The Wonder Worker is an extraordinary psycho/spiritual thriller that has the power to deeply touch one's heart, soul, and intellect.

Nicholas Darrow, the central character, is not only a gifted priest but also a humble and flawed human being. His complex nature adds depth and authenticity to the story.

The novel is filled with a cast of complex characters, each having their own compelling story. These characters and their intertwined narratives make The Wonder Worker one of my all-time favorite novels.

I have read nearly all of what Howatch has published, and I am constantly in awe of her talent. Her ability to create such engaging and thought-provoking stories is truly remarkable. I would love to see more wonderful works from her in the future.

It is clear that Howatch has a unique gift for writing, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Moving, Thoughtful and Engaging


This is a truly captivating story that revolves around two priests in the Church of England. What makes them unique is that they possess psychic gifts and they manage a Healing Center that is affiliated with the church. They collaborate with a diverse team including physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other support staff.

A woman who is grappling with the difficult task of caring for her dying aunt accidentally walks into the church’s healing worship service and there she meets one of the priests. The subsequent story offers a fascinating exploration of the hardships the characters endure when the priest is compelled to confront his disintegrating marriage.

This is a tale of growth, redemption, and hope. It is one of my two favorite books (the other being Absolute Truths) penned by Susan Howatch, who is among my very favorite authors. The priests in this book were also characters in Howatch’s Starbridge series, which is equally remarkable. However, it is not essential to read the Starbridge series prior to reading this one as this story takes place long before that. The book is well-written, concise, and deeply touching, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Take an unlikely Cinderella, a young woman who seems to have all the odds stacked against her.

Mix in a charismatic religious healer, a man who exudes charm and confidence but perhaps doesn't understand himself as deeply as he believes.

Add some subplots to thicken the plot. One of these involves an unhappy character from a previous book, bringing in a sense of continuity and adding another layer of complexity.

Toss in ongoing conversations about religious and spiritual beliefs, which not only add depth to the story but also make it relevant in today's world.

The result is an interesting book that is told through the voices of several characters. However, my main criticism is that although the characters are well differentiated in terms of their personalities and backstories, their written voices are too similar. This makes it a bit difficult at times to distinguish between them and can slightly detract from the overall reading experience.

Despite this flaw, the book still has many redeeming qualities and is worth a read for those interested in a story that combines elements of romance, mystery, and spiritual exploration.

The Starbridge series holds a special place on my list of favorite reads this year.

This particular book is the first installment in a "spin-off" series, commencing approximately 20 years after the conclusion of the last Starbridge book.

While I didn't have the same level of affection for it as I did for the original Starbridge, the use of multiple narrators had its pros and cons. On one hand, it meant that I didn't get to know any single character as deeply as I might have wished. However, on the other hand, I truly appreciated how this approach presented the story from a diverse range of angles.

I continue to be astounded by how Howatch crafts a highly flawed character and writes them in such a masterful way that you find yourself sympathizing with them even as you witness the mistakes they make and, at times, how much of a jerk they can be.

It might take me a while to get to them, but I am absolutely determined to read the next two books in this trilogy.

I'm eager to see how the story unfolds and how the characters develop further.

Overall, despite its minor drawbacks, this book has left me with a strong desire to explore more of the Starbridge universe.

I really enjoyed this particular book.

Interestingly, it is a British book, and I have a great penchant for reading British literature.

Although it's not the kind of book I would typically pick up, it turned out to be quite well-written.

The book is structured in such a way that each chapter is dedicated to a specific character, which gives a detailed and in-depth look at their personalities and motives.

However, at times, I found it a bit too wordy. Maybe it was just my eagerness to see the events unfold quickly that made me feel that way. I wasn't overly keen on reading long passages of thoughts, descriptions, and rather vague histories.

As for the ending, I can't say I liked it. But then again, I didn't hate it either. The way the story was wrapped up felt a bit wordy and perhaps a little weak.

Without giving away any spoilers, I would still recommend this book to others. It has its flaws, but overall, it offers an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The original text seems to be a brief assessment of an article. Here is an expanded version:

The article in question requires serious editing down.

Despite this, there are some excellent bits within it.

The ideas presented in certain sections are quite remarkable and show great potential.

However, I am not convinced by the ending.

It feels rather abrupt and does not provide a satisfying conclusion to the overall piece.

Perhaps more thought and effort could be put into reworking the ending to tie up the loose ends and give the article a more polished and complete feel.

Overall, with some careful editing and a stronger ending, this article has the potential to be truly outstanding.

I absolutely loved this book. It was truly a remarkable read that left a lasting impression on me.

As a result, I have a strong intention to read the other books in this St. Benet series. The author's unique combination of psychology, theology, and excellent character descriptions is what makes her works so incredibly enjoyable for me.

It's fascinating to see how she weaves these different elements together to create a story that is not only engaging but also thought-provoking. The psychological insights into the characters add depth and complexity, while the theological aspects bring a spiritual dimension to the narrative.

And let's not forget the wonderful character descriptions. The author has a talent for bringing her characters to life, making them feel real and relatable. I found myself invested in their stories and rooting for them throughout the book.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book and the entire St. Benet series to anyone who enjoys a good read that combines psychology, theology, and great character development.

Parts of the book were truly captivating, to the extent that I simply couldn't bear to put it down. The narrative in those sections was so engaging that it held my attention firmly.

However, on the other hand, there were other parts that were extremely dry. The writing in those segments seemed to lack life and energy, making it a real struggle for me to continue reading.

Among all the characters in the book, I particularly took a liking to the character of Alice. She stood out as the only truly real and likeable character. Her personality was well-developed, and I could easily empathize with her.

Overall, the book had its highs and lows. While the good parts were excellent, the dry parts detracted from the overall reading experience. Nevertheless, the character of Alice was a bright spot and made the book somewhat worthwhile.

One of the characters from her Church of England series is Nicholas.

He is a truly charismatic priest. His charm seems to have an almost magical quality, drawing people towards him.

However, beneath this appealing exterior lies a rather disturbing trait. Nicholas has a tendency to use his gifts not for the good of others, but rather to manipulate them.

He is sly and cunning in his approach, carefully choosing his words and actions to get what he wants from those around him.

This manipulation often leaves those he interacts with feeling confused, used, and sometimes even betrayed.

Despite his flaws, Nicholas remains an interesting and complex character, one that readers can't help but be both intrigued and repelled by.

His actions and motives add an element of mystery and drama to the Church of England series, making it all the more engaging and captivating for the audience.

As the story unfolds, it will be fascinating to see how Nicholas's character develops and whether he will ultimately face the consequences of his manipulative ways.

This was a re-read of a book that I have perused several times previously.

One aspect that truly stands out is the astonishing degree to which the way I pen fiction is swayed by Susan Howatch in manners that I would have never imagined.

Her writing style, with its rich characterizations and complex plotlines, seems to have seeped into my subconscious and influenced my own creative process.

It's almost as if I am unconsciously emulating her techniques, even though I may not have been aware of it before.

This realization has made me appreciate her work even more and has also given me a new perspective on my own writing.

I now see that there is so much I can learn from her and that I have a long way to go in developing my own unique style.

Nevertheless, I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to continuing to be inspired by Susan Howatch's remarkable body of work.

I read this book because a student of mine is writing an essay on it. At the beginning, I did encounter some difficulties in getting into the story. I felt that some of the writing was a bit awkward, which made it a bit hard for me to engage immediately.

However, as I progressed further, I became intrigued by the multiple narratives. The different perspectives added depth and complexity to the story, making it more interesting to follow. I also found the exploration of the ins and outs of the Christian religion in the UK quite fascinating. It provided insights into a world that I was not entirely familiar with.

Nevertheless, in the end, I felt that the book was just okay. The last 100 pages were extremely dramatic, with an overwhelming number of events crashing together all at once. It felt a bit chaotic and overdone. Additionally, having three of the major characters give such extended monologues to explain everything seemed a bit too preachy. It took away some of the natural flow and authenticity of the story.

Furthermore, the resolution of the relationship between the two main characters appeared a bit too sudden and ultimately cliché. It lacked the nuance and complexity that I was hoping for. All in all, there was just too much going on in the story. I think it would have been more elegant and effective if there had been a bit more restraint and a tighter focus on the core elements.

I first delved into The Wonder Worker in the early 1990s. By that time, I had devoured all the other novels within Susan Howatch's Church of England canon, and my appetite for her work remained insatiable. A week ago, I rediscovered this gem and was once again completely enamored.

A demonic possession, a harrowing exorcism, a tragic suicide, and a forbidden love - these are the electrifying highlights that grace the pages of this book. Howatch is a master at seamlessly blending the grand, romantic style of the plum-pudding novel with profound explorations of contemporary theology and philosophy.

The eponymous Wonder Worker is Nicholas Darrow, a psychic priest and healer who leads St. Benet's Healing Centre in London during the 1980s. His psychic abilities constantly tempt him to steal the spotlight, perform miraculous feats, and at times, even hypnotically manipulate the other characters. Lewis, his partner, is an aging priest and fellow psychic healer. Lewis's deep-rooted religious conservatism stands in sharp contrast to Nick's revolutionary mindset. Nick's wife, Rosalind, is a woman filled with loneliness, frustration, and anger. She has sacrificed her fulfilling career to care for Nick's children and manage his country retreat. Then there's Alice, who meets Nick and immediately falls head over heels in love with him. Overweight and lacking in confidence, she knows she has no chance of winning him away from Rosalind, yet she finds herself powerless to resist him.

The story, rich with themes of temptation, sickness, violence, healing, and forgiveness, is narrated by the four main characters. Underpinning it all is their unwavering conviction that the Devil is actively at work in the world, and that they must do whatever it takes to vanquish this evil and allow the process of healing to continue.