New Mystery Novel

Arthur Blake, former NASA engineer turned minister, receives an emergency appointment to be pastor of the United Methodist Church in Parkville, a distant suburb of Chicago, following the bizarre sudden death of the church’s unusual former pastor. Pastor Blake’s attempts to unravel the mystery that shrouds his predecessor become involved with tracking the child of a possibly bigamous soldier in World War II England, art and jewelry treasures plundered by the Nazis and their sympathizers, and the eventual results of childhood sibling conflicts in combined families. Arthur’s allies in his investigation include Parkville Police Chief Bobby Andrews, County Medical Examiner Irma Custis, and the married team of Penny and Joe Gonzalez who work for a clandestine government agency. During the course of Lead Us Not into Temptation, the reader discovers how seemingly minor historical events lead to major present-day dislocations in church, village, and family relationships.

Review from the ReadWorthy Books Book Review Blog

"The hymn straggled to its raggedy conclusion..." leads us into this complex and satisfying tale. Arthur Blake is preaching to a tough audience at his new assignment, Parkville United Methodist Church. Lead Us Not into Temptation by Richard Davidson is an intricate tangle of genealogy, murder and morality. From Parkville, Illinois to war torn Germany the story moves with twists and turns that keep you turning the page.
Davidson uses Arthur's expertise as a former NASA engineer, his formidable logic, and his fascination with history to unravel the mystery of the skeletons in the closet of his new church. As the story unfolds, we meet a diverse cast of carefully drawn characters. How their decisions have impacted their lives and those of others hints at the consequences of succumbing to temptation. The novel touches on a number of moral and ethical dilemmas, from wartime romance to basic human greed.
The wealth of historical information provides a rich backdrop for this captivating tale. Thorough research is evident as the lives of a seemingly disparate cast of characters are artfully intertwined into a series of mysteries. Hats off to Mr. Davidson for a splendid first novel. I am looking forward to reading more of Pastor Blake's adventures in the future!

Reviewed by Carol Henderson, freelance writer.

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