The Cure by Athol Dickson Published by: Bethany House Publishers (2007) 334 pages Rating: 10/10 Buy it Now:    Also by Athol Dickson: River Rising Winter Haven Lost Mission

Last January, I picked a nondescript-looking novel from the top of my pile and began to read. In short order, I knew I was wrapped up in something unique and wonderful. River Rising was the best novel I read in 2006, and won a Christy Award in the Suspense category, among other recognitions.

Naturally, I was thrilled to see that Dickson had a new novel coming out this year. After reading The Cure, I can say that Dickson is still a powerful storyteller, this is a wonderful novel... but not quite as great as River Rising. But I wonder if anything ever will be.

The Cure again focuses on a "man of God" who is not where you'd expect to find him. In this case, Riley Keep is a homeless alcoholic. He used to be a pastor, a missionary, a husband, a father. But following a mysterious disaster of some sort, he gave in to the lure of alcohol and lost everything. Now he wanders from place to place with his fellow alcoholic vagrants, until he hears of a small town in Maine. The rumors claim that there is a cure for alcoholism in this town, a town that Riley Keep knows all too well.

The Cure powerfully focuses on the realistic struggles of alcoholism, but it's much more than that. It's an illustration of any recurring struggle or sin. The principles that Riley Keep discovers about himself can apply to anyone, not just those struggling with this particular issue. This is also much more of a mystery story. Something strange happened in Riley Keep's past, and each character seems to hold one truth about it that no one else knows. The reader can put all these together long before the characters do, but it's still fascinating to watch it come together.

This is definitely one of the best books of 2007, even though it's not as great as the last. Highly Recommended.