Colleen Mueller Writes

Being a history buff, I’ve always loved historical fiction, and few people do historical fiction better than Francine Rivers. My most recent find by her, The Last Sin Eater, is a wonderful novel exploring the timeless themes of sin, guilt, and atonement.

 

The Last Sin Eater takes place in the Appalachian Mountains in the mid-1800s, and follows the adventures of ten-year-old Cadi Forbes. Upon the death of her grandmother, Cadi resolves to find their community’s sin eater, a mysterious man whose job it is to absolve people of their sins after they die. She hopes that doing so will relieve her of the guilt she feels over a past family tragedy that left her relationship with her mother strained. Along the way, Cadi and her brother’s best friend, Fagan Kai, meet a traveling preacher whose teachings about redemption through Christ will forever change their lives and community.

 

I enjoyed this book very much. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of peeking into another era in history, and Francine Rivers has definitely done her research. She makes you feel as though you really are living in an 1800’s Appalachian village. Between the characters’ distinct dialects and the descriptions of their way of life, it is truly like taking a step back in time.

 

Ms. Rivers does a great job of communicating her Christian themes without being too preachy. She does this best by presenting us with imperfect and relatable characters who readers can both root for and identify with. She keeps the story going by placing high stakes and suspense throughout the novel, showing readers that history is anything but boring.

 

Overall, I would give this book a five out of five stars for its historical accuracy, wonderful characters, and important messaging. If you enjoyed Francine Rivers’ previous novel Redeeming Love, then you should definitely check out The Last Sin Eater.