Did you read Needful Things and feel like it was good, but just not quite all it could have been? This may just be for you.

The town of Bellhaven is a small one - though it contains a really large number of churches, it turns out - and in 1920's America, surprisingly progressive. There's even a black sherrif; that is, until the night the Klan come to town. That's actually not the main focus of the plot, though it's the pivot that pulls the plot around it throughout the rest of the book. And the undercurrent of the racial tensions of the time whispers through the main storyline too - and echoes of the even earlier "racial tensions" with the Native American tribes of the area also appear in places.

The story itself isn't a new one - as I mentioned above, "small town starts turning on itself when people find something they really, deeply, truly need" may have been touched on before. But it's beautifully written, and the characters themselves provide a strength and depth missing from other variations on the tale.

Plus - it's a fun read! The story clips along at a decent pace, without crossing into that frenzied rush that horror novels so easily fall into in their last halves.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review.

Bellhaven is a small town with more religious denominations than most cities contain. But why are all the religious leaders fighting and why are Reverend Cane, Father Timothy, Rabbi Blumenthal, Reverend Beaver, Reverend Moses Yarney, Reverend Hofhamm, and Brother Bannerman all sneaking into that chapel in the woods? Who is America Ma and why are all the people in town going to that chapel in the woods on a daily basis?

This is a story blending faith and the possibilities of the supernatural, inclusion and exclusion, good and bad, possible and improbable and the importance of forgiveness. There is a large cast of characters but Michael Ellsworth Newberry stands at the center. His resilience from many personal losses including the death of his parents, his wife and the amputation of a limb as a result of his part in World War I repeat throughout the book. Heavy in symbolism and strong in conviction this was a well written book. The reader would do well to set aside mundane belief and allow for creative thought and imagination. After all, who is got say what is real and probable?

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an ARC

Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the beautiful story telling in this historical fiction combined with the supernatural. We meet the citizens of Bellhaven, several of whom have returned to America from world war one with physical and psychological scars and injuries. The seemingly idyllic town has a hidden and troubling mystery lying in the depth of the woods. The characters were quirky and varied, I found myself egging on Ellsworth as the story builds. As much as I enjoyed the story, I did find the couple of chapters in the middle a little tedious trying to keep up with all the religious leaders and their churches in the town, however, the story all comes together following this and you just know that it's all coming together. I was fascinated and intrigued by the blurb and cover and was not disappointed.. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review an advance copy.

I tried. I loved the writing, and I picked it because it came up in my historical queue, but I didn't see that it was also Christian/Inspirational. About a quarter of the way through I was struggling, but decided the story seemed worth it, but I've got to the middle where all the various church leaders are turning vengeful and murderous and I don't think I'll pick the story up again, I loved the writing, the characters, and the setting, but I just can't go on. My apologies, as I did not thoroughly research all the genres it covered.

What a great story!

Richly descripted characters and settings.

The chapel in the woods and the 'healing floor' seem like a slice of heaven to the townspeople of Bellhaven...but slowly turns the people malicious. The turn in the story reminds me of Stephen Kings needful things! If you've read it you know what I mean :)