This may be my favorite among Susan Howatch's numerous novels that are set within the world of the Anglican church.

The London setting in this particular novel truly captured my imagination. It was vividly described, allowing me to envision the bustling streets, the grand churches, and the unique atmosphere of the city.

Moreover, I found myself deeply caring about the characters and their various struggles. Each character was well-developed, with their own distinct personalities, flaws, and dreams. Their trials and tribulations made me empathize with them on a profound level.

Whether it was the internal conflicts they faced within themselves or the external challenges they had to overcome in the context of the Anglican church, I was completely invested in their stories.

The way Howatch weaves together the lives of these characters and the complex world of the Anglican church is truly masterful. It makes for a captivating and engaging read that I simply couldn't put down.

Overall, this novel stands out as a favorite due to its rich setting, compelling characters, and the skillful storytelling that brings it all to life.

I voraciously read Howatch’s Starbridge series back in the ‘90s.

These were six books chronicling the interconnected lives of clergy in the fictional Anglican diocese of Starbridge and took place from the 1940s to the 1960s.

And don’t think that because the books were about Anglican clergy, that they were pious and chaste narratives.

These are warts and all portrayals of Christians who are flawed, like anybody else.

Little did I know that there was a follow up trilogy and that The Wonder Worker is the first in the set.

I read it just as hungrily as I did the Starbridge books back in the day.

Howatch knows how to spin a good story.

And I absolutely plan on reading the next two in this trilogy post haste.

The title character is Nicholas Darrow, the son of Johnathon Darrow from the Starbridge books who was also featured in the last of that series, Mystical Paths.

Set in 1980’s London, charismatic Nicholas is running a healing ministry, one that combines medical psychotherapy along with laying on hands and prayer.

Nicholas seems to have it all, a flourishing career in London in the week and a beautiful wife and two healthy sons who live in Surry and who he sees at the weekends.

But the perfect life of Nicholas isn’t so perfect and the temptation for someone who has the ability to empathetically heal is to mistake their powers to be their own, instead of a gift from God.

The book is split up into five sections narrated by four different characters, which is really well done because it allows the reader to see events through their eyes which in turn shed light on perspective and motivations of other characters in previous sections.

Overall, The Wonder Worker is a captivating read that continues Howatch’s tradition of exploring the complex lives of religious figures in a thought-provoking and engaging way.

This book is truly a complex and rather challenging one to describe and even harder to like.

I found myself in a strange predicament where, despite not really enjoying it, I had a hard time putting it down.

The way it blended the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual was a conundrum that was not easily resolved.

And perhaps, in a strange way, it shouldn't be.

The ending, unfortunately, was neither neat nor satisfying.

However, upon reflection, I cannot think of another ending that would have retained the book's former suspense.

It's an interesting paradox, really.

This book forces you to grapple with its mysteries and contradictions, leaving you with a sense of unease and yet a certain fascination.

It's not a book that will appeal to everyone, but for those who are willing to engage with its complexity, it might offer a unique reading experience.

Overall, it's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

A Healing Center in England stands as a captivating subject of an interesting read. It is a place where various characters converge, each with their own story and connection to the center. The diverse personalities add depth and complexity to the narrative.

As the story unfolds, there is an unexpected turn of events that leaves the reader pondering some profound questions. Who among these characters is truly in need of healing? Is it the obvious ones with physical or emotional ailments, or are there hidden wounds that are not so easily visible?

Moreover, who are the true healers? Is it the professionals working at the center, or could it be the patients themselves, unknowingly helping each other in ways they never imagined? This thought-provoking twist makes the reader engage with the story on a deeper level, questioning the nature of healing and the roles we all play in the process.

I have a deep affection for Howatch's novels from the past, such as "Sins of Ourr Fathers" and "Cashelmara".

However, I would strongly advise against bothering to read "Wonder Worker" (1997). As you start reading it, a sense of boredom will quickly descend upon you.

Although Howatch still possesses the gift of using beautiful words, in this particular work, the words seem to flow on and on without any clear direction or way to neatly tie up the loose ends.

As a result, I could only manage to read half of the book before giving up.

It's truly a pity that a writer with such talent could produce a work that fails to engage the reader in a meaningful way.

Hopefully, in the future, Howatch will return to the form that made her previous novels so beloved.

This interesting novel is set in a Healing Center based out of the Anglican Church.

I am a sucker for all things British AND Anglican. It truly fascinates me.

Told by four alternating narrators, we are able to gain a unique perspective on their lives and problems. Each narrator brings a different aspect and depth to the story.

It's important to note that this novel may not be for everyone. The subject matter and the way it is presented might not appeal to all readers.

However, for me, I am completely hooked. I will definitely continue with the books in this trilogy. I can't wait to see what else lies ahead and how the stories of these characters will unfold.

I'm excited to explore more of the world created by the author and to learn more about the Anglican Church and its role in the lives of the characters.

This novel has piqued my interest and I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the trilogy.

A novelist's primary duty is to entertain. If readers also get enriched, enlightened, inspired, or whatever as a by-product of the entertainment, that's great. But none of that will occur unless the book is, first and foremost, readable and entertaining. This quote by Susan Howatch, from an interview for The Wonder Worker, perfectly encapsulates what I adore about her writing. Her stories are not only compelling and page-turning but also intertwined with deep spiritual truth.

