Customer Reviews

The Tentmaker (Lily Connor)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

She's willful; she's prayerful. She is by turns disdainful, compassionate, frightened, or resolute. She is Lily Connor, crime solver [come] Episcopal priest, introduced in poet Michelle Blake's assured and satisfying debut novel, The Tentmaker. As we learn a tentmaker is "an ordained priest who works at a trade outside the church, sometimes serving as interim priest for parishes in search of full-time rectors." That is precisely what native Texan Lily is called to do. Although, 36-year-old Lily in her jeans, boots and clerical collar does seem an incongruity at St. Mary of the Garden, a decidedly upscale Boston church. Upon arrival she finds a cool welcome, and a wounded parish. So, she prays: "She prayed for compassion, she prayed for insight, and she prayed, if it was anywhere in the scope of God's will, for release from this job, which was driving her crazy." Initially, Lily attributes the parishioners' indifference to their grief over the sudden death of their rector, a beloved figure who had served the church for many years. Deeming her position "babysitting rich people, " she shares her reservations with Charlie Cooper, a friend from her seminary days, and now an Episcopal monk. He had encouraged her to take the position and now counsels her to be patient. Before long a series of unexplainable events take place which lead her to believe that there is something more to deal with at St. Mary of the Garden than aloofness and pain. With the blessing of an ally in the church, Bishop Spencer, Lily begins to look into the decidedly dark doings at the church. When a prominent family accuses the late rector of seducing their young son, Roy, the water is muddied even further. Lily is drawn into a vortex of ignominious happenings when she discovers an almost fatal accident in the church basement, then is confounded by the sudden appearance then disappearance and near death of Roy. In a stunning denouement she finds herself alone with a murderer who despises her. Yet, it is during this confrontation that she comes to realize in part what her priestly vows should mean. Lily's search for answers has been as much for herself as for the parish, as she struggles with her own crisis of faith. Ms. Blake has pulled off quite a coup with The Tentmaker and her creation of a protagonist who is both human and humane, as Lily gives vent to emotions, fights temptation, and bridles at what she considers to be the exclusionary practices of the Episcopal church. Thus readers are not only entertained but enlightened, and left eagerly waiting for the next Lily Connor adventure. - Gail Cooke

Lilly Conner is a refreshing character to see inhabiting not only a mystery but also a priest's collar -- passionate, occasionally insecure, as opinionated as she is committed, but always searching for a closer relationship with the God who fuels her commitment. And Charlie! His character alone was worth the price of the book. Lilly and Charlie's conversations and sluething bring to light some very real controversies facing the church today. As a Boston/Cambridge resident, I also appreciated Blake's careful attention to physical details -- a small but important part of bringing authencity and life to the story.

From the standpoint of an "insider," this was a fine book. I have known many "tentmaker" priests and deacons and have been an Episcopalian for 30 years. The mystery is exciting, but equally as good is the internal politics of the parish and diocese, and the wrestlings with faith of all the characters.

This is a perfect book for those of you who think Priests and "churched" persons are superhuman! Blake not only presents a well-developed mystery with a surprising ending she also manages to shatter the image of the stereotypical rector with her character "tentmaker" Lily Connor! Pick up this book you won't be sorry!

In addition to being a "good read," The Tentmaker uses the mystery genre to explore more than just the suspicious death of a rector who serves an affluent Boston congregation. It also inquires about the religious mysteries clerics face in the modern world, the mysteries each of us face as we come to terms with our relationships to religion, ourselves ,and the evils that looom behind the exquisitely carved doors. I look forward to other Michelle Blake mysteries.

I found the book very interesting, and a fairly good mystery, but some of the clues weren't all that clear. However, I was a little surprised by the parish where our heroine was working. As an espiscopalian, who has served on a vestry, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more about the "life" of the church: study groups, services, choir practices, more personalities of the parish family. From the desciption of the parish, its not surprising that things were so secretive. In most churches, there is a lot of give and take, people working within the local community, hearing confessions, planning services, planning events, confirmation classes, adult classes, etc. Everything just seemed so dark. Also, having the bishop and the cathedral so close is the exception, and not the rule for most parishes. However, I will look forward to seeing more books featuring our new heroine.

Too often mysteries are all about puzzle at the expense of character or writing. The Tentmaker is differant, more than a great modern mystery it is also a profound meditation on human frailty , compassion and grace. The writing is superb, the story is haunting.

This rings true of what I know of Episcopal clergy and of the diocese in which Lily Connor works. It follows those circumstantially simple lines in its detail, and I found it a good read.

I have read many mysteries, but this one stands out from them all. It was a smart and engaging story line, and quite cleverly pieced together. The characters were realistic and I could thoroughly relate to aspects of all of them. As far as "furthering a theology that is pro-liberal and pro-homosexual," it should be commended that Blake dare address such important political prejudices, as those ones that plague our world today. And not only, but Blake is an exquisite writer; her pros are poetic, yet controlled, coherent and pleasing to the ears. I can't wait for the next book.

Well I thought this was an excelent book. A must If your into misteries an such.