The Canary List

May 16, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-lit, contemporary, religious, political, thriller, scary

Overall Review: This book made me want to double lock my doors, arm the alarm system and put bars on the windows. Seriously scary stuff!! We are tossed into a web of lies, deceit, power, and secrecy that is centered within the highest powers of the Vatican. Crockett Grey, a regular teacher with his own stack of personal problems, becomes embroiled in something way over his head, all because a student comes to him for help and he cares enough to do something. We watch as the 'powers that be' firs...more Overall Review: This book made me want to double lock my doors, arm the alarm system and put bars on the windows. Seriously scary stuff!! We are tossed into a web of lies, deceit, power, and secrecy that is centered within the highest powers of the Vatican. Crockett Grey, a regular teacher with his own stack of personal problems, becomes embroiled in something way over his head, all because a student comes to him for help and he cares enough to do something. We watch as the 'powers that be' first try to destroy him career-wise, then threaten his family, then his life; then comes the backpedaling as ‘they’ realize that maybe Crockett could be useful after all. It was especially astonishing to note the incredible amount of power, influence, and ability of just a few people with the ‘right’ connections. I thought I had it all figured out…and I did, until right at the end where there was this totally unexpected twist that left you doing a double take—What?!? Amazing how ambiguous the truth becomes when politics enter! And to what lengths people will go to protect something they believe in—or to protect themselves personally and financially! We are left to wonder—what was real? And we find ourselves out in the cold wondering about the truth once again. ‘The Canary List’ is a solid and seriously suspenseful psychological thriller, but watch out for the ‘Hitchcock-esque’ ending! Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few very mild instances

VIOLENCE: Moderate throughout

SEXUAL CONTENT: Moderate throughout

MATURE THEMES: Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 18+

Interestingly enough, the only bad words were used to describe the horrific circumstances which the main character constantly finds himself, and it’s always the same word (used maybe between 5-10 times). Other than that, there were no exclamations or slang usage of profanity at all! The reason I put moderate on the sexual content is because of one of the topics of the book: Pedophiles. This is mentioned often, but not elaborated upon. There is quite a bit of violence: one character kills his mother because a demon tells him to; a character is kidnapped and held prisoner with threats of death; a character is almost hanged; a character is beaten badly; children are abused; there is arson, assault, death threats, identity theft, kidnapping... Even with that long list, the violence is not explicit. The themes are many. There are the main themes of Evil and deception. Satanic worship is included. There is a character who can detect demons and she is always afraid. There is drunkenness and dealing with loss of family/children and abuse. On the whole, it’s not trashy and explicit, all the harsh themes and content are handled very well, but it is most definitely dark. If you are looking for a thriller that gives you chills and makes you think (and want to bar your windows and add more deadbolts), considering the fact that there is a lack of profanity and sex scenes, this is fairly clean for the genre, and would probably be a good choice. However, because of the darkness and intensity of the themes, I would recommend this for ages 18+.

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by WaterBrook Multnomah for a review(less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Avry15 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, conspiracy, christian, reviewed

originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions

After reading the description, I thought this book is like Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, but after reading it, Canary List may have the issues of conspiracies in the Vatican Church, but this is more like pointing out that there may be evil in the Church but not everyone and is less “scandalous”.

The Canary List is set in present day Vatican City (for the most part). Brouwer's writing is engaging and nearly three dimensional. The descriptions are vivid...more originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions

After reading the description, I thought this book is like Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, but after reading it, Canary List may have the issues of conspiracies in the Vatican Church, but this is more like pointing out that there may be evil in the Church but not everyone and is less “scandalous”.

The Canary List is set in present day Vatican City (for the most part). Brouwer's writing is engaging and nearly three dimensional. The descriptions are vivid that you could actually picture the Vatican Secret Library, the city’s walls and atmosphere.

I actually like Crockett, he is so human, both vulnerable and strong. I felt for him so deeply not just with the death of his daughter but also of the false accusations against him in the school where he teaches.

Meanwhile, Jaime is the protagonists I highly salute of. Especially in the chapters where she has the POV, you could really feel the fear and doubt raging inside her.

The 3 stars is because I don’t really feel like this is a Christian book although it has the message of letting us know that evil exists, it’s more of a thriller to me. Another is because I was not satisfied after the end, I know that this is what the author intends, to make us think for our own, but I just don’t like books who technically does not have an ending. Why would you read something that would just left you hanging at the end >no sequel<

Although, some readers may say that this is biased, or some form of Catholic bashing, personally I believed that the author had been fair in giving two versions of the truth. At the end, the reader is left to conclude for himself. The author’s role was just to present the idea, and then for us to think about.

