Out of the Shadows (Nick Barrett Mystery Series #1) [Hardcover]

Sigmund Brouwer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Set in Charleston, the novel introduces Nick Barret. He is drawn home by a mysterious note about the mother who abandoned him. Past secrets emerge to meet present danger. Along the way, Nick comes face-to-face with the God he has always denied. Sharply defined characters and vivid settings will engage and appeal to both men and women. Remarkable storytelling with uncommon intrigue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When he's hot, no one can craft a good Christian suspense novel like this prolific bestselling author, and readers will be delighted to find him in top form here. From the opening pages, Brouwer spins a riveting tale of intrigue and deceit set against the contemporary backdrop of wealthy Charleston. Nicholas Barrett is abandoned by the women he loves the most: first by his mother, who deserts him as a child, and later by his wife of only four days. Crippled in an accident that costs him everything he holds dear, Nick returns from global wanderings years later determined to discover the shattering truth about his past and to extract revenge. He doesn't expect to find God. Strong themes about toxic family secrets and the power of forgiveness frame the plot, and Brouwer's vivid imagery is fresh and engaging. The characters' clipped, almost courtly dialogue occasionally flirts with stiffness, but fans of Brouwer's writing will find this comfortingly familiar. He sprinkles his story with just enough startling revelations to propel the reader on to the next page without giving too much away. Brouwer's portrayal of Nick wrestling with questions of life and faith is a tad forced, and he sometimes drags the pace with too much travelogue and philosophical reflection. But the unexpected plot twists and a strong finish will please his fans, who will find it difficult to put this novel down. (May)Forecast: Brouwer's CBA readership has grown tremendously since he began writing Christian fiction for adults in 1995. For this, his 10th adult novel, Tyndale has a $100,000 marketing budget and an initial press run of 20,000 copies. Expect predictable interest and sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Brouwer's hero, Nick Barrett, is an amateur astronomer teaching at a junior college in Santa Fe. He receives an unsigned letter summoning him home to Charleston on the promise that the mystery of his mother's disappearance will at last be solved, not to mention the mystery of what really happened the night a teenage Nick was in an automobile accident. Years earlier, several of the oldest families of Charleston objected to the "white trash" Nick marrying one of their finest young debutantes. They settled an income on Nick and promised not to pursue a manslaughter charge for the young man killed in the car accident if Nick would agree to an annulment and leave town. Both events have angered and embittered Nick--turned him into an agnostic, in fact. In a search for the facts that is also a spiritual search, Nick discovers that the past he has accepted to be true is not the entire story. Unfortunately, the well-regarded Brouwer's usually fine sense of narrative seems strained here, and his denouement gathers all the principals in a set piece that seems dated, rather like an Agatha Christie drawing-room scene. Still, run-of-the-mill Brouwer is more interesting than many another writer's best effort, and several scenes--the attack of a rottweiler and a near-drowning--will leave you in a cold sweat. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842330372
• ISBN-13: 978-0842330374
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,546,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Whether writing youth or adult fiction, Sigmund Brouwer is a best-selling author of more than 40 fast-paced novels. He loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his Rock&Roll Literacy Show.

Sigmund is married to songwriter recording artist Cindy Morgan. The couple and their two young daughters divide their time between Red Deer, Alberta and Nashville, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Secrets!, April 26, 2002

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Out of the Shadows (Nick Barrett Mystery Series #1) (Paperback)

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover of "Out of the Shadows" that first got my attention. Dark and mysterious, it hints of intrigue in the South, of mystery and secrets and drama. And it accurately points to the success of Brouwer's writing.

This is great fiction. With a strong hook in the prologue, Brouwer draws us into this modern-day mystery. Through a series of flashbacks, we follow Nick Barrett's search for his mother, his ex-wife, his blackmailers...and for secrets he isn't even aware of. Although the tension flags slightly through the middle of the tale, and the dialogue remains clipped, these characters come to life through solid storytelling. As the plot turns tighter, the author parcels out more and more secrets so that the last fifty pages fly by. What I thought would be a solid 4-star book became an enthusiastic 5-star recommendation after reaching the climax of this Southern mystery.

If you've read "Double Helix" and had a lukewarm reaction, let Brouwer prove to you that he's grown as a writer. "Out of the Shadows" is a gripping story, with spiritual and emotional impact. Having only recently moved to Nashville, I've decided that Sigmund Brouwer is one of this areas best-kept Southern secrets.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A page turner!, May 5, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of the Shadows (Nick Barrett Mystery Series #1) (Hardcover)

Nick Barrett was born into a privileged Charleston, South Carolina family -- or was he? His father was a prominent Charleston war hero, or was he? His mother was a Charleston tramp, or was she?

Nick was told his mother deserted him at age ten and ran off with his trust fund. The next nine years were spent living with relatives who could barely tolerate him for reasons he couldn't understand.

Nick eloped with his childhood sweetheart. Four days later, he survived a car accident, losing his leg. Then he agreed to have his marriage annulled and never see his wife again in order to prevent a scandal that would cause her irreparable damage ... or so he thought.

After 15 years gone from Charleston, Nick is back to find out the truth about his mother. What he learns is more than he bargained for.

I have never read a mystery with more twists and turns, with more people you love to hate, with more questions answered that only lead to more questions. The characters are delightful, especially the spinster sisters who run the antique shop and provide continual clues.

Fast-paced, rich with description of not only historical Charleston, but the power structure that makes Charleston what it is. I couldn't put the book down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weird, But Masterfully Done, May 10, 2004

By 

A "sdskap" (pine brook, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of the Shadows (Nick Barrett Mystery Series #1) (Hardcover)

At first sight, this book looks freaky. Then, as you start to read it, its just WEIRD! Then, you want to scream and holler and tell certain of its characters to just work with the main character.
I have lent this book out to many of my friends and we all love it. They each have said basically the same about it. It's very mysterious! Definately read it. And when you are done, read its sequel: Crown of Thorns. I like that book more.