Coldwater by Samuel Parker

Book description:


Having forfeited his youth to the state prison system, Michael moved back to the only home he'd ever known. An empty shell of a man who now lived--if it could be called living--in the still vacant house of his parents in a town with one stoplight. A town that hated him. Had always hated him. And was ready to pick up where the prison system had let off.

Now he's on the run from men who've tried to kill him once; but Michael is more than an ex-con. A powerful, sinister force creeps inside him, threatening and destructive. Who--and what--it will destroy next is the only real question. From the bold voice that brought readers down Purgatory Road comes a new pulse-pounding, spine-rattling tale of vengeance and justice that will have them up all night.


My review:

 This is a book I am not sure what to say about in a review. It was weird, yet it was an interesting book that I read in one afternoon. I would hesitate to call it Christian fiction, even though it is classified as such. It is clean and free from bad language, but there is no Christian theme or talk of God and Christianity.

 The main character was sent to prison at the age of 10 years old for killing his 7 year old brother. There is something inside of him that protects him and usually kills anyone who threatens him. It is never really clearly stated what that is, or how he got it. The book starts with his release from prison. Everyone in the town he grew up in fears him, and there is a group of men determined to kill him before anyone else is harmed.

 I found the book to be rather dark and hopeless, though it does end on a hopeful note, but not much is said about what happened after that. It is shown what fear can do and what it can cause people to do. In the book, had the townspeople just left Michael alone, the deaths and mayhem would not have happened.

 I didn't dislike the book, or I wouldn't have finished it. It was just a bizarre and weird read that did seem dark and hopeless.

About the author:

Samuel Parker is the author of Purgatory Road. Born in the Michigan boondocks, he was raised on a never-ending road trip through the US. Besides writing, he is a process junkie and the ex-guitarist for several metal bands you've never heard of. He lives in West Michigan with his wife and twin sons.


Coldwater is available from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.