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Title: Mystical Paths
Author: Susan Howatch
Narrator: Roe Kendall
Format: Unabridged
Length: 22 hrs and 5 mins
Language: English
Release date: 03-30-09
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 34 votes
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher's Summary:
Now, staggering under the weight of remorse, horrified by the dangerous edge of his powers, Nicholas moves toward the brink of emotional collapse. When a terrifying vision suggests to him that he might literally be possessed, he must at last begin to face the truth of his past - and, in particular, of his relationship with his father - to find the one path that may lead him out of the seemingly impenetrable darkness.
Critic Reviews:
"Arguably no one writing today can equal Howatch's ability to write compelling novels that combine theology and psychology in a complex, fast-moving plot offering beautifully delineated characters and the suspense of a mystery/thriller....the denouement will leave readers breathless." (
Publishers Weekly)
Members Reviews:
Not the Best of Howatch
Story: In my opinion, this is the weakest of the "Church of England" books, because of the large paranormal element, and the somewhat unbelievable plot, but with her usual skill, Howatch carries it off. There's no doubt she is a very talented writer, and I recommend this if you've read any of the others and like the genre. It may be too "churchy" for some, and too static for others [none of the novels are action adventures, really]. The summing up at the end sounds a lot like a sermon, and I'm not fondest of Nicholas Darrow when he's preaching. For Howatch, it is an unusually clumsy ending.
Narrator: Why, oh why, when the story is told in the first person by a MAN, and most of the characters are male, is the book read by a WOMAN? Nicholas, who is 25, sounds like a 12 year old whose voice hasn't yet broken. At times different characters all have the same accent, making dialogue confusing. The narrator is a competent reader, but a man who has a range of accents would have been much better.
Susan Howatch is one of my favorites
and I particularly love the Starbridge Series. They are wonderful works on dealing with personal/spiritual crises. You can read the books on their own but it is more enjoyable to start with the first, Glittering Images, and continue from there. I have reread the books and listened to the ones Audible has available and I wish Audible had Ultimate Prizes, my favorite in the series.
Nicholas has to come to his own faith and purpose
I am continuing to really enjoy the Church of England Series. Mystical Paths is the fifth of the Church of England series and is the start of a spinoff series about Nicholas that starts with High Fliers. There is one more in the Church of England Series, Absolute Truths. But that book goes back to the 1960s again and revisits the original protagonist that started the series, Charles Ashworth.
Mystical Paths broke the series format again. This book is mostly a mystery/thriller. Christian Aysgarth, the oldest son of Neville (subject of books 3 and 4) died in 1965. But Katie, his wife is still troubled with the thought that it was not an accident, but a suicide (and she is to blame).
Nicholas, with his psychic powers, so a like but so different from his fathers, wants to bring healing to Katie, but instead brings her pain. So as penance Nicholas seeks out the truth of Christians death.
Of course being the Church of England series, Nicholas has to confront his own sin and the way it separates him from God and distracts him from his own path and calling.
It is a very different feel, not only the elements of mystery, but also paranormal thriller.
