Friday, April 1, 2011

Wolves Among Us by Ginger Garrett - REVIEWED

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Wolves Among Us
David C. Cook; New edition (April 1, 2011)
by
Ginger Garrett




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Ginger Garrett is the author of the Chronicles of the Scribes series (In the Shadow of Lions, In the Arms of Immortals, In the Eyes of Eternity), Dark Hour, and Beauty Secrets of the Bible. Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA.



Focusing on ancient women's history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women. A frequent media guest and television host, Ginger has been interviewed by Fox News, Billy Graham's The Hour of Decision, The Harvest Show, 104.7 The Fish Atlanta, and many other outlets.



A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in Theater, she is passionate about creating art from history. Ginger resides in Georgia with her husband and three children.



ABOUT THE BOOK



This richly imagined tale takes readers to a tiny German town in the time of “the burnings,” when pious and heretic alike became victims of witch-hunting zealots. When a double murder stirs up festering fears, the village priest sends for help. But the charismatic Inquisitor who answers the call brings a deadly mix of spiritual fervor and self-deceptive evil. Under his influence, village fear, guilt, and suspicion of women take a deadly turn. In the midst of this nightmare, a doubting priest and an unloved wife—a secret friend of the recently martyred William Tyndale—somehow manage to hear another Voice…and discover the power of love over fear.



Dinfoil, Germany, 1538. In a little town on the edge of the Black Forest, a double murder stirs up festering fears. A lonely woman despairs of pleasing her husband and wonders why other women shun her. An overworked sheriff struggles to hold the town—and himself—together. A priest begins to doubt the power of the words he shares daily with his flock. And the charismatic Inquisitor who arrives to help—with a filthy witch in a cage as an object lesson—brings his own mix of lofty ideals and treacherous evil. Under his influence, ordinary village fears and resentments take a deadly turn. Terror mounts. Dark deeds come to light. And men and women alike discover not only what they are capable of, but who they are…and what it means to grapple for grace.


My Thoughts:

“You must not regard me as a priest, for I have no interest in ordinary sins. You must not regard me as an enemy, for I have no interest in persecuting the innocent. I am called for one reason alone: to find evidence of witchcraft, and if witches are found, to free you of their influence.” (p. 67)


And with this flourishing statement, readers are introduced to Father Bastion – a true wolf among the members of the “church.” The village of Dinfoil, Germany was a small parish filled with a pretty normal array of folks in the year 1538. When two of the community members are mysteriously murdered and left on the steps of the village priest, an Inquisitor is called to sort things out. And what a job of sorting out he does!


Listen to this: “Do good men ruin themselves with carnal lust? Is the marriage bed kept pure, or is it defiled? All these, plus rotting crops, injuries that will not heal, accidents and misfortunes, all these are signs of a witch among you.” (p. 93) Now folks, the internet and the world of porn would have never thrived under this guy! Of course, all women walking on two feet would have been burned at the stake too. The scary part about all of this is, (well, it’s sad too) that people TODAY, who are ignorant of what the Bible teaches, make statements as ridiculous as Father Bastion made in this fictional sixteenth century village. The powerful take away message that Ginger Garrett weaves into this engaging story is simple: God’s Word is powerful and His grace sets men free from such legalistic and unattainable imaginary human “standards.” He sets them FREE to serve Him!


The devout Jews from the Bible set a good precedent of rule following for the ancient Catholic church. You would think that by now mankind would have learned that human rules – no matter how well intentioned - do no save people from their sins. Christ died on the cross and crucified all those rules with Him. His salvation alone makes the difference in a Sixteenth century German life just like it does in a Twenty-first century life. History bears some ugly scars (the Inquisition being one of the more heinous) from the ignorant, power-hungry, rule-making church leaders. This story may be set in an historical setting, but the TRUTH is applicable TODAY!!!


I LOVE Ginger Garrett’s historical fiction! Her characters are powerful, the setting and culture believably recreated, and the underlying message – not to be missed!! Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than this!




If you would like to read the first chapter of Wolves Among Us, go HERE

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