Not in the Heart
by Chris Fabry
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (January 20, 2012)
Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He’s out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son’s failing heart.
With mounting hospital bills and Truman’s penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline—the chance to write the story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman’s son.
As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman’s investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.
Keiki’s Review~
A story that drew me in, held me captive and surprised me with a turnabout ending.
This is the first Chris Fabry novel I’ve read. It certainly won’t be the last. As a writer myself, I am often asked what component of a novel do I like most. This, of course, is a question non-writers might not ask me. My favorite component in a novel is dialogue. And this novel kept me on my toes.
The main character Truman is an atheist. He’s wasted his life using ambition and addictions attempting to fill the God shaped hole inside of him. The story opens with Truman experiencing the inevitable consequences of chasing such shadows and believing the hype that success and will bring him peace.
Although there are several life issues discussed in the book, the focus is Truman’s spiritual journey which takes him from being a comical loser to a peaceful Christian. This is the ultimate show and tell. Truman begins to see mercy, grace, and peace lived out by the people in his life.
- His wife who remains faithful and continues to love him even after he has gambled away everthing they ever had.
- His son, dying from a heart condition, who never displays resentment for Truman’s absenteeism.
- Even his daughter, and atheist herself, who by all accounts should distance herself from him, still shows a willingness to connect with him.
This novel is filled with crushing circumstances and valiant Christians that don’t seek to tell Truman what he should or shouldn’t do. They just love him. I loved this novel. You will wonder about the title of the book until the very last few pages. I highly recommend it.
