The Priest's Graveyard

Jun 09, 2011 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: underlying-message, thriller

This theme is rather exceptional.

Father Danny Hansen is a most unusual priest who does the most unusual things in his spare time, because of his horrible past. He rids the world of evil, but only those proven guilty. If the badguy turns down his offered choice of repentance he judges him and uses the kind of punishment he finds appropriate - most likely the worst. For every life he takes, he saves a wife, children or involuntary prostitutes. When punishing the guilty for their sins, Danny does i...more

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May 04, 2011 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads-giveaway-books

Reading this book is like being locked in the trunk of a speeding car and trying to figure out where you’re going by tracking the twists and turns the journey takes. Chances are once the car stops and you’re tossed out, you’re nowhere near where you thought you were going. It’s a great book if you’re an insomniac because you’re not going to want to put it down until that trunk finally opens.

From the title, one might think this is a horror novel; it’s not. It does contain some horrific (in some c...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Aaron Maurer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I started to read this book because it is the June book for the Virtual Book Club on Facebook. I read the first two chapters to be ready for the first night of discussions, but soon after the meeting I realized I just had to read the rest of the book. So I took that night and the next day to finish it. I could not put it down.

I will have to back up and state that I typically read and review YA novels. This is not YA by any means. However, it is a great book. I was completely sucked into this wor...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm so excited. Dekker is one of my "old faithfuls", an author I know won't be disappointing 99% of the time. I preordered this months ago because it sounded so good. Anyone that knows me knows I HATE waiting for anything, so that's a big deal.

ETA: Okay, so I devoured this book. The pace and tension are excellent. Now and then I paused, unable to suspend disbelief quite as much as Dekker required for some bits, but the action kept me moving forward, and able to let those parts go.

The only major...more I'm so excited. Dekker is one of my "old faithfuls", an author I know won't be disappointing 99% of the time. I preordered this months ago because it sounded so good. Anyone that knows me knows I HATE waiting for anything, so that's a big deal.

ETA: Okay, so I devoured this book. The pace and tension are excellent. Now and then I paused, unable to suspend disbelief quite as much as Dekker required for some bits, but the action kept me moving forward, and able to let those parts go.

The only major problem I have with this book is that the characterization felt weak. I felt that Renee tended to slip completely out of character now and then, beyond what would be acceptable for someone with her obvious issues. Some of her dialogue and actions just felt so off the wall that it was hard to relate to her and hard to like her. Actually, her character annoyed me. There. I said it. This is probably the biggest reason I wouldn't give this novel 5 stars. Yes, she annoyed me that much. Every time I read her name, I made up a different name in my head just so we'd have nothing in common. Yes, sometimes I'm a child.

Danny felt very similar to the protagonists in Thr3e and Bride Collector. While he had obvious differences, as a reader, I felt as though I'd followed this character before. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. All writers put a bit of ourselves into our characters, primarily the protagonists. I think that these particular characters reflect some of Dekker's stronger traits. Danny didn't annoy me. I liked him.

Plot? I can't help but admire Dekker's ability to weave a plot that seems so basic and yet, at the end so very layered. The ending is not what I expected. For me, personally, I found it kind of weak, but that's a personal thing and doesn't reflect the actual goodness or badness of the ending at all. I guess with all of that action, I expected...more?

Do I recommend it? Yes, very much so. The Priest's Graveyard is an entertaining, fast paced read that I guarantee will surprise you at least once in your journey.(less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Cheryl Olson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

To be honest, It's probably not really a wise thing for me to write this review, because I am unequivocably a "Dekkie"- translation- huge Ted Dekker fan right here. Ted is an author that never seems to tire of taking risks in his writing and I never tire of reading his books. "The Priest's Graveyard" is no exception. From page one I entered into "Ted Dekker land" a wonderful place where I become completely riveted to his story and don't want to quit reading until it is through.

This is a tale fu...more To be honest, It's probably not really a wise thing for me to write this review, because I am unequivocably a "Dekkie"- translation- huge Ted Dekker fan right here. Ted is an author that never seems to tire of taking risks in his writing and I never tire of reading his books. "The Priest's Graveyard" is no exception. From page one I entered into "Ted Dekker land" a wonderful place where I become completely riveted to his story and don't want to quit reading until it is through.

This is a tale full of heartbreak, grief, and intense love. Danny Hansen is a man who has lived through horrific events at the hands of the Orthodox Christians in Bosnia. Leaving his past behind, he comes to America for a fresh start and at that time becomes a priest. With that fresh start our priest finds it necessary to mete out justice to the truly vile creatures of the world who have escaped true justice and Danny makes sure they received some of his own. He is a vigilante of sorts who proclaims judgment on those members of society that need it. Enter Renee Gilmore- a young beautiful girl with a past of her own- a former drug addict and down on her luck sort of girl. She finds her path crosses with Danny because they are both tracking the same man. Renee seeks to destroy this man because she believes he killed her former husband and Danny also seeks him because he believes him to be a vile member of society who needs justice to be served. They team up, and the story just heats up from there.

