The Bottom Line
Hal White's The Mysteries of Reverend Dean is a collection of six fictional mysteries. What sets it apart from most mysteries is that these crimes are all solved by an old retired pastor, the Reverend Thaddeus Dean. Not only does Reverend Dean have a gift for unraveling murder mysteries, but he also manages to weave in spiritual truths, as well as the Gospel message. As one who isn't particularly fond of the mystery genre, I found The Mysteries of Reverend Dean intriguing.Pros
- The mysteries are designed to encourage believers and also stimulate interest from non-believers.
- Christian elements are placed later in the book so as not to turn away non-believers when they first begin reading.
- Spiritual truths are included in each mystery.
- Reverend Dean is blessed with a moral viewpoint different from the typical criminal justice person.
- Interesting characters, especially the main character, the Reverend Thaddeus Dean.
Cons
- Only murder mysteries. Some variety in the crimes would have been interesting.
- The murders are solved too quickly, making it somewhat unrealistic.
Description
- Genre: Mystery; Fiction
- Release Date: March 2008
- Author: Hal White
- Publisher: Lighthouse Christian Publishing
- ISBN: 9780979786358
- Format: Paperback, 250 Pages
Book Review - The Mysteries of Reverend Dean by Hal White
A strong Christian author, Hal White cleverly uses his gift for writing mysteries to reach unbelieving readers who enjoy good mysteries. Toward the end of the book, he refers to several Christian books and publications, including those written by Joyce Meyer, as well as Christian magazines, such as Christianity Today.
Most of the mysteries are set near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Washington state. The main character, the Reverend Thaddeus Dean, is a lonely and somewhat eccentric widower, set in his ways. Not a morning person, he's cranky if awakened before 10 am, has a Saint Bernard dog, and is addicted to coffee and solving what seems to be impossible murders.
Several of the mysteries solved by the Reverend Dean involve a locked room. The locked-room mystery is a sub-genre of detective fiction in which a murder (or other crime) is apparently carried out under unfeasible conditions where it appears no one could have entered or left the scene of the crime. What's more, this type of crime proves that the death could not have been a suicide.
I was impressed with the details by which the old pastor was able to put together the puzzles of each mystery. My favorite story was "Murder on a Caribbean Cruise," as it was revealed near the end how the murdered woman had earlier made a decision to follow Christ.
On the other hand, I would like to have seen more mysteries not dealing with murder. In addition, the old pastor solved the mysteries too quickly, without much of a struggle, which seemed improbable.
About the Author
