If you were hoping, like me, that this book has more emphasis on her journey of faith, you may be reading and reading and reading... and wondering if it's even included. Half way through this book I actually stopped to check the back and front covers again to make sure this IS actually a book including some aspect of the Christian faith. I am sensitive when it comes to graphic imagery (including those conjured up as mental images while I'm reading) and I found a couple parts of this book to be very close to crossing a line and being something I would refuse to read. There isn't extraordinary gore-y detail, but situations and circumstances are portrayed in such a way that I did have nightmares from it. (Yes, I am a full grown adult. Laugh if you want, but I know I'm not the only sensitive soul in the world.)
That said, when faith was brought into the book, it was primarily through dialogue and Windle did tackle some big topics with great articulation such as: if God is loving, why does He permit suffering? and if God hears our prayers why doesn't He always seem to give some indication of response? And I do give her huge brownie points for making a clear statement that mental illness shouldn't be used as a "plea" to escape punishment for committing a horrendous crime. Here's how she delicately but boldly states it (pgs 440-441):
Some might say Trevor Mulroney was no longer entirely sane as he settled the rocket-propelled grenade launcher to his shoulder and closed his fingers around the firing mechanism. That his desperate grasp for power, wealth, renown, the months spent watching all to which he'd committed his life and future washing inexorably away like sand in an outgoing tide, had left him no longer capable of sound judgement or moral compass.
Mulroney knew better.
He was completely sane.
Entirely sober.
Fully aware of what he was doing.
I was provided a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions are my own :)