Kirkus Reviews

A Well-written, Effective Story

A gay Roman Catholic clergyman faces the sharp scrutiny of a homophobic dignitary in Brown’s novel, the fourth in a series.

This narrative details a particularly turbulent week in the life of Sean Foley, a beloved elder bishop in the Diocese of San Luis Obispo. Foley is best known for selflessly creating, developing, and sustaining the Life Force church group program, which supports at-risk local youth in his jurisdiction. At the age of 75, with retirement imminent, he looks back on a distinguished tenure and his life as a recovering alcoholic and survivor of child abuse.

… Vivid flashbacks generously depict Foley’s chaotic youth as the son of an abusive, homophobic father. These sequences add texture to the core themes of LGBTQ+ unity and equality and lend heft to the protagonist’s challenging mission to finish out his current position.

Employing convincingly realistic dialogue, an urgent plot, clearly motivated characters, and a breezy writing style, the author does an admirable and entertaining job of politicizing the Catholic priesthood experience with melodramatic flair and buzz. Brown’s memorable novel compassionately imparts themes of spirituality and love, examining how they intersect in modern life. A well-written, affecting story of justice and love amidst the rigid strictures of conservative religion.