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Danny Hansen #1
The Priest's Graveyard
Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man. Soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.
Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.
But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.
Judge not, or you too will be judged.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.
Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.
But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.
Judge not, or you too will be judged.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
217 people are currently reading
4500 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
191 books9,955 followersTed Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 757 reviews
May 4, 2011
Reading this book is like being locked in the trunk of a speeding car and trying to figure out where you’re going by tracking the twists and turns the journey takes. Chances are once the car stops and you’re tossed out, you’re nowhere near where you thought you were going. It’s a great book if you’re an insomniac because you’re not going to want to put it down until that trunk finally opens.
From the title, one might think this is a horror novel; it’s not. It does contain some horrific (in some cases, terrifying) scenes, but it’s really a suspenseful thriller. It’s also, surprisingly, a study in mental illness, and the author is quite skilled in writing from this perspective. It’s also a bit of a morality play, wanting the reader to contemplate vigilantism in the context of making correct moral choices; of course, those choices are never clear cut.
The story is told from the viewpoints of two main characters but, in an interesting twist, one is telling it first person, the other third person. This unusual technique makes it easy to keep track of who’s “talking” in what could at times be confusing narrative, especially toward the end of the book as it staggers back and forth toward the climax.
If I have a criticism, it’s that the story is a bit light on plot development. I felt at times like the author thought, since there’s so much action, there’s no need to clutter things up with details like background, scene setting, etc. Most of the time I didn’t miss it, but at other times I found myself wondering “Huh? Where did that come from? Where are they now? Who is this person?” and thumbing back to see what I’d missed.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a movie made from this book. It’s just the kind of mind-bending, head-scratching plot Hollywood loves.
(FTC disclaimer: I reviewed a free advance reader copy of this book that I won in the Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.)
From the title, one might think this is a horror novel; it’s not. It does contain some horrific (in some cases, terrifying) scenes, but it’s really a suspenseful thriller. It’s also, surprisingly, a study in mental illness, and the author is quite skilled in writing from this perspective. It’s also a bit of a morality play, wanting the reader to contemplate vigilantism in the context of making correct moral choices; of course, those choices are never clear cut.
The story is told from the viewpoints of two main characters but, in an interesting twist, one is telling it first person, the other third person. This unusual technique makes it easy to keep track of who’s “talking” in what could at times be confusing narrative, especially toward the end of the book as it staggers back and forth toward the climax.
If I have a criticism, it’s that the story is a bit light on plot development. I felt at times like the author thought, since there’s so much action, there’s no need to clutter things up with details like background, scene setting, etc. Most of the time I didn’t miss it, but at other times I found myself wondering “Huh? Where did that come from? Where are they now? Who is this person?” and thumbing back to see what I’d missed.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a movie made from this book. It’s just the kind of mind-bending, head-scratching plot Hollywood loves.
(FTC disclaimer: I reviewed a free advance reader copy of this book that I won in the Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.)
January 2, 2013
The book takes ages to get going, and even then it's just so damn boring. Despite all the reviews claiming to watch out for the violence/gore I found myself at page 80 before anything remotely interesting started happening. And yes, there is that scene with the tongue cutting at the beginning, but eh. It felt like the scene was just thrown in there in an attempt to try and wake up the reader. The pacing is slow and there are too many details thrown into the mix that I think no one would give a damn about. Like what Renee had for dinner and what she was dressed for said dinner. How is that relevant?
Anyway, onto the characters. Danny's a priest who kills people. Yep. That's all you need to know right there to form an opinion of the protagonist we're supposed to identify with. Now I'm not a religions person in the least, quite the contrary, but let's face it. If you're a priest who murders others you've pretty much lost credibility in anyone's eyes. Especially when he uses the information he obtained from other people during confessional.Confessional. That's supposed to be private. It's like if a doctor would go out to catch this guy who gave a woman some horrible disease. Way to reopen up a wound, not to mention butting in when it's not your place. And another thing that annoyed me was Danny's walking around, pretending to be doing God's work. Which, by the by, you can't say you do unless you personally have a chat with the big guy upstairs. Doing what you think is right doesn't make you a messenger of God, it just makes you human. Just like everybody else.
Renee I almost don't even want to get into. She's a sorry excuse of a female character. So she falls on a bad road and starts shooting up heroin and lets herself get slapped around by some other character. Okay, sure, that happens, and it's not the part that bugged me. It's that I kept waiting for the part where she ditches her past to become a better person. And I kept waiting, and waiting. But Renee did nothing. She just got (literally) picked up by a rich and handsome guy who did everything for her to the point that she didn't even need to leave the house. Renee doesn't get a job and doesn't try and become a stronger woman. She lives in a mansion on the beach where she becomes a trophy wife that becomes obsessed with being as clean as she can for her husband (which includes throwing up after eating). Wonderful character to aspire to right there. [/sarcasm]
Now, I know that she eventually leaves the house and tries to stop being such a pathetic creature, but that only happens after her husband is taken out of the picture. Without this happening, Renee wouldn't have changed at all. She had no intention of changing. And even after she decides to take matters into her own hands she just ends up screwing it up, getting captured, and getting saved by yet another man she falls for. And then Renee proceeds to be wowed by everything Danny does and follows pretty much everything he says, like an excitable little lap dog. So it seems like the message here is that a woman can't do much without a strong man to look after her and point her in the right direction. Yeesh. I really hope not all Christian fiction books are like this, because it's just pathetic. Like how one of the few times Renee takes initiative (besides killing someone she shouldn't have or going to places she shouldn't have) is when she basically tells Danny to quit being a priest so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about fooling around. Again, what a fantastic character to aspire to.
So the blurb promises intense action and philosophical debates, but what I ended up reading was the adventures of a hypocritical priest and a bumbling idiot. Sounds more like the tagline of a bad comedy, if you ask me.
Anyway, onto the characters. Danny's a priest who kills people. Yep. That's all you need to know right there to form an opinion of the protagonist we're supposed to identify with. Now I'm not a religions person in the least, quite the contrary, but let's face it. If you're a priest who murders others you've pretty much lost credibility in anyone's eyes. Especially when he uses the information he obtained from other people during confessional.Confessional. That's supposed to be private. It's like if a doctor would go out to catch this guy who gave a woman some horrible disease. Way to reopen up a wound, not to mention butting in when it's not your place. And another thing that annoyed me was Danny's walking around, pretending to be doing God's work. Which, by the by, you can't say you do unless you personally have a chat with the big guy upstairs. Doing what you think is right doesn't make you a messenger of God, it just makes you human. Just like everybody else.
