Feast for Thieves
Marcus Brotherton
Moody/River North, Sep 1 2014, $14.99
ISBN 9780802412133
In 1946 in Cut Eye, Texas WWII veteran Zearl “Rowdy” Slater and
his partner Crazy Ake rob a bank.
Deputies fire at them until the thieves jump into a river. Expecting to die, “incorrigible” Rowdy holds
onto the sack of money while thinking back to a couple of years ago when he survived
the Battle of The Bulge and the worst Belgium winter in three decades. Eight minutes and thirty eight seconds of
counting Mississippi later, Rowdy hears a voice and almost immediately
afterward a tree limb falls enabling him to escape the rushing water; Ake was
nowhere in sight nor once on land was the voice.
Feeling a miracle saved him, Rowdy returns the stolen money to Sheriff
Halligan Barker who consults with a mutual military acquaintance re Rowdy. Afterward Barker accuses Rowdy of stealing,
but seeing an opportunity to save the dying town gives him a chance to redeem
himself if he becomes the minister for one year in lieu of jail. Life as the town preacher proves byzantine while
dealing with the conflicting demands of the flock and persuading the missionary
Bobbie Barker he replaced that he changed.
Ake’s arrival is just one more Job test that Rowdy assumes God dumped on
his reformed soul.
In the author’s note, Marcus Brotherton informs readers that paratrooper
Wayne “Skinny” Sisk (see Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose) was the inspiration
for the enthralling antihero turned hero novel.
Rowdy is a terrific lead who keeps the storyline focused while he poorly
copes with one year preaching to sinners and believers, and falling in love
with a saintly sassafras. His vernacular
adds depth to a strong twisting post WWII drama.
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