Not in the Heart [Paperback]

Chris Fabry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2012

Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He's out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son's failing heart. With mounting hospital bills and Truman's penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline--the chance to write the story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman's son.As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman's investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

What’s the difference between a man on death row and Truman Wiley? The death-row inmate knows when he’ll die, and Truman only knows that if he can’t change his ways soon, he’ll die, too. As the rest of his family copes with his son Aiden’s debilitating heart condition, Truman wastes his time gambling and mounting up debt. An interesting opportunity presents itself to him in the form of a convicted murderer. Terrelle Conley claims he is innocent and wants to do two things at the end of his life. He wants to tell his story and donate his heart to Aiden. Truman agrees to the task of telling Terrelle’s tale, reconnecting with his own family in the process. Best-selling inspirational author Fabry (Almost Heaven, 2010) sets up a genuinely gripping struggle as Truman comes closer to the truth and its consequences, and readers are forced to confront their own perceptions and expectations. This guaranteed page-turner will have readers questioning their views on the death penalty, organ donation, and the power of faith. --Carolyn Richard

From the Back Cover

“I’ve found the only thing I can control is how well I tell the story and follow the truth. . . . The truth will always lead you to a good place.”
Truman Wiley used to report news stories around the world, but now the troubling headlines are his own. He’s out of work and out of touch with his family, but nothing keeps him awake at night more than his son’s failing heart.

With hospital bills mounting faster than Truman can gamble his life savings, it seems there’s no way out . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline—the chance to write the story of a death row inmate willing to donate his heart to Truman’s son.

As the execution clock ticks, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that may point to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? As Truman’s investigation escalates, he’s forced to face his failures and make a choice that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Original edition (February 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414348614
• ISBN-13: 978-1414348612
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My stories come from life and sometimes art imitates stories.

Four years ago my family and I moved to the desert. I'm not a desert person. But I knew the experience would at some point provide a rich, fertile place to tell a dusty tale.

Borders of the Heart is my nod toward some of the great western writers--Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry. It's a love story, a painful story of loss, a mystery, and an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I hope you enjoy the ride through Tucson and the surrounding area as much as I did.

If you haven't read it yet, Not in the Heart is another riveting, suspenseful, and yet relational story. A mystery within a mystery within an addiction. I dedicate it to all who have someone in their life who is addicted.

ABOUT CHRIS

I was born in West Virginia in 1961. I read a lot, but not very fast, and wrote poems, songs, and transcribed Marx Brothers movies and memorized dialogue.

In 1984 I met Jerry Jenkins at Moody Bible Institute. He offered to help me learn to write and I took him up on the offer. In 1998, Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye hired me to help write the Left Behind: The Kids series. After that I worked on several other series for children and then published my first adult novel in 2008. It took more than six years to write Dogwood and find a publisher. It received a 2009 Christy Award.

My next novel, June Bug, drew its themes from the classic Victor Hugo tale, Les Miserables. Then, Almost Heaven released and also won a couple of awards.

I graduated from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. I have been married to Andrea since 1982. We have nine children. In October of 2008, our family evacuated our house in Colorado, leaving behind all our belongings because of a toxic mold situation. Since then we have been living near Tucson, Arizona, working on recovering our health after the mold exposure.

Stop by my website at www.chrisfabry.com to learn more about my writing and radio endeavors, and be sure to sign up for my online newsletter, the FABRYGRAM. I can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, or you can email me at [e-mail].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Have you ever wondered," What is he thinking and why did he do that?" January 22, 2012

By first base mom

Format:Paperback

If you've read Chris' other books, I would say, "We're not in Dogwood any more!" This book will take readers on a more challenging journey, but with an equally great payoff at the end.

Truman Wiley is a man with a past marked by success. He gained notoriety as a noted investigative reporter who traveled the world. He had a beautiful wife and two kids who benefitted from his success. But in the course of his work, he saw and experienced things that no one should see and that he couldn't forget. As he looked for ways to dull theose memories and distract him from asking "why" he began to gamble. When his son is diagnosed with a congential and ultimately deadly heart condition the issues of "why" arrive on his own doorstep. And the addiction slowly took over everything else. When the book opens, he is separated from his wife and family and living off of the scraps of his failed career. And the last thing he wants to hear about is that God cares and has a plan. He thinks he's seen the plan and it is a bad one.

This novel is about how the chance for redemption is offered to this man and the path he takes to try and find it. It isn't easy, he isn't always likeable, and he fails and frustrates along the way. If you've ever lived with and loved a person who is dealing with addictions, you will recognize them in Truman. You will get inside his head and hear the excuses he makes and the fear and self doubt that got him there. And slowly, you will see him change.

If the only challenges that you want to encounter in a novel is whether or not it will rain on the courting couple during the picnic, this isn't for you. Truman frustrates. There are times when you'll want to shake him. I can still remember that poignant scene with Truman and his wife early on --the tension between them to fall into each other's arms is palpable , but neither of them trust him any more enough to go there. He is paralyzed by the thought of his son dying and deals with it by avoidance. You'll understand why his wife walked away and you'll be tempted to walk away, too. Don't do it!!

When his daughter enters the scene the story will begin a slow climb out for Truman. You'll love this gutsy girl. She forces her dad to shake himself and reclaim his role as protector and to use his skills to mean something again.

If you're looking for this character to make all the right choices, you'll be disappointed--just like in real life. But if you listen closely to the voice of Truman, you'll find a man angry at himself and his choices and at the brokenness of the world.

Truman investigative skills take over and faces his ultimate dilemma. And through that process, he finds the core of character--the better man that he wants to be--that seemed lost and the courage to face some of the "whys" that sent him on his downward spiral.

This book gave me lots to think about. It is a window into the minds of people who resist faith and hope when they need it the most.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected May 16, 2012

By Libraryboy

Format:Paperback

I'll be the first to admit that this is not my normal kind of "must-read" book. I was traveling in Alabama and had stopped at Sam's for some gas and a quick restroom break. While I was there, I started browsing their book selection (c'mon, can you go into ANY store that has books and NOT browse them?) I have purchased a couple of books by Mr. Fabry for the church library, but I will admit I hadn't read any of them. Anyway, I see this book and it looked pretty interesting (and the price was right, $7.99). Later that evening after I got checked into my hotel room I pulled out the book and opened to the first page. 2 hours later, I was so engrossed in this book, I could tell that my bedtime wasn't going to be any time soon.

It's always interesting to me when I hear authors speak of their characters as if they were real people. If that was the case with Truman, I would have had to have punched him very early in this book. Truman is so self-absorbed with himself that I wanted to scream out loud at him every time he turned his back on his family. Mr. Fabry writes his characters so that you feel what they feel, you laugh when they laugh and cry when they cry.

This book is a wild roller coaster ride of emotions from meeting with Truman, to him finally showing up to the hospital to see his son, back to him relapsing into his old self again and finally to the ending. I won't give it away because I feel that you have to read this book, but I can tell you that the Gasp! that came out of my mouth at the end had to have at least awakened several guests in the hotel that night.

So should you read it? My answer is yes! This is a great book to be read by anybody, but specifically to us men as a reminder that it isn't all about us.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Foundational Book May 1, 2012

By Cheryl Moeller

Format:Paperback

Chris Fabry could have written an easy story that all pieced together really well, but he didn't. Instead he wrote a realistic story not sacrificing any part of the truth about life. A great story for older youth to read to show where sin leads instead of just telling them. It doesn't all fit together, but this is a great book to read as a discussion starter for older youth and all adults. Chris Fabry helps us with that also with his discussion guide
[...] Thanks for a book that is thought probing written by a master storyteller.