Book Review of 'The Mercy Seat' by Henry O. Arnold

Hello Bookworms!

Another week has ended and the weekend begins! I don't know how March is going by so fast! In a few short days my oldest will be turning 19 and I am in complete denial about it. I love being a mom so much and can't believe he's planning on moving out on his own soon. It's bittersweet and I feel all the feels. I know all you parents out there can feel me.

To keep my mind off my feelings I am submerging myself into some pretty great novels, and today I am sharing my thoughts on one. I hope you enjoy my review of this intense novel, and please be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Mercy Seat by Henry O. Arnold, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Mercy Seat
Series: The Urban Chronicles #1
Author: Henry O. Arnold
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Hells Canyon is a neighborhood in Richland, Tennessee where tourists never venture, and locals fear to tread. Maxwell Crane, former Marine chaplain and pastor of The Mercy Seat church, struggles to provide a beacon of hope.

But others have their eyes set on Hells Canyon: power elites, robber barons, and street gangs seek their own gain at the cost of the beleaguered urban neighborhood. For the people who live there, it’s been a fight to exist their whole lives, and that fight is getting harder.

Maxwell doesn’t have to stay in Hells Canyon. He and his family could leave to live a comfortable middle-class existence. Instead, Maxwell chooses to risk his life—and the lives of those around him—to stand against the oppressors.

But what happens when this pastor crosses a line, taking justice into his own hands? Will his family, his community, and his God ever forgive him? Will he ever forgive himself?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

My Review

The Mercy Seat is one of the more unique novels that I’ve read in awhile. A pastor with a servant’s heart for his church and community is doing all he can, while serving in one of the roughest parts of Tennessee. What he doesn’t expect is just how dark his world will become, how deep the corruption goes, and who will be taken down in the process.

Profound descriptions describe a dark and desolate place and I fought the helpless and depressed feelings that washed over me as I read. Sadly, I am very familiar with this world as I grew up in a community not too dissimilar to what was depicted in The Mercy Seat. It is triggering for me to go into any details, but suffice to say I know this world better than I should, and the author did a great job of capturing the underbelly and those that are fighting to be free.

There are multiple narrators throughout the novel which I appreciated as it gives you insight into this situation from varying points of view. These characters have quite an authentic feel, with the exception of the language, which is cleaned up considerably, and rightly so. There is a lot that is packed within these pages and takes the reader on a journey that no one wants to be on. I admit that it took me a few chapters to really get the gist of what I was reading, but once I was grounded in the narrative I was hooked.

This is an intense read and though it is a Christian fiction it is not for the faint of heart. There is gang and drug activity as well as violence and corruption, but there is also faith, hope, and the power of redemption. The Mercy Seat is a compelling reminder that though the battle rages on there will one day be victory.

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author

Mr. Arnold's career as an actor/author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. His most recent film is The Hiding Place. He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled The Song of Prophets and Kings. When not writing he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere on the planet. He and his lovely wife Kay have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.

Connect with Henry by visiting henryoarnold.com to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a print copy of The Mercy Seat & $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 11, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 18, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!