Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel

by Ray Keating

An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is Ray Keating’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series.

The Alliance of Saint Michael brings together men and women with varied backgrounds and talents to work covertly against the two most significant threats to Christianity and civilization at the dawn of the 1930s - communism and fascism.

In Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is going to be obliterated to make way for the Palace of the Soviets. The Alliance of St. Michael readies itself for its first mission – find and salvage a rare item of great significance from the cathedral before the building is lost.

Regarding Ray Keating, Kirkus Reviews calls his books “exhilarating.” Lutheran Book Review says, “I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me.” The retired host of KFUO radio’s BookTalk declares, “Ray Keating is a great novelist.”

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2022

Reviews

[Mary Moerbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Catholic, a Lutheran, and an Anglican walk into an auditorium, all surprisingly ready for action and adventure. Ray Keating’s newest series, “An Alliance of Saint Michael,” is an action thriller staring various Christians, of various denominations, coming together to fight ideological evil. Did they originally hope education would be enough? Sure. Then they upped their game by entering into a race against terrorism and destruction.

Similar to his Stephen Grant series, Ray Keating creates a group of ecumenical & eclectic Christians, who work hard & smart to fight evil, this time during the rise of Communism during the 1920s and 1930s. The crew once again consists of a variety of talents including weaponry, business, sports, and, as Keating loves to do, theology! Education! Economics! If you’ve been a Keating fan for long, you may even laugh out loud at the love of baseball.

I enjoyed the details from the 1920s and 1930s. Rather than focusing on women’s fashion, there were insights into technological developments of the time, race cars, and a peak into Hollywood. Fun stuff. I thought the worldbuilding was good.

There was a slower section, when a number of characters were introduced, but that can be expected in setting up the background and dynamics of a series.

Make no mistake: this book is not socialist or communist-friendly. There was quite a bit of violence. Some sex. Disillusionment. Sometimes the bad guys seemed to be on a roll. Sometimes you even wondered about the good guys. Still, a good summer read, quite in line with Keating’s other works. Once again, priests and pastors play prominent roles.

This book sets up a series to come without a cliff hanger, which I appreciate, and I’ll look forward to more books to come.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of another great series

I love the blend of action, history, theology, traditionalism, patriotism and American values that Ray Keating brings to all his books. I’ve read all of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and loved them. This introduces new characters, with the same interesting blend of pastors, priests and other churchmen as the Pastor Grant novels but set in the period before WW2 and the attempt to counter the growing threat of the Nazis and Stalinist Communists. Historical but also timely, given what is happening in the world today.

[Divina Cornelio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Keating’s Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel offers an evocative blend of history, intrigue, and action with a detailed setting in communist Russia. The story unfolds in 1928 Moscow, where the discovery of the Glück Bible prompts a harrowing fight against the looming arrest of pastors and the destruction of their church. Pastor Gabriel Fischer’s journey is personal and profound, illustrating the stark contrast between the imposed persecution of the state and the enduring strength of faith. Keating's characters are richly drawn and believable. The shadowy Alliance of Saint Michael is cleverly imagined to infuse the writing with suspense as readers are keen on discovering what they are up to next. I enjoyed the characters like Fischer and Konig, who devise means to protect the precious biblical texts. The novel's historical accuracy, combined with Keating's thoughtful narrative, makes it a thrilling read and a crucial reflection on the nature of belief in times of crisis. It is as timely as it is resonant.

[Christian Sia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, Ray Keating weaves a haunting tale of faith, courage, and intrigue set in a turbulent historical period. The plot revolves around the imminent destruction of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in 1928 Moscow and the discovery of the Glück Bible. This miraculous find could change the fate of Russian Christianity. Keating's storytelling grips from the beginning as the stakes and characters' lives hang in the balance. The tension between the oppressive forces of the state and the unwavering spirit of the church is skillfully developed throughout the book. The author excels in bringing historical context to life, illustrating the challenges faced by religious figures during this dark time. The intertwining of loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for freedom is profoundly depicted, making it a thought-provoking read. The nuanced characters and the stellar storytelling are among the elements that elevate the beauty of this narrative.

[Tony Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series, but another great book by Keating. Get past what I considered a slow start for Keating to find a broad range of both character development and geography in "Follettesque" style. This book is a departure from his Pastor Grant series, but well done with great treatment of the time period; great depression, rise of communism era. Unlike almost any other author, Keating uses his unique background to have the book include economic, capitalistic, and religious themes woven into an entertaining read.

[Rev James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

It is a great story, great perspective. Being a Lutheran pastor and retired Coast Guard, being involved in search and rescue, law enforcement and Naval Coastal warfare I can really relate to Pastor Stephen Grant and now this new series