Up Pops the Devil
by Angela Benson
Published by Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (August release)
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Reviewed by Debra Kiefat
Wilford ‘Preacher’ Winters experienced a spiritual conversion while spending two years in prison for drug trafficking. Before prison, he made a living wreaking havoc in the lives of users and their families, and profiting from their despair. Barnard Jenkins, his parole officer and ‘Brother in Christ,’ is keenly aware of the challenges that face Preacher–such as his girlfriend, Tanya. As mother of his two children, she demands a lot of money and attention to keep up her high-maintenance lifestyle. And she doesn’t believe this conversion is real–and will do anything to get her man back.
Barnard doesn’t know that Preacher’s sister Loretta has kept their narcotics distribution business going, even expanding–AND about the devastating secret his wife keeps from him involving Preacher and a relationship that ended badly. Unknowingly, Bernard’s life has deeply intertwined with Preachers. Preacher must continue practicing this new way of life with authenticity, knowing his loved ones do not believe it to be true. Through these struggles he learns that God forgives, supplies and saves those who ask for redemption.
However at hell, d.b.a. 3sixes, the Big Boss is furious at losing Preacher, one of their best souls, to the enemy, and has summoned successful executive Sean Jones. Even though he manages a caseload of 1,000 souls with a closing ration of 80%, he is on the hot seat enduring the fiery wrath of the Devil. All Sean had to do was stir up conflict and confusion in Preacher’s life, drop negative thoughts into the minds of his prison mates to kill him before this conversion happened. The boss wants Preacher back with no collateral damage, otherwise Sean is facing eternity in Third Hades, a dark dreary place filled with screams and wailings
This book, and her other award-winning novels, deal with life choices and the promise of unconditional love God offers. As I read this book I could feel the characters’ struggles because I had similar ones. To relive my conversion again through Preacher’s story was magnificent. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone.
Armchair Interviews says: Angela Benson, Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Alabama is considered on the brightest voices in Christian fiction.