Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel - Softcover

Keating, Ray

4.14

285 ratings by Goodreads

9781453801031: Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1453801030 ISBN 13: 9781453801031

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2010

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

KFUO radio’s “BookTalk”: Ray Keating is a “great novelist.” WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL made "The top 10 self-published books to cross WORLD's desk this year." WORLD magazine (June 29, 2013, issue) looked at more than 100 titles and then came up with a "final list of 10 that display clear writing and storytelling." On WARRIOR MONK, WORLD declared, "The 'warrior monk' in question is an ex-CIA agent who settled into life as a ... Lutheran pastor, saving lives and taking care of bad guys (who get saved)." WARRIOR MONK revolves around a former CIA assassin, Stephen Grant, who has lived a far different, relatively quiet life as a parish pastor in recent years. However, a shooting at his church, a historic papal proposal, and threats to the Pope's life mean that Grant's former and current lives collide. Grant must tap the varied skills learned as a government agent, a theologian and a pastor not only to protect the Pope, but also to feel his way through a minefield of personal challenges. Larry Kudlow, CNBC's "The Kudlow Report," said, "Ray Keating has created a fascinating and unique character in Pastor Grant. The way Keating intertwines politics, national security and faith into a compelling thriller is sheer delight." U.S. Congressman Pete King, the Ranking Member on the House Homeland Security Committee, declared, "CIA intrigue, the Vatican, international terrorism and brutal assassinations make Warrior Monk a fast-moving, riveting read right out of today's - and tomorrow's - headlines. Add challenging religious issues, which the author makes us confront, and you have a brilliant novel. Ray Keating knows what he is writing about and writes it extraordinarily well." And Paul L. Maier, best-selling author of A Skeleton in God's Closet, commented, "Holy Scripture and unholy gun play in the same novel? Exactly - and you'll love the combination! WARRIOR MONK offers a riveting mix of action, romance, and intrigue, served up by a master wordsmith. Keating's Pastor Stephen Grant manages to wield both Bible and bullets with equal expertise. Grant is clearly in control whether in or out of the pulpit."

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant series of mysteries/thrillers, including eight novels - WARRIOR MONK, followed by ROOT OF ALL EVIL?, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, THE RIVER, MURDERER'S ROW, WINE INTO WATER, LIONHEARTS and REAGAN COUNTRY - and two short stories titled HEROES AND VILLAINS and SHIFTING SANDS.

His nonfiction books include THE REALISTIC OPTIMIST TO DO LIST & CALENDAR 2019 and "CHUCK" VS. THE BUSINESS WORLD: BUSINESS TIPS ON TV.

Keating also is an author of various nonfiction books, an economist, a podcaster, and publisher/editor/columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com. In addition, he was a regular columnist with RealClearMarkets.com, and a former weekly columnist for Newsday, Long Island Business News, and the New York City Tribune. His work has appeared in a wide range of other periodicals, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe, National Review, The Washington Times, Investor's Business Daily, New York Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, Providence Journal Bulletin, TheHill.com, Touchstone magazine, Townhall.com, Newsmax, and Cincinnati Enquirer. Keating lives on Long Island with his family.

Review:

"Here is a fun adventure romp, a first novel by former Newsday columnist Ray Keating. Stephen Grant is an ex-CIA agent with notches on his pistol who, with a little bit of angst, turns his back on his secret life and becomes, get this, a pastor of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod." - FirstThings.com

"The first of Ray Keating's Pastor Stephen Grant novels, Warrior Monk, catches your attention from page one. It reads like one of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp adventures, dishing out details and action at a fast pace. And in the midst of that action Keating manages to brilliantly present the reader with thought provoking truths, seemingly little things that aren't pondered nearly enough, such as a note about church architecture or a relational reality particular to men who hold the pastoral office. At other times he deals with larger topics such as church doctrine and practice... It's a spectacular ride steeped in theological intrigue! As a fan of G.K. Chesterton I delighted in the similarities between Keating's Pastor Stephen Grant and Chesterton's Father Brown. In the 20th century, Chesterton, a journalist (among other things), gave the world a detective priest. In the 21st, another journalist (among other things), Keating, gave the world a spy-turned-pastor." - Tyrel Bramwell, author of The Gift and the Defender

"It's got it all: action, intrigue, character development, etc." - Mary Moerbe, author of Blessed: God's Gift of Love and Family Vocation

"It grabs a hold of you so much that you want to keep reading. You want to figure out what happens." - Rod Zwonitzer, host of KFUO "BookTalk"

"Warrior Monk by Ray Keating has all of the adventure, intrigue, and believable improbability of mainstream political thrillers, but with a lead character, Pastor Stephen Grant, that resists temptation." - Lutheran Book Review

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.