Rachel Reviews: Ordinatus by C.S. Crane
Tension mounts as the Catholic Church comes under attack in this ecumenical thriller but where is the threat coming from? Is it from within?
The Church, whether Catholic or Protestant, has always been a hotbed for speculation and questioning through the ages, not just in our modern times, and Crane has written a timely thriller which combines a gentle exploration of one man's faith, Robert Hescott, with the difficulties his beloved Church is facing from a force attempting to dismantle it.
Hescott is presented as a man of good humour, perhaps even a little foolish-looking but he is a cleric who is sure of his faith and its ability to guide him to the right path. Along with his wife, Donna and his daughter, Victoria, he has been given a new parish and having changed from Protestantism to Catholicism, this will be his first real test as a priest, having been brought in when the previous pastor retired. However, already installed is the charismatic Richard Devere, working as his assistant, and it could be that Robert will have his work cut out for him in establishing himself as an authority when Richard has already made a name for himself in the parish.
When it comes to light that the Catholic Church is under attack, its followers being wooed by a new religion, Robert, his family and Bishop Worth are faced with discovering who is behind this fiendish scheme and stop it before it gains momentum and becomes a global movement. But who is behind it and could it be an attack from within?
The book begins with the establishing of the family dynamic and the apparent differences between Robert and Donna as Catholic parents and Victoria, their daughter as a remaining Protestant. There is a defiance to Victoria in her interactions with her parents but it feels good-natured rather than disrespectful. It may have been deliberate by Crane in order to establish a united front within the main players, showing people together who hold disparate opinions before he unveils the main action of the book.
I got the premise of the novel and it's earnest in what it sets out to do. The dialogue between characters is well-observed and I recognised the threat but felt like more could have been made of it. Mitchell Grange is a character of formidable reputation but features only a little in the book and I felt this was underplayed.
However, it has purpose, plot, entertaining moments and a clear direction and is certainly worth a read.
Rachel Rating: 3 out 0f 5 stars
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC:
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