From back cover: FBI Special Agent Bowers' cutting-edge skills are about to be pushed to the limit when a young woman is found brutally murdered in Washington DC. Her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes in the Northeast, but with nothing to link them to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet - even as his personal life begins to crumble around him. The Bishop is a gripping, adrenalin-laced story for readers who are tired of timid thrillers. Strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride.
Book 4 in The Patrick Bowers Files series, The Bishop will not disappoint the fans of Steven James' writing. To call this book a thriller is an understatement. James' well-drawn characters and ever-twisting plot will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat from page one, and the conclusion will leave you wanting more. James has done his research. He has the reader feeling that he or she is in the midst of all that is taking place. It is a lengthy book - over 500 pages - but the plot moves swiftly. I love how James writes short chapters. That is definitely the making of a page-turner for me. It is a book which is hard to put down, and begs you to read "just one more chapter." This book is a psychological thriller which goes beyond what appears and asks important questions. It is also philosophical, probing the depths of the meaning of human existence. Although 'suspence thriller' is not the genre I normally read, I did enjoy this book Steven James is a master of his craft, and I am looking forward to the next installment.
I think that an effective way of dissuading someone from doing something is to make them see it as deeply disturbing. And the only way to make people disturbed by evil is to show it to them as what it really is. I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine.
For the record, when I write my novels I strive to:
uphold the dignity and worth of human life,
as much as possible avoid showing violence on the page (most of it occurs off the page, in the mind of the reader),
show that ultimately, hope does not come from inside ourselves, but from God,
honestly portray the universality of evil,
celebrate life, love, imagination, beauty, and family,
validate the purpose and meaning of life within the context of the broader scope of God's story, and
tell the truth about the world--exposing the grief and horror as well as championing the hope and joy.
I believe that the Bible includes graphic material to show how far we as a race can fall, and how far God came to rescue us from ourselves. That's what I hope to do in my novels as well.
To read the entire article from Steven James on this topic, visit his blog. http://stvjames.blogspot.com/
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."
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