In true Ted Dekker fashion- there is a twist (or two) and at times your holding onto your seat for dear life. It is amazing how completely enthralled one becomes with these characters. Judgement, moral reasoning and ultimately how love and grace factor into all of it are all brought together in an amazing way. I raced through this book quickly as I really needed to know how it turned out. Yes there are some edgy parts to this book for sure, so be prepared, but it was really a wonderful read. Compelling, riveting and as always thought provoking. Once again Ted- Bravo!(less)
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Apr 28, 2011 Candy rated it 4 of 5 stars

My favorite books by Ted Dekker are Blink, Three, Adam, The Bride Collector, and Immanuel’s Veins. I am a huge fan of his. All of these books gripped me from the first word and did not let go, making me feel like I was living rather than reading the story. Sadly, The Priest’s Graveyard was not like those books. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the book and it made some very good points and for that I gave it four stars. So I will first list the things I liked about the book. The main theme was “Ju...more My favorite books by Ted Dekker are Blink, Three, Adam, The Bride Collector, and Immanuel’s Veins. I am a huge fan of his. All of these books gripped me from the first word and did not let go, making me feel like I was living rather than reading the story. Sadly, The Priest’s Graveyard was not like those books. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the book and it made some very good points and for that I gave it four stars. So I will first list the things I liked about the book. The main theme was “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Overall, the story was about the Law and how it was impossible to live up to those expectations of perfection, and so Grace was implemented so we could escape punishment for not being perfect. We are taught that yes, the world is indeed flawed and in need of cleaning up, but not one of us by judging another can fix anything because we are no better than anyone else. I loved this part of the story. I could understand how Danny thought and why he felt the way he did, and I felt myself agreeing with him and rooting for him many times even though I knew his actions were wrong. The story is told from the perspective of two different people, and I like the way you get each person’s thoughts and feelings about the same situation, which at times are totally different. The ending was beautiful, which I won’t give away here, but will only say that Danny did come to his senses in a wonderful way.

So perhaps it will seem that I am judging when I say what I didn’t like about this book! I just sometimes felt like Ted was distracted while writing the book. For one thing there were several inconsistencies that I just couldn’t get past, which I found odd for such a talented author as Ted, who is usually a perfectionist about his writing. One of the main characters mentions a cover up and that is never fully explained. In another part, the same main character takes a cab to a residence to perform her own brand of justice, and when it is over she says she drove back home. Yet another time it is told that the second main character killed the three men who killed his family the same day they killed them but farther into the book it says he killed them a year after they killed his family. Maybe I am being too picky but these things just bother me. Early on in the book I began to notice the story just wasn’t taking hold of me the way most of Ted’s books do, and I felt like that was because he was writing from a woman’s perspective and perhaps was trying to be softer. While I was reading Danny’s parts, I would start to feel like the story was picking up momentum, only to be slowed down again when it was Renee’s turn. There were many times I wanted to slap Renee because she was such an idiot, and I found myself hoping someone would catch her or take her out! She was portrayed as very co-dependent and I felt that Danny, for all his faults, deserved better. So I did like the book, but if I were trying to introduce the author to someone who had never read his work, I would pick one of the books I listed at the beginning rather than this one.(less)

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Lynette Barfield You are much kinder in your review than me. I was really disappointed because I have come to expect so much from him. The color trilogy was riveting f...more
May 21, 2011 09:35pm

Candy Lynette wrote: "You are much kinder in your review than me. I was really disappointed because I have come to expect so much from him. The color trilog...more
May 22, 2011 07:10am

Lynette Barfield I definitely agree with you about Renee being idiotic. I felt as if he just kept on and on with her to make the book long enough. I listened to the au...more
May 23, 2011 02:41am

Feb 03, 2013 Mojoboy31 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not Ted's best book. Entertaining, and suspenseful, and thought provoking. The last quarter of the book forces you to keep reading, like most all Dekker novels, but the ending just wasn't quite there if that makes sense. All in all, it was a good read, but not a great one, which is a real shame, given the genius, and potential of the premise.

This book is dark, and really quite graphic, so prepare yourself for some stomach churning scenes. This book does bring the suspense, but it isn't the kind...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Janny rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-can-t-believe-i-read-this-thing, thriller, snooze-fest

The book takes ages to get going, and even then it's just so damn boring. Despite all the reviews claiming to watch out for the violence/gore I found myself at page 80 before anything remotely interesting started happening. And yes, there is that scene with the tongue cutting at the beginning, but eh. It felt like the scene was just thrown in there in an attempt to try and wake up the reader. The pacing is slow and there are too many details thrown into the mix that I think no one would give a d...more The book takes ages to get going, and even then it's just so damn boring. Despite all the reviews claiming to watch out for the violence/gore I found myself at page 80 before anything remotely interesting started happening. And yes, there is that scene with the tongue cutting at the beginning, but eh. It felt like the scene was just thrown in there in an attempt to try and wake up the reader. The pacing is slow and there are too many details thrown into the mix that I think no one would give a damn about. Like what Renee had for dinner and what she was dressed for said dinner. How is that relevant?

