If you are a fan of the Jason Bourne action flicks (or the books 😉 ), you need to check out a Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff.
A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God against terrorists — and his own deadly past
John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God’s calling. He’s not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.
But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf — an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to do penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.
Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John’s secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow — even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he’s learning to care for be caught in the cross fire? In the end, John’s life may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer. . .
Andrew Huff’s thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it’s also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world.
Andrew Huff spent 10 years in local church ministry before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the Product Director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com). He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014 & 2017) and also won the Best Screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. He resides in North Texas with his beautiful wife Jae and their two boys.
My Impressions:
If you like fast-moving action with plenty of car chases and hand-to-hand fighting plus a strong faith message, then A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff is the book for you. Main character John Cross has serious Bourne-like skills that he uses in his freelance work with the CIA. He is part of an extraction team since he left the agency after becoming a Christian. His latest operation leads him to second-guess even that much involvement as he settles into his new role as the pastor of a small Virginia church.
John Cross is an interesting character. Much of his skill-set from his military and CIA days is second nature. What is not is his relationship with God. He is truly a believer, but new, even as he leads a church. He is trying to lead a life of denial and penance for the sins of his past. I think he gets mercy, but grace alludes him. The plot revolves around the terrorists who are out to exact vengeance and the attraction towards the woman he rescued. It is a twisting story with plenty of surprises along the way. While this book definitely has a guy-vibe to it, I think anyone who likes high octane action will like it.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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