Review of The Heretics Hymnal

[Theresa Moffitt]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Heretics Hymnal" by Ken Dalton.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Heretics Hymnal by Ken Dalton is a fast-paced novel filled with adventure and intrigue. Pinky Delmont is a successful attorney in Carson City, Nevada. He is contacted by the police in Nuremberg, Germany because his phone number is in a cell phone found at a murder scene they are investigating. Pinky’s former client, Helmut Kaufmann, is the nephew of the murder victim. Helmut has already contacted Pinky’s investigative team, Flo and Bear, to tell them about the situation in Germany. The German officials believe the murderers wanted a book that was in the victim’s possession. The book is a rare first edition by Martin Luther written in 1524; however, many people believe it doesn’t really exist. Helmut admits to Pinky that his uncle mailed him an old book before he died. Could that book really be the valuable first edition?

Pinky sends Flo and Bear to Nuremburg to try to identify another suspect with a motive for the murder. They meet with the German police and have a police escort named Juri assigned to them while they are in Germany. Juri gives them important information about the city. Through the course of the book, they visit many German historical sites and learn about the history of Nuremberg. Meanwhile, Pinky is trying to find out if the book is a valuable first edition or just a copy. We are introduced to some of Pinky’s colorful contacts and revolving secretaries throughout the course of the book.

I enjoyed learning more about Germany and the history of Nuremberg. When Flo and Bear are taken on a tour of the city, the reader learns about Germany during World War II and the buildings that still exist today. At the end of the book, the author includes photos of some of the areas mentioned. The reader can even learn a little German because Juri teaches Flo and Bear some German phrases to use while they are in Nuremberg. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the characters. This provides the reader with different perspectives and an understanding of the motivation and goal of each character.

This was a very enjoyable novel. I was entertained by the multi-dimensional characters. Each character has a very distinct personality. Pinky is a very demanding boss and the interactions with his staff are comical at times. Pinky was my favorite character in the book because he had so many layers. He was demanding, yet he cared about the people who worked for him. He was divorced but still in love with his ex-wife, Willow. The relationship between Bear and Flo was also captivating. They are romantically involved and have worked as a team for Pinky for a long time. While engaged in their investigation, their interactions were smart and entertaining. What I liked most about the book were the characters and the dialogue.

What I liked least about the book were the number of errors. There were more than ten errors in this novel. For that reason, I am unable to give this book a perfect score. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. With additional editing, it deserves a perfect score. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery novels and character-driven novels with captivating dialogue. There is also a historical aspect to the book that would appeal to readers with an interest in Germany.

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The Heretics Hymnal
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[Gabriella1997]

I love adventures and mysteries, I would definitely add this book to my book shelves, nice review.

[Luchris_michael]

I like adventures and escapade. The mystery of the book is a captivating one. It would be a good read. Good review.

[Amy Luman]

Sounds like a good mystery. Who killed Helmut’s uncle and why? Will Flo and Bear find anything in Germany? I want to find out. Thanks for the review.

[Elisa Joy Ocasla]

A book that delves into the mystery and investigative plotline around Germany. As someone astounded to go to the said country someday, this would help me get some notions that could be useful in the long run.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like an engaging mystery, and with the pictures I might feel a greater connection with the setting. I hope the author does another round of editing to make it excellent. Thank you for your great review!

[marta baglioni]

It reminded me The Name Of The Rose, by Umberto Eco. If this book is even remotely as good, I am sure I will love it! Thank you for the review: it was very well written