Out of the Shadows

The Old South is a time that no one remembers. It was a time far different than our own and the last remnants of it passed away during the Civil War. The South was destroyed in that war and nothing remained except the memory. But The South rebuilt itself, becoming a place full of huge mansions, sophistication, and mystery. Behind the walls of its ornate mansions the secrets of the South hid, the lies and plots of well-respected families found a place to fester, and centuries old mysteries swelter under layers of dust. Underneath the beauty of The South hides its darker side: mystery, plots, and murder. Out of the Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer is a tale of just such intrigue.

Nick never thought he would return to Charleston, South Carolina: he hated that town. After growing up alongside his cousin in that city and seeing all the horrors it covered up, he had never wanted to come back. But when a mysterious letter summons him back, Nick takes the plunge just to find some truth in an ocean of lies. For years, Nick has searched for his mother, who left him when he was 10; for years, he believed he was the one who drove her away. But upon his return, the letter and whoever sent it may hold the answer to the mysteries that Charleston isn't ready to give up.

To star off, technically this was a very good book. The story is interesting, the characters are compelling, and the author keeps the mystery together and doesn't fully reveal everything till the very end. The book also has a very open ending, leaving room for the reader to speculate. On the other hand, the story does drag in a few places and there are just a few too many chapters; what the author could have said in one become two chapters. The writing style seems a little messy but that comes down to personal preference. There are some delicate matters in this book - namely, domestic abuse, sex outside of marriage, and one woman is called some pretty nasty names, so parents should preread. It was a good book, though, and one for my not - sappy - Christian - novel collection (unfortunately, too many Christian authors write plain fluff). This book wasn't afraid to address harsh issues.

*****
RJ