Pastor Thomas Wilson and his congregation are underway with the construction of their new church. Thomas and Amy are adjusting to, and enjoying, being parents of adopted daughter Deanna. But mysteries still seem to follow Thomas! There are nighttime poachers disturbing their rest with gunfire, but soon the gunfire is turned against the parsonage! And a strange figure appears in the field across the road from the parsonage, a figure who seems to have a mysterious connection and rapport with the wild whitetail deer who live there.
Thomas and Amy’s little family is endangered by these nighttime visitors, and soon they are shocked as they witness a murder that occurs in front of hundreds of people! Thomas is led both by his convictions and his faith to become involved in the investigation of the murder, and he discovers threads that tie all the mysteries together… threads that lead him once more into a situation where his life is put at risk.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psalms 91:5,6
The crashing sound of a gunshot jarred the darkness, and Rev. Thomas Wilson was jerked awake. He quickly switched on the lamp beside his bed and sat upright, his mind in a tailspin. What is going on?
Are we in danger? Then there was another reverberating gunshot, and the throaty roar of an accelerating engine, followed closely by the sound of squealing tires.
Professional Reviews
Review of A Wicked Good Play
"If any would not work, neither should he eat."
--New Testament, II Thessalonians, III, 10
Pastor Thomas Wilson, the central character in Tony Burton's delightful mystery, A Wicked Good Play (Honey Locust Press), is no slouch; he more than earns his bread. In addition to his pastoral duties at Holly Creek Christian Church, he solves mysteries on the side. He's good at both jobs and is also a devoted father (to adopted baby daughter Deanna) and loving husband (to wife Amy).
The plot revolves around several mysteries: gunshots in the middle of the night shattering the calm of the Wilson household, a mysterious figure who appears to commune with animals, and a student actor who drops dead in the middle of a performance. There's an interesting cast of characters spanning a variety of age groups.
Pastor Wilson is an extremely likable character; he is an astute observer of human nature, a kind and talented advisor to members of his flock, and an absolutely wonderful listener. All of these characteristics make him a successful amateur detective.
Burton introduces each chapter with a quote from Scripture, a welcome and unique touch. The descriptions of family life and the village community provide a nice "homey" feel to the book. By contrast, the sport of hunting plays an important role in the plot; descriptions of some special features of this sport are quite engrossing.
Also recommended is Blinded by Darkness (Honey Locust Press), the first in Burton 's Pastor Wilson series. The new edition of Blinded comes with a bonus, two short stories about happenings in the earlier life of several of the characters.
Pastor Wilson deserves a large and devoted following. Tony Burton's mysteries are heavenly!
Reviewed by Gail Farrelly, author of
Creamed at Commencement: A Graduation Mystery,
Beaned In Boston: Murder At a Finance Convention and
Duped By Derivatives: A Manhattan Murder
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"Murder isn't usually this funny."
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