All in all, if viewed as whole fiction, this is a very good read from a promising author. I recommend this book to those who believe in such things and even for those who are skeptic.

Disclosure: I received this book for an honest review from waterbrook multnomah -blogging for books(less)

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Jan 23, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I found this book incredibly confusing. I think Brouwer's writing style is maturing, but possibly not his sense of storytelling. I wasn't sure A) for what audience this book might be intended, and B) whether it was meant to end so ambiguously or is set up for a sequel. It seemed too boring for teen/YA (style and subject and age of main characters), yet also too boring for adults (tame "action" sequences, lame personal and interpersonal struggles). It also seemed like the plot took one twist too...more

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Dec 30, 2011 AbbyJoy rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is going to be a relatively short review in comparison to my past ones, because in my opinion, The Canary List had little going for it. I really hate giving bad reviews, but this was one book where the cons outweighed the pros.

The one thing I can say in the positive is the natural, believable voice of Jaimie Piper. I did like that in any chapters from her point of view, everything was portrayed just as a twelve-year-old girl would see it. The way she thought accurately showed the understan...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Sheila rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would not consider this book Christian fiction although that is how it is classified. In fact, while it does involve conspiracy within the Catholic church, there is much more to this story. Jamie, a 12 year old troubled girl, brought up in foster homes has the ability to sense 'evil'. When she is out one evening, she senses danger and runs to her favorite teacher's home, Crockett Grey. Crockett is mourning the anniversary of the death of his daughter with a bottle of alcohol. He is divorced fr...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jamie Piper is a twelve year old orphan who has spent her childhood in many foster homes. She can sense evil or darkness which seems to emulate from contact with certain people. Her psychologist, Madelyne Mackenzie, believes in demons and believes she can identify Jamie’s gift which is to identify people who are possessed. In fear, Jamie flees her current foster home and seeks help from her teacher, Crockett Grey. As a result, Crockett is accused of child abuse and strives to clear his name. The...more

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Dec 16, 2011 David Santos rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a story! This book raised a lot of emotions in me. Boredom being the first. Hope you're good in math, because my rating system took some time to figure out. In this review you get the good and the bad. Let's start with the bad...

I fell asleep three times in the first two pages. I have diagnosed myself with A.D.D. and this book confirms it. Some reviews say it is a fast paced book. Well, I'm on page 15 and I've seen turtles move faster than this book. I can just picture this story being told...more What a story! This book raised a lot of emotions in me. Boredom being the first. Hope you're good in math, because my rating system took some time to figure out. In this review you get the good and the bad. Let's start with the bad...

I fell asleep three times in the first two pages. I have diagnosed myself with A.D.D. and this book confirms it. Some reviews say it is a fast paced book. Well, I'm on page 15 and I've seen turtles move faster than this book. I can just picture this story being told by one of those deep voiced religious guys on the radio who say about 5 words per minute. They talk so slow you just want to throw yourself out of your moving vehicle. Maybe it's too "sophisticated" for my understanding. If that's the case I'm glad to be immature!

I don't like how the author adds a story into a story. For example Jaimie is in Crocketts house when a man from social services comes looking for her when we are told what Crockett is supposed to do in a few hours with his son. An entire paragraph. Not unusual but it was random and a paragraph is not needed. Just say that he has to be with his son in a few hours and that's that. Short but to the point. No need to describe every detail he has planned especially when we are currently in the middle of dialogue about someone else.

I marked the rating with one star but give it 3 stars out of respect.

Now for the good...

Its a really good story, filled with lots of twists and turns, but the way it was written just made the book drag on forever. I swear I felt myself aging as I read it, but it is a good book. I love lawyer type stuff, so I forced myself to read further and I just had to skip sentences, paragraphs even entire chapters to hurry the story up. There is a lot going on in the book which lie I've said seen to drag the book forever, but overall a good book.

