City of Peace

When Methodist minister Harley Camden loses his wife and daughter in a European terrorist attack, he spirals downward into grief and anger. The bishop forces him to move to a tiny church in small-town Occoquan, Virginia, to heal and recover. But all hope for serenity is quickly shattered by the mysterious murder of the daughter of the local Iraqi baker, followed by the threat of an attack by Islamic extremists. Harley tries to build bridges to his neighbors, including Muslims and Coptic Christians, and digs into the history of the ancient Galilean city of Sepphoris to find the secret to survival in a fractured and violent world. Past and present come together in surprising ways as Harley sets out to stop the violence and save his new flock. City of Peace is a gripping and fast-paced mystery that will engage people politically and spiritually, leaving them with fresh insight into how they can overcome polarizing divisions among people of differing cultures and faiths.

REVIEWS:

"What's a Presbyterian pastor doing writing a page-turning murder mystery? I'd say doing a dazzling job reaching readers who will appreciate a terrific mix of the spiritual and the thrilling." 
--Mike McCurry, former White House Press Secretary and Director, Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary
 
"An inspiration --a man of God and his struggle to conquer inner demons. Highly recommended."
--Christopher Bowron, best-selling author of Devil in the Grass and The Palm Reader
 
"Deeply spiritual writers often have difficulty with suspense. Not Henry Brinton. Faith's challenges are present along with its opportunities as the protagonist, Harley Camden, confronts both real and imagined assaults on his sensitivities. City of Peace is timely, compelling and entertaining -- in hockey they call that the 'hat trick.'" 
--Al Sikes, author of Culture Leads Leaders Follow and former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush.
 
"A tale of overcoming rage, unlearning religious prejudice, and finding the ground of community and forgiveness, Brinton's City of Peace speaks a needed pastoral word into our troubled, fractious time."
--David Williams, author of the novel When the English Fall
 
"The story of Harley is not just the story of one man, but also a story that many can relate to, one going from frustration and sadness into redemption, forgiveness and reconciliation. A must read." 
--Shahid Rahman, Executive Director, American Muslim Institution