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How can you hear a dying man's confession, then proceed to prescribe absolution when he refuses to repent? When he tells you that he committed murder not once but twice, then insists that he would do it all again, given half a chance? That killing those two men was no different than drowning kittens?. That you are a Jesuit priest, vowing to carry out a dying man's last wishes despite your better judgment, only adds to the difficulty. That the dying man is your grandfather, whom you worshipped but could never please, makes it nearly impossible. THE WALNUT GROVE is the story of one man's odyssey: a modern day Jesuit priest, filled with questions and self-doubt. It is also the story of his 98 year-old grandfather, whose body he accompanies by train from Nova Scotia to Kentucky. He finds himself caught up in a monumental struggle to make sense out of his own life and his own choices. The ghost of his grandfather challenges him along every mile of track, with the revelation of a series of past secrets. Challenging him further is the complication of an extraordinary woman. Inexorably and fatefully drawn to her charms, he is in danger of losing everything he ever believed in, including himself in the process. It is too late for him by the time he realizes that this woman has her own agenda, and a unique connection to his own grandfather. This is the story of an all-encompassing love that is brutally cut short, permanently scarring its survivor. For Frank Martin, the family patriarch, revenge becomes the dominating theme. Its quest leads him to New York City during the roaring twenties. Prohibition, gangsters and rum running provide the colorful backdrop to Frank's single-minded obsession. By the time of the Great Depression, he finds himself in Nova Scotia, running for his life, only to return once more on one of the last rum runners, in hot pursuit of his prey. But it is not until the end of the story that the reader comes to know the true depth of Frank's hatred and madness, when he finally manages to lead his enemies into a trap that rivals both Poe and Stephen King in its macabre details. Old Frank had other secrets as well, not the least of which involved an illegitimate daughter and a fortune in stolen contraband. His deathbed confession neglected to inform his grandson and confessor about those secrets. It was too late for the priest by the time he realized that his grandfather had played him like a violin. The mysterious woman who had stolen his heart, on the other hand, knew exactly who he was and exactly what she was doing. |
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If this catches your attention then you are welcome to discover more about the world of old Frank Martin. Download the first half of THE WALNUT GROVE and enjoy the adventure. |