The story commences from the perspective of Alice, an unemployed chef with formal training. However, she is unable to hold a job due to her aunt's illness and health requirements. She accidentally comes across a healing service at St. Benet's church, led by Nicholas Darrow, a minister dedicated to healing others in his community. This chance encounter draws Alice into the unfolding drama at the Centre for Healing in St. Benet's. As the narrative progresses, we witness the wonder workers' shortcomings and their own need for healing.

I love how skillfully Howatch presents her characters' flaws in a manner that could potentially make them completely unlikable. But then, she reveals their painful and humbling journey to redemption, making it impossible not to love them in the end. As a Christian who understands that faith doesn't imply perfection and failure is part of my journey, I truly value the encouragement these stories offer.

There are numerous instances throughout this story when I felt a warm and fuzzy gut-punch (I know it sounds strange, but it's the best way to describe it!) with the truth of the message of grace from a loving God. I can't wait to get my hands on the next Susan Howatch novel I can discover!

I never thought I would rate Susan Howatch's work with just three stars. However, a recent rereading of this book truly disappointed me.

Yes, her characters remain as vivid as ever, and the use of the first-person point of view still holds its charm. But overall, it left me with the impression that all C of E clergy are severely troubled. Well, if this is a true reflection of their thoughts and actions, then they surely are.

I have read every book Mrs Howatch has penned, including this one several years ago. I admit that I enjoyed it back then. But this later reading, especially in light of the two books that followed, was truly disturbing. All the discussions about the occult, the different perspectives on how to handle it (as advocated by Nicholas and Lewis), the ultimate outcome of the "possession," and particularly the simplistic ending. The transition from "The Exorcist" to "True Romance" was too abrupt, essentially unbelievable, and it gave me the sense that this ending was added on to please the readers.

It's sad because I have loved Howatch's writing ever since I heard someone recommend "The Rich are Different" on talk-back radio. After rereading this one and reflecting on the later two, I now wish Susan Howatch had left these characters and this theme alone after "Absolute Truths."

The Starbridge series was almost believable, but these followers are not. What a pity.

I truly relished this piece of writing. In fact, I found it more enjoyable than the previous one I read. Perhaps the reason for this is that I had a sufficient amount of time to immerse myself in the first few chapters.

The variation in the writing viewpoint was also quite excellent. It added an interesting dimension to the story and kept me engaged. However, I must admit that at one point, I did lose track of who was writing.

This could potentially be a minor drawback, but it didn't significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the work. Overall, I would highly recommend this to others who are looking for an engaging and well-written piece of literature.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The grown-up intense young man, who is now a priest, still has emotional troubles that now extend within his family.

His life as a priest has brought many challenges, and the emotional turmoil he experiences seems to have seeped into his family relationships.

Perhaps it is the pressure of his vocation, or maybe there are unresolved issues from his past that are resurfacing.

Whatever the cause, his family is now feeling the impact of his emotional state.

Communication within the family may have become strained, and there may be a sense of tension and unease.

It is important for the priest to address these emotional troubles and find ways to heal and restore harmony within his family.

This may involve seeking professional counseling, having open and honest conversations with his family members, or finding ways to manage his stress and emotions more effectively.

Only by taking these steps can he hope to overcome his emotional difficulties and build stronger, more fulfilling relationships with his family.

Reading this as an American was a somewhat bumpy experience. The long paragraphs dedicated to psychoanalysis had the potential to become a little boring at times. However, aside from that minor drawback, it was evident that the piece was very well thought out and extremely well written.

Lewis is my favorite, and this work did not disappoint. The author's ability to craft a narrative that engages the reader, despite the challenges presented by the psychoanalytic content, is truly remarkable.

Each paragraph builds upon the previous one, creating a seamless flow of ideas that draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the very end.

Overall, I would highly recommend this reading to others, especially those who are interested in exploring the depths of the human psyche through the lens of literature.

This was a big chunky read, and a really good read.

The book is written from the perspective of four characters. One of them both begins and ends the novel, while the other three are parts 2, 3 and 4. Howatch does an excellent job of inhabiting these very different voices. They seem like completely different people as they tell the story from their perspectives.

And quite cleverly done it is, too, this perspective shifting. The story mostly stays on a linear chronological path. We just step into another character's shoes and see things from his or her perspective for a while... before we step into yet another character's shoes as the story continues. I truly enjoyed this element of the novel. It didn't seem gimmicky at all, but rather an interesting way of shaping the story.

The story itself isn't overly amazing or fascinating. A young woman, overweight and feeling friendless, seeks help out of desperation from a Christian healing centre during the last days of her Aunt's life, who is clinging on to life after a stroke. This young woman then becomes involved in the lives and happenings of this Christian healing centre. And we then get to look through the eyes of two main members of that centre - two of the charismatic priests - and one other character, the wife of one of the charismatic priests.

I found two of the characters rather strange. One because she was truly horrible, with a social class consciousness that made every word she spoke and every decision she made seem to be hidden behind the veil of "what would people think?" (if not "what would Mummy think?". Is it just me, or does the use of the word Mummy coming out of a 40-year-old woman's mouth seem a bit creepy?). The other because of the pseudo-psycho-spiritual analysis that went into every observation about every other person (except himself, as he always seemed to avoid these deep and scathing reviews of his character, his psyche, his intentions and his behaviour), plus his constant references to sex. It started to irritate me.

But aside from the mild loathing I felt towards those characters, they contributed to an overall sympathetic telling of a household in some sort of crisis, with flawed characters and misinterpreted intentions and behaviours. Alice, the beginning and ending voice, saved the day. If it weren't for her perspective, this might have turned into one of those crazy British novels that anyone not born and raised in the UK may find difficult, if not impossible, to understand.