I have now rated it 5 stars but removed one star for the dull start and the dragnessness. (Not a word but it is now)

For a description of the book, read the description. Imagine that!(less)

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Dec 06, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Crocket Grey looks to liquor one time a year to mourn his daughter Ashleys death. When 12 yr old Jaimie looks through his home window she wonders about what life would be like having a family to call her own having lived in foster care all her life. Jaimie possessing a (sixth sense) combats and dodges evil forces that always finds her and wants to harm her. Seeking safe shelter in the home of Crocket Grey, who is actually her teacher, whom she calls Mr G has its complications for him. Accusation...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

I received an advance reader copy of The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer from Waterbrook Press to review. I was very excited to read it as the description on the back of the book explains that one of the major characters is a young girl in foster care, and I have a heart for at-risk children. The book actually starts with a short scene of two other children being abused, then moves on to Jaimie, the foster child. Jaimie senses that Evil is trying to get her, and one night she runs to the home of...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Annmarie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, suspense, supernatural, christian

Pretty decent suspense novel featuring a Vatican conspiracy with supernatural elements. Starts off lively and fast paced, gets a bit too pleased with itself for its convolutions of plot, but overall decent. I don't think I've read more than a scant handful of Christian novels, so I thought I'd branch out.

Teacher and surfer Crockett Grey (our hero, with that name, you know he'll be a rugged individualist) is having his once a year Scotch whiskey drunk fest at home on the anniversary of his young...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Bill Garrison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sigmund Brouwer has been writing novels for years, but THE CANARY LIST is the first novel of his I've read. The novel opens with a bang, and as I read, I just knew I'd be adding Brouwer to my list of "can't miss" authors. Unfortunately, the last third of the book gets bogged down in complicated plot details that really don't make any sense, and abandon what made the novel so strong in the beginning.

On the night Crocket Grey plans to get drunk and honor the anniversary of his daughter's death, 12...more Sigmund Brouwer has been writing novels for years, but THE CANARY LIST is the first novel of his I've read. The novel opens with a bang, and as I read, I just knew I'd be adding Brouwer to my list of "can't miss" authors. Unfortunately, the last third of the book gets bogged down in complicated plot details that really don't make any sense, and abandon what made the novel so strong in the beginning.

On the night Crocket Grey plans to get drunk and honor the anniversary of his daughter's death, 12-year old Jamie Piper shows up at his house asking to stay the night. She's on the run and thinks her teacher can help. Before the night is over, Jamie's foster parents' house will be burned down, Grey's friendly neighbor will be missing, Jamie will be in the custody of a child psychiatrist, and Grey will be in jail on charges of pedophilia.

Grey is a great character as a teacher of troubled children who lost his daughter to cancer. He's trying to hang on to the relationship with his younger son while holding out hope of reconciling with his ex-wife. Jamie is a troubled youth who can sense when she's in the presence of evil. Throw in a few early scenes of Satan worship and scheming at the Vatican, and you get some sort of sense where the novel is going.

This is a novel ultimately about spiritual warfare and demons. There's no surprise there. Unfortunately, the plot really gets bogged down in the Vatican/Pope angle. There's really nothing there for the reader to care about. Jamie and Grey's relationship started the novel, but it is dropped midway through, as is Grey's relationship with his ex-wife.

Brouwer is obviously a good writer, but this book just didn't hold my interest. The explanations of Jamie's ability and the depths of the conspiracy were quite confusing at times. Also, I was never really sold on why Grey, a simple teacher, had to become involved in the conspiracy to the extent that he was. THE CANARY LIST starts out strong, but stumbles at the end as the strong characterization is dropped in favor of a too-clever of a plot.
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Aug 02, 2011 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any one who enjoys suspense

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer was everything and more than i expected from him. It has been quite some time since i delved into a Brower novel, and i was not sure just how this one would compare with some of his earlier ones. I found this one to be just as gripping or more so.

The characters are well rounded, and the scenery vivid, from the coast of California to Italy and the Vatican.

From the first sentence, where we read that a young boy is abused, to the last words of the catholic Father...more

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Jul 27, 2011 M1ssdiagnosis added it

Who do you turn to when darkness and evil are hunting you? When 12-year-old troubled foster child Jaimie turns to her teacher Crockett Grey for help, she has no idea how much his life will be turned upside-down. Soon Crockett is accused of unspeakable crimes and wrapped up in a tangled web involving hackers, exorcists, psychologists, and the Roman Catholic church. While fighting to clear his name, Grey discovers the plot to smear him is a means to insure a cover-up of corruption in the Church an...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Sheri Salatin rated it 3 of 5 stars

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." --Ephesians 6:12

[The canary list] The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer is about a twelve year old girl, Jaimie Piper who is extra sensitive to Evil. She is an orphan who has been shuffled from foster home to foster home her entire life. Her greatest need? To be safe and loved.

