Sinner's Garden

Andy just started at her. He dropped to his knees in front of her and placed his ginger on the photo again, right beneath her father and Mr. Hart.
”Heather Marie,” he said.
”Here we go,” Rip said.
”What is it Andy?” Heather asked.

Andy’s eyes were closed. A peaceful smile quickly came and went and then he opened his eyes and tapped on the photo again. “They are able.”
Heather looked at Judi. It was only a three-word sentence, but Andy sounded like someone else.
”They are able to what?” Rip said.

Andy’s eyes blinked quickly. He looked around the room and suddenly came across dazed, reminding Heather of someone who had just come out of a concussion. “I just did it again, didn’t I?” Andy said.
”Yeah,” Rip said, glancing over at Heather and then back to Andy.

“What did I say this time?” Andy whispered.

“More importantly,” Rip said, “who told you to say it?”

“I don’t know,” Andy said. He showed the iPod in his open palm and then held up an earbud. “But whoever it was told me through this.”

Book:The Sinners' Garden by William Sirlis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2013

Genre: Speculative/Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 17+

Subjects: Crime, Prophecy, Miracles, Giving, Abuse, Family Relationships, Faith

Summary: “They are able”, “I have searched you and I know you”, “I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more”, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Phrases that would not be uncommon to hear in church or a Bible Study, but that’s not where they’re coming from. Rather, they are being spoken by a teenage boy with a broken i-pod – a teenage boy who has avoided reading or learning about the Bible. He’s saying things he has never heard before, claiming a voice came through the broken i-pod and he repeated what it told him. Along with the messages from the boy in the community, a huge beautiful garden appears overnight on some abandoned property. Then if all of that wasn’t weird enough, an intruder begins breaking into people’s homes but leaving gifts instead of taking things. What on earth is happening to their small community?

Notes: A former criminal himself, William Sirls writes a story focusing on redemption through Jesus Christ. Sinner’s Garden features a former drug dealer, a mom who blames herself for her husband’s abuse of herself and their son, an angry teenager caught in a lie, a hurting young woman unsure of where her father is spending eternity, and a rich businessman who is trying to buy peace with money. He creates a scenario in which God uses some miraculous signs to get their attention and draw them to Him. This is one that the whole focus of the book is the spiritual content. Yes, there is action and adventure and suspense like any good story, but the main point is the spiritual crisis in the character’s lives. I highly recommend it.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.