Renee I almost don't even want to get into. She's a sorry excuse of a female character. So she falls on a bad road and starts shooting up heroin and lets herself get slapped around by some other character. Okay, sure, that happens, and it's not the part that bugged me. It's that I kept waiting for the part where she ditches her past to become a better person. And I kept waiting, and waiting. But Renee did nothing. She just got (literally) picked up by a rich and handsome guy who did everything for her to the point that she didn't even need to leave the house. Renee doesn't get a job and doesn't try and become a stronger woman. She lives in a mansion on the beach where she becomes a trophy wife that becomes obsessed with being as clean as she can for her husband (which includes throwing up after eating). Wonderful character to aspire to right there. [/sarcasm]
Now, I know that she eventually leaves the house and tries to stop being such a pathetic creature, but that only happens after her husband is taken out of the picture. Without this happening, Renee wouldn't have changed at all. She had no intention of changing. And even after she decides to take matters into her own hands she just ends up screwing it up, getting captured, and getting saved by yet another man she falls for. And then Renee proceeds to be wowed by everything Danny does and follows pretty much everything he says, like an excitable little lap dog. So it seems like the message here is that a woman can't do much without a strong man to look after her and point her in the right direction. Yeesh. I really hope not all Christian fiction books are like this, because it's just pathetic. Like how one of the few times Renee takes initiative (besides killing someone she shouldn't have or going to places she shouldn't have) is when she basically tells Danny to quit being a priest so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about fooling around. Again, what a fantastic character to aspire to.
So the blurb promises intense action and philosophical debates, but what I ended up reading was the adventures of a hypocritical priest and a bumbling idiot. Sounds more like the tagline of a bad comedy, if you ask me.
October 25, 2011
To be honest, It's probably not really a wise thing for me to write this review, because I am unequivocably a "Dekkie"- translation- huge Ted Dekker fan right here. Ted is an author that never seems to tire of taking risks in his writing and I never tire of reading his books. "The Priest's Graveyard" is no exception. From page one I entered into "Ted Dekker land" a wonderful place where I become completely riveted to his story and don't want to quit reading until it is through.
This is a tale full of heartbreak, grief, and intense love. Danny Hansen is a man who has lived through horrific events at the hands of the Orthodox Christians in Bosnia. Leaving his past behind, he comes to America for a fresh start and at that time becomes a priest. With that fresh start our priest finds it necessary to mete out justice to the truly vile creatures of the world who have escaped true justice and Danny makes sure they received some of his own. He is a vigilante of sorts who proclaims judgment on those members of society that need it. Enter Renee Gilmore- a young beautiful girl with a past of her own- a former drug addict and down on her luck sort of girl. She finds her path crosses with Danny because they are both tracking the same man. Renee seeks to destroy this man because she believes he killed her former husband and Danny also seeks him because he believes him to be a vile member of society who needs justice to be served. They team up, and the story just heats up from there.
In true Ted Dekker fashion- there is a twist (or two) and at times your holding onto your seat for dear life. It is amazing how completely enthralled one becomes with these characters. Judgement, moral reasoning and ultimately how love and grace factor into all of it are all brought together in an amazing way. I raced through this book quickly as I really needed to know how it turned out. Yes there are some edgy parts to this book for sure, so be prepared, but it was really a wonderful read. Compelling, riveting and as always thought provoking. Once again Ted- Bravo!(less)
This is a tale full of heartbreak, grief, and intense love. Danny Hansen is a man who has lived through horrific events at the hands of the Orthodox Christians in Bosnia. Leaving his past behind, he comes to America for a fresh start and at that time becomes a priest. With that fresh start our priest finds it necessary to mete out justice to the truly vile creatures of the world who have escaped true justice and Danny makes sure they received some of his own. He is a vigilante of sorts who proclaims judgment on those members of society that need it. Enter Renee Gilmore- a young beautiful girl with a past of her own- a former drug addict and down on her luck sort of girl. She finds her path crosses with Danny because they are both tracking the same man. Renee seeks to destroy this man because she believes he killed her former husband and Danny also seeks him because he believes him to be a vile member of society who needs justice to be served. They team up, and the story just heats up from there.
In true Ted Dekker fashion- there is a twist (or two) and at times your holding onto your seat for dear life. It is amazing how completely enthralled one becomes with these characters. Judgement, moral reasoning and ultimately how love and grace factor into all of it are all brought together in an amazing way. I raced through this book quickly as I really needed to know how it turned out. Yes there are some edgy parts to this book for sure, so be prepared, but it was really a wonderful read. Compelling, riveting and as always thought provoking. Once again Ted- Bravo!(less)
July 15, 2011
I started to read this book because it is the June book for the Virtual Book Club on Facebook. I read the first two chapters to be ready for the first night of discussions, but soon after the meeting I realized I just had to read the rest of the book. So I took that night and the next day to finish it. I could not put it down.
I will have to back up and state that I typically read and review YA novels. This is not YA by any means. However, it is a great book. I was completely sucked into this world. What I liked best about the book was how I was continually being challenged on my own personal thoughts and beliefs while reading the book. I found myself judging the characters and pondering the questions posed to them and themselves while reading.
I loved the suspense and edge of your seat events that happened. I am a fan of serial killer type books. One could argue whether this is a serial killer book or not, but I do love to read these. This is a level above the rest because it is not cheesy and actually through it all causes the reader to actually think about what we would do in certain situations.
I was interested in finding out how he was going to bring these two characters together and it worked out perfectly. Not what I expected, but even better. The ending caught me off guard. I was not expecting the ending, but it was better than expected. It actually gave me pause to go back and rethink everything I was thinking during the reading.
I look forward to a book club with the novel not only on FB, but also in person(I run a book club and this would be a great one to discuss).
I have only read one other book by Ted Dekker, but after reading this book, I need to go back and read some of his other works.
This is a perfect summer read. Check it out
I will have to back up and state that I typically read and review YA novels. This is not YA by any means. However, it is a great book. I was completely sucked into this world. What I liked best about the book was how I was continually being challenged on my own personal thoughts and beliefs while reading the book. I found myself judging the characters and pondering the questions posed to them and themselves while reading.
I loved the suspense and edge of your seat events that happened. I am a fan of serial killer type books. One could argue whether this is a serial killer book or not, but I do love to read these. This is a level above the rest because it is not cheesy and actually through it all causes the reader to actually think about what we would do in certain situations.
I was interested in finding out how he was going to bring these two characters together and it worked out perfectly. Not what I expected, but even better. The ending caught me off guard. I was not expecting the ending, but it was better than expected. It actually gave me pause to go back and rethink everything I was thinking during the reading.
I look forward to a book club with the novel not only on FB, but also in person(I run a book club and this would be a great one to discuss).
I have only read one other book by Ted Dekker, but after reading this book, I need to go back and read some of his other works.
This is a perfect summer read. Check it out
Read
August 22, 2018DID NOT FINISH.
I won't leave a rating but I really did not care for this novel. I listened to 35 of 125 tracks over two hours on an airplane trip and could not enjoy this story. I really wanted to like it but did not enjoy listening about a refugee who kills people whom he disagrees with- apparently in the name of religion.
The other main character- a reformed drug addicted prostitute- who is apparently held captive in a Malibu, CA mansion on the ocean as a "sex slave" (for lack of a better term) by an OCD germophobe. It seemed well written but not a topic or plot that I wanted to follow to the end.
I won't deep six the novel's rating but I can't recommend it. You can decide for yourself- but it doesn't get my vote.
I won't leave a rating but I really did not care for this novel. I listened to 35 of 125 tracks over two hours on an airplane trip and could not enjoy this story. I really wanted to like it but did not enjoy listening about a refugee who kills people whom he disagrees with- apparently in the name of religion.
The other main character- a reformed drug addicted prostitute- who is apparently held captive in a Malibu, CA mansion on the ocean as a "sex slave" (for lack of a better term) by an OCD germophobe. It seemed well written but not a topic or plot that I wanted to follow to the end.
I won't deep six the novel's rating but I can't recommend it. You can decide for yourself- but it doesn't get my vote.
September 20, 2018
I want to start this by saying that I've read several of Ted Dekker's books. I suppose I'll never be a fan of his writing. That said, this is the best one (and this is my opinion of course) that I've read. I found this one far more interesting and (again this is my opinion) to have a far more interesting plot and a story told in a far better voice.
Mr. Dekker tells a morality tale here that winds its way from start to finish with an ending that is, well it's an ending but I found it far from satisfying.
I'd say that if you are a Ted Dekker fan then you will probably like this one better than I did. What I will say is that maybe you should try this one yourself and see what you think. Me, I think it's okay, readable. I'm not really taken with it but it's my favorite of the books I've read by Mr. Dekker.
Mr. Dekker tells a morality tale here that winds its way from start to finish with an ending that is, well it's an ending but I found it far from satisfying.
I'd say that if you are a Ted Dekker fan then you will probably like this one better than I did. What I will say is that maybe you should try this one yourself and see what you think. Me, I think it's okay, readable. I'm not really taken with it but it's my favorite of the books I've read by Mr. Dekker.
January 16, 2016
You have no idea what a thrill it was for me to one of the few chosen to review this book, being the huge fan that I am of Ted Dekker's. It has been a while since I have read a Dekker book (about 6 mo.) so silly me I keep forgetting how amazing he is.
I am so glad that this book did not disappoint. Within the first chapter this book jumps out at you with all its suspensefulness! Dekker also has a way with the characters. Just after the first couple of chapters I was in love with the three main characters. Renee' is just plain adorable! She is needy, sweet, kind, thankful, nice... or is she? Danny is suppose to be the bad guy? Then why do we like him so much? And there's Lamont - sweet guy, Angel, Renee's Savior? Wow, Guess we didn't really know him at all! Are these 3 people bad guys turned good, or good guys turned bad? It is really hard to tell.
I could have easily sat and read this whole book in one sitting, but everyday life gets in the way. So I read it in 2 days! This book is suspense at its very best. It literally keeps you guessing on each page. Towards the end - I thought "No!" I was shocked! I still couldn't believe it until I read more. This is one of Ted Dekker's best!
If you have never read a book by Ted Dekker, first let me tell you how much you are missing out! Are you into very suspenseful books? Do you love being on the edge of your chair at the turn of every page? Do you love books that make you gasp out loud? You have got to try one. This is a good one to start with!
I am so glad that this book did not disappoint. Within the first chapter this book jumps out at you with all its suspensefulness! Dekker also has a way with the characters. Just after the first couple of chapters I was in love with the three main characters. Renee' is just plain adorable! She is needy, sweet, kind, thankful, nice... or is she? Danny is suppose to be the bad guy? Then why do we like him so much? And there's Lamont - sweet guy, Angel, Renee's Savior? Wow, Guess we didn't really know him at all! Are these 3 people bad guys turned good, or good guys turned bad? It is really hard to tell.
I could have easily sat and read this whole book in one sitting, but everyday life gets in the way. So I read it in 2 days! This book is suspense at its very best. It literally keeps you guessing on each page. Towards the end - I thought "No!" I was shocked! I still couldn't believe it until I read more. This is one of Ted Dekker's best!
If you have never read a book by Ted Dekker, first let me tell you how much you are missing out! Are you into very suspenseful books? Do you love being on the edge of your chair at the turn of every page? Do you love books that make you gasp out loud? You have got to try one. This is a good one to start with!
October 27, 2011
I'm so excited. Dekker is one of my "old faithfuls", an author I know won't be disappointing 99% of the time. I preordered this months ago because it sounded so good. Anyone that knows me knows I HATE waiting for anything, so that's a big deal.
ETA: Okay, so I devoured this book. The pace and tension are excellent. Now and then I paused, unable to suspend disbelief quite as much as Dekker required for some bits, but the action kept me moving forward, and able to let those parts go.
The only major problem I have with this book is that the characterization felt weak. I felt that Renee tended to slip completely out of character now and then, beyond what would be acceptable for someone with her obvious issues. Some of her dialogue and actions just felt so off the wall that it was hard to relate to her and hard to like her. Actually, her character annoyed me. There. I said it. This is probably the biggest reason I wouldn't give this novel 5 stars. Yes, she annoyed me that much. Every time I read her name, I made up a different name in my head just so we'd have nothing in common. Yes, sometimes I'm a child.
Danny felt very similar to the protagonists in Thr3e and Bride Collector. While he had obvious differences, as a reader, I felt as though I'd followed this character before. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. All writers put a bit of ourselves into our characters, primarily the protagonists. I think that these particular characters reflect some of Dekker's stronger traits. Danny didn't annoy me. I liked him.
Plot? I can't help but admire Dekker's ability to weave a plot that seems so basic and yet, at the end so very layered. The ending is not what I expected. For me, personally, I found it kind of weak, but that's a personal thing and doesn't reflect the actual goodness or badness of the ending at all. I guess with all of that action, I expected...more?
Do I recommend it? Yes, very much so. The Priest's Graveyard is an entertaining, fast paced read that I guarantee will surprise you at least once in your journey.
ETA: Okay, so I devoured this book. The pace and tension are excellent. Now and then I paused, unable to suspend disbelief quite as much as Dekker required for some bits, but the action kept me moving forward, and able to let those parts go.
The only major problem I have with this book is that the characterization felt weak. I felt that Renee tended to slip completely out of character now and then, beyond what would be acceptable for someone with her obvious issues. Some of her dialogue and actions just felt so off the wall that it was hard to relate to her and hard to like her. Actually, her character annoyed me. There. I said it. This is probably the biggest reason I wouldn't give this novel 5 stars. Yes, she annoyed me that much. Every time I read her name, I made up a different name in my head just so we'd have nothing in common. Yes, sometimes I'm a child.