Enter Crockett Grey, Jaimie's school teac...more "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." --Ephesians 6:12

[The canary list] The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer is about a twelve year old girl, Jaimie Piper who is extra sensitive to Evil. She is an orphan who has been shuffled from foster home to foster home her entire life. Her greatest need? To be safe and loved.

Enter Crockett Grey, Jaimie's school teacher and the only person whom Jaimie feels that she can trust. Crockett only wants to mourn his daughter's death and the loss of his marriage. He wants with all his heart to be a good Daddy to his only son. Caring teacher and father that he is, he just can't send Jaimie away when she shows up at his door late one night asking for help.

With Evil stalking Jaimie and Crockett getting in his way, it becomes a battle of wits as to who will survive. Does Evil really exist or is it simply a figment of Jaimie's imagination? Who is behind the terror that haunts Jaimie day night? Crockett will stop at nothing to find out, especially when this very Evil shows up on his doorstep.

Vatican Conspiracy or one big hoax? You decide.

My Rating: 3 Stars

The writing was excellent. Brouwer does an excellent job drawing the reader immediately into the story.

The storyline itself was interesting and engaging. Puzzling at most times, I must admit, but a very gripping read. Not one to read in a dark house at time, all alone...

So, why did I not rate it higher than 3 stars? Here's my reason: Brouwer never fully explains why Jaimie is stalked by Evil yet protected at the same time. I found myself wishing that he would take the story one step further and talk about how the blood of Jesus is a person's only protection against the powers of Satan and his demons. Does he not write this because he doesn't believe it himself? The Catholic influence was heavy, but still...

Sadly, it lacked the punch I was hoping for, expecting.

However this is my opinion, you should try it out for yourself.

Disclaimer: I was given an e-copy of this book to review for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. All opinions expressed here are strictly mine.(less)

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Jul 01, 2011 Britni rated it 3 of 5 stars

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter's death alone. That's it. But after one of his students, Jaimie Piper, knocks on his window that night scared to death, his life will never be the same. Jaimie isn't your typical 12-year old girl. She's not afraid of the dark, the Boogeyman, or even an abusive family member. She's afraid of evil.

I can't tell you a whole lot of the story without giving it away, but the basic idea is that Crockett is a teacher who because of being...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Clockstein Lockstein rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer is a fast-paced conspiracy tale with a plenty of twists and turns. Crockett Grey is still battling the grief of losing his daughter Ashley to cancer a few years ago. He pours his heart into teaching troubled kids including Jaimie Piper, a twelve-year-old girl with her own tragic past. When Jaimie comes to his house one night, running away from her foster home, it turns Crockett's entire world upside down. Child pornography is found in his home, the only person...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Jmm rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers of Christian Fiction

In Vatican City, Italy, the Pope is in an extended coma, leaving the Catholic Church with a dangerous power vacuum. On the other side of the world, in Santa Monica, California, 12-year-old Jaime--an orphan in foster care--thinks about Crockett Grey, the teacher of her Adaptive Behavior Classroom, and how he seems like he would be a really good dad. And in a room somewhere Dr. Madeleyne Mackenzie, child psychiatrist and Jaime's legal custodian, is celebrating a black mass with the other members o...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Maria rated it 2 of 5 stars

What I Can Tell You:

From the beginning pages, I felt this was going to be a great book. The thought of a teacher spending every year drinking to forget the death of his own daughter is horrible. Then to have a girl (his student) show up, while his mourning is in full affect disturbing. Why is she here? She is running from something evil. An evil, she knows is trying to get her. Being a good teacher and gets "Nana" his next door neighbor to take care of her so they help her and he can sober up....more

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Apr 05, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Synopsis

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death...more Synopsis

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone.

But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.

Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.

The cover of this book seems to draw you in...the bright yellow of the girls dress. This is not a story about birds or Canaries!
At first I struggled to get into this story...not my kind of book! As the story progresses I found myself getting more and more into it. The character's seemed very real...like Jamie I wanted to go live with Nanna. Are there really deamons running around like in this book? One would hope not, but then I'm not so sure.
You find yourself being drawn in by the innocent teacher just wanting to block out the day his little daughter died, and wanting help for the little girl! Wanting to help these 2 the book does become a page turner. Know some of the facts in this book I have read about before, so is there truth in this story? You will have to judge for yourself!
Wait until you get to the end! It will have you scratching your head and wondering about the whole story! Yes I would recommend this book, and hope it is just fiction!
I was provided with a copy of this book by Waterbrook Press, I was not required to give a favorable review, and the opinions expressed are my own.(less)

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Aug 26, 2011 Dee Bibb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Canary List
Author: Sigmund Brouwer
Publisher: Waterbrook Press

The Canary List is a masterfully crafted, chilling, and thought-provoking story written by Sigmund Brouwer about a twelve-year old girl named Jaimie Piper who has no difficulty detecting evil in people.

Jaime is a twelve-year old girl that has been in and out of foster homes since she was an infant. Due to her attitude and behavior she has been placed in classes for challenged students where she comes in contact with, teache...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Coyle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Is there a Witch-Vatican-genetic freak conspiracy out there? According to this book, yes. And, well, that's about it. With a solid start and a weak finish, The Canary List is middlin' at best. (Why three stars then? Because it was well-ish written, and that gets three stars, no matter what.) I happen to think conspiracy theory books have to be exceptionally well written, otherwise the author comes off looking like a kook, and often drags the reader with him. This book is just well enough written...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Sannie Hald rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, read2review, read-2012

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

A young troubled girl named Jamie Piper has been thrown in and out of different foster homes her entire life. She gets blamed for all kind of trouble, and is therefore sent to a school for troubled kids. Here she finds comfort in her teacher Mr. Grey, who got her into reading. One night when Evil is out to get her, she flees to his house to seek cover.
Jamie has the gift of sensing ‘Evil’ or ‘darkness’, and d...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Vanessa James-brooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-and-read

I will be straight up honest... I thought the first 22 chapters dragged on for ever. When the book picked up I could not put it down! This story is about a 12 year old girl who grew up with no mom and dad , passed through the system Foster home to foster home, and had a gift or curse you could call it. Jaimie can sense EVIL demons inside people. Jaimie has someone out to get her hunting her so Dr. Mackenzie takes Jaimie and protects her from these demons, and she trust her teacher poor Mr Grey h...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Renn Shearin rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer is a wonderful thriller pitting good vs. evil. In this novel Jaimie Piper is always running. Always fleeing. Jaimie is a twelve year old orphan, shuttled from foster home to foster home, from school to school. She is labeled a challenged child with serious issues. But all Jaimie Piper has is a gift. She has the ability to sense evil and darkness, and she feels that the darkness is getting closer and closer to her. In desperation she turns to her teacher, Crocke...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just finished reading The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer. I have to make a disclaimer--I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The book started out a little slowly for my taste--I had trouble getting into it. But about a quarter of the way into it, I realized I couldn't put it down! The story picks up the pace and moves very quickly, twisting and turning until literally the last page.

The story concerns a young girl Jaime who insists she can "se...more I just finished reading The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer. I have to make a disclaimer--I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The book started out a little slowly for my taste--I had trouble getting into it. But about a quarter of the way into it, I realized I couldn't put it down! The story picks up the pace and moves very quickly, twisting and turning until literally the last page.

The story concerns a young girl Jaime who insists she can "see" Evil when she removes her special bracelet. She's in foster care due to the death of her parents years earlier. But on the night the story begins, she turns to her teacher Crockett Grey for help. Crockett has his own issues to deal with and was intent on spending the night drowning his own memories of his recently deceased daughter. When Jaime knocks at his window, he first thinks of his daughter Ashley but realizes it's Jaime. He enlists the help of his next door neighbor Nanna, who insists they take the girl back to her foster parents. They arrive to find the home engulfed in flames. Crockett tries to ask for help from the police but afraid for Jaime's safety the adults take her back and she spends the night at Nanna's house. The next day things begin to fall apart for Crockett. Accusations of inappropriate behavior with a young girl, especially given that she is his student, follow. The police search his house only to find a hard drive of child porn in the attic. He is arrested and his life suddenly spins out of control.

Rather than giving in and accepting his fate, Crockett begins to try to unravel the mysteries surrounding Jaime. Why is she seeing a child psychologist who is researching Jamie's DNA? Why is Nanna suddenly missing from her home next door? Who's paying the high priced lawyer who came from out of nowhere to defend Crockett? The trail leads him all the way to the highest levels of the Catholic church in Rome where a scandal of unbelievable proportions is threatening to explode and expose all manner of Evil.

