Seventy Times Seven

Brandt Dobson
Harvest House Publishers (2006)
ISBN 0736918108
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (12/06)

Colton Parker is a private investigator who has recently lost his wife Anna in a car accident after a family argument and who now finds himself struggling to be a good father to his thirteen year old daughter, Callie.  Callie is a typical teen with the common issues most teens have with parents while growing into adulthood.  However, with the loss of her mother, Callie now struggles with the loss of her own self-image.  She is no longer the star on the soccer field or the honor student she once was.  She has now even tried to take her own life and is no longer the popular teen she once was.  Callie resents her father because she heard the argument between her parents before her mother left the house and suffered in the unfortunate and fatal car accident.

As a private investigator, Colton has been asked to find a missing person, the wife of Lester Cheek, who has disappeared without a clue as to why or where she might be.  Lester is heartbroken and desperately wants Claudia’s safe return.  Colton digs into his assignment and makes some quite unexpected discoveries amidst life threatening dangers.  If you like suspense and intensity, you will not be disappointed.

When Colton finally pieces together some of the puzzle, he is painfully reminded of his mother abandoning him so many years ago as a young child on the steps of the local hospital, only to be shuffled from one foster home to another.  He desperately wants Callie to have a better home life than he had, but can he change the pattern that has been set in motion?

“Seventy Times Seven” is a story about the importance of forgiveness.  It is about Callie forgiving her father, Colton forgiving his absent mother, Beverly, when she abandoned him, and Lester forgiving his wife, Claudia, for her past.  The story of the prodigal son helps Colton realize where all healing must begin.  God’s love covers all our failures if we only seek forgiveness.

“Seventy Times Seven” is full of suspense, intrigue and drama, but it carries a message worth hearing.  We have all sinned and have needed to seek forgiveness at some point in our lives.  I found Brandt Dobson’s work to be enjoyable and meaningful, and I recommend it to other adults who enjoy mystery stories with a message.  This book offers more than just entertainment.

Make comment on weblog