Benji is one of several survivors of a shipwreck who find themselves in a lifeboat. Desperate for someone to save them, a stranger appears out of the water, claiming to be the Lord. They can be saved, he says, if they believe in him. Benji journals the experience in a notebook which is later found in an empty lifeboat washed ashore on the Caribbean island of Montserrat.

The diary finds its way to the island’s chief inspector, who is charged with solving its mystery. Albom’s novel weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue, leaving the reader guessing until the final reveal.

Fans of Albom know he is the master at creating stories that involve heavenly issues, and this book is no exception. You will not be disappointed.

(Personal note: I couldn’t wait to read this novel, as I used a technique somewhat similar to his in my soon-to-be-published novel, To Live in the Light.)

Reviewed March 2022