Walk Back The Cat

Pamela Binnings Ewen
Broadman & Holman Publishers (006)
ISBN 0805443444
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (6/06)

In writing, “Walk Back The Car”, Pamela Binnings Ewen has asked readers to examine their faith.  There is a popular song that asks the question, “who held the hammer.”  This book asks the question, who betrayed Jesus.  She does this with an entertaining style, in a  fast paced action and suspense drama .

The phrase “Walk Back The Cat” was not familiar to me.  The definition used by the author was, “Just walk back the cat.  You know…if you want to get to the root of a thing and really understand what’s happening…trace events all the way back to the first one, the thing that started it all.  Ever watch a cat find its way home?”  One event leads to another; perhaps consequence is a better way of describing it.  What I do today will have consequences in the future.

At first it appears that three individual stories are taking place, one having nothing to do with the other.  Actually, the stories are intertwined.  A child looking deep into the eyes of Jesus as a frightened Apostle stands close by, terrified that he will be seen. A child sees his brother dropped from a tall building, growing up only to live with the guilt of what he witnessed. The Archbishop of a quickly growing church, leading his flock away from Christian morals and down the road to New Age beliefs, “it’s all about me”.  How could three such different stories be related?  Ms Ewen finds the perfect way to weave them together in doing so she leads the reader to a better understanding of oneself.

It’s hard to read this book and not get involved.  I found my face wet with tears as I read the last few chapters, days later I still find the characters fresh in my mind.  This book has twists that aid in building the suspense.  The characters were more than mere words, they seem to come alive on the pages; I felt that I knew them personally.  My favorite character was Hanna with her indigo eyes.  If only we all were so ready to listen and serve.  I’m glad I read this book.  Already I have recommended it to several friends, telling them it was a “must read” for this summer.   Pamela Ewan is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading more of her work.  This is Christian fiction at its best.

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