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Title: The Long Harbor Testament
Author: Tom Minder
Narrator: Rick Barr
Format: Unabridged
Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
Language: English
Release date: 12-05-17
Publisher: Beacon Audiobooks
Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher's Summary:
A parish priest has a gambling problem, a girlfriend, and his brother just killed his bookie. A police detective and mobster both investigate, while the town questions if it's a crime at all or a public service.
It has everything you need in a mystery: gambling, drinking, Girl Scout cookies, a wedding with a miracle, a canine ring bearer, a dead man telling a terrible joke, fast food, diners, and spit takes, and road rage.
Members Reviews:
A first-class tale of gamblers, mobsters and greasy spoons
First off, a disclosure: While author Tom Minder and I donât know each other, we share the same publisher and the same need for honest reviews. That said, I am pleased to report how enjoyable âThe Long Harbor Testamentâ is, both from the standpoint of character development and the authorâs attention to plot details.
Serving as the backdrop for this gritty tale of gamblers, mobsters, detectives and a suspect land development deal is Long Harbor, an eastern berg notable for its wharf, piers and â perhaps most notably â its greasy spoons, where its mix of sometimes ethically challenged characters gather on regular basis to chow down on chili and exchange some not always so pleasant pleasantries.
Father Jim, a priest with a football betting and girlfriend problem, and a fair amount of influence over the townspeople is at the center of a story, but heâs far from the taleâs sole focal point. Heâs joined by an array of others, including his occasionally volatile brother, Gabe, who has some interesting personal problems of his own, one of which involves an accidental death that will prove tricky to explain since it involves the local mob bossâ protégé. (This occurs early in the novel, so donât fear â this is not a spoiler.)
The writing here is precise, direct and keeps the reading wondering whatâll come next; itâs a true page-turner. The humor here is appropriately dark but not overly so, and I found the use of the Father Jimâs sermons, inserted into the text of the book, an interesting way to provide readers with the priestâs inner thoughts.
I highly recommend the novel and look forward to what Tom Minder offers going forward.
A Modern Day Bible Interpretation in a Police Procedural Genre
Tom Minderâs The Long Harbor Testament is indeed filled with lovable but deeply flawed characters. This police procedural echoes back to the Columbo television series from 1968 to 1978 when the audience watched the murder happen, knew who the murderer was, and then followed Lt. Columbo as he linked the evidence together to be able to arrest the culprit for murder. And at the same time, the audience watched the murderer squirm and try to convince others that he was innocent.
What makes Minderâs story unique is its frame around the Bible. It starts with the title: The Long Harbor Testament. Title chapters recall Bible passages as well, and the main thrust of the parables echo in the story chapter events. If you look deeply into the life of the story, youâll find the 7 Deadly Sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and, I think, even sloth.
One of the protagonists is Jim Cooper, a priest, and the insight offered through his sermons and sermon writing allows the reader to reflect on her own life as well as the life within the story.
The story moves along crisply.
