Name: Secrets of Eden
ISBN: 9780307394972

Christopher A. Bohjalian

Haunted by the final words of a newly baptized congregation member who was subsequently murdered by her husband, the Reverend Stephen Drew abandons his pulpit to spend time with an author who writes best-selling books about angels. By the best-selling author of Midwives. 150,000 first printing.

A Novel

Secrets of Eden

Jeni Enjaian

So...this is a difficult review to write. I didn't exactly enjoy this book but it wasn't because I hated it. My feelings about this book are fairly neutral. I wish there were an easy way to express ambivalence.
The actual structural skeleton of the book is fairly good. Mr. Bohjalian has some skill with words. If he didn't, I would have given this book a much lower review. That's the most positive thing I can say about the book. 
It has serious issues that detract from the overall purpose of the story which becomes almost cliché by the end. 
First, the pastor character, Stephen Drew, does not ring true for me. He does not behave as a pastor should, even when discussing his own motives both for his actions within the book's timeframe and his motivations for becoming a pastor in the first place. Don't misunderstand me. Pastors are human just like everyone else and can sin just as egregiously. It's the incongruity of his actions. I expected a normal character of this sort to at least mention the fact that the Bible condemns sex outside of marriage. He is a "Baptist" preacher after all. He doesn't mention that once, even to dismiss it as he justifies his actions. Since his section as narrator comes first, this got the book off on a wrong foot for me. The shift to the pov of the investigator, Catherine, is the only thing that kept me reading.
Second, Mr. Bohjalian uses (sparingly at first) details and language that is quite simply gratuitous. There's no need for it. In my opinion, it detracts from the book. 
Third, by the time Katie, the final narrator, starts speaking I really don't care about the ultimate outcome. (I'd figured it out by that point too.)
I've got to try to find more uplifting books to read. This was the second, supremely depressing book in a row. 
I definitely don't recommend this book.

Secrets of Eden A Novel

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