Danny felt very similar to the protagonists in Thr3e and Bride Collector. While he had obvious differences, as a reader, I felt as though I'd followed this character before. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. All writers put a bit of ourselves into our characters, primarily the protagonists. I think that these particular characters reflect some of Dekker's stronger traits. Danny didn't annoy me. I liked him.
Plot? I can't help but admire Dekker's ability to weave a plot that seems so basic and yet, at the end so very layered. The ending is not what I expected. For me, personally, I found it kind of weak, but that's a personal thing and doesn't reflect the actual goodness or badness of the ending at all. I guess with all of that action, I expected...more?
Do I recommend it? Yes, very much so. The Priest's Graveyard is an entertaining, fast paced read that I guarantee will surprise you at least once in your journey.
March 18, 2012
This is the first Ted Dekker book I've read and it didn't appeal to me as much as I'd hoped. I liked the idea of a priest seeking vengeance on the evil people of the world, and if we'd had more of Father Danny Hanson's exploits in the book I think I may have enjoyed it more. The trouble I had was with the character of Renee Gilmore. For all that she had been through (basically orphaned, addicted to drugs, treated badly by some shady men, etc.) I should have felt compassion and been on her side, but I became more and more annoyed to the point that at the end of the book I disliked her and didn't care what happened to her. Her dialogue at times and the way she behaved was too over-the-top for me, as was the plot at times (I don't know how she got away with doing some of the things she did without even an inkling of interest from the authorities). She seemed so manic and crazed at times, and behaved rather stupidly at others, that she lost my support. And for a newbie to the world of vengeance, Renee did not balk much at, or indeed have any adverse reaction to, some of the things they did of a murderous nature.
One other thing that took me out of the story was a problem with continuity (Renee took a cab somewhere and then made reference to getting back to the car in case she needed to/driving home).
If someone can suggest another of his books to try, I'm game, but this particular one didn't work for me.
One other thing that took me out of the story was a problem with continuity (Renee took a cab somewhere and then made reference to getting back to the car in case she needed to/driving home).
If someone can suggest another of his books to try, I'm game, but this particular one didn't work for me.
June 19, 2022
At first I really liked this one, then Renee got on my nerves, and by the time the little "romance" at the end developed I was so ready to shoot her myself, just, no. It didn't work and it ruined the rest for me, Danny can't possibly be stupid enough to fall "in love with" an addlepated drug addict
If she were to have ended up dead or committed to a terminal psych ward, I would have 5 starred this easily but sometimes a character just grates my nerves
I think a lot of people would see past that and still enjoy the book moreso than I did, so I'll recommend for fans of thrillers and vigilante books 😂
If she were to have ended up dead or committed to a terminal psych ward, I would have 5 starred this easily but sometimes a character just grates my nerves
I think a lot of people would see past that and still enjoy the book moreso than I did, so I'll recommend for fans of thrillers and vigilante books 😂
February 22, 2019
Alot of action, and as many plot holes. Renee, a heroin junkie, is on the run from a bad guy. Lamont, her savior, gets her cleaned up and keeps her in his home. Enter Danny, who ends up also rescuing her and teaching her skills he learned in Bosnia as an army operative. Far fetched but enjoyable wild ride.
April 19, 2013
I am slowly but surely reading through this author's books. To date, this book is Dekker's best. Choose to pass on it and you have missed out. No spoilers from me! Just read it and be blown away.
Awesome job, Ted!
Awesome job, Ted!
May 6, 2011
I don't understand these ratings. Did I read the same book!? It began with some promise but ended up being cliché, unimaginative, preposterous and above all, cheesy!
January 18, 2016
Rant:
You know what's worse than finding a book published in 2011 with a passive, weak female character? Finding a book this modern with a female character who isn't passive but is all of the following: completely incompetent, single-minded, helpless, weak, pitied by a Strong Male Lead, incapable of proper reasoning, incapable of anything in general, overemotional and unnecessarily irrational, etc etc etc. Her positive traits basically boil down to being pretty. This book could have been published in 1711 and people would have loved it, that's how patriarchally backwards it is. My feminist soul is raging.
And granted, the book is definitely hiding its sexism behind a plot where the female character has to be weak and imcopetent or it completely falls apart. Heaven forbid Renee not be a battered woman and not need a Strong Male Character to teach her basic things.
And it's not even the one weak female character that pisses me off about this book. Danny - aka Strong Male Character - is just as full of shit. Why doe he have no faults? Why is he portrayed as a good guy throughout the entire novel, despite clearly behaving like a serial killer and never thinking clearly about what Renee actually needs to her personal healing process? His number one trait is hypocrisy, followed up by the ability to fool himself with Christian paradoxes and double standards, but of course, we would expect that from Strong Male Character, he's clearly perfect, according to the novel.
My favorite part is where Danny consistently believes that Renee is just like him, despite that she is clearly a raving lunatic and he is a very methodical serial killer. The only thong they have in common is their ability to lie to themselves and a mutual investigation of Jonathan Borque. Yet somehow they fall in love, which is ridiculous. I felt next to no real charisma between the two characters; the romance seemed completely forced, and I could almost see the written plot in my head of "and now they fall in love." It probably looked nice in the synopsis and the outline. It doesn't look good in the book.
As far as I'm concerned, the only redeeming quality in this book is the plot, where a serial killer priest helps a battered woman hunt down the guy who killed her husband. That sentence sounds good. The book just gets worse from there on out. Wouldn't recommend reading it. End rant.
You know what's worse than finding a book published in 2011 with a passive, weak female character? Finding a book this modern with a female character who isn't passive but is all of the following: completely incompetent, single-minded, helpless, weak, pitied by a Strong Male Lead, incapable of proper reasoning, incapable of anything in general, overemotional and unnecessarily irrational, etc etc etc. Her positive traits basically boil down to being pretty. This book could have been published in 1711 and people would have loved it, that's how patriarchally backwards it is. My feminist soul is raging.
And granted, the book is definitely hiding its sexism behind a plot where the female character has to be weak and imcopetent or it completely falls apart. Heaven forbid Renee not be a battered woman and not need a Strong Male Character to teach her basic things.
And it's not even the one weak female character that pisses me off about this book. Danny - aka Strong Male Character - is just as full of shit. Why doe he have no faults? Why is he portrayed as a good guy throughout the entire novel, despite clearly behaving like a serial killer and never thinking clearly about what Renee actually needs to her personal healing process? His number one trait is hypocrisy, followed up by the ability to fool himself with Christian paradoxes and double standards, but of course, we would expect that from Strong Male Character, he's clearly perfect, according to the novel.
