"And if you don't last the year...I'll hunt you down and crush you with the full weight of the law. But--" he cleared his throat, "belly chains and leg irons seem like an awful waste of a man with your potential for success."

Thus, young World War II veteran, Rowdy Slater, is faced with the choice of either going to jail for bank robbery or serving one year as a town minister in author Marcus Brotherton's novel, Feast for Thieves.

Rowdy is a down-to-earth, flawed protagonist one can sympathize, even empathize, with, as he says what he thinks in unpretentious English, and perhaps he wouldn't have found himself on the wrong side of the law here in Cut Eye, Texas if it'd been easier for him, and other men like him, to earn a living after the war. His first sermon in church had me cracking up, and I never would've imagined myself saying this before, but, man, I enjoyed the bar fights!

Of course, not all of the violence in the novel is fun and games, not by a long shot, and a certain, dire secret of Rowdy's just about made my whole heart ache. Now, my interest in his story occasionally waned as he'd take a lot of time getting around to the point or importance of a scene, and his pattern of expression became redundant here and there. I was also a little puzzled at his late reference to a "fisherman from Nazareth," as I wondered if he actually meant a carpenter or a craftsman.

Still, it's a rather gritty and relatable depiction of a changing man, with an ending more than open enough to call for a continuation. I wouldn't mind reading more about Rowdy Slater, and I think other fans of historical fiction with grit and faith wouldn't mind it, either.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers for an honest review. ( )

This book surprised me. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. It sort of had a Les Miserables meets Feature Films for Family feel to it, and Brotherton had me reading later than I should have a couple times.

For starters, I loved the concept of the novel, and Rowdy was a very easy character to root for. It's obvious that Brotherton did his research for the book, too, and I appreciated how easy it was to feel like I was part of that small town in Texas. This book was a lovely balance of all the things I look for in a book—intriguing characters, interesting plot, and good writing, with some good Christian principles thrown in. ( )

Described as a neo-Western and WWII novel, I really had no expectations about Feast for Thieves, the debut historical novel by Marcus Brotherton. Ne0-Western? This was either going to be a book I loved or one I found boring. Well it is anything but boring! Filled with great characters and a twisting plot, I will recommend Feast for Thieves to anyone no matter their literary tastes.

Zearl “Rowdy” Slater has been drifting since his stint in prison following his discharge from the Army. It is 1946 and there aren’t many prospects for an ex-sniper and convict. So he turns to what at face value is a sure thing — robbing a bank with former cellmate, Crazy Ake. But Rowdy has trouble with sure things and soon finds himself serving as preacher to the rough and tumble west Texas town of Cut Eye.

Feast for Thieves has a lot going for it. First, Brotherton has created interesting, complex and definitely colorful characters. Rowdy is a preacher who knows nothing about being a Christian, let alone preaching. His first sermon involves the Creation and field dressing a squirrel. Bobbie Barker, missionary and daughter of the Sheriff, is a no-nonsence dreamer who spouts poetry and drives a jeep. Sheriff Barker loves the town of Cut Eye and sees its and Rowdy’s potential. Other characters, including Mert the church secretary and Cisco a grieving father, will grab your imagination and heart. Then there is the setting of Cut Eye in the years following WWII. Brotherton brings the west Texas landscape and the struggling town to life. The plot is twisting. You’ll never guess from one moment to the next just where Brotherton is taking Rowdy. At times laugh out loud funny and then poignant, Feast for Thieves will certainly keep you entertained and engaged. Told in Rowdy’s first person voice, the language is richly detailed. I loved the many colloquialisms and colorful descriptions. In describing her fiance, Bobbie says he is as upright and dependable as the color brown.

The best thing about this book has got to be the spiritual journey that Rowdy takes, from his Jacob wrestling struggle in the river to the fist fight in the mission church to the working out of his faith through fights at the local tavern and chopping firewood. Rowdy has grown so much and has so much to look forward to by the closing pages of the book.

A novel that grabbed me from the opening pages, I highly recommend Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton. This is one of the best books I have read all year.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Side Door Communication and River North for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Marcus Brotherton is well-known as a best-selling author for his books based on real people, including those who fought during WWII. Staying in the time period of the 1940's and with his main character a war veteran, Brotherton eases his way into the fiction realm with both barrels blasting.

When I was first approached about reading this novel, I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like it. Frankly, it sounded more like a "man's" novel, even though I enjoy historical fiction. I was wrong. This is a novel that both men and women can read and enjoy together. If you have a book club with both genders, this is one I'd highly recommend. Even though discussion questions were not included in the book, there would be a lot to talk about and contemplate with your members.

Rowdy Slater has seen it all serving on the lines in WWII and as a paratrooper. After being dishonorably discharged, he finds coming home more difficult than he thought it would be. With no job, no home, no money and a record, he ends up resorting to robbing a bank with an old prison friend, Crazy Ake. After barely escaping the authorities, Rowdy ends up having second thoughts. With Crazy Ake nowhere to be found, he returns the money to the small town of Cut Eye, Texas. After meeting with the town Sheriff, he offers Rowdy a deal, go to jail or become the town minister for a year, with the requirement of turning the community around and getting more of the men in church and less of them in the bars and brothels.

Rowdy decides being a minister is better than life in jail, so he agrees to the crazy plan and assumes it is just a one-day-a-week job. Then he meets the current fill-in pastor, the lovely Bobbie Barker. From her he learns that being a minister is much more than preaching at the pulpit and that being a minister might change his life along with the town of Cut Eye.

Brotherton places you smack dab in Cut Eye with his descriptions of the debilitated church and parsonage, the couple who run the cafe, the stern church secretary and her ill husband, sweet and sassy Bobbie Barker, and the evil Crazy Ake. You will feel like you know each of them like family at the end of the novel. By using the setting and the dialect of the place and time, you are certain that Brotherton did his homework and researched every piece of this novel.

There are many surprises and nail-biting pages during Rowdy's year of ministry. Of course, there is a Christian piece to the story, but it is subtle enough to fit with Rowdy's preaching and care of his community. There are some parts where you will be praying right along with Rowdy because you will want everything to turn out okay even though you can't imagine how it will be.

Based on the subtitle of the book, I have to assume that we might be hearing more about Rowdy Slater's story. The ending leaves you hanging a bit and wanting to know more of what happens to the people of Cut Eye. I am quite sure I won't be the only reader hoping for more fiction from Marcus Brotherton. ( )