painful to him, since the other half of his nature is to always look for miracles. If I were inclined to go church, he’s the pastor I’d want to see.

This was a good read. It kept me entertained all the way through and I was sad when it ended. There are “good” endings and “right” endings; this story had the “right” ending. Maybe everything didn’t work out perfectly, but it was satisfying, and made me want to read more in the series. These books are better in order.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Jake Austin belongs to an order of priests who are also physicians. In the second book of this series, his half sister Justine, who surprised Jake by showing up with her young son when he didn’t even know he had a sister, is going to die of leukemia without a bone marrow transplant. If they can’t find their father, Jake will be the donor. Meanwhile, his police chief friend Tree Macon has asked for his help in the case of a baby dying of what appears to be SIDS but may be murder. Also, there’s this statue of the Virgin Mary at a nearby church that seems to be bleeding and causing miraculous healings. The bishop has asked Fr. Jake to find out the truth. The good father has his hands full. It’s an engaging tale, although corny and clichéd in places. The Irish housekeeper totally fits the stereotypical image, and Fr. Jake’s blind friend Emily naturally has a heart of gold. The musical and technical references are dated. But let all that go and enjoy the story.

[T.S. Epperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A believable cast of characters, in that they are all striving for what they perceive as good, and yet they are all flawed in various ways. The story was entertaining and kept my interest, in spite of my being in a very busy phase of life. There is sexual tension, without on screen sex. I recommend this book to readers who like a good mystery, without gratuitous violence or overly foul language.

[Martha monaganhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! A gem in that rare collection of mysteries without
Voyeuristic sex and gore. I looking forward to the next in this new series.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing novel of mysteries and challenges for Fr. Jake Austin in Oberlin & Lorain & northern OH, my home for 41 years. Always fun to read about a familiar place, and it is a compelling read.

[David Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pick up this series: it checks every box!