My favorite part is where Danny consistently believes that Renee is just like him, despite that she is clearly a raving lunatic and he is a very methodical serial killer. The only thong they have in common is their ability to lie to themselves and a mutual investigation of Jonathan Borque. Yet somehow they fall in love, which is ridiculous. I felt next to no real charisma between the two characters; the romance seemed completely forced, and I could almost see the written plot in my head of "and now they fall in love." It probably looked nice in the synopsis and the outline. It doesn't look good in the book.
As far as I'm concerned, the only redeeming quality in this book is the plot, where a serial killer priest helps a battered woman hunt down the guy who killed her husband. That sentence sounds good. The book just gets worse from there on out. Wouldn't recommend reading it. End rant.
May 31, 2021
did you ever wonder what it's like to fall in love with a... villain? yes? like when you watch a movie where an innocent ignorant girl thinks she loves this crooked boy and you're screaming internally "dump tHis JeRk alReaDy" but privately you wonder what on earth it would be like to be in her shoes? ok, so here's your chance...
because we're talking about psycho serial killers. Danny Hansen--that is, Father Danny Hansen--a serial killer priest. and then there's Renee Gilmore... former addict, later crazed revenge-ridden murderess...
and how does anyone make people like them so lovable?? because I kept reminding myself, "I'm dealing with two crazy killers--don't lose your head"... but I still lost it. Because, no, I really shuddered every time they pulled the trigger. I don't approve of their twisted sense of justice. But I love them anyway. Those two broken twisted evil human beings. I still love them.
and I ship them so hard. it just broke me all over to see everything they had to go through and everything that happened to them. Renee was so lovable, so endearing, so energetic and cheerful and adorable. I felt from Renee that adoration for Danny, and Danny's for Renee and umm /feeling/ this is so rare, actually.
then there was the plot--so twisty. it just develops all nice and smooth and as expected and them BOOM PLOT TWIST O_o how?? I didn't see it coming in a million years (#rare). and there's plenty of action and risk and death and the whole this was super dark and foreboding.
the themes were powerful. like dekker's always are, delving so deep and keeping me awake afterwards thinking it through and unraveling my messed up feels. judgement and love,,, so well put into a dark dark story. and it bothered me. it really provoked me to think because beyond a book that makes you feel is a book that makes you think about it long after. this did that--made me question and debate and stretch my brain and draw parallels to real life.
so in the end--this was a book with heavy content. not for the young or sensitive, you know, but for all who don't mind something dark and disturbing in a good way--go for it.
ted dekker is amazing as always *clapping emoji*
because we're talking about psycho serial killers. Danny Hansen--that is, Father Danny Hansen--a serial killer priest. and then there's Renee Gilmore... former addict, later crazed revenge-ridden murderess...
and how does anyone make people like them so lovable?? because I kept reminding myself, "I'm dealing with two crazy killers--don't lose your head"... but I still lost it. Because, no, I really shuddered every time they pulled the trigger. I don't approve of their twisted sense of justice. But I love them anyway. Those two broken twisted evil human beings. I still love them.
and I ship them so hard. it just broke me all over to see everything they had to go through and everything that happened to them. Renee was so lovable, so endearing, so energetic and cheerful and adorable. I felt from Renee that adoration for Danny, and Danny's for Renee and umm /feeling/ this is so rare, actually.
then there was the plot--so twisty. it just develops all nice and smooth and as expected and them BOOM PLOT TWIST O_o how?? I didn't see it coming in a million years (#rare). and there's plenty of action and risk and death and the whole this was super dark and foreboding.
the themes were powerful. like dekker's always are, delving so deep and keeping me awake afterwards thinking it through and unraveling my messed up feels. judgement and love,,, so well put into a dark dark story. and it bothered me. it really provoked me to think because beyond a book that makes you feel is a book that makes you think about it long after. this did that--made me question and debate and stretch my brain and draw parallels to real life.
so in the end--this was a book with heavy content. not for the young or sensitive, you know, but for all who don't mind something dark and disturbing in a good way--go for it.
ted dekker is amazing as always *clapping emoji*
December 3, 2022
Call me twisted, but I love the way Dekker's mind works. Whenever I read his thrillers I always vacillate between being freaked out and being impressed by his subtle theology. In the end I am always edified by his insight into the human condition, which is the most important thing for me when I read a book. The takeaway value of Dekker's thrillers is priceless...for me, anyway. I get something out of each story and it's not merely thrills and excitement. I think about spiritual things, which is something I don't get out of anyone else's suspense/thrillers. Like I said, call me twisted, but I love them!
His novels are always page-turners for me, too. And the depth of the love themes is mind-blowing to me, but only because I see it. I'm sure many people miss the message because they aren't looking for it, but I see how he shines light in the darkness every time. It's funny because I never feel grossed out or disgusting after I read one of his novels. My pulse gets pounding and my adrenaline goes up because I am truly worried for the people in the book (which is nuts because they aren't real, or so I keep telling myself) and somehow Dekker manages to make me smile at the end of each and every book of his that I read.
Dekker "gets" how complex the human heart is and he does a fantastic job with redemption themes. This story shows how it's impossible for man to live by the law and how grace is the only answer...and he shows this through serial killers. Crazy, but true. They may be killing for what seems to be noble reasons, but in the end they are still killing. Yet at the same time he makes them fully human. He shows how trauma twists the way people view things. All brilliantly portrayed and executed...literally. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that I loved this book!
His novels are always page-turners for me, too. And the depth of the love themes is mind-blowing to me, but only because I see it. I'm sure many people miss the message because they aren't looking for it, but I see how he shines light in the darkness every time. It's funny because I never feel grossed out or disgusting after I read one of his novels. My pulse gets pounding and my adrenaline goes up because I am truly worried for the people in the book (which is nuts because they aren't real, or so I keep telling myself) and somehow Dekker manages to make me smile at the end of each and every book of his that I read.
Dekker "gets" how complex the human heart is and he does a fantastic job with redemption themes. This story shows how it's impossible for man to live by the law and how grace is the only answer...and he shows this through serial killers. Crazy, but true. They may be killing for what seems to be noble reasons, but in the end they are still killing. Yet at the same time he makes them fully human. He shows how trauma twists the way people view things. All brilliantly portrayed and executed...literally. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that I loved this book!
June 21, 2012
This book will keep you guessing until the end and leave you wanting for more. A very fast-pace read. I recommend this book to all Ted Dekker fans, old and new.
