[The Canary List] book review

The Canary List

By Sigmund Brower

Jamie Piper is a twelve-year-old foster child who is running from something dark. Crockett Grey is a teacher with his own painful past to deal with. But when Jamie comes to him for help, she sets into motion a set of events that could potentially ruin them both. The only hope for them is for Crockett to unravel the mystery of Jamie’s past…before it is too late.

What I didn’t realize when I started this book was that it should be in the category of Speculative Fiction.

Here’s the truth: It’s a well written book. Excellent, actually.

Here’s the other truth: It is dark. Dark. Dark.

This book looks directly at the Catholic church and some of the gory details inside one of the richest most powerful organizations on earth. And it focuses on the presence of Satanism inside the church.

Since the novel took some of its facts from actual historical documents there is a level of fascination. However, the reader is left with feelings of darkness that overpower everything else.

I don’t mind things that address the presence of demons. But I do mind when a “Christian” book looks directly at them but does not show just as clearly the other side of spiritual beings. Satan has power, yes. But there was a cross at Calvary and blood poured out that keeps his power in check. And this novel doesn’t show that. In fact, it leaves one feeling quite helpless in the face of demonic leadership.

There is a quote by C.S. Lewis at the beginning of the book that I wish the author would have taken a bit more seriously.

“There are equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.

One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an

excessive and unhealthy interest in them…”

This book was sent to me by Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.