Trinity Game Thriller by Sean Chercover Has It All!

He read the username in the chat window.
PapaLegba. He didn't know anyone 
who went by that handle, but he 
knew what it meant.
Papa Legba was a prominent loa in voodoo
mythology. Guardian of the Crossroads,
facilitator of communication between the
material and spirit worlds, between the living
and the dead. A storyteller--and sometimes a
trickster.
Daniel types: This is Daniel Byrne.
Who am I speaking with?
After a few seconds, the person on the other
end wrote: And you will know the truth, and
the truth will make you free.
John 8:32. Who are you?
You seek the truth. Trinity is the Path. We
can help..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Legba

The Trinity Game


By Sean Chercover




There are a number of angles from which you could approach talking about this book. There are so many parts that could be explored--so many characters that play a significant role in this complex, unique, comprehensive novel...by that I mean that if you were thinking about a religious thriller, you might select a particular denomination or sect--not so...

So I'm choosing to hone in on Trinity himself...If some of you have my background, with a mother that followed Jimmy and Tammy, Jimmy Swaggart, etc., you will recognize other televangelists who've had a similar platform as Tim Trinity - the prosperity platform. One minister built a huge organization, including the establishment of a university named after him. You know, the interesting thing is that I don't think I've ever heard any major criticisms about that minister... Although others have fallen from grace for one reason or another, many times because of how they spent donated money.

Tim Trinity had a strong following at the beginning... But he was, indeed, all about the money...

He had always been a con man...

After his parents had died, Daniel Byrne had come to live with his uncle and, at first, had faithfully followed the teaching of his Uncle Tim... Until he was old enough to start questioning what he was seeing in reality...

Actually, I believe Daniel is really the main character, but, no matter, his uncle brought about the Trinity Game...even if he didn't plan to... Does that sound confusing? It should, because I'm trying not to give too much away...

Daniel had walked out of his uncle's life while he was still a teenager...and guess what, he walked right into a catholic church environment. He admitted he was looking for a "real" miracle...

And that church knew exactly how to use Daniel's quest...he was placed in a somewhat hidden job within the church. It was his job to be sent out across the world to "debunk" anybody who claimed that a miracle had occurred. And, before you think it, let me express my opinion that miracles do occur--but many are cons, scams...whatever you want to call it... In fact, Daniel, during his investigation of 721 cases, had never found a miracle.

Until the word spread that Tim Trinity was speaking in tongues...

There was concern about sending Daniel to investigate, but his "boss" knew that he was the best--and he was also one of the few within the Church that knew of Daniel's reasons for leaving his former home. So, he vouched for him and Daniel flew out to "debunk" his uncle--officially!

Instead, what he did, first, was, since he still loved the woman with whom he had been involved before he went to become a priest...And, with her present job as a journalist, he thought he could use it as an excuse to contact her...I'll let you find out about that relationship; however, she and her photographer did come to play a big part in Daniel's investigative efforts...only to conclude that Tim was not faking!

And worse, that he was making predictions, while speaking in tongues, that were all coming true...

All of which brought out the "witch-hunters" who were not happy with this development that could change--their worlds! Whew! What a story! The ending had both sad and happy results and, dare I say, just as God had planned??? It really doesn't matter whether you believe that's possible--this thriller has something for everybody, including   those who follow voodoo, Catholicism, protestants, heroes, gambling, miracles, love, or...the truth...I loved this one! For many reasons!


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SEAN’S BIO

Sean Chercover is a dual citizen, born to a Canadian father and an American mother. He grew up in Toronto and spent childhood summers in Georgia. After earning a Liberal Arts degree from Columbia College Chicago, he worked as a private investigator in Chicago and New Orleans. His other professions have included television writer, video editor, support diver, waiter, encyclopedia salesman, and some best forgotten. After a series of corporate PR writing gigs drove Sean insane, he settled down to write fiction in earnest.

He is the author of the crime novels BIG CITY BAD BLOOD,TRIGGER CITY, and THE TRINITY GAME, as well as short stories that have appeared in a number of anthologies. His work has received the Anthony, Shamus, CWA Dagger, Dilys, Crimespree, Gumshoe and Lovey awards, and has been shortlisted for the Edgar, MacAvity, Barry, ITW Thriller and Arthur Ellis.

He lives with his wife and son in Toronto, where you can find him running in the ravines with his bionic dog.

Lisa Barker Speaks to All Through Unforgettable Love Story...

"...Can I share something with you?" They nodded. "I have been giving your situation a lot of thought, Joe, and I think this applies to you, too, Wendy. It seems like you both have inherited quite a lot of hurt and anger. Listen to this passage from Lamentations:

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!

Inheritance

By Lisa Barker

--Powerful

--Gut-Wrenching

--Realistic

Two individuals, caught in the life created by their families, meet...If the book was not fiction, most individuals might have questioned, "was it fate?" that brought them together. You decide. I like to think that, sometimes, miracles do happen and people are brought into another's life because, just because...If you are someone who still believes it's possible, then you will love Inheritance just as much as I did...

Joe and Daniel were fraternal twins. Daniel excelled in sports and in school and was his father's favorite. Joe enjoyed cooking and helping his mother and had even been embarrassed and ridiculed by his father questioning his son's manhood... At the same time, that father was constantly unfaithful to their mother. It is hard to tell whether their mother had started out as she was, but later in life, she had become totally critical and judgmental.

Perhaps part of it was when Daniel announced at his graduation dinner that he was gay... and immediately was disowned... Perhaps it was the constant fighting of the parents as well. but, one day, while Joe was helping his father wash and polish one of his antique cars, he was especially affectionate to Joe and that day gave him the keys to that car (which had earlier been promised to his brother). 

Then, before Joe could even get into the house, his father sat in the driver's seat and killed himself...

For many years, Joe had gone completely into alcohol and sex to try to forget his past, but for four years he had been sober and was now the chef/owner of a bar & grill. It was on his birthday, at the age when his father had committed suicide. None of his family had remembered his birthday or its significance--after all, they had been predicting for years that he was exactly like his father and would probably follow his same path...

Joe was so lonely that he decided to go to the home of one of his former lovers, who hosted "get-togethers" routinely. That night he drank too much and became sick...

Wendy was at that party, hidden in a room so the guests wouldn't see her. Her sister clearly was ashamed of how she dressed and that she was part of her own history of being called "trailer-trash." Wendy had searched to find her sister since their grandmother had died. Secretly Wendy had hoped she would be met with open arms and provided a new home... Instead she had been told to leave the next morning.

Seeing Joe on the ground had brought Wendy quickly to caring about somebody other than herself. She got dressed, pulled her small suitcase and clothes together, and went out to offer help and to drive the guy, who clearly was unable to do so, home. At the same time, she would be able to leave and get some place where she could start to figure out what she was going to do.

I wish I could say that this quickly resulted in a wonderful "happy-ever-after" life... Not!

Too much had happened in their lives, leaving feelings of loss, of anger, of guilt:

"Guilt is useful because it doesn't feel good. It should stop us from doing things that are wrong or harmful to others and ourselves. And when we do something wrong, we need to feel true sorrow and then turn to God for forgiveness. The next step is making up for what we have done..."

The author has used a wonderful story to share much that all of us can ponder. This is more than a simple love story, albeit a beautiful one. If you allow yourself the time to consider all that these two individuals did "in reaction", you just might see yourself in some way...and, in turn, receive the joy and grace available...

Book Received

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