Anyway, onto the characters. Danny's a priest who kills people. Yep. That's all you need to know right there to form an opinion of the protagonist we're supposed to identify with. Now I'm not a religions person in the least, quite the contrary, but let's face it. If you're a priest who murders others you've pretty much lost credibility in anyone's eyes. Especially when he uses the information he obtained from other people during confessional.Confessional. That's supposed to be private. It's like if a doctor would go out to catch this guy who gave a woman some horrible disease. Way to reopen up a wound, not to mention butting in when it's not your place. And another thing that annoyed me was Danny's walking around, pretending to be doing God's work. Which, by the by, you can't say you do unless you personally have a chat with the big guy upstairs. Doing what you think is right doesn't make you a messenger of God, it just makes you human. Just like everybody else.

Renee I almost don't even want to get into. She's a sorry excuse of a female character. So she falls on a bad road and starts shooting up heroin and lets herself get slapped around by some other character. Okay, sure, that happens, and it's not the part that bugged me. It's that I kept waiting for the part where she ditches her past to become a better person. And I kept waiting, and waiting. But Renee did nothing. She just got (literally) picked up by a rich and handsome guy who did everything for her to the point that she didn't even need to leave the house. Renee doesn't get a job and doesn't try and become a stronger woman. She lives in a mansion on the beach where she becomes a trophy wife that becomes obsessed with being as clean as she can for her husband (which includes throwing up after eating). Wonderful character to aspire to right there. [/sarcasm]

Now, I know that she eventually leaves the house and tries to stop being such a pathetic creature, but that only happens after her husband is taken out of the picture. Without this happening, Renee wouldn't have changed at all. She had no intention of changing. And even after she decides to take matters into her own hands she just ends up screwing it up, getting captured, and getting saved by yet another man she falls for. And then Renee proceeds to be wowed by everything Danny does and follows pretty much everything he says, like an excitable little lap dog. So it seems like the message here is that a woman can't do much without a strong man to look after her and point her in the right direction. Yeesh. I really hope not all Christian fiction books are like this, because it's just pathetic. Like how one of the few times Renee takes initiative (besides killing someone she shouldn't have or going to places she shouldn't have) is when she basically tells Danny to quit being a priest so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about fooling around. Again, what a fantastic character to aspire to.

So the blurb promises intense action and philosophical debates, but what I ended up reading was the adventures of a hypocritical priest and a bumbling idiot. Sounds more like the tagline of a bad comedy, if you ask me.(less)

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Jul 17, 2012 Joshua Rollins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Danny Hansen is a priest with a past... After wintessing the death of his family Danny decides he is now the law, and he will do whatever it takes to clense the world of lawbreakers, even if it means killing them. Renee Gilmore is a young girl who has made some bad choices and ends up a drug addict, fleeing the grasp of her drug suplier and abuser while on a high she is almost killed. Lamont Myers comes to Renee's rescue and saves her from death, bringing her to his home, but Lamont is a man of...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Sharon Salonen rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the first Ted Dekker book I've read and it didn't appeal to me as much as I'd hoped. I liked the idea of a priest seeking vengeance on the evil people of the world, and if we'd had more of Father Danny Hanson's exploits in the book I think I may have enjoyed it more. The trouble I had was with the character of Renee Gilmore. For all that she had been through (basically orphaned, addicted to drugs, treated badly by some shady men, etc.) I should have felt compassion and been on her side,...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book by Ted Dekker and I didn't know what I was missing. It is an intense, captivating, thrill ride from the start. Completely original, hard to put down tale of a girl who can be considered a lost soul and a priest focused on revenge so something that happened a long time ago.

The first person you meet in Renee. Renee is a girl who moved to California while young with high hopes and dreams. Unfortunately she got caught up in the world of drugs instead. She is rescued one night...more This is the first book by Ted Dekker and I didn't know what I was missing. It is an intense, captivating, thrill ride from the start. Completely original, hard to put down tale of a girl who can be considered a lost soul and a priest focused on revenge so something that happened a long time ago.

The first person you meet in Renee. Renee is a girl who moved to California while young with high hopes and dreams. Unfortunately she got caught up in the world of drugs instead. She is rescued one night by a mysterious man, Lamont Myers, who can only be credited with saving her life. Lamont from what we learn is an eccentric individual who lives in Malibu. He gives Renee a home and provides a place where she can be safe.

We also meet Danny Hansen. Danny is originally from Bosnia, where he watched his mother and siblings killed in his own home during the way. He was able to avenge their deaths and learn more about those involved in that religious war before he left for America to try and recover. He ends up a priest in California who has some unusual side projects. He has become, in his mind, an avenging angel to others.

Their stories come together when Lamont goes missing and Renee finds her way out of his house after living there for a year. She is going after his partner Jonathan Bourque who she believes knows something of his disappearance. Danny is looking into Bourque as well for vastly other reasons. Their paths cross one night and they end up working together, with Danny teaching Renee much he has learned about revenge.

Both characters are immensely complex. But not hard to follow. Their stories unfold as time goes on and its easy to keep up.

The theme of judgment is highly focused on. Where is the line crossed about judging others. How far can you go before you are as wrong as they are?

This book was a complete page turner from the beginning, kept moving at a great pace and you couldn't wait to find out what happened next. All the way to the thrilling conclusion where you follow the characters to see what they learn after their life changing journey's. If you are looking for a great suspense novel, pick this one up right away. (less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Steve Curll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bad Pizza is still good food! In the same way, a sub standard Dekker book is still a pretty good book! This book was more pointless than any Dekker Book. Two misguided individuals, each trying to resolve their hurts by murdering "sinners" fall in love. Much violence without a point. SUre this priest and his lover are depraved, we get that. Sure, she was abused. After that, what was the point? No satisfactory resolution in the end. Still worth reading, slightly better than most Grisham or Creight...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Joan Swan rated it 5 of 5 stars

The premise of The Priest's Graveyard hooked me—a slight shift from the Dexter premise of serial killer killing serial killer. In this case the plot revolves around a violently terrorized victim killing perpetrators much like his own. That plot idea and execution held me through the first 1/3-1/2 of the book. That’s about when I began to realize that who I was rooting for and the reasons I was still reading the book had changed. The only part of the plot line that mattered to me at this point wa...more The premise of The Priest's Graveyard hooked me—a slight shift from the Dexter premise of serial killer killing serial killer. In this case the plot revolves around a violently terrorized victim killing perpetrators much like his own. That plot idea and execution held me through the first 1/3-1/2 of the book. That’s about when I began to realize that who I was rooting for and the reasons I was still reading the book had changed. The only part of the plot line that mattered to me at this point was how it would ultimately affect the two main protagonists. I was compelled to keep reading because I had to know how the characters fared in the end.

------------------- A WRITER'S REVIEW -----------------------

Blurb:
Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man. Soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.

Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.

Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.

But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.

Judge not, or you too will be judged.

One of the techniques Dekker uses that I found fascinating was how he shifted between first person pov and what I’m calling intimate first person pov. I never knew there was a difference, but it stands to reason if there is a third person pov and a deep third person pov, that concept would be the same for first person. But this is the first time I’d ever seen it used…or maybe used in a way that worked for me.

There are a few ways I think Dekker makes this technique stand out. First, even though both protagonists, Danny and Renee, are written in first person pov, their voices are very unique to their characters, so you get a sense of them as individuals. Second, with Renee, Dekker uses both first person techniques, regular and intimate, which in my opinion, makes the use of the intimate first person that much stronger when applied.

In retrospect, I think it was my attachment to Renee and that intimacy I developed through his use of the unusual first person technique that kept me reading when the plot became convoluted—a techniques that forces the reader to focus more on the characters. Although I have no idea whether Dekker planned it that way, when the strong plot of revenge killing dilutes and focuses on one man, the characters seem to grow deeper and more complex, which is when my attention shifted and my reason for continuing with the story changed.

First, let me give you an example, in Renee’s pov of what I consider first person pov. This is the pattern of first person I’ve seen most often.

I walked up to the cement landing and stopped in front of the door. A clay pot with a leafy green plant sat to one side. The doorbell button glowed orange, and I wondered if I should push it or just knock. It was early afternoon and I had no idea if the priest was even home. I reached up and pushed the button.

I had already decided that if the priest wasn’t home I would simply wait, but standing there alone on the porch, I felt completely exposed. Maybe it would be better if I waited in the back, where neighbors peering through their windows would be less likely to notice me.

Now, here is an intimate first person pov.

The moment I opened the door to my suite, I knew that something was wrong. I saw it clearly right there: The carpet had been stepped on.

Now I saw proof-positive evidence that my enemy had entered my room and was waiting in the bedroom to kill me. The thought almost made me drop the bag of hygiene products I’d purchased.

Instead, I tightened my grip on the plastic bag and stood perfectly still, studying those prints on my carpet. Maybe I’d walked on it before leaving. Of course that had to be it.

The prints were fairly large, however. Much larger than mine. A man’s prints, I thought, and if I hadn’t been so freaked out I might have flet some satisfaction for that piece of detective work. But I was far too preoccupied with the possibility that someone was in my suite.

I almost ran back out the door. Down the hall, out into the street. But then what? While I ran down the street with nowhere to go, whoever was here would take all my files and money and maybe turn me over to the police. Or wait for me to come back so he could kill me then.

For all I knew, the person had already come and gone. Or maybe the manager had come in tot set a breaker or something. With the door open behind me I had an advantage, right?

The second passage is clearly a deeper internal, almost like we’re inside her head, listening to her talk to herself. She’s tossing around ideas, considering options. Normally, I’m not a fan of questions in narrative. I find them leading and I don’t believe readers need to be lead, but these questions feel different to me.

Here are a few more passages. As they build upon one another, I became so intimately “as one” with Renee, I was completely invested in her well-being and the outcome of the story for her.

I weighed a dozen possible scenarios, some taken directly from my many books that detailed crimes of passion and murder. Instead of running, as the intruder would likely expect, I should play it smart and call his bluff. I could hide myself and wait for him to leave.

The thought of going in while someone with a gun or a machete was luring in my bedroom make my pulse peak, but I had read so many accounts of people doing stupid things in the heat of the moment, things that could have been avoided with a little thought. Like bolting.

The drapes (which I detested because they were green, heavy, and hard to clean) hung next to the sliding glass door, which led out to a tiny balcony. If I could get to them undetected, I would be able to hide in the corner where they were bunched. I was thin enough, and the drapes hung all the way to the floor, so my feet wouldn’t stick out.

But I would leave my own marks on the carpet. The intruder might see the tracks, follow them to the drapes, and stab his machete through the material.

Unless I went over the couch.

This is that moment in the movies when the audience on the couch yells, “Don’t stay, you idiot!” Yet, how many times have we all heard a noise in our own home only to go investigate the source? How many times have similar considerations drifted through our minds as we treaded down the stairs to the living room or basement only to find the cat tipped over a vase?

I find this technique of going through her thought process both entertaining and intimate.

My eyes remained on the doghouse, because that was the deal: What if I was to bury the body under the doghouse?

Assuming I could move the wooden structure, which looked pretty heavy. Assuming I could dig a hole large enough to fit a body. Assuming I could cover it up properly and drag the house back over the disturbed earth.

There were no tree roots to make digging impossible, which would probably be the case out in the greenbelt. No wild animals to dig up the body. Even if the house was eventually sold and the doghouse tossed, no one would know there was a body buried there. Even if they did eventually find the body after years of rain washed away the dirt or something, they would only assume Darby Gordon had been knocked off by some nasty criminal, he being one himself.

I feel as if she’s taking us on the journey with her. Discussing the situation with us, the way she’d discuss it with a friend if she had an accomplice.

*****

This was the third day after I had broken into the Gordon house in San Pedro and killed the monster who’d preyed on his wife and children. Which each passing day, my craving to get on with it, to deal with Bourque, grew.

I know I’ve said this before, but I really felt like I had in the old days of my addiction to heroin, only in the best of ways. The fix is good, but after a few days I was dying for another one.

Not that I was dying to kill. Please, no, that wasn’t it at all. If I had felt that way, I might have been concerned for myself. Danny talked about how important it was to avoid becoming pathological, like a pathological liar or serial killer who can’t control his need to lie or kill.

Not at all. If anything, Danny and I were the exact opposite, carefully controlling our need to do what was right for the sake of others, not ourselves.

Still, I was feeling more eager to get back to Bourque as the hours ticked by. It’s what I now did, right? I was this new creature, and I needed to act like it.

This feels as if Renee has turned to the reader and started talking to them as a friend. It takes the intimacy from the ethereal sense of being in her mind to the solid sense of physically being with her.

It took me a lot of thought and analysis to figure out what it was about this book that kept me so enthralled and remains with me to this day, now a month after I read it. The intimacy with which Dekker applies first person in Renee’s voice is only one element. The Priest’s Graveyard is a learning experience on many levels and well worth the time and financial investment.
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Jun 08, 2011 Michael Jones rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm pretty sure I've read almost everything Ted Dekker has written. He is a master of fast-paced, intricate plot, and particularly in the years since he started The Circle Trilogy, he has become a master at weaving in elements of Theology as well. This book contains both, but as with most of his books, you have to look an inch or two below the surface to see the Theology, and if you miss it, you're none the worse off, because it's a gripping story as well.

The plot is about a priest who cleanses...more I'm pretty sure I've read almost everything Ted Dekker has written. He is a master of fast-paced, intricate plot, and particularly in the years since he started The Circle Trilogy, he has become a master at weaving in elements of Theology as well. This book contains both, but as with most of his books, you have to look an inch or two below the surface to see the Theology, and if you miss it, you're none the worse off, because it's a gripping story as well.

The plot is about a priest who cleanses the world of injustice by locating monstrous sinners (people who physically abuse others for their own gain, mostly) and (usually) killing them. It is also about a young woman who is saved from a dangerous situation on the streets by an obsessive-compulsive man who locks her in his squeaky-clean house and nurses her back to health. She falls in love with him and they are married, but one day he mysteriously disappears, and she not only has to find a way out of the house, but she also has to escape those who would kill her too. The lives of the woman and the priest soon intertwine, because the man the priest is investigating may also be the man who had the woman's husband killed.

I have to say, I didn't like this book as much as some of Dekker's other books (Immanuel's Veins is a real favorite, for example) for two reasons: because all of the main characters live in a morally ambiguous state for the whole book, all the way to the final dozen pages or so, and because the violence at some points is a little bit graphic for my comfort. The moral ambiguity is the primary theme of the book, so of course it is necessary, and if you read all the way to the end you discover that the morality of the characters is not as ambiguous as it seems, but their arguments to justify their actions are so convincing that you almost find them on their side... and it's not a side you want to be on in real life! The violence is part of the story as well, and it contributes to the overall plot. But that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. :)

One thing that Dekker's books always seem to do is bring me almost to tears when I reach the point of redemption at the end. This one was no different; when the truth of the situation finally becomes clear to the characters, the catharsis is amazing. And I have to admit... I'm going to "miss" the characters now that I'm done with the book, and that's always a sign that they are well-fleshed-out and fell real the reader. If you love thrillers, you'll love this one, particularly if the idea of a bullet through the head or the sound of a breaking bone don't make you squeamish. But if reading the details of a killing, even one that is justifiable, bother you - this is not the Dekker book for you. This is not some pansy, beating around the bush Christian fiction; this is full-on no-holds-barred crime/mystery stuff. If you're looking for the former, you're likely to be offended or even horrified; if you're looking for the latter, read on! You'll get the ride you paid for, and more!(less)

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May 02, 2011 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ted Dekker has done it again! He has taken two characters from very different walks of life and brought them together in a tale that is fast-paced and exciting. Somehow he is able to delve into the deepest, darkest depths of the human psyche. So much, in fact, that everything Danny and Renee struggle with hits home. He draws the reader in so intensely that you feel as though you are them. From a vigilante priest to a washed up drug addict with no memory of her past and gilded memories of the man...more

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May 01, 2011 Tom Farr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Can one man taking the law into his own hands to rid the world of the vilest offenders truly make a difference in the world? If we who try to live good moral lives judge those who don’t, will the world be a better place? Those are the questions Ted Dekker tackles in his latest novel “The Priest’s Graveyard.”

The story centers around a priest whose conscience is stricken whenever he sees anyone causing the horrible suffering of someone else and not having to pay for it. Danny Hansen is the priest...more Can one man taking the law into his own hands to rid the world of the vilest offenders truly make a difference in the world? If we who try to live good moral lives judge those who don’t, will the world be a better place? Those are the questions Ted Dekker tackles in his latest novel “The Priest’s Graveyard.”

The story centers around a priest whose conscience is stricken whenever he sees anyone causing the horrible suffering of someone else and not having to pay for it. Danny Hansen is the priest, and he believes that the most moral thing he can do is to end the lives of those who live to cause pain and avoid justice. He’s been doing this a long time, and he does it well. Hardly anyone would question that Danny’s victims would deserve to die if justly tried by a court of law. But where the law fails, Danny steps in to save the day, believing the world is a better place because of it.

Danny’s world is complicated, however, when a young woman named Renee Gilmore becomes obsessed with taking the life of the man who killed her husband. Their paths cross, and Renee convinces Danny to train her to become an expert vigilante just like him. As their lives become interwoven by the desire to see the guilty punished, the line that separates them from the “bad guys” becomes blurred.

Dekker has crafted a story that explores the depths of human depravity. The question switches from “who is guilty?’ to “who is innocent?” While Danny and Renee see what’s wrong with the world outside of them, the beauty of the story comes when they begin to look on the inside, which ultimately leads to the desperate need for someone on the outside who knows no sin and can rescue the guilty from the real enemy that lies inside of themselves.

Dekker creates fascinating characters that are easy to identify with. We share their struggles and understand their need for something beyond themselves to give them hope in the midst of impossible circumstances. Dekker’s story, though gritty, is a story of hope in the midst of darkness. Who is innocent? None of us are.
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Apr 30, 2011 Domrie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There will never be another novel that will make you question your ethical identity in the world. A collar toting priest is not a book character that you would normally find empathy for, but with the genius stroke of the pen of Ted Dekker in “The Priest’s Graveyard”, that is exactly where you will find yourself. When the filth and scum of humanity feeds off the innocent, Justice is our liberating breath. But when that very Justice is mocked by the guilty who are set free, one man decides not to...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Jasha Shay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I do not say that lightly. It twists all of the normal ideas of right and wrong, of hero and villain. It’s one of those books that haunts you long after you close the back cover. Dekker has outdone himself this time; yet again he’s created a story that will make you question your own mind and everything around you. It’s a novel that you almost physically cannot put down. Somehow, it will end up in your hands again. It’s a story of love, but not a...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I dove into The Priest’s Graveyard, I was plunged into a whirlpool of love, lies, and an unquenchable passion for justice. Unable to escape, I rushed toward the last pages and found myself enthralled by Ted Dekker’s latest masterpiece.

The characters are blinded by their convictions, and they dragged me right along with them. They are such simple characters, straight forward and single-minded, but at the same time, so incomprehensibly complicated (wow, there’s a tongue twister for you).

Renee i...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Escapism has reached its full potential! From the first word, I entered into another world and often forgot that I was just reading a book! Dekker has a skill at character formation that other authors must envy. It is not uncommon for a reader to be relate to his characters; however, Priest's Graveyard was exceptional! Rather than relating to them, I felt as if I BECAME the character (hence why I often forgot I was reading). This book was impossible to put down! It made me cry on one page and th...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Caligirl rated it 5 of 5 stars

It’s unusual to read a book in which the hero would ordinarily be considered a villain. Danny Hansen, a priest with a passion for justice, kidnaps those he judges to be the scum of the earth and kills them if they do not repent. When his mission intersects with that of Renee, a hurting young woman in search of revenge, they join forces to take down a smooth talking tycoon with blood on his hands. The final confrontation they come to is a twist worthy of the name on its cover.

Danny is a killer in...more It’s unusual to read a book in which the hero would ordinarily be considered a villain. Danny Hansen, a priest with a passion for justice, kidnaps those he judges to be the scum of the earth and kills them if they do not repent. When his mission intersects with that of Renee, a hurting young woman in search of revenge, they join forces to take down a smooth talking tycoon with blood on his hands. The final confrontation they come to is a twist worthy of the name on its cover.

Danny is a killer in the name of God, true enough, but he is also a kind man who treasures goodness and beauty. Spunky, determined Renee is very naïve in some ways and very experienced in others. Each with their own dark and complex past, they read as very authentic and well rounded, raw human beings simply doing what they must. Their chemistry is surprising, and still feels completely inevitable. Ted has a real knack for putting his characters in breathtakingly fantastic and/or horrific situations that reveal the core of their humanity, and The Priest’s Graveyard is no exception. The characters drive the story, which is absolutely as it should be.

The climax is packed with enough suspense and emotional oomph to rank it firmly among Ted’s finest works. This is an ending I definitely did not anticipate and felt a bit torn about, and yet I can’t imagine it ending properly any other way. In my experience, that’s always a mark of a truly fantastic story.

At the time of this writing, just nine days past the release, The Priest’s Graveyard has already hit #9 on the New York Times bestseller list, the quickest of any of Ted Dekker’s books to date. I read it over the course of one weekend and could hardly put it down. I’ve been anticipating this book for well over a year now, and I’m happy to say it lives up to the hype. This is no cheap thriller barreling through on blood and adrenaline; it’s an intensely gripping story containing both edgy suspense raw enough to make you tense every muscle, and reckless love strong enough to bring a lump to your throat. This story will leave you breathless and will haunt you with the question, “Who really has the right to judge another?”
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Apr 28, 2011 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Priest’s Graveyard is the newest story from New York Times bestselling author, Ted Dekker. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will keep you up at night, turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. There are surprises and twists and this story is definitely not predictable. The core of this story comes down to love, and what love is. A central theme is also that of judgment – judge not, lest you too be judged. Renee Gilmore, a her...more The Priest’s Graveyard is the newest story from New York Times bestselling author, Ted Dekker. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will keep you up at night, turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. There are surprises and twists and this story is definitely not predictable. The core of this story comes down to love, and what love is. A central theme is also that of judgment – judge not, lest you too be judged. Renee Gilmore, a heroin addict strung out on the streets, finds her world being turned around when she is rescued by Lamont Myers. Lamont keeps her in a glass house as his wife, and she is happy until her world is shattered one day. Intent on justice, Renee begins a dangerous hunt. Danny Hansen is a Catholic priest who witnessed a great deal of trauma when he was a young man living in Bosnia. He moved to America, hoping to begin a new life. What he found was that the world was in need of a judge – one man who could find the people in power who used the law for their own gain and take their fate into his hands. Danny has become that judge. When Renee and Danny’s paths cross, they embark on a dangerous endeavor that threatens both their lives. Neither of them will escape unscathed.
The mood of this story is different than Dekker’s other novels. This book was advertised as being about a vigilante priest, so one would assume this book would be as dark as BoneMan’s Daughters, Adam, or The Bride Collector. However, I felt this story was more centered around Renee, a fragile young woman full of naivete and innocence. Because of this, the story was lighter, heartwarming, and at times humourous. Don’t think that Dekker is going soft, though – there was enough thriller and adrenaline to keep me up until 3:30 in the morning to finish the book. Danny’s journey is more ragged and raw, giving the classic edge to the story that Dekker does so masterfully. Something else Dekker has an incredible talent for is presenting his characters’ emotions and feelings in a way that feels real. I could identify with Danny’s struggle and Renee’s pain because it was believable. Dekker gives so much personality and dimension to these characters they could walk off the page!
This story is a tale of rebirth, love, and judgment. It is raw and thrilling, while taking your emotions on a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs. From the first page, it is compelling and will keep you turning pages until you reach the last word on the final page. You might shed a few tears before the story is over. This is definitely one of Dekker’s finest works. If you’re already a Dekker fan, this is a must-have for your collection. If you’re new to Dekker, this is a great book to start your collection with – because once you read this one, you’ll want to read more. (less)

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Apr 22, 2011 Cheri Schueller rated it 5 of 5 stars

"The Priest's Graveyard" by Ted Dekker is an attention-grabbing, fast-paced story that immediately engages the reader with one of the main characters, priest Danny Hansen. Danny grows up in Bosnia, where he experiences first-hand the brutalities of the Serbs, who murder his mother and sisters. He personally avenges their deaths and vows to spend his life protecting the innocent, by whatever means it takes. Here enters into the story a recovering heroin addict named Renee. She is rescued from the...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Warning~~Graphic scenes.

A young Bosnian man, now under the alias of Father Danny Hansen, came to the U.S. to escape the haunting memories of his mother’s tragic death during the Bosnian War. He is outraged by the powerful manipulating the law for their own personal gain without regard to those whose lives are shattered in the wake of their lawlessness.

Street-wise Renee Gilmore becomes a victim of one of these powerful men. Once she has escaped from his powerful grip, she wants revenge and justic...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again, Dekker has written a completely riveting thriller. This time, the protagonist is a vigilante priest who begins his righting of wrongs in Bosnia after the brutal murders of his mother and sister. The reader understands his need for making the world a better place by taking out the murderers in the name of God. Except that it makes him a little more like the brutal soldiers in Bosnia who did what they did in the name of God, as well. That's just an observation by the reader.

Next we fin...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Kevin Price rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not my particular type of book, but I borrowed it from a friend who really enjoys Ted Dekker's books. So going into it with mixed feelings may have something to do with my mediocre feeling for the book, Priest's Graveyard.

The book wasn't bad, but there were some things that I just couldn't get over while reading it. The plot seemed shallow, and I felt like I was never truly surprised by anything that happened. Ted Dekker's foreshadowing was a little too much fore and a little too little...more

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May 28, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every time I finish a book by Ted Dekker I shake my head and say "WOW." And that's pretty much all I can say after the crazy ride I just went on. The Priest's Graveyard is intense and thrilling and challenging. It messes with your mind and you're not sure what's right and what's wrong. How far would you go, rather, how far should you go, to stop someone from hurting someone else? In the story, Danny believes it's his job to go as far as killing someone to save the people that person is hurting....more

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Apr 21, 2011 Tanya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2011, books-i-own, psycho-killers, favorite-author, paranormal-thriller

I really would have given this book 3 1/2 stars if I could. And that pains me to say because Ted Dekker is my favorite author. If this book were by any other author I feel I would've enjoyed it a little more. But I have such strong expectations for his books since they're all amazing that I felt a little let down by this one. Especially since some of the reviews of the ARCs said it was his best book yet. Sorry I think Adam, Bonemans Daughter & of course The Bride Collector (my fav) were all...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

“The Priest’s Graveyard” by Ted Dekker was not a book that I really enjoyed. I listened to it as an audiobook. I don’t know why it struck me as such a cold and disconnected storyline. I found that the unlikely savior in the role of a Roman Catholic Priest who was the survivor of a terrible childhood and had a personal commitment to rid the world of evil to be a stretch of my imagination. The ‘imprisonment’ in the glass house was too implausible for me.

The main character Renee Gilmore was a pros...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE EVERYONE EVERYONE

Recommended to Molly by: Sarah Reck, Hachette Book Group

Shelves: book-review

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Did I mention AWESOME?! That is exactly what I think of Ted Dekker's latest book, The Priest's Graveyard. It is a thrilling thriller by an absolutely FANTABULOUS author! Now, I haven't always thought that Ted Dekker's work was fabulous....in fact, the first book I ever read by him was Green. And, quite frankly, I hated it. But, if you know me and my blogging tastes, I ALWAYS give the author's works more than one chance, because, like the rest of us, sometimes they have...more Awesome, awesome, awesome! Did I mention AWESOME?! That is exactly what I think of Ted Dekker's latest book, The Priest's Graveyard. It is a thrilling thriller by an absolutely FANTABULOUS author! Now, I haven't always thought that Ted Dekker's work was fabulous....in fact, the first book I ever read by him was Green. And, quite frankly, I hated it. But, if you know me and my blogging tastes, I ALWAYS give the author's works more than one chance, because, like the rest of us, sometimes they have a flaw in their writing and something might not be quite right. So, I gave Dekker another shot with The Bride Collector....I was in love from page one! Then I toured his Immanuel's Veins book. WOW! Another HIT! Now, I'm touring his newest book and to me, it's his best piece of work YET! YAY!

The Priest's Graveyard is thrilling beyond thrills. This one had me on the edge of my seat and my heart continuously pounding. I felt an actual part of the story. Between Danny and Renee, both seeking out the same awful man, I had no idea which twist Dekker was going to through in next. That is the PERFECT thrilling novel. Now, I know you are wanting me to tell you a bit more about the plot line. But, I never giveaway spoilers, so I am stopping with what I have written. I will ramble on and on about all the fascinating aspects of this novel and give away the ending, for sure!

Aren't I such a meanie? Teasing ya'll like that? Well, let me tell you that this FANTABULOUSLY written novel by an equally fantastic author deserves so many more stars than simply 5. Can we try 5 billion?!?!?!?! That's what I think needs to be given to this un-put-downable, roller-coaster up and down, breathtaking suspense novel! I am in love with Dekker's thrillers and will continue to be on the look out for more like this one. And, if you happen to be new to Dekker's work, then PLEASE, DO NOT hesitate to pick up a copy, or even download a digital copy of this mind blowing novel! Well done, Dekker....looking forward to your next moving thriller! (less)

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