April 22, 2011
Knowing this is a Ted Dekker book--the author that shares the first place spot with Frank Peretti when it comes to my favorite Christian suspense/thrillers--I knew I would enjoy the book. When I finally began the book it was already midnight, but I just wanted to read the first chapter and get a taste of the book. That was impossible! 5 chapters later I reluctantly stopped for the night. Needless to say, this had a great beginning that grabbed my attention and held it throughout the entire book! I continually found myself sneaking away to my room during the day to snatch a few precious minutes and find out what was going to happen next.
As with all of Dekker's books, The Priest's Graveyard had a variety of characters that were all wonderfully fleshed out. I fell in love with Danny almost instantly--well, it was probably a scene or two after his initial, gruesome scene that introduced this complex character to its readers. I empathizing with Danny and his sad past and understand his reason of why he did what he did. Renee was one character you can't help but feel for as the story progresses. I enjoyed reading about her perfect life with her rescuer, Lemont. I felt her pain and confusion at his disappearance. And then later, when the whole mystery was uncovered, I couldn't help but stagger in shock with her. Her transformation from a timid sheltered woman who never left the house into the emotionless lover out for revenge was, I though, very believable. I don't want to give any part of this awesome book away, so I will have to leave you with that and hope that you get the book to discover more about Danny and Renee for yourself.
While my praises of this wonderful story will continue to flow--though a bit vague to be careful I don't give away any spoilers--I have to point out that I would not advise this book for younger readers. One of the characters tries to rid the world of sick people who take advantage of the innocent and helpless and a few times what these sick people did to others was explained. There are a lot of people who are murdered. Quite a few of them very brutally, from having parts of their body cut off (and some very private parts), to being completely dismembered. It wasn't gruesomely graphic, but it was a part of this story and younger readers might be a bit appalled.
Ted Dekkers writing voice was awesome! The scenes leapt from the pages, pulling me into the heads of Renee or Danny until I forgot all else except them. Whenever I stopped reading, I looked up from this book surprised not to be in the glass house beside Renee, or hiding out in some closet with Danny as he waited for the next sicko to come home. Dekker a master at penning awesome thriller/suspense novels!
The Priest's Graveyard is unlike any other Dekker book I have read (and I admit not to reading all of his books, but a lot of them). While I still loved his book Showdown, it was pretty unrealistic and too supernatural for my tastes. This book, however, never veered into the supernatural and I loved every minute of this edge-of-your-seat read! Hands down, this new Dekker page-turner is one of my favorites by him to date and is sure to satisfy Dekker fans, while gaining new ones. :-)
As with all of Dekker's books, The Priest's Graveyard had a variety of characters that were all wonderfully fleshed out. I fell in love with Danny almost instantly--well, it was probably a scene or two after his initial, gruesome scene that introduced this complex character to its readers. I empathizing with Danny and his sad past and understand his reason of why he did what he did. Renee was one character you can't help but feel for as the story progresses. I enjoyed reading about her perfect life with her rescuer, Lemont. I felt her pain and confusion at his disappearance. And then later, when the whole mystery was uncovered, I couldn't help but stagger in shock with her. Her transformation from a timid sheltered woman who never left the house into the emotionless lover out for revenge was, I though, very believable. I don't want to give any part of this awesome book away, so I will have to leave you with that and hope that you get the book to discover more about Danny and Renee for yourself.
While my praises of this wonderful story will continue to flow--though a bit vague to be careful I don't give away any spoilers--I have to point out that I would not advise this book for younger readers. One of the characters tries to rid the world of sick people who take advantage of the innocent and helpless and a few times what these sick people did to others was explained. There are a lot of people who are murdered. Quite a few of them very brutally, from having parts of their body cut off (and some very private parts), to being completely dismembered. It wasn't gruesomely graphic, but it was a part of this story and younger readers might be a bit appalled.
Ted Dekkers writing voice was awesome! The scenes leapt from the pages, pulling me into the heads of Renee or Danny until I forgot all else except them. Whenever I stopped reading, I looked up from this book surprised not to be in the glass house beside Renee, or hiding out in some closet with Danny as he waited for the next sicko to come home. Dekker a master at penning awesome thriller/suspense novels!
The Priest's Graveyard is unlike any other Dekker book I have read (and I admit not to reading all of his books, but a lot of them). While I still loved his book Showdown, it was pretty unrealistic and too supernatural for my tastes. This book, however, never veered into the supernatural and I loved every minute of this edge-of-your-seat read! Hands down, this new Dekker page-turner is one of my favorites by him to date and is sure to satisfy Dekker fans, while gaining new ones. :-)
March 12, 2017
Ted Dekker’s The Priest’s Graveyard is a riveting suspense/thriller character piece. The story starts with a woman named Renee Gilmore who feels a pressing need to deliver a written confession to a Father Andro, a Bosnian priest, from a Danny Hansen, who suffers a terrible personal heartbreak that shapes the rest of his life. It ends with a plea for God to have mercy on his actions. The scenario concludes with Renee's confession to Father Andro, “The rest begins with me.”
From here, Dekker employs a two-character narrative that switches Point of Views between Renee and Danny. In broad strokes, the two angst-ridden figures' middle names spell T-R-A-G-E-D-Y. Danny's a priest who respects the office well enough at least to those who don't know about his dark impulses forged early in life. Renee's a drug addict on her own after a lousy start in life and on her last legs when a knight in shining everything named Lamont Myers scoops her up in his arms amidst a shootout. Despite the life or death threat, Myers takes her to safe confines and sort of nurses her back to health. Something about the setup doesn’t feel genuine. But if a stranger sweeps you up and away from drug dealing killers in the thick of night amidst a barrage of gunfire, hey, a grateful heart is a grateful heart.
Seems a Jonathan Bourque's a monster on the radar of both Danny and Renee. Why? For him, he’s a name atop a list of some of the viler human beings that Hansen believes sucks up oxygen better used for the more deserving amongst us. For her, he’s Myers' assassin. In the eyes of both, Bourque's actions require vengeance. Without giving away too much, Renee becomes Danny’s apprentice, or does she? Talk about a learning curve!
Dekker had my mind in lock step with a literary trend called the Unreliable Narrator, currently white-hot in the domestic noir genre. These two are so cerebral and complex with philosophical thought, several times throughout I didn’t know if I believed either one of their stories. At the story's heart, Dekker paints two flawed but sympathetic people whose ends I was uncertain of. I think Dekker boxed himself into a corner a bit with this tale, and I’m not sure he got all the way out of it. I trust what integrity these two broken persons have left will back up the words they speak to each other and Father Andro. But I agree with the reviews of Dekker’s fellow authors on the hardback cover edition: “…utterly compelling…”, “…thrill-a-minute ride…”, “…will haunt you…”. I say yes, yes, and yes!
