Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
The author, Christine Sunderland, is deeply concerned with America’s cultural collapse, the decline in civil order, and threats to freedom of speech and religion, has five award-winning novels. She writes a weekly blog on faith and culture, and contributes to American Christian Fiction Writers, The Christian Post, Liberty Island Magazine, and Catholic Fiction.net.
The four main characters of the book are well developed and tell an interesting story: U.C. Berkeley grad student Jessica Thierry walks the Fire Trail in the hills and witnesses a rapist-murderer leave the scene. Fearing for her life, she tries to focus on her doctorate about Christianity’s role in Berkeley’s history. Grad student Zachary Aguilar, in love with Jessica, searches for goodness, beauty transcendence, and truth as he tries to protect her from the killer.
The Armenian Pastor Nathaniel Capparian, disfigured by burns, is resident caretaker of Comerford House Museum He cares for his dying brother who is writing The Question of Civilization. Nate prays for religious freedom and for the return of faith in a loving God.
Anna Agilar, Comerford’s docent, vets violent novels donated to her children’s library. Frightened by rising crime, she is encouraged by Nate’s belief in the Judeo-Christian tradition in the public square. Set against the collapse of Western civilization, The Fire Trail draws these four characters to an unforgettable conclusion. This is an interesting novel for those who have deviled into Christian fiction. The author has put time and effort into an area that is beginning a new facet of fiction. Enjoy and try some of the other novels.