Review of Cathedral

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cathedral" by Ray Keating.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In 1928, the communist government in Russia is tearing down churches, including those that have withstood the test of time, to make room for other buildings. In Moscow, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, the oldest Lutheran Church in Moscow, is being torn down to make room for a factory. Unfortunately, the mission has an ulterior motive, leading to the murder of two preachers. Before their deaths, one of the pastors, Gabriel Fischer’s, had discovered Ernst Glück’s Bible, an incomplete Russian translation of the Bible, and had managed to give it to another person for safekeeping. A ragtag army is assembled with the hope that it will accomplish a three-pronged mission.

Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is a crime book authored by Ray Keating. It was published in 2022 and comprises 380 standard pages. It narrates the story of the members of the Institute for Christian Life, History and Arts and their special branch, the Alliance of Saint Michael, as they pursue a two-pronged strategy initially, guided by a board. The battle must be fought on different fronts, both at home and abroad, and a third mission is added when the threats increase. To make matters more enthralling, the members of the Alliance have to remember who they are and keep their emotions in check.

Many aspects make this book interesting. First, the development of the plot was perfect. Keating ensures the reader understands the whole story and introduces realistic characters one at a time. The selection process to join the Alliance entails a lengthy, exciting process, revealing the strengths and flaws of each and how the board members perceive them. One cannot do much, but only wait to see whether there will be synergy and trust among them with time. Additionally, there is a budding romance story between two of the leading characters.

From actual historical facts to fiction and action-packed suspense, there is everything that will keep one turning one page after another. Equally, the editing was exceptionally well done. The only aspect I did not enjoy was where some parts dragged on and lacked much action. However, this could be a personal preference, as other readers could find these parts serving as the short calm in an otherwise stormy sea. As a result, I rate this book five out of five stars.

I recommend the book to fans of crime and action-packed books. The book is also suitable for ardent readers of historical fiction, as there is much to discover about the early twentieth century.

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Cathedral
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[Ogunkoya Mayowa]

A crime book that talks about how Russia is tearing down some churches to make room for other buildings such as factories, etc, which even lead to some preachers killing. I love how the author transforms from actual historical fact to fiction. Thanks for the review.

[Ilze Herholdt]

Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel is a crime book. It narrates the story of the members of the Institute for Christian Life, History and Arts and their special branch, the Alliance of Saint Michael, as they pursue a two-pronged strategy initially, guided by a board. Thanks for your review.

[Grace Elkana]

The author was wise to introduce realistic characters in timely fashion. I guess I'll check out the book.

[CrossK]

A book that talks about the communist government in Russia tearing down the church to build a factory. What an exciting review this is. Great work.