The Brotherhood is bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins’s latest in Christian fiction, scheduled to be published in February 2011.  I was fortunate to receive an advance reader’s copy.

Boone Drake is a young police officer on his way up in Precinct 11 of the Chicago Police Department.  With a beautiful wife and young son, a nice home, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division in five years—the reason he wanted to be a policeman in the first place—he has it made. Suddenly, he finds himself at sea when tragedy strikes, and he loses the beautiful wife and young son he holds most dear.  With his personal life nearly destroyed, his career and future are suddenly in jeopardy.  Boone is mired in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control.

A Christian, he finds it difficult to understand why God would allow such tragedy, and for a while questions his faith, neglecting prayer and devotion.   His personal life is nearly destroyed, and his career and future are now in jeopardy.  But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he learns that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart and forgive the worst of crimes.

I enjoyed this fast-paced crime novel with its theme of hope and redemption when all seems to be lost.  Jenkins tells the story in such a manner that Boone’s pain and suffering becomes so real that the reader not only empathizes with him but feels every bit his pain throughout his ordeal.  In addition, the reader becomes enamored of such very human and likeable characters as his partner Jack Keller, and his pastor and friend Francisco Sosa, both of whom stand by him while he regains his footing and gets on with his life and career.  I am happy to recommend this novel.

ISBN 978-1-4143-0907-1