cover image Tribulation House

Tribulation House

Chris Well, . . Harvest House, $11.99 (253pp) ISBN 978-0-7369-1741-4

This quirky apocalyptic gangster novel... wait a minute. Yes, you heard that right. Genre-breaking faith fiction writer Well continues his witty romps through the seamier side of Kansas City here, including characters Forgiving Solomon Long and Deliver Us From Evelyn . Rev. Daniel Glory has declared that the Rapture will take place on October 17 at 5:51 a.m., and evangelicals are happy to capitalize on his prediction. Enter "Kingdom Come," a re-creation of events in the biblical book of Revelation geared to bring the lost to conviction—and sell a few trinkets on the side. Church member Mark Hogan decides if the end of the world is near, why not buy a $22,428 luxury boat and borrow money from the mob to finance it? He won't be around to make the payments. Despite Reverend Glory's bestselling end-time book and talk show–circuit buzz, October 17 comes and goes, and Hogan must face the music. Well's hilarious gangsters are only outdone by the evangelicals he lovingly lampoons, and his clever dialogue will leave readers in stitches. Disappointingly, the book ends with the blatant "to be continued." But fans who laugh out loud at Well's delightful satire of the underworld and the evangelical world will be delighted there is more to come. (May)