What do you think?
Rate this book
Evan Wycliff Mysteries #2
Preacher Fakes a Miracle
Amateur sleuth Evan Wycliff is a disillusioned divinity student who is fascinated by astrophysics. He thought he'd given up searching for answers when he returned to his small-town farm roots in Southern Missouri. He is also disappointed in love. His beautiful fiancé was a brilliant Jewish scientist, a defense contractor who was killed in a rocket attack in Syria. These days Evan gets guest preacher gigs and uses his investigative skills as skip tracer for the local car and tractor dealership. In this second novel in the series, Evan counsels a boy who is afflicted with schizophrenia and has been accused of rape. Along with related abuses of the child welfare system, he uncovers a teen trafficking ring run out of a luxury casino resort by a Russian oligarch.
- GenresFiction
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2020
54 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Everett Jones
63 books489 followersGerald says, "I write mystery-thrillers and literary fiction for adult readers who seek insight, fascination, and delight in the adventures of their own lives."
Gerald Everett Jones is a freelance writer who lives in Santa Monica, California. Harry Harambee's Kenyan Sundowner is his eleventh and most recent novel. From 2020-21 he won ten book awards - one in business, four in literary fiction, and five in mystery-thriller. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, Women's National Book Association, and Film Independent (FIND), as well as a director of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the College of Letters, Wesleyan University, where he studied under novelists Peter Boynton (Stone Island), F.D. Reeve (The Red Machines), and Jerzy Kosinski (The Painted Bird, Being There). Learn more at geraldeverettjones.com.
Gerald Everett Jones is a freelance writer who lives in Santa Monica, California. Harry Harambee's Kenyan Sundowner is his eleventh and most recent novel. From 2020-21 he won ten book awards - one in business, four in literary fiction, and five in mystery-thriller. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, Women's National Book Association, and Film Independent (FIND), as well as a director of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the College of Letters, Wesleyan University, where he studied under novelists Peter Boynton (Stone Island), F.D. Reeve (The Red Machines), and Jerzy Kosinski (The Painted Bird, Being There). Learn more at geraldeverettjones.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 2, 2020
I won Preacher Fakes a Miracle: An Evan Wycliff Mystery (#2) but since there was only one before it I felt I needed to read it first, so I bought Preacher Finds a Corpse. I enjoyed that book as much as I enjoyed this book. I liked reading about Melissa, Luke, and Baby Buzz. Loretta seems a pretty good bet for Evan! I love the way Evan talks about the Bible and his interpretation of the verses! I had to work on the chapters when I went back 2 years, then 1 year to understand what Melissa went through. I am not a fan of Russian Mafia! Ever, in any book, they scare me! Reverend Mother - oh my, is that really how Catholics feel about possession by evil spirits and the deliberate choice to do evil? Her explanations are hard to sallow, ha, ha, ha I bet there is more to Evan Wycliff and I would certainly look forward to reading more about him!
September 4, 2020
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I found the beginning of the story a bit confusing Until I got more into the story. There were unexpected twists turns. And an ending was quite interesting. The ending tied the story together fo me. I do plan to read the first novel in the series and look forward to future books in the series.
October 9, 2025
Melissa Benton is an orphan and a teenage mother, and she has epilepsy. She has had a rough life, and it gets rougher when she is picked up by Family Welfare, separated from her baby, and taken against her will to an older man--a Russian gangster. it turns out---who plans to adopt her.
Melissa's older sister Loretta begs her neighbor, Evan Wycliff, for assistance. Evan, an occasional preacher at local churches, is also bright, resourceful, and willing to help. But it's not clear what he can do, since the adoption of Melissa and her baby by separate, unknown parties, seems to be legal and a done deal.
Miraculously, some expert assistance arrives in town just in the nick of time. (This miracle ought to do something to bolster Evan's fragile faith.) Rescuing Melissa still will not be easy, but Evan has a plan that he thinks might work.
Though some of the plot details stretch credulity, this is an exciting thriller with an interesting cast of characters.
Melissa's older sister Loretta begs her neighbor, Evan Wycliff, for assistance. Evan, an occasional preacher at local churches, is also bright, resourceful, and willing to help. But it's not clear what he can do, since the adoption of Melissa and her baby by separate, unknown parties, seems to be legal and a done deal.
Miraculously, some expert assistance arrives in town just in the nick of time. (This miracle ought to do something to bolster Evan's fragile faith.) Rescuing Melissa still will not be easy, but Evan has a plan that he thinks might work.
Though some of the plot details stretch credulity, this is an exciting thriller with an interesting cast of characters.
September 11, 2020
Interesting and hard to put down
It didn't take long to become engrossed in this book. It is full of intrigue and suspense. The storyline is so full of detail it paints an image easily so that you are pulled into the pages. There are many different aspects of mystery inside the story that you are left wondering where the story will go next. Evan is very straightforward in looking to help his clients who are not able to help themselves at all cost. He is devoted and compassionate. His imperfections which he gladly accepts and admits to make him even more likeable and realistic. This book is definitely a must read for anyone who likes a good mystery with a lot of heart!!
It didn't take long to become engrossed in this book. It is full of intrigue and suspense. The storyline is so full of detail it paints an image easily so that you are pulled into the pages. There are many different aspects of mystery inside the story that you are left wondering where the story will go next. Evan is very straightforward in looking to help his clients who are not able to help themselves at all cost. He is devoted and compassionate. His imperfections which he gladly accepts and admits to make him even more likeable and realistic. This book is definitely a must read for anyone who likes a good mystery with a lot of heart!!
August 20, 2020
Had it all
I liked this book from the beginning and it didnt disappoint. The character Evan was the kind of protagonist that you aren't sure that you like at first, but then he kinda grows on you, and by books end you really believe, not only in his abilities, but in his wife showing up, and like being able to communicate with melissa .
I liked this book from the beginning and it didnt disappoint. The character Evan was the kind of protagonist that you aren't sure that you like at first, but then he kinda grows on you, and by books end you really believe, not only in his abilities, but in his wife showing up, and like being able to communicate with melissa .
August 31, 2020
This is a good book! I didn't read the first one and will probably go back and read it before the next in the series.
I love the preacher! Can't wait to see what happens next!
I love the preacher! Can't wait to see what happens next!
September 23, 2020
Great read informative
Enjoyed each page. Good heart you have Mr. Jones. I like that!
Look forward to reading one of your other books!!
Enjoyed each page. Good heart you have Mr. Jones. I like that!
Look forward to reading one of your other books!!
June 10, 2024
PG15
Lots of language
Lots of language
July 4, 2024
Keep you guessing
The kind of story that keeps you reading just to find out where the next twist will take you...even when it strains credulity
The kind of story that keeps you reading just to find out where the next twist will take you...even when it strains credulity
October 25, 2025
A great story
The author has created an amazing and creative plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
The author has created an amazing and creative plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
May 26, 2024
Evan Wycliff is a preacher who has a very blurred view of right and wrong, or rather the means that he uses to fight the cause against the criminal elements of society.
I loved the grey area that he inhabits and the secondary characters that flesh out his world.
An excellent plot and a good ending.
I loved the grey area that he inhabits and the secondary characters that flesh out his world.
An excellent plot and a good ending.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews