I have long since enjoyed the work of Rev. Thoma, so I was delighted when he reached out with an offer to read an advance copy of his latest book, Ashes to Ashes. This novel, while following similar themes and elements of other books I’ve read, is unlike any book I have read before. A psychological thriller, Rev. Thoma compels his readers to confront the ugly side of reality in a light they probably haven’t seen before. Ashes to Ashes captured my attention, unnerved me at times, and left me to ponder moral truths and quandaries in a new way.

To start, I appreciated the preface. I always love to hear the story behind the story directly from the author, and this book was no different. What sparked the plot? As Rev. Thoma tells his readers, Ashes to Ashes began with a song: The Man Comes Around. I also tend to write with a cadence, so it was fascinating to get into the mind of the author before getting into the book. While he offers readers a list of songs that he found influential to his book, he leaves it to the reader to choose whether or not to listen to them. I chose not to listen as I wanted to engage with the story with a clear mind, but I valued his setting the scene for the book before I dug in.

The story begins with a flash forward. A conflict, a mystery, an unwanted responsibility. Then the reader is brought back and thrown into the midst of things, inviting just enough curiosity to keep me wondering, “What will he do next?” before drawing back to the real beginning. I loved this introduction as it pulled me along into the story. If I’d had the time (and not a gaggle of kids to run after), I’d have read the book in one sitting. The plot is most compelling.

As I mentioned, Ashes to Ashes is unlike any story I have read. While it reminds me of books such as The Dresden Files and The Cameron Winter series, Rev. Thoma writes in a way that is distinctly Christian with a candor unseen in most, maybe any, Christian novel. So few authors are willing to face the gritty realism of reality, but Rev. Thoma dares to do so. Though some scenes did make me a bit squeamish, Ashes to Ashes is not gritty for the shock value or to flirt with vulgarity. His story is real and true, staring the ugly world in the face and demanding its reckoning. Unlike so many authors, he does not dance around evil and then expect us to take it seriously. Thus, some scenes are, as I said, unnerving. This book is not for the faint of heart. Yet, I greatly enjoy Rev. Thoma’s writing and appreciate his boldness. It is that boldness that makes Ashes to Ashes an excellent and compelling novel.

Additionally, Rev. Thoma crafts a believable character. We are not the main character, the Rev. Daniel Michaels. But we see his thoughts, and his struggle in his vocation, even perhaps seeing an unseen aspect of his domain that lies just below the surface. When a disturbing mystery and responsibility is dropped into his lap, his reactions are human; imperfect, but genuine. Guilt, anger, action, and a drive for justice lurk throughout the narrative. One line that stood out to me was, “He felt like a man on a wire, one misstep from unraveling.” And here is where I think the moral quandary lies. As Rev. Thoma asks in the preface, what would cause a man to cross lines he would never cross? Is it right? Is it real? In a way, I saw Rev. Michaels trading vocations with a second main character of the book: one meting out justice; the other, offering absolution.

But to be frank, it is his office that also makes this novel an uncomfortable read. The elements of Lutheran theology and modern humanism offered even more to grapple with. Yet here is a man of forgiveness and grace turning cold. What of that? Yet, such is the use of a key: it opens, and it locks. There is forgiveness, and there is judgment. A father protects, and in doing so, can destroy in becoming an agent of vengeance against the wicked. As one character notes, it’s not the things you’ve done but what you can’t undo. The scenes with one particular parishioner reminded me so much of the book The Hammer of God. Along those lines, I think the names of the characters were well-chosen, especially considering their biblical counterparts, but especially the name of Rev. Daniel Michaels. He has a fitting name for such a soldier. Even so, I struggled with the dilemmas of the story. I wanted a comedy, an ending in unity. Rev. Thoma instead offered one that was more blunt, more real: the struggle is not always ours, but sometimes it is. And regardless, the struggle goes on. The bad guy will be defeated, but the good guy doesn’t come out smelling like roses. Instead, he comes out smelling like gunsmoke and ash.

On the lighter side of things, some humor made me chuckle, especially the subtle jokes related to ministry or those touching on whiskey. If you haven’t read them already, let me refer you to Rev. Thoma’s Whiskey Narratives for some lighter reading as well. These comments added some levity within what is rather a weighty, but gripping, book.

All in all, though I do not think I am the target audience for this book, I thoroughly enjoyed Ashes to Ashes, and I truly think it will appeal to many readers. If you like a grittier read, a plot for a gunslinger coming to “take names,” one that’ll have you on the edge of your seat and compel you from start to finish, this novel is for you. As Rev. Thoma has described, this is a psychological thriller, but I would call it a philosophical one as well. Not in a way that is in your face, but in one that will leave you pondering over even once you’ve finished reading. And I hope you will read and enjoy this latest book, Ashes to Ashes.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Madelyn Rose Craig