Comments are about Book I unless otherwise noted.
Hope, 18, OH
“I really enjoyed how each of the characters, even the ‘bad’ ones, were treated as persons… The story is very honest and human.”
Adlin, 61, MD
“It’s like you’re reading Scripture and seeing people do it… You could promote it at parishes as a special book club and there could be discussions… Can’t wait to read more!”
Father Dan Pattee, TOR, Theology Professor at Franciscan University, OH
“It is a fresh narrative about coming to terms with what really matters in life, through… trials that have the capacity to unnerve faith amid life’s challenges and difficulties… [The book was] engaging. The story held my interest. Dialogue is lively. It was hard to put it down. … I had to laugh out loud when I read [what happened to Fr. Jerry] – that happened to me this morning! … I found it delightful and memorable in that it helped surface memories from my many years as a priest and Franciscan here at the University…”
Emilia, 15, IL
“Heavy dialogue is interspersed with goofy college kid antics and funny dialogue… I love how smoothly faith and an active prayer life were incorporated into the work… I really like how a lesson on Mass was blended into the wives’ conversation… to describe the depth and complexity of a ritual that many Catholics take for granted and that many non-Catholics might not understand. … I like how one character confronts another character with his career issues. It’s important to have a friend who so genuinely values your well-being that he will risk the friendship to save the friend… Thank you so much for letting me read… I can’t wait to move on to the next one.”
Steven, 29, KS
“I have studied Theology of the Body from a number of sources… but I’ve never seen these ideas put into fiction. The Five Questions distills these ideas into a story that is both engaging and accessible. If the goal of Christian fiction is to make the reader consider theological concerns in light of his own life, then [this book] has succeeded—at least with this reader.”
Rebecca, teacher who used the TOB curriculum for discussions:
“I found that what the kids had to say was usually very insightful and helpful for my own personal spiritual growth (same with the text itself!) The book really helped me deepen in my own love for and understanding of God’s work in my daily life as a young person striving to live the faith.”
John, 15, CA
“The first three books in the series are great books that explore the teachings of the Church… However, they’re also interesting novels, so they’re easier to read than the catechism. Interesting topics are presented in interesting ways, and there’s so many characters that you’re bound to identify with someone.”
Chae Hee, 47, IL
“In the first four books I learned so much reading all the footnotes. The story helps you digest it. In addition to learning a lot that was new, it also put a new perspective on things that I was already familiar with. I’m Protestant and I think this is a great avenue for people [who have difficulties with] Catholicism.”
Kate, mother in OH
“I read the book with my 14-year-old son. It opened up conversations we never would have had. If I had asked him directly about dating or prayer, he would have clammed up; but we could easily talk about what was happening with the characters.”
Pheriche, 26, LA
“This book was so relatable! I kept wanting to read more and delve even further into these characters’ lives! Fr. Jerry is my favorite! Gwen is very vivid and memorable. Stephanie is fun. Joe’s vocational crisis is amazing… The excitement, the romance, the grappling with big questions are so relatable and engaging to the reader.”
Christine, 19, CA
“[In the first seven books] there are many connected plots, which is interesting; the course of the romantic relationships…cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, and much life-enriching food for thought – the teachings of the Church – play a central part.”
Dennis, 25, NY, staff
“Thrilling! Adventures in the Great Mystery is jam packed with excitement for all ages. More specifically, this excitement is about God and His Will for our lives. In a fictional world based on reality… there are twists and turns throughout all three trilogies! Eastern Catholicism is even introduced. I personally found myself and my life situations being played out in the characters and events in the trilogies… I highly recommend for all.”
To order a copy of the first novel so you can have your own reactions, click here.
Adventures in the Great Mystery 