Official Review: Almost Mortal by Christopher Leibig

[Bethel Saint Bright]

The premise of this story provides a lot to think about. First, every professional will get that client that will make or mar your work, like Sam did. Secondly, the Catholic confession to priest might be endangering the moral sanity of priests, like Father Andrada. Beyond these, I'd love to see how the entire story unfolds.

[Mr Benj]

Almost Mortal" by Christopher Leibig., a book that features murder cases and it's investigations. It will be interesting to read more about the characters, and to find out how Sam and the Rev. Father were able to survive and overcome in this story.

[Atieno Magero]

Almost Mortal seems like a great crime/mystery thriller. The plot is very interesting. I like that the author tells Sam and the possible Rosslyn Ripper's story in the book. This book is a definite must read. Congratulations on making botd!

[Soma Ezenwanne]

Father Andrada is in a difficult situation because he has to decide whether to disclose the identity of the person involved in the murder or keep it confidential, as required by his religious duty. That makes the book really interesting, and I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

[Wayne Njoroge]

A crime mystery novel that has an interesting story plot with intriguing characters caught up in a moral dilemma.

[Tim Terry]

I usually enjoy mystery and crime novels, however, this particular review did not really inspire me to want to read this book. I enjoy it when all of the characters are well developed and not just those of the protagonist and the suspect, as is described in the review.

[Gayatri Tripathi]

I really appreciate how thoroughly you broke down the dual narrative structure in Almost Mortal. The contrast you pointed out between Sam’s story and X’s journal entries is fascinating—especially how the writing style shifts to match each narrative voice. I’m intrigued by the idea that X’s story almost overshadows the main plot because of its rich detail and philosophical depth, especially with the locations like Bariloche, Havana, and Miami adding a globe-trotting adventure feel. Your insight about the lack of character development being intentional to preserve the mystery makes me even more curious to read this. Also, the ethical dilemma surrounding Father Andrada and the clergy privilege adds an interesting layer of tension. Thanks for such an insightful review—it helped me see this book as more than just a legal thriller!

[Jelani Trotter]

One of the most intriguing aspects for me was how the narrative felt like two separate voices—Sam’s grounded legal investigation and X’s journal, which had this vivid, almost cinematic feel. It was like switching between a gritty courtroom drama and an international thriller.

[Lene Lena]

Thank you for your insightful review of “Almost Mortal.” The intricate plot involving Samson Young’s moral dilemmas and the tension between legal ethics and personal loyalty adds depth to the narrative. Your mention of the journal pages as a pivotal element highlights the suspense that keeps readers engaged throughout the story.

[Mercy Bolo]

A priest is in a dilemma after a serial killer confesses to him. Should he report the matter? Sam volunteers to help with the Rosslyn Ripper case, and he realizes he has much in common with the killer. The ensuing investigation is a delectable read with clues to keep readers glued.

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

The idea of two stories evolving together simultaneously makes this book sound like a great read. Add in the suspense and the serial killer investigation and you have me hooked. I enjoyed reading your review.

[Janet Kimetto]

I don't think this is for me because of the mentioned lack of suspense and an unsatisfying ending, but I hope the story finds an appreciative audience. Thanks for the review!

[kimarijohn]

The sample of "Almost Mortal" I read makes it clear this is a light and engagin read that anyone can enjoy. The author's use of simple, clear English combined with suspenseful events pulled me in right from the start. Definitely a book worth checking out!

[mytkreadingreview]

It's so amazing to have people like Sam in our township's especially in this high crime areas. It's clear that Sam knows what he is doing and he will be able to help in every he is going to attend like this one

[mrlefty0706]

"Almost Mortal" by Christopher Leibig is mystery and crime novel that revolves around a criminal defense attorney in Bennet County, Virginia named Sam Young. Sam believed in helping people that needed legal help so he occasionally worked off the law firm books. He was asked to help his late mother’s friends Camille Paradisi and Father Andrada on the Rosslyn Ripper case. The Rosslyn Ripper was a serial killer on the loose that been involved in the murder of three people. One day while hearing confessions at his church Father Andrada had a man confess to being the Rosslyn Ripper. Father Andrada had to make a decision to turn the person in or adhering to the clergy-pertinent privilege. Sam was asked to carry out a private investigation into the case in order to protect Father Andrada. Meanwhile, someone suspected to be the Rosslyn Ripper was sending pages of a journal to the church and Camille forwarded these pages to Sam to help with his investigation. The pages told the suspect’s life stories and Sam found the stories showed he was very similar to the suspect in many ways. The suspect’s story was much more adventurous than Sam’s story and the two stories had to have been written by two different people and there were questions about God in the journal pages. The official reviewer studied the clues but could not identify the Rosslyn Ripper before the end of the book so this is a great mystery. It is a very interesting story that readers go back and forth between the two stories and it makes Sam look like a potential suspect. No spoilers were given so one needs to read the book to learn who is the Rosslyn Ripper. The book received a 3 out of 4-star rating for not enough suspense and the book’s ending was less than what the reviewer expected. The book contains a small part about a romance but this book will really appeal to adult readers that love crime and mystery stories. I am putting this book on my to-read shelf.