Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels

Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels
Series: Book 1 of 2
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 14, 2014)

NOTE: Although this book isn’t listed as part of a series, a sequel All Souls Day was released in October 2017 by a different publisher, Gut Check Press

Review by Mae Clair

Did you ever pick up a book that was so good from the start, you wanted to devour it in one sitting? Had time been on my side, I would have done that with Playing Saint. As it was, it took four sittings and two days, then I was sad it had ended. I wanted more. Thankfully, there is a follow up novel which I immediately bought.

When it comes to Christian fiction, there’s a ton of romance available, plenty of romantic suspense, even a good stockpile of Biblical fiction, but finding a good contemporary Christian thriller isn’t easy. A few I’ve picked up have left me wanting, but this one checked all the right boxes.

Parker Saint is a televangelist of a megachurch whose tagline is God is Awesome… and so are you! He doesn’t preach from a parish church but a stage. He’s being groomed by an even bigger pastor who is molding him into a pre-packaged image to sell feel-good pep messages.

After throwing a snit-fit at a flight attendant—something that could destroy his public persona and upcoming book release—Parker is granted the chance to make the incident go away. If he agrees to consult with the local police force on a series of recent killings the case will be dropped. His expertise is needed because of religious symbols left on the victims. Like his faith, Parker does his best to put on a show, but he’s in over his head.

At the same time the killings are taking place, church vandalism is on the rise. Two churches have been burned, and several others targeted with Satanic symbols and graffiti. If that isn’t enough, three Jesuit priests acting under orders of the Vatican, arrive and pull Parker into their orbit.

These guys—who rule ever scene they’re in—are secret operatives searching for a religious relic, missing for centuries. Parker has to hide his involvement with them from the police, particularly a gruff lead detective who cuts him little slack. The banter among the priests is priceless, but when they discuss faith with Parker, the exchanges are brilliant. The author did an excellent job of lacing humor into this story, especially in the persona of Fr. Ignatius, who rarely refers to Parker by name, but as “Protestant.” Here’s an example of Parker and Fr. Ignatius talking in a old abandoned church that has converted into a nightclub.

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The priest looked from one wall to the next, disoriented by the bar and DJ’s booth. “Protestant, tell me how this space used to look. Where was the chancel?”

“The what?”

“The raised platform with the rail.”

“Oh, the stage.”

Ignatius opened his mouth, but said nothing.

“You want to burn me at the stake right now, don’t you, Father Ignatius?”

“No comment.”

Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels

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When Ignatius takes over the confessional for a local priest (so he can talk with the other Jesuits and Parker about the vandalism), the results are priceless.

Throughout the story, the reader is also treated to short chapters from an unnamed person clearly sinking into demon possession. I’m freaky about that type of plot (I won’t read books or watch movies with anything remotely demonic), but the subject is approached from the viewpoint of spiritual warfare, handled in a faith-based manner without being scary. It helps that the author is a Bible teacher and senior pastor at his church.

Faith elements are woven seamlessly throughout. There are so many good passages related to scripture teaching, I had trouble picking just one. Nothing clobbers you over the head, but watching Parker progress from a vain, superficial man concerned with self-image to someone who eventually surrenders to Christ is handled believably as he’s counseled by more than one person, such as this exchange with a friend of his late father.

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“…you remind me of Saint Peter. It was Peter who wrote that the devil ‘prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.’ And yet, Peter wasn’t ready for the devil when he came as a serpent. You have to be ready for both.”

Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels

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The ending came as a surprise and delivered several moments I didn’t expect. Police procedural scenes are excellent, character development (even for secondary players) is superb, and the action had me biting my nails and madly swiping pages on my Kindle.

Playing Saint ranks as one of my top three reads of the year. I highly recommend it and give it five fabulous fish (only because I can’t award it more).

I purchased the Kindle copy of Playing Saint.