Book Review: The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

The Sinners’ Garden by William Sirls is a refreshingly creative and spiritually significant read that will not only entertain, but draw you closer to a God who sees and takes delicate care of your every need! 



The Sinners’ Garden by William Sirls is a well written fictional novel centered on a family as they work through their past and present trials.  The setting along the Michigan Great Lakes is quite descriptive and at times, I could feel the cool breezes and hear the gentle lapping of the water as it caressed the rocky edges of the land.  The characters within the book are so relatable that they easily draw the reader into the story from the first page to the last. 

The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls
 is refreshingly creative and spiritually
 significant!

Andy Kemp, “the teenager with an attitude” even bigger than most, due to a past disfiguring incident involving an abusive father is the main character in the book.  He is surrounded by his loving mother, uncle, and a close friend of the family.  In addition to these in-depth interactions, a budding teenage romance is also thrown into the mix.  As the book progresses, the layers of pain and confusion in this teen’s life are exposed.  A broken I-pod becomes Andy’s connection to God’s voice and a field of grass develops into a beautiful garden where he can feel the presence of a living God just by being near it and looking into the rows of flowers.

Meanwhile, occurring in tandem is a “crime” of goodness as an intruder is methodically breaking into homes and establishments only to leave items that the owners need, but never stealing anything or harming any individuals or property.  As the mystery continues, intrigue is piqued and the momentum builds to a point of intense curiosity.  What does this stranger have to do with the rest of the story?  Who is the intruder?  The author’s ability to successfully carry a detailed dual theme without losing the reader’s ability to track the action is stellar!

This book is one to escape to for a tangible fantasy entangled in a real world journey where truths are gently exposed about the consistency of genuine love, perseverance, patience, hope, forgiveness and faith.  At times, during the reading of the book, I felt as though I were sitting in on a Christian counseling session as characters divulged their deepest hurts and struggles.  At those points in the book, the author takes advantage of the opportunity to reveal the unmoving nature of God and His ability to wait for us to respond to His love.

The Sinners’ Garden by William Sirls is not only entertaining, but will most certainly draw you closer to a tender and loving God…..no matter what your distance is from Him, currently.  The book has an undercurrent of hope and patience that will most surely give rest to a weary soul.  What are you waiting for?  Go read this book!