The Lord be with you
Murderer’s Row is the fifth Pastor Stephen Grant thriller by Ray Keating. Grant, “man of God, and man with a Glock,” is a former Navy SEAL and CIA “annalist” and current Lutheran pastor. In Murderer’s Row he, Father Ron McDermott, Father Tom Stone and Pastor Zackary Charmichael become the chaplains for a new professional baseball league. What begins as fun for the men soon turns deadly. With characters familiar to those who have read the previous Pastor Grant novels (Warrior Monk, Root of All Evil?, An Advent for Religions Freedom and The River) the story plays out with expected Keating skill. As with the previous Pastor Grant novels, there is a particular theological issue examined throughout the book; in this case the issue is death. I am pleased to say that none of the ministers in the novel offer the trite words we hear so often in movies or on television, like “they will remain alive in our hearts as long as we remember them” or “it’s okay, death is a natural part of life.” Christianity offers real comfort and hope in the face of death, and these fictional ministers offer those biblical thoughts. One other great aspect of Pastor Grant is that he isn’t perfect. He struggles, as do we all. Still, he knows where the answers are.
The book is a little over 350 pages in 12 point type. As with the other Keating books, I can give Murderer’s Row two thumbs up. If you like fast-paced thrillers like the Jason Bourne books, you will like the Pastor Stephen Grant novels.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor