Reviewed by: J. J. Hanna, a Professional Writing Major at Taylor University

Introduction

Title: Someone Has to Die

Author: Jim Baton

Publisher: Createspace

Publication Date: 2016

Format: Print book

Length: 346 pages

OVERVIEW

Following the stories of a peace-making congressman, a terrorist bent on wiping Christians from the earth, the family of an ex-terrorist, and a single Christian mother and her daughter, this book is a roller coaster from start to finish. Multiple characters are faced with internal issues of identity as they struggle with the external issues regarding the unstable relationship between Christians and Muslims. The two families are drawn together at the height of tensions between the two religions after an unruly gang of Muslim teenagers burns down the church the Christian family attends. A member of the volunteer fire rescue team (an ex-terrorist) finds himself running into the flames to save the only person trapped in the fire.

In the weeks following this event, two of the children become close and fall in love, causing a second religious struggle as one is a Christian and one is a Muslim. Just after the fire victims are released from the hospital, the ex-terrorist’s son is recruited for the same group he used to fight for, despite all of his father’s efforts to keep him safe and out of the reach of Jihad.

Due to a shocking shift of events, the characters are arranged perfectly for an unlikely hero to show love and forgiveness to the person responsible for many life threatening situations.

Despite a few layout and grammatical errors, this book had a solid story and lingered in my mind hours after I’d finished it.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

4 stars

Suggested Audience

Lovers of thrillers would enjoy this book. Mature readers would gain an understanding of Indonesian culture and would come away with a fresh perspective on the issues between Muslims and Christians.

Christian Impact

This book brings into focus both halves of the story, showing the impact actions and love can have in one of the most heated topics of the day. It demonstrates the beauty of unconditional love and the importance of learning not to judge others too quickly.

Other Notes:
A list of characters is included at the front of the book, which is very helpful because the characters’ names are true to the region. Also, the topic of suicide comes up a few times in this book.

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