From here, Dekker employs a two-character narrative that switches Point of Views between Renee and Danny. In broad strokes, the two angst-ridden figures' middle names spell T-R-A-G-E-D-Y. Danny's a priest who respects the office well enough at least to those who don't know about his dark impulses forged early in life. Renee's a drug addict on her own after a lousy start in life and on her last legs when a knight in shining everything named Lamont Myers scoops her up in his arms amidst a shootout. Despite the life or death threat, Myers takes her to safe confines and sort of nurses her back to health. Something about the setup doesn’t feel genuine. But if a stranger sweeps you up and away from drug dealing killers in the thick of night amidst a barrage of gunfire, hey, a grateful heart is a grateful heart.
Seems a Jonathan Bourque's a monster on the radar of both Danny and Renee. Why? For him, he’s a name atop a list of some of the viler human beings that Hansen believes sucks up oxygen better used for the more deserving amongst us. For her, he’s Myers' assassin. In the eyes of both, Bourque's actions require vengeance. Without giving away too much, Renee becomes Danny’s apprentice, or does she? Talk about a learning curve!
Dekker had my mind in lock step with a literary trend called the Unreliable Narrator, currently white-hot in the domestic noir genre. These two are so cerebral and complex with philosophical thought, several times throughout I didn’t know if I believed either one of their stories. At the story's heart, Dekker paints two flawed but sympathetic people whose ends I was uncertain of. I think Dekker boxed himself into a corner a bit with this tale, and I’m not sure he got all the way out of it. I trust what integrity these two broken persons have left will back up the words they speak to each other and Father Andro. But I agree with the reviews of Dekker’s fellow authors on the hardback cover edition: “…utterly compelling…”, “…thrill-a-minute ride…”, “…will haunt you…”. I say yes, yes, and yes!
May 19, 2011
Ok, well, maybe a one star rating is a bit too harsh, (so I will up it to 1 and a half), but I have read Ted Dekker novels before and felt this one was just not "right". The beginning of the book had a great premise, that of a priest turned vigilante going after all those bad guys that the law just couldn't or wouldn't touch. I enjoyed his character and the background of what made him chose to follow the path he does. Even the inclusion of the druggie, soon to be sex slave was not bad, However, when Dekker put these two together as a team, I felt the novel fell right apart.
The premise of the story is that these two, Renee (the druggie sex slave) and Danny (the priest) track and kill the men responsible for the killing of Renee's lover, Lamont. Along the way, as Renee trains for her soon to be new occupation, there is a bevy of bad guys who of course meet their maker, and the eventual falling in love of the two protagonists.
This book was extremely hard for me to swallow. It seemed improbable and very contrived. Of course the question of who is the one to deliver justice is handled without any conclusion. Judge not, lest you be judged is brought up and the moral conscious of the soon to be ex priest is touched by this dilemma.
I know that I am in a huge minority by not liking this book. I can honestly say it rubbed me the wrong way (surprise huh?) and that I would not recommend it as a force for Mr Dekker's very fine ability to write wonderful murder mysteries with a twist.
The premise of the story is that these two, Renee (the druggie sex slave) and Danny (the priest) track and kill the men responsible for the killing of Renee's lover, Lamont. Along the way, as Renee trains for her soon to be new occupation, there is a bevy of bad guys who of course meet their maker, and the eventual falling in love of the two protagonists.
This book was extremely hard for me to swallow. It seemed improbable and very contrived. Of course the question of who is the one to deliver justice is handled without any conclusion. Judge not, lest you be judged is brought up and the moral conscious of the soon to be ex priest is touched by this dilemma.
I know that I am in a huge minority by not liking this book. I can honestly say it rubbed me the wrong way (surprise huh?) and that I would not recommend it as a force for Mr Dekker's very fine ability to write wonderful murder mysteries with a twist.
June 9, 2011
This theme is rather exceptional.
Father Danny Hansen is a most unusual priest who does the most unusual things in his spare time, because of his horrible past. He rids the world of evil, but only those proven guilty. If the badguy turns down his offered choice of repentance he judges him and uses the kind of punishment he finds appropriate - most likely the worst. For every life he takes, he saves a wife, children or involuntary prostitutes. When punishing the guilty for their sins, Danny does in fact consider himself God's judge on earth and he tries to be objective, though it's difficult. He follows an ethic that's influenced by a kind of consequential moral utilitarianism when he judges people.
When his path is crossed by a young woman named Renee Gilmore, everything becomes complicated. It's fascinating to follow Danny's inner struggle between killing the guilty and remain a role model for Renee, who's just entered the deadly business.
As Renee becomes more engaged into the messy brutality of judging and killing, Danny begins to question his own nature, whether his objective consequential moral reasoning is just an illusion and whether he's much better than the guys he's judging. It's really fascinating and tragic.
Reminds me a little of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" when it comes to the reasoning of the possibility that evil people hide behind the law, which might be an obsticle for justice.
Father Danny Hansen is a most unusual priest who does the most unusual things in his spare time, because of his horrible past. He rids the world of evil, but only those proven guilty. If the badguy turns down his offered choice of repentance he judges him and uses the kind of punishment he finds appropriate - most likely the worst. For every life he takes, he saves a wife, children or involuntary prostitutes. When punishing the guilty for their sins, Danny does in fact consider himself God's judge on earth and he tries to be objective, though it's difficult. He follows an ethic that's influenced by a kind of consequential moral utilitarianism when he judges people.
When his path is crossed by a young woman named Renee Gilmore, everything becomes complicated. It's fascinating to follow Danny's inner struggle between killing the guilty and remain a role model for Renee, who's just entered the deadly business.
As Renee becomes more engaged into the messy brutality of judging and killing, Danny begins to question his own nature, whether his objective consequential moral reasoning is just an illusion and whether he's much better than the guys he's judging. It's really fascinating and tragic.
Reminds me a little of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" when it comes to the reasoning of the possibility that evil people hide behind the law, which might be an obsticle for justice.
December 14, 2014
Reseña en español
This is sooo great!
What do I have to say? I loved everything! Although I guessed the main twist. Oh yeah! I did it! But I enjoyed everything! At the beginning I didn't like Renee but then, I loved the character and I think that she and Danny make a great couple.
I'm shocked about the end and now I have the moral obligation to buy
This is sooo great!
What do I have to say? I loved everything! Although I guessed the main twist. Oh yeah! I did it! But I enjoyed everything! At the beginning I didn't like Renee but then, I loved the character and I think that she and Danny make a great couple.
I'm shocked about the end and now I have the moral obligation to buy
August 22, 2018
I've only read one other book by Ted Dekker, but this one is a good read. I had left a previous review, that I added more about the book. Now, I decided that this book is one of Ted Dekker's books that you need to be read. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mystery and thriller.
Also, check out this review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also, check out this review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 21, 2017
Horror? More like borer.
