Galilee

A newly minted priest assigned a parish in a sleepy fishing village encounters its dark past in this thriller.

Father Tommy Hickey is fresh out of the seminary and disappointed to have drawn such a dismal inaugural assignment—he’s to take control of St. Peter’s Parish in Galilee, a fishing village in Rhode Island. To make matters worse, when he arrives, he quickly learns that his predecessor, Father Gilday, just recently died—the priest had been there for a half-century—and so he would have to begin his duties unsupervised, “thrown right into the trenches.” Slowly, Father Hickey is confronted by the oddness of Galilee—dozens of cats are regularly found dead around the church each morning. One local, Ted Roberts, complains that his dead mother angrily haunts him, and that Abaddon, Satan’s right-hand man, plans to come to her grave soon. Another parishioner, Janie, reveals that her young son, Peter, died as a result of her negligence and that his soul is imperiled. All of this might be connected to the town’s morbid past—a fisherman who raped and murdered women was killed by an angry mob of townspeople. In this novella—it’s not quite 100 pages—Tracey unravels a complex tale with great restraint and suspense. The plot is artfully unpredictable, and imbued with an ambient atmosphere of foreboding. The author’s prose is conspicuously unembellished and blandly earnest. Father Hickey, upon arriving at St. Peter’s, thinks aloud: “I sure could use a rescue from here.” Nevertheless, the draw of the tale is the story itself and its characters, drawn with psychological nuance. Tracey has fashioned an intensely gripping tale, a story intelligently undergirded by a thoughtful reflection on the elusiveness of one’s spiritual purpose on Earth.

A captivating supernatural tale brimming with well-crafted drama and sensitive characterization.

- Kirkus Reviews

The view outside his new office is a graveyard. In it, Tommy sees a big man in fishing overalls looking off towards the ocean, an old woman in a heavy blue wool jacket, and a boy playing in the snow. Being a young priest, Father Tommy Hickey’s assignment to the small fishing port of Galilee at the Church of Saint Peter was a disappointment. His seven years at seminary school and topping his class seemed to have been a waste. He arrived at the church to an icy welcome, learning of the death of Father Gilday and his new role as the only father in the church and area. He is also the sole resident of the parish, making for a lonely first night.

The people of Galilee are also strange; some are cagey and cautious, while others seem weary and tormented. Father Hickey develops compassion for the troubled and vows to help them achieve tranquility. However, he quickly realizes he may be taking up more than he understands or can handle. Galilee has a hidden and gruesome past that no one is willing to talk about, and it seems to be catching up with the residents. Before Father Hickey can take it all in, a parishioner comes to him in desperate need of help. He narrates an extraordinary tale of the past clashing with the present in a spiritual versus mortal battle. Is Father Hickey up to the task? Who are the people in the graveyard, and what is their connection to the happenings in Galilee?

The book’s partly humorous introduction instantly draws the reader to the story. The author expertly introduces each character and progressively develops them as the story unfolds. The description of the scenes and settings are exquisite and highly detailed. I could feel the freezing winter temperature or see and smell the savory dishes. The story is also full of suspense and tension as one yearns to learn more about the characters, their fears, and the reason for their behaviors. The vivid description of the characters makes them realistic and distinguishable based on their physical traits and personalities.

My favorite aspect of the book is the clues the author leaves in every chapter, painting a picture of what might be going on without disclosing the full details. I equally love the blunt depiction of the Catholic faith, including the controversies and the creative use of Bible stories to come up with a fascinating and thought-provoking plot. However, my least favorite aspect of the book is the conclusion. Everything unfolded fast and quietly, not living up to the build-up. Additionally, the book is definitely thrilling but not so much a horror as categorized.

I found only one grammatical error, evidence of the book’s professional and excellent editing. The language employed is intelligible with slight use of profanities. The story exclusively draws from the Catholic Church, portraying God as the supreme deity. It has numerous Bible verses and personalities and has several instances of prayers. This might not sit well with those of an alternate or non-religion. Galilee by D. L. Tracey is a fascinating and incredible read that shows various aspects of death and the afterlife, good and evil. It also depicts the mistakes, resilience, and power that come with being human. The book’s final paragraph leaves one in suspense and yearning for the next part of the story. I recommend it to readers looking for a captivating novel that combines elements of faith and mystery. I happily award Galilee a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.

- OnlineBookClub.org

Awesome story! At first, I didn’t like Father Tommy Hickey because the moment he arrived at his first parish, he had nothing but complains. But then I realized that even though he’s a priest, he’s just like any of us who has hopes and dreams. Also, it didn’t take him long to regret his lack of compassion and even shared that to all the people present during his first Holy Mass, redeeming himself as a respectable young priest. 

There’s so much going on in this story: too many cats are dying, ghosts of people and a dog are haunting their own family, a killer fisherman is back from the dead, and there’s a demon too! Who wouldn’t keep on reading to find out how Tommy could save the people of Galilee from these very strange occurrences?

I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. I love the inconceivable and mysterious flow of the story. It was unpredictable, gripping, and entertaining! I highly recommend this to readers who love horror thrillers.

- Shey Saints' Book Reviews