Zach’s Betrayal Tears Apart The Brotherhood And Gabriel Goes On The Run With Trinity As The Trilogy Concludes. A Fabulous Dark Story With Breathtaking Suspense!
This is the final book in the Sinners of Saint Amos trilogy. It is not a stand-alone. It does have a happy ending.
Trigger warning for sensitive readers: there are potential triggers throughout the story. Issues include bullying, non-consent, abuse, and drugs.
From book one:
Trinity Malone, nearly eighteen, had led a sheltered life until her parents died. As the homeschooled daughter of a priest, she hadn't even been kissed. Though immersed in religion her whole life, in her heart she knew herself to be a heretic. She was unable to find the personal connection to God that her parents and Father Gabriel had. And when she lost her parents, she felt abandoned by God as well. She had never felt more alone.
When her long time family friend becomes her guardian, Trinity finds herself a couple hours away from her hometown of Redmond, Virginia. Father Gabriel is provost at Saint Amos, a West Virginia all boy boarding school for orphans and the unfortunate who cannot afford better. It is located in the midst of a vast forest, and Gabriel warns her not to go beyond the fence, as a number of students have gone missing in the woods.
Almost as soon as Trinity arrives, she finds herself amidst several handsome but terrifying guys. The student population in general is not welcoming, and several students are openly hostile toward her. But with nowhere else to go, Trinity decides she won't succumb to the bullying no matter how bad it gets.
The Brotherhood has operated at Saint Amos without interference, but questions arise when Trinity unexpectedly enrolls in their school. They need answers. If they don't like them, Trinity must be dealt with. But Trinity's meek and submissive ways bring out the animal in Zac, Apollo, Reuben, and Cass, and things might blow up for them before they get the answers they desperately need.
From book two:
Trinity’s arrival at Saint Amos less than a week earlier has the Brotherhood on edge. The Brotherhood has a plan to bring down the Guardian and to track down their Ghosts. It has taken years of planning. But Trinity’s sudden presence at the school and her mysterious relationship to Gabriel causes concern. The brothers speculate as to her purpose for being there. To lure them into a trap, perhaps, or she may be a victim like them.
Brother Zachary Rutherford, nearly twenty-one, teaches AP Psychology at the school. He is either one year into his major or has his bachelor’s – there is conflicting information. He is the group’s official leader. Whatever he asks, his three brothers will do. They arrived at Saint Amos at different times over the past two years in order to avoid detection by Gabriel, though they cannot be certain he doesn’t already recognize them. Zach enjoys psychology because it helps him understand people. Zach, for one, is a sadist. He recognizes that Trinity’s presence is a problem for him and his brothers. None have normal feelings of empathy or regret. They cannot afford to lose control when they are so close to their goal.
Reuben, about eighteen, is a senior. He is huge – tall and built. He is also quiet, yet his gaze can instill fear. Though he has perfected his calm façade, he is capable of explosive behavior. Reuben is the religious zealot of the group and is quite attached to his rosary. He is good at reading people. Zachary is amazed when he observes that Reuben sincerely likes Trinity.
Cassius Santos, a senior, is a star student and has the prettiest face of the bunch. Because of that he was the most favored by the Ghosts. Unlike the others, he didn’t disassociate. He fought back the hardest. His resulting impulse control is his biggest challenge. He is somewhere between a sociopath and a psychopath. Cass struggles to keep his hands off of Trinity.
Apollos’s age is unclear. According to book one, he is almost twenty-two but is the most immature of the group; according to book two, he is about eighteen or nineteen (two or three years younger than Zach). He graduated last year and works in the kitchen. He is almost never without his camera. Relatively quiet and shy, he prefers to observe from behind the lens, though he is capable of charming even the Sisters in his own quiet way. He becomes sweet on Trinity, though like the others, Apollo follows Zach’s orders.
After confronting Trinity during that first weekend with some of the Brotherhood’s history – their years of abuse in the basement of the Ghost House, at the mercy of the Ghosts who abused the young boys routinely to “cure” their own sinful minds – and informing her of Father Gabriel’s involvement as the Guardian of the organization, she still believes that they are mistaken about Gabriel. Zach gives her until Wednesday to copy Gabriel’s hard drive for them, or else. She accepts because she has little choice, but also because she hopes to prove Gabriel’s innocence. Over the course of those days, Trinity gets to know each of the brothers, and it is clear that they each have an interest in her. But they are all damaged and somewhat insane, so nothing is certain. Before this story ends, more shocking secrets are divulged and Trinity finds herself deeper in the mire.
In book three:
Zach’s betrayal and Trinity’s kidnapping leave the characters separated as the book opens. Zach has disappeared without a word. With no leader, Reuben, Cass, and Apollo scramble to track down their beloved Trinity. Apollo puts his technical expertise to task and follows a lead that takes the three to Virginia. Meanwhile, Trinity awakes to find herself with Gabriel – her father - who is clearly unstable.
This is a dark period for all, but an opportunity for Reuben, Cass, and Apollo to grow. Circumstances take a devastating turn before the Brotherhood and Trinity are reunited, and they still face a long road to recovery, reconciliation, and the revenge that hasn’t been forgotten. More truths and surprises are revealed as the story takes yet another dark twist. By the end, though, each of the brothers has saved Trinity in his own way, and she has given them a love they never thought themselves capable of. The characters do finally earn a happy ending.
This story takes place in a dark world. The Brotherhood is a twisted lot, but their story gives context and understanding to their insanity. Bonded as brothers after five years in a dungeon together, they think nothing can ever come between them. There is no privacy amongst them after what they experienced together. They lack normal empathy for others, but will stop at nothing for one another. Revenge gives them purpose. But when Trinity enrolls at Saint Amos, they all know instantly that her presence will change things. They fight it, try to control it. They crumble before they embrace it. Trinity is their cure, and with her presence in their lives, they begin to heal.
This is a twisted but captivating series. The storyline is intense, but the characters and their relationships with one another are written beautifully and really make the story memorable. Considering how insane they all are, this is quite a feat. As for the details, there are inconsistencies that are a bit maddening. For detail-oriented readers, this is a problem, but the story is definitely worthwhile. It is best to try not to focus on these details and simply immerse yourself in the story generally. The storytelling is remarkable. It takes dark characters seemingly beyond redemption and turns things upside down, humanizing them and making their story twisted yet sympathetic.
Zach’s betrayal tears apart the Brotherhood and Gabriel goes on the run with Trinity as the trilogy concludes. Trinity's story is fabulously dark with breathtaking suspense! The story is remarkably good. The plot is complex. The truth is revealed in pieces, maintaining great suspense throughout. The characters are wonderfully developed, unique and three dimensional. It is written in first person. In this final book of the trilogy, the POV is expanded to include Trinity and the entire Brotherhood – not just Zach. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.