Read
June 18, 2023omg! omg! omg! one word, A-MAZING!!!
April 9, 2011
I was lucky to be one of many given the opportunity to read and participate in a blog tour of The Priest's Graveyard I have to say I really enjoyed this book. If you are interested in getting this book then go to the website.
The book ended completely different than I thought it would. Ted Dekker is an author whose works I will definitely read. In The Priest's Graveyard we find two major characters who have individual stories that intertwine and change them both. Danny is a very unusual priest As a child in Bosnia he was witness to the rape and murder of his mother and two sisters. As an adult he believes he is doing God's work by getting justice for those like his mother who are unable to get justice for themselves. He thinks about what he is doing. If it ever becomes about vengeance then he will stop. After all as a priest he must do this task for God.
Renee is a young woman who has travelled down the wrong path. As a heroin addict she has lived the life of a prostitute. Then her pimp Cyrus came after her. Running from Cyrus and the demons in her head she runs into the path of a car. Lamont is the driver and man who rescues her. He takes her back to his home. She is then a victim of his OCD. Everything must be done a certain way, the doors are all locked (for her protection) he tells her. Then one day he tells her that his business partner is dirty and will probably have him killed. When he doesn't show up one day but someone else does, she manages to escape. She decides to go after the man who killed Lamont. It is this event that causes Renee and Danny's paths to cross. They are both after the same man. But is it the correct thing to do? I had my head wrapped around the plot so tight that I was shocked when I saw it take a turn I wasn't expecting. This was an excellent thriller that I couldn't put down. This is a must read for all fans of Ted Dekker and for all those people who love a good thriller. It almost had a "Dexter" feel to it. A definite must read.
The book ended completely different than I thought it would. Ted Dekker is an author whose works I will definitely read. In The Priest's Graveyard we find two major characters who have individual stories that intertwine and change them both. Danny is a very unusual priest As a child in Bosnia he was witness to the rape and murder of his mother and two sisters. As an adult he believes he is doing God's work by getting justice for those like his mother who are unable to get justice for themselves. He thinks about what he is doing. If it ever becomes about vengeance then he will stop. After all as a priest he must do this task for God.
Renee is a young woman who has travelled down the wrong path. As a heroin addict she has lived the life of a prostitute. Then her pimp Cyrus came after her. Running from Cyrus and the demons in her head she runs into the path of a car. Lamont is the driver and man who rescues her. He takes her back to his home. She is then a victim of his OCD. Everything must be done a certain way, the doors are all locked (for her protection) he tells her. Then one day he tells her that his business partner is dirty and will probably have him killed. When he doesn't show up one day but someone else does, she manages to escape. She decides to go after the man who killed Lamont. It is this event that causes Renee and Danny's paths to cross. They are both after the same man. But is it the correct thing to do? I had my head wrapped around the plot so tight that I was shocked when I saw it take a turn I wasn't expecting. This was an excellent thriller that I couldn't put down. This is a must read for all fans of Ted Dekker and for all those people who love a good thriller. It almost had a "Dexter" feel to it. A definite must read.
May 9, 2023
One minute you're a young girl traveling across the country to make a better life, the next you're a strung out heroin addict dying in an alley, then you're being saved by a man who you think is an angel but actually is a demon who punishes you with his sick tricks. Flash forward five minutes and you're working with a vigilante priest who kills the scum of the earth.
It could only be in a Ted Dekker novel that we find Renee and Danny. A woman dragged through every possible horror you can imagine and a man who has witnessed enough heartache to become a callused being who takes on the role of a God. When these two meet they discover they have one very important thing in common: killing a man named Jonathan. The duo share a story of shifting perspectives so the reader gets the full effect of the downward spiral each character is facing. Once they team up and begin their killing spree, secrets, twists and even romance play a part in bringing about events that will change them forever.
For me, reading this I was fascinated, grossed out and angry all at the same time. I loved the characters and I hated them. I hated what they were doing, but I hated who they were killing, it was such a fun ride.
I’m not surprised by the content in The Priests Graveyard, Dekker has always been one to stretch the limits in inspirational fiction. While in an interview (on Goodreads) he stated that being “pigeon holed” as a Christian author was never what he wanted, the fact is most of his fans associate him as a Christian author, I wouldn't classify this novel as a Christian book. I think this has definite appeal to the general market which will most likely embrace this dark, twisted tale and bring about a whole slew of new fans for the very talented author.
It could only be in a Ted Dekker novel that we find Renee and Danny. A woman dragged through every possible horror you can imagine and a man who has witnessed enough heartache to become a callused being who takes on the role of a God. When these two meet they discover they have one very important thing in common: killing a man named Jonathan. The duo share a story of shifting perspectives so the reader gets the full effect of the downward spiral each character is facing. Once they team up and begin their killing spree, secrets, twists and even romance play a part in bringing about events that will change them forever.
For me, reading this I was fascinated, grossed out and angry all at the same time. I loved the characters and I hated them. I hated what they were doing, but I hated who they were killing, it was such a fun ride.
I’m not surprised by the content in The Priests Graveyard, Dekker has always been one to stretch the limits in inspirational fiction. While in an interview (on Goodreads) he stated that being “pigeon holed” as a Christian author was never what he wanted, the fact is most of his fans associate him as a Christian author, I wouldn't classify this novel as a Christian book. I think this has definite appeal to the general market which will most likely embrace this dark, twisted tale and bring about a whole slew of new fans for the very talented author.
January 6, 2015
The Priest's Graveyard started off really good and I thought I was going to love the book. Unfortunately, the middle section wasn't that engaging to me and I got kind of bored. I wasn't a fan of the times in the story when it felt like we were just getting a lot of Renee's thoughts about what had happened. I'm also not of fan of how both of the main characters were killers. I did like how there was a surprising twist in the story - I definitely didn't expect it! The ending was a bit abrupt, so I'm glad that the character's story continues in The Sanctuary. Overall, I liked The Priest's Graveyard.
*I did not get this book for review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
*I did not get this book for review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
May 27, 2015
I think that The Priest's Graveyard can be summed up in two words: deliciously macabre. I totally did not see the twist coming at the end. You'd think I'd have learned by now.
Update May 26, 2015
I knocked off a star following my reread. Since so much of my enjoyment the first time around was from learning the plot twist, it wasn't quite as enjoyable this time. If only there was a way to wipe my memory!
Update May 26, 2015
I knocked off a star following my reread. Since so much of my enjoyment the first time around was from learning the plot twist, it wasn't quite as enjoyable this time. If only there was a way to wipe my memory!
January 22, 2018
Totally captivating from the beginning, I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed it so much and the plot was so well written, I read the whole book in fiveish hours!! Such a good book! As usual, Ted Dekker wrote a terrific story of redemption!
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