So many lingering questions in this series were answered in this action-packed volume - who Jeremiah is, what his exact role was, his family situation, and even his real name.
This was perhaps the most violent book in the series yet, some of it unnecessary. Some of the use of violence was only considered in a pragmatic light. "The end justifies the means" sort of logic. There was no consideration of whether the quality of the means was worthwhile or whether it was what God would have wanted.
There was, indeed, the murder of an unarmed, defenseless person in addition to the many armed battles.
Considering his line of work, I doubt that Jeremiah's last arrangement would have been chosen or worked.
This was the first book where the differences in Jeremiah's and Cindy's faith was taken seriously and with any depth. But it was never asked of God whether they should continue their relationship, but asked as, since they continue their relationship, how should they approach it?
In other words, they were unwilling to discontinue the relationship if God had said, 'no.' Their only considerations in discontinuing the relationship were based on 1) safety, and 2) what the other person wanted. The fact that they didn't even ask God makes it feel like idolatry to me, that they were placing the other person above God.
Speaking of safety, though, it felt unrealistic to me that Jeremiah would've brought Cindy along, even after the threat that she made. He should have said, "If you hope for my survival, you will not come."
It was chilling to me that after all that necessity for secrecy, Mark ended up telling a family member of a deceased person about the important role a death had played. I wondered if he had been endangering others in the telling, although I do understand the desire to give peace and closure.
I am glad to know "the rest of the story," but there are a lot of dark elements in this one.
Almost all the other reviewers had more positive reviews than mine, and for all of them, the reason they gave was the excitement. But I want a story that means something and that has more depth than just excitement. This book delivered more on that score than most of the rest of the series, and normally, that would raise it to a 4-stars for me. (A 5-star book is one I'd reread, which almost never happens with a mystery once I know whodunit.) However, I felt I had to deduct a point for the pragmatic and gratuitous violence, and for its darker themes.
The sole reviewer who spoke negatively about the book did so because it was "preachy." I think I have a different definition of preachy. Jeremiah and Cindy merely explained their points of view, and did it well, without pushing their ideas or maintaining that everyone should do or feel likewise. To me, that's not being preachy, that's explaining a position or baring their hearts, so to speak. They didn't even agree with each other and they were OK with that.
But then, I don't mind books being truly preachy, if they are challenging me towards the best. I just don't feel like this book fits in that category.