Forgiving Solomon Long
by Chris Well
Published by Harvest House
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Reviewed by Diane Kasperski
Solomon Long is a hired killer who works for anyone who will pay him. He has come to a small town outside of Kansas City, Missouri to do a job. After all, he is doing these victims a favor. His theory--You Live, You Suffer, You Die and death is a gift. Hired by Fat Cat, the local crime boss, he has come to town to kill five people.
First target goes well for Solomon a.k.a. Solo. Second was not a problem either. The third was Fresno Jones a priest, who is kicking off the neighborhood clean-up committee. Father Jones has a deep-rooted faith and knows that the Lord is with his parishioners and will help them get this town cleaned up. When Solo kills him, the Father's last words were, "I forgive you."
This shakes Solo Long to his roots. He believes the Father is still with him. He rethinks his whole life from the time he was small and his mother kept him locked in a cellar to 'spend time with Jesus,' to this current job. He is now tormented by those he has killed--and can no longer kill.
The head of the unit that investigates the city's organized crime is Detective Tom Griggs. He is very unhappy in his marriage since the loss of his daughter. He goes to counseling because his wife wants him to--although generally he isn't even there mentally. He knows the murders are done by a pro, and right under the police department's nose. Tom becomes obsessed with solving them.
The action is fast and furious throughout the book. Solo's revelation that he can no longer kill takes a surprise turn when the mob goes after Detective Griggs' wife. To add to the detective's problems, someone in his office is an informant.
Chris Well ties all this together in a great action thriller that even has scripture versus throughout applicable to the different events.
Armchair Interviews says: This is a story of forgiveness and the effect that forgiveness had on its recipient, all wrapped up in an exciting thriller.