Only by Death

June 1, 2018

Tired of caring for his elderly mother who suffers from Alzheimer's, Liam Berne drowns her in a river, believing that the dual benefit of freedom and inheritance will guarantee an enjoyable future. However, 12-year-old Jesse Cummings, who holds a strong faith in Jesus, witnesses the crime, and, conflicted about what to do, confides in a friend about what he saw. Unfortunately, that confession makes its way back to Liam, who abducts Jesse with plans to kill him. The two end up in the mountains, where they encounter a dangerous fugitive. With death close at hand, Jesse attempts to save Liam's soul by telling him to seek forgiveness. A twist of fate makes Liam reconsider Jesse's request. VERDICT Herman's second entry in the "Ozark Mountain" trilogy (after Not by Sight) offers a swift-moving spiritual thriller that features plenty of plot twists along with themes of redemption, faith, and salvation.

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