Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man. Soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother’s life. Now he’s a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.
Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.
But when Danny and Renee’s paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.
Judge not, or you too will be judged.
Cue the scary background music right? And really… you should as Dekker opens his new book with a 10 page written confession written by Danny about what he has done and why he did it.
*gulp*
And just like that I am back in the dark world that surrounds a Dekker book. If you have read Dekker before this book will not take you by surprise. Dekker tends to write Dark, and in my opinion, as of late – his books are even darker. As a Christian author I respect his unique take on putting faith messages into his writing although truth be told – many can read his books and not know they are reading a faith based book.
The Priest’s Graveyard is intense and does speak to the dark mystery lover in me as well as the long buried version of me who in high school loved all things Steven King and then eventually on to Dean Koontz. The two main characters Renee who is from California, has had her share and then some of drug use and knows what rock bottom looks like. Danny on the other hand is from Bosnia and has carried with him a long time agenda and now is a Priest in California with an unusual hobby. 😉 – Think Dexter. 😉
At Dekker’s usual fast pace you will find this book at times gorey, haunting – and much like a roller coaster it will get your heart pumping a little faster as the plot thickens and you go – up – up – up…. before you come crashing and screaming down to the conclusion.
I have read many of Ted Dekker’s books and can say I enjoyed this one more than some of his recent ones.
Amazon Rating
I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map to Include The Priests Graveyard
This book was sent to me for review for part of a blog tour
Book Journey 
Not really reading your review, since I’m in the middle of this one right now. 🙂
I am interested in your thoughts on this one Hannah, I believe you have read some of his more recent works as well if I remember right. 🙂
Yeah, I’ve read more than a sampling of Dekker books, I’d say — although not nearly all of his books. He’s quite prolific!
I’m so glad you liked it!! I’m torn between this one and Adam, of his more recent releases. Be sure to stop by and see my review on the 20th! =)
Thanks Lindsey – I will try to do that 😀
I like this one best too, and I’m a big Dekker fan. It was chillingly good!
I felt a little more connected to this one than I have of some his lately…
I actually liked the story line! 😀
I’ve not read Dekker’s books yet, but he is on my list. I think the cover of this one is quite striking and rather unsettling. I’m a big fan of dark, when I’m in the right mood and faith-based is certainly OK with me. I’ll be on the lookout.
It is a good cover Kay! 😀 I think you may find you like him 🙂
I read on of Dekker’s books a few years ago–one he co-authored with Frank Peretti. I have to say, his books are a bit too dark for my taste.
I hope it wasn’t House Kate…. House drove me nuts…. I swear I finished that one just to see the point and really felt… there wasnt one. 🙂
he can be dark but wasn’t always this dark… he wrote a book with Bill Bright called Blessed Child – oh wow was that good and that was the first time I had read him 🙂
I’ve only read one Dekker book and I enjoyed it. The fact that you said this one is better than some of the others makes me want to read it.
I am curious which one you read Kathy…. I think in the last year I have not really found anything he wrote that thrilling and was cautious agreeing to read this one except that I heard it was suppose to be the best he had written in years. 🙂
I’ve only read The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker and really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for this one!
If you liked that one I bet you really like this one Stella 🙂
I have never read a Dekker book before which is clearly something I should rectify!
On a side note, my first glance at the cover had me raising my eyebrows in shock; then I realized that what I thought I was seeing was not at all what I was really seeing. And that’s all I have to say about that. 🙂
Hmmmm….. Now I have to try to see what you saw 🙂
I have his series Green, Black and White and will delve into them soon. I had the opportunity to listen to Ted Decker on blogtalkradio and I find this author to be fascinating. I have done some research on Ted Dekker before and he has a very unusual upbringing … Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. His first novels had strong spiritual themes and won several awards and more recently he writes serial killer novels and fantasy. I wonder how much of his child rearing years influenced his writing as an adult.
I think a lot of his childhood surroundings and upbringing influenced his writing.
Right Steve! I knew that about Dekker’s upbringing. I have the Red BlacK White Green series but have not read them yet even though I have owned them for a couple years now… I will be interested in your thoughts on them 🙂
definitely will place this one on my list too.
I hope you enjoy it Sidne!
I STILL have keeper shelves filled with King and Koontz! This one sounds good, and hopefully, reading the remaining Dekker titles on my TBR shelves will get rid of my ‘bleh’ feeling with Thr3e, since Dekker receives such good reviews on his titles!
I love that Julie! I am pretty much over King but Koontz’ entire collection is still here with me…. he is not as dark as King and I love his humor and quick wit.