The book, reminiscent of Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, puts forth realistic explanations of many of the recent scandals within the Catholic Church. After a slow start, the twists and turns of the plot keep the reader guessing until the very end.
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Apr 23, 2011 Digna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

A masterpiece, Sigmund uses truth and fiction to expose disturbing mind probing realities of dark corruption concealed deep within the veils of our current dimension.

Sigmund is one of those authors everyone longs to be. He weaves fiction with fact in a tale that will keep you in a trance. As I read this book I began to look at my own life and what I have been taught and brought up to believe as a Roman Catholic. Being sensitive I could relate to Jaimie in many ways throughout this novel since I...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

After reading the Prologue of The Canary List I found myself disinterested. This was a book I was throughly looking forward to, however, it did not seem as awesome as I thought it would be. Around Chapter 4 I realized that although I was still skeptical I could not stop reading. This book has sucked me in, big time! Around Chapter 13 I kept wondering.. how many more plots will be added to this story? And why isn't it annoying me instead of drawing me in? The answer is simple. This was a very wel...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Alison Fees rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't normally read Christian novels but the cover and the synopsis of this book caught my attention. I'm glad I picked this book to read. I enjoyed the plot and the twists and turns it took along the way. I found the characters easy to relate to and understand. I truly felt for Crockett throughout the story due to his overwhelming loss in his life. I could feel his emotions come through in the way the story was written and loved his way of thinking things through.

There was plenty of mystery...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

I almost stopped reading this book after the first couple of chapters. I have a hard time with books that are too serious about supernatural elements being normal and everywhere in real life (I guess I'm unimaginative), and it bothers me when the bad guys in a Christian fiction novel are Satanists (it seems too easy and obvious to pick out the bad guys that way). So right away those two pet peeves of mine were poked at with this book. But I gave the book another shot, and as adults and professio...more I almost stopped reading this book after the first couple of chapters. I have a hard time with books that are too serious about supernatural elements being normal and everywhere in real life (I guess I'm unimaginative), and it bothers me when the bad guys in a Christian fiction novel are Satanists (it seems too easy and obvious to pick out the bad guys that way). So right away those two pet peeves of mine were poked at with this book. But I gave the book another shot, and as adults and professionals in the story began providing alternate points of view and explanations for the events, it became much easier to swallow. The fact that the reader has options on how to interpret the happenings in the story helped me to enjoy it more. It keeps you wondering rather than being told what to think.

At times I felt like some of the events in the book were a bit too coincidental and I had a hard time accepting the reasons why the people after Jamie and the people trying to protect her took such drastic measures against Crockett Gray when they thought she had told him too much about her secret. They went too far for something that could probably have been brushed off fairly easily if he did know too much--who would really believe his wild story? He didn't even believe it once he learned Jamie's secret.

The characters were interesting and unique. I did become very curious about what caused Jamie's "gift" and found the explanation plausible. Crockett was a sympathetic character and I felt bad for him every time the relationship with his son was threatened. I kind of hated the way that he was framed - he was a teacher and there's nothing more damaging than accusations of child abuse and pornography. That whole aspect of the story left me feeling icky. The other characters connected to Jamie - her therapist and the Catholic priest involved in exorcisms - were interestingly hard to pin down. For a long time I wasn't sure whether they were trustworthy or not.

Even though this book wasn't perfect for me, by the end I thought it had become rather thought-provoking and once I finally got into the storyline (it took me a while) it did get quite suspenseful. There turns out to be a big secret within the Catholic Church in this novel, and the way it unfolded Jamie's connection to it, once the characters got to Rome, reminded me of Dan Brown. I wouldn't recommend this book to just anyone - it is better for those who can accept the fictional possibility of there being widespread demon possessions in the world and Satanism practiced by people in leadership roles in the Catholic Church. I had a hard time deciding if I should take the book seriously or not (turns out this book is speculative fiction), but in the end I ended up glad that I gave the book another try.(less)

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Mar 24, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Crockett Grey just wants to spend the anniversary of his daughter's death alone, but when his troubled student, 12 year old Jaime Piper, shows up at his home, afraid and needing protection, he soon finds himself entangled in a web of bizarre events.

Crockett must find out the secrets of Jaime's past and of her strange gifts in order to help her, and to get his life back. But he soon finds himself involved in a dark conspiracy which reaches all the way to the Vatican.

This book was a page-turner t...more

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