A Treasure Concealed

Peterson’s (All Things Hidden) latest historical Christian fiction novel, set in 1895, follows Emily Carver, the daughter of a gold digger always in search of the next big find. Now that her mother is seriously ill, and with the family facing winter in Yogo City, Mont., Emily finds herself not just geographically isolated, but spiritually isolated as well. Caeden Thibault is a man who never had much time for God. A geologist by trade, wealthy from birth, he’s devoted himself to his life’s work, which just so happens to bring him to the tiny Montana town. Though Peterson’s plotting shows her skill for suspense and surprise, the novel lacks the vibrant characterization that normally distinguishes her stories. The protagonists are curiously flat, only coming to their faith in the novel’s final stages. Despite Emily and Caeden’s rushed evolution, the excitement and detail of the rural gold rush setting is alone worth the read. (Mar.)