Prodigal

A Novel

Fiction - Southern
200 Pages
Reviewed on 04/11/2024
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

In Prodigal by Phyllis Gobbell, the Burdettes are Democrats in a county that is mostly Republican. Lady Burdette, the matriarch of the family, is authoritative and doesn't shy away from expressing her opinions. Her son, Daniel, is a Baptist pastor. Something happens on the 4th of July that changes the family. Connor, who is Daniel's son, witnesses the shooting of Raleigh, for which he is blamed. The events that follow cause Connor to run away from home. Lady Burdette changes her will and asks to see Ivy urgently, but the meeting doesn't happen as they find her dead in her home. Was there foul play involved in her death? Coincidentally, Connor returns home the day after the death of Lady Burdette. It has taken him ten years to come back home. How will he deal with his past deeds?

With a unique plot and interesting characters, Prodigal by Phyllis Gobbell takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. What stood out was the human connections that made the story emotive and the well-developed characters relatable. I loved the themes of redemption and forgiveness as they were explored. This wonderful work also got me thinking about religion and its role in shaping society. The author ensured that all the events and emotions were vividly captured, which helped create a mental picture of what was happening. The plot also flows in a systematic manner, which makes sure there is no room for confusion for the reader. This is a great story, and I can't wait to read something else by this author.