Thicker than Blood by C.J. Darlington

Christian Book Review

ISBN Number: 

978-1-4143-3448-6

Book Title and Author 

Thicker than Blood by C.J. Darlington

Genre / Category 

Christian Fiction

Quick Facts 

Release Date: 2010; Tyndale House; Paperback; 372 Pages.

What I Liked Most & Least About this Book / Author 

Thicker than Blood was a captivating, fast, easy read that was hard to put down. What blessed me most was discovering refreshing, really good fiction that tackled real-life issues without gratuitous language, violence, or sex laced details. I applaud Darlington's ability to prove it can be done.

My Review 

I took Thicker than Blood with me on a trip and finished it in one weekend. I loved the story! It's about the bittersweet reunion of two sisters separated after their parents' untimely death when they were teens. Christy, the main character, took off and got caught up in the world. Now she reunites with her sister May and finds Christ in the process.

Christy is the bookworm, May is a lover of the great outdoors and works on a ranch--they are two total opposites. The main setting of the book takes place at Christy's job--an antiquarian book store (which is the author's career for the past 10 years).

I was hooked from the beginning; I couldn't believe it when I discovered in the first few pages that Christy was reading Hercule Poirot! (I own the complete Poirot collection by Agatha Christie.)

As the story unfolded, its steady pace kept me on the edge, anxious to find out what would happen next. I couldn't wait to learn how it would end, but I dreaded it all the same knowing I would feel sad when it was over.

I appreciated how Darlington wove the story of the sisters' reunion and Christy's new found faith in Christ in a very realistic way with authentically portrayed characters whose Christianity wasn't hokey or contrived. That took some skill.

I was so impressed with the author, I perused her website and enjoyed the interview about how she became a writer. C.J., who was homeschooled, always wanted to write. She began Thicker than Blood when she was 15, but it took 15 years to complete and finally get published. Admittedly, she worked hard at developing her craft, but it definitely paid off.

I wholeheartedly agree with the testimonials on the back cover ... a smashing debut! I'm thrilled to learn there's going to be a sequel, and I'll be anxious to read it when it comes out.

Would you recommend this to a friend? 

Mary Fairchild, Christianity Guide, says: