Book Review: The Canary List

• File Size: 538 KB
• Print Length: 322 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 21, 2011)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004J4WL6Y

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.

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