Book Review: Crown of Thorns by Sigmund Brouwer (Nick Barrett #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Rich characters and thrilling plot

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Can't put it down book

With truly great characters

Great middle novel




Emotionally Engaging Thriller

Crown of Thorns is the second book in the Nick Barrett Mystery Trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, stop thinking about reading this one and read it first. While the storyline here is new, there are enough references to the last book to ruin it for you. Additionally, the fall out from those events continue as a sub-plot here. But if you enjoyed that one, you'll be glad you came back for more.

It started as a simple favor to friends. Spinster antique dealers Glennifer and Elaine ask Nick to look into a painting. After disappearing almost fifty years before, it has suddenly shown up in the possession of Angel, a poor girl who claims to have gotten it from her Grammie Zora.

There is another man interested in the painting, and Nick starts trying to find out who that is. But the trail begins to get clouded by the history of the painting. What happened the night it disappeared?

Meanwhile, Retha Herndon is worried about her little boy. The baby is very sick, but the others in her compound think all they should do is pray. Retha is determined to get her son medical treatment. Will she get him out of the compound in time?

I read the first in this series just a couple months ago, so it is still very fresh in my mind. I can easily see a difference in Nick. He's changed as a result of those events in some ways, and in other ways he hasn't. Yet he is able to recognize how his flaws are a result of his past. I really enjoyed the richness of his character.

There are plenty of new characters this time around, and they all come off as full developed as well. Angel is a streetwise kid, yet still very naive about some things in life. Through Retha's struggle to break free of the cult, we see how strong she really is.

The story is strong. When it first starts out, it seems like the various plot elements aren't related, but we soon begin to see how everything will come together. Naturally, this means I guessed at a few plot points early, but they happened not too far into the book. There were still plenty of surprises in store as the web of the plot weaved its way to the end. The ending was emotional and suspenseful at the same time thanks to the characters we've come to care for.

What's probably most interesting about this book is the writing. The majority of it is told first person from Nick's point of view. Yet we get third person breaks, usually from Retha but sometimes from Angel. These are set apart and set up well and it became a natural part of the story. The story does stop a couple times for some musings on the nature of God and the universe, but these are brief, related to the theme, and very interesting.

I love Sigmund Brouwer's books, and this is a great example of why. Crown of Thorns is a dark, atmospheric thriller from one of the best in the Christian market.