What I Tell You in the Dark

Samuel’s debut novel tells the story of a fallen angel’s mission to save humanity from itself. Will, an idealistic business executive, gets “jumped into,” or possessed, by the same angel who jumped into Christ 2,000 years prior. When the nameless angel enters Will in present-day London, he has a seizure in the bathroom of Inviracorp, the shady corporation where he works. After his colleagues notice his disheveled appearance and crazy thinking, Will is gently asked to take some time off from his job. The angelically possessed Will and his accomplice, Natalie, an equally well-intentioned reporter, undertake a mission to expose a profit-driven conspiracy between Inviracorp and the Vatican. Faced with technocorporate red tape, demonic lawyers, and old-fashioned human weakness, the two of them fight an uphill battle against both demons and humans. The book is part contemporary theological exploration, part corporate espionage thriller, and part psychological study. Though plot twists and intrigue keep the story moving forward, and Samuel’s prose is by turns conversational and funny, the hard-driving action overshadows the characters. The story does, however, cast an unconventional light on spiritual dilemmas while retaining the sensibilities of a thriller. (Jan.)