Cover Image: Reprobation

Reprobation

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Member Reviews

I received this from NetGalley and, mannnnn, I’m thankful for it!

Overall Feelings:

This book pulled me in right from the beginning. It seems like an odd mash-up: a nun, heavy metal band leader, and genetics, but it is perfectly balanced and gave me everything I never knew I needed in a novel.

Characters:

Helen felt like a real person with real feelings and emotions. I felt her struggles and I wanted her to find the peace she desperately needed.

The detectives were ok—they felt a bit generic but it wasn’t a huge deal to me. Same with Mikko and the other side characters. I can be ok with just one “real” character if they’re the star of the show as long as the others aren’t too flat.

Plot:

I actually really liked this. I’ve read many, many thrillers and mysteries in my day, and I have to say this one kept me invested until the very end. I usually get frustrated with twists and turns because they’re so obvious or too outlandish but Reprobation had the perfect balance.

Now...why 4/5 stars? Well, this is where the spoiler tag comes in—so stop reading now if you don’t want to know the ending.

We spent the entire book feeling Helen’s struggle with her faith and her life path, yet the book ends before we find out if she definitely walks away from her vows. I mean, yes, she does say that will /likely/ do just that in the last church scene, but it isn’t for sure. I don’t need nice tied up pretty endings, however, I do like to have some sense of closure to problems presented in a novel. I feel like leaving this particular issue open-ended is a bit too much for me to swallow. BUT really, that’s my only issue. The writing was beautiful (if maybe a bit too descriptive at times, but it wasn’t too much of an issue.) I’m looking forward to checking out other books by Fearns.

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Thank you @netgalley and @ crooked cat for an ARC

I am literally rubbing my hands with glee about the discovery of Catherin Fearns, a new author (for me) who writes dark, cross-genre fiction and illustrates perfectly that you can, with talent, write a story with many different parts making a glorious whole. I’m not going to talk too much about the plot because I’m a notorious unwitting plot spoiler - suffice to say that I may have found my next favorite female MC - up there with Nona Grey (Mark Lawrence).

Helen Hope is a Calvinist nun and theological professor who has entered into an austere religious order that ordains the rejection of pleasure & the embrace of spriritual and practical service. Sadly, she has done this to atone for a perceived past sin - the death of a sibling

But if you remove pleasure from your world what does it fill with? Well, it depends very much on personality as the book explains. In Helen’s case, a sense of loss and longing which she constantly attempts to suppress and in the process allows herself to be manipulated by her zealous Deaconess.

And for others - a righteous & maniacal zealously that can only end badly. And does for some of their victims.

One of the most interesting things about this book is the exploration of theological and religious issues. The author has a huge interest in these unwieldily concepts and explores them vividly and I found there to be an interesting ambivalence about religion and possibly in Catherine - one that I hope is explored in later books. Cracking dark thriller full of complex characters that leave you thinking about them for some time.

Highly recommended - 5* All the way :)

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Thankyou to NetGalley, Cameron Publicity and Marketing and the author, Catherine Fearns, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Reprobation in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.
This book is certainly not just another murder mystery with religious overtones. I was intrigued with the premise of the story, and was certainly not left disappointed.
The plot was well thought out and original. I was sucked in by the engaging nature of the characters. I thought this book was a great read. I cannot wait for her next publication.
Definitely a book that should appear on your 'to be read' list.

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Dr Helen Hope, a Calvinist nun with a troubled past, is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. Police approached her when a crucified body is found on a Liverpool beach, near her Convent. Helen investigates things on her own. With the help of a death metal musician, she tries to solve the mystery.

The synopsis hooked me. As an atheist/skeptic with a keen interest in spiritual / transcendental I enjoy books that touch subjects of religion, philosophy and fate. I know nothing about Calvinism, but it feels that Fearns has done a sound research (experts may disagree, though).

Helen is a caring, intelligent woman torn between a desire to help others, punish herself for an accident from her past, and experience true life. While I liked her, I also feel she‘s not fully fleshed out. Sure, watching her attend a death metal concert in nun clothes was fun, but her development and growth doesn‘t convince me. Other characters remain two dimensional and the story‘ antagonists are utterly flat. 

I like the premise; I appreciate the research, but I don’t cherish the outcome. Mainly because of pacing issues, underdeveloped characters and unsatisfying conclusion.

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This was not the book I expected.

So deep in the year it was a joy to read a debut author who has presented a novel of originality and unspeakable religious fervour.
To have a Calvinist Nun as a lead character was not only bold but quite brilliant. To place her in a sinister convert with a dark backstory allows her to both unravel and grow before the reader. Sister Helen Hope was an engaging character and one whose journey was both realistic and reflective of everyone’s struggle to process their faith.
This book isn’t churchy or Christian but presents real issues with theology and especially Eschatology at its heart.
I loved both her struggle to work within the world of academia and make sense of her vows. The juxtaposition of her beliefs and those of a death mental band was genius and allowed a separate path for the plot to take.
The crime story is set in the city landscape of Liverpool and concerns the first murder investigation of a local copper made good. His DC is also a fresh character and they make heavy progress into the investigation of a horrendous crime scene in Crosby.
The use of the changing waterfront is a fitting tribute to this centre of commerce in better days. There are great signs of new trends, the religion of football and new uses for former places of worship.
These are the clever bits of this story that demonstrate the obvious skills of this new author. Hints and analysis of cultural and religious shifts. The mention of liminal places is also strategic in her writing. Those crossing places between life and death; those tidal areas where water cleanses with each cycle but also takes things away. Marginal areas which are renewed but can never be fully known.
The questions Sister Helen asks in her lecture hall is what happens to us when we die? How does our beliefs effect how we live? Is it predetermined, preordained that one should go to hell while the other is admitted to heaven?
These are the themes of the story reflected in everyone’s story regardless of faith and in this way, we are confronted with a thrilling crime novel that allows scope to think and be entertained with a mystery that is as dark as it is exciting. As complex as the DNA it alludes to at times.
Totally engaging. Stunningly original and faultless in its plotting. Complex issues expertly juggled with to ratchets up the tension but never to leave the reader behind in even religious or scientific jargon.
The use of Sister Hope is the reader’s friend who brings clarity to the criminal investigation and a humanity seldom seen in religious orders.
The best news is a second book is scheduled to be released as early as February 2019. I for one cannot wait, and on the strength of this debut I expect the name of Catherine Fearns on every crime fiction fan’s lips, the next go to author and a fresh talent we all want to read!

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