Review – The Reason

The Reason, a story of supernatural suspense with a spiritual twist by debut author William Sirls, asks readers to set reason aside and “only believe” when belief in anything seems impossible. It’s a courageous story of hope from the viewpoint of a terminally ill child, a single mother without hope and the surrogate family they live with, a blind pastor, wife and mute son. Then there’s the addicted friend, the month’s long comatose patient, a mysterious carpenter and doctors and nurses who only seem to believe in their medical training, until….

…a series of extraordinary events begin after the “…fifteen-foot wooden cross centered on St. Thomas’s church front lawn…” is struck by lightning and split in two during a sudden thunder storm. Although the church can’t afford to fix the cross the damaged cross draws unrelated people together by accidental circumstance—or is it, could there be a larger force at work in this small Michigan community?

Readers meet genuine characters such as five-year-old Alex who struggles with cancer treatments, Macey Lewis, the young brilliant pediatric oncologist who treats him while she worries about her $140,000 student loan, his mother Brooke who pleads with God to know why and the strange “Mr. Mysterious” who quotes scripture and asks everyone he meets to “only believe.”

Then there’s Dr. Zach whose hidden feelings of guilt and remorse masquerade as prideful arrogance and disdain who refuses to believe in anything until faced with a choice. Or sweet Charlie the pastor’s mute son and Alex’s best friend, who was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck yet today stands 7″ tall and weighs 355 pounds.

This debut mystical suspense and its cast of well-developed characters comes wrapped in a compelling and thought-provoking plot that is amazing for any established author, let alone the author of a first book.

The book reminded me of other authors who writes stories of redemption, forgiveness and faith such as Rooms by James Rubart or The Listener, by Taylor Caldwell with a sprinkling of Crossroads or The Shack by Paul Young.

An “Author’s Note” concludes the book with a brief account of Sirl’s life, the story behind the story and why the narrative sat in a drawer for many years until he earned a “much-needed time out.” Although it wasn’t an experience Sirl’s would “wish on anyone” the experience taught him he’d spent his entire “…life worrying about the wrong things.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAgta6fcfGg

This author’s message of forgiveness and thankfulness blended with a surprising spiritual twist is not one to miss.  www.williamsirls.com/