Prophecy is a well-researched novel of historical fiction that centers around a real event and real people, but - spoiler alert! -don't be tempted to Google names and places until after you've read the novel. There is a large cast of characters and several plot lines so be prepared for some confusion, which can be distracting. I enjoyed this book, although not as much as the original in the series, Heresy, and feel it could have benefited from a more zealous editor; there were several examples of telling when showing would have been more effective. The author doesn't leave those who haven't read Heresy in the dark, but provides sufficient background so that Prophecy stands on its own. Historical fiction buffs, especially those who favor the Tudor period, will really enjoy the writing; the descriptions take you there!

I really loved The Nobodies Album. A murder mystery provides the plot framework for the novel, but it is the element that tells the story of a dysfunctional family that is most compelling. The author is very adept at the emotions and nuances that resonate in relationships. Indeed, some of the characters’ reactions to a plot twist were so real that you identify with them and thus, think about the book for some time after you’ve read the last page. I also found the technique, seemingly a version of the epistolary novel but using the endings of short stories rather than letters to tell a larger story, that the Parkhurst uses to examine the question of “What-if we could rewrite the past?” to be very effective. A really good read that I definitely recommend to those interested in family/emotional stories.

This book is, essentially, a love story - to the city of Charleston, the Catholic faith, and friendship. While I won't go into plot specifics, like all of Mr. Conroy's previous novels, the writing is very descriptive, and the story is framed by a tragic childhood. The book employs many references to James Joyce and the reader unfamiliar with Joyce will miss some of the suggested nuances. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't love it the way I did his previous novels; it just wasn't as powerful.