Solomon Long, hardened hit-man, and former caged freak-in-the-basement is unleashed on a community and haunted by his last victim.

Wells' strength lies in the parables he creates and recreates, drawing from Shakespeare, The Bible and Punky Brewster, to tell a story that neither stays with, nor strays far from, the source material.

This debut is a worthwhile read, with a cinematic flow. Sure to please fans of Noir, Tarantino or the Coen brothers.

It's a simple, yet profound, premise: When a contract killer makes a move to kill an innocent preacher, the preacher offers unconditional forgiveness. The killer, Solomon Long, is rocked by the man's reaction.

"Forgiving Solomon Long" is a story of redemption, couched in the organized crime scene of Kansas City. At times, it reads with the vivid focus of a comic book; at others, it delves deeply into the wounds that many violent men carry. We meet Det. Tom Griggs, a man numbed by his job and impotent to change his own marriage. We journey with "Solo" through his ugly childhood, his contract-killer career, and his guilt-driven attempts to come clean. We bump into criminal low-lifes, attractive female cops, and greasy crime lords.

In the story's conclusion, most of the pieces come together in a moving, yet understated manner. Although the plot thread concerning Solo's mother seems to unravel, the action never flags, and Chris Well stays true to his characters and their inner struggles. Like a classic comic book (think "Spiderman" and "Batman"), this novel is so cleanly drawn that a non-reader could enjoy it, yet so deeply developed that a voracious biblophile can find numerous things to appreciate.

In the growing world of Christian fiction, "Forgiving Solomon Long" proves there is room for new styles, gritty characters, and stories that can move us without sermonizing. Keep bringin' it, Mr. Well. We're ready for more!

Tight writing, unforgettable characters, and a fast-paced story make this a welcome addition to the CBA bookshelf. Chris Well has carved out a niche for himself in Christian fiction, and I look forward to reading more of his novels.

I'm not a usual reader of crime fiction, but this book is an entertaining, quick read, and should appeal to folks beyond any artifical designation of "genre".

The characterization is unique, sometimes sparse without superfluous detail, but always catches your attