The Undoing of Saint Silvanus
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4.6 • 80 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Exciting fiction premiere from beloved New York Times bestselling author Beth Moore.
2017 Christy Award finalist (General Fiction category)
Only God knew why Jillian Slater agreed to return to New Orleans on the news that her father had finally drunk himself to death. It’s not like they were close. She hadn’t seen him—or her grandmother, the ice queen—in almost 20 years. But when Adella Atwater, the manager of her grandmother’s apartment house, called and said Jillian’s expenses would be paid if she’d fly in for the burial, a free trip to New Orleans was too intriguing to resist.
What Adella didn’t tell her was that the apartment house wasn’t a house at all and, whatever it was, bore the dead weight of a long and painful history. As soon as Jillian meets the odd assortment of renters and realizes that her grandmother had no idea she was coming, she hatches a plan to escape. But the investigation into her father’s death quickly unfolds and Jillian is drawn into the lives of the colorful collection of saints and sinners who pass through Saint Silvanus. She soon discovers there is more at stake than she ever imagined. Who is behind the baffling messages and the strange relics left on the steps? Is it possible that her family is actually cursed? Or is it just this crazy old house that holds them all under its spell?
Jillian walks into a web of spiritual and personal danger borne out of her family’s broken history, and despite Adella’s wiliest efforts, only God himself can orchestrate the undoing of all that is going on at Saint Silvanus.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Moore's debut novel is certain to draw myriad readers familiar with her bestselling Bible studies (The Law of Love) and faith-based leadership guides and self-help books (So Long Insecurity). Those who love her down-home Southern style will be pleased to find it in this tale set in New Orleans, where a former church is now an apartment building named Saint Silvanus, often referred to as Saint Sans. Olivia Fontaine faces the death of her only child, Raphael, with her usual iciness, but her reserve cracks when police discover Rafe was killed. Olivia's granddaughter comes to attend her father's funeral . Readers will come to love Saint Sans building manager Adella Atwater and the residents, as well as the NOPD cops who solve Rafe's murder. The novel is not without flaws slow pacing, overuse of colloquialism, odd leaps back to the early days but it remains endearing and entertaining to the end. Moore's many fans will no doubt flock to her first work of fiction; whether they'll be willing to read the whole long thing is less clear.
Customer Reviews
I loved this book - now I want the sequel. :-)
I so wanted to like this book but I was a little concerned since Beth is such a prolific non-fiction writer, but she had me at the first page. Well actually before that. The drawing of the interior of "Saint Sans" intrigued me right away and all through the book I was so grateful for that drawing bc I knew where everyone was - like Jesus crawling around under the Snapdragon. If that doesn't make someone want to read this book, I don't know what will! :-) I always appreciate books that have a drawing or two. Then I can expand my imagination from there. I also loved the characters and the development of them. I wasn't having to go back to reread sections to try to figure out who's who. This book reminded me that even though I've made so many mistakes in my past (ahem - still do occasionally) that Jesus loves me without fail! I also loved that it wasn't a "preachy" book, so I believe it will draw in a non-believer in a realistic way. There are so many things, places, and people I want to talk about from the book but this is already too long. I'm just so glad that Beth decided to write this novel and I pray that she will continue, as in a series, please? There are so many more stories from Saint Silvanus that want to be told and read! I can't quit thinking about all the characters and how the love of God permeated throughout their lives and mine.
(Now aren't you glad you don't have to kill Karen?) :-)
Laughed and Cried
She was able to creat a real atmosphere of evil at times and also make me laugh out loud.
Brilliant. I know she is a great Bible teacher, but I am hungry for more fiction like this.
Loved this book!
I absolutely loved this book. The story was beautifully written and very much enjoyed. Bravo a Beth Moore on your first fiction novel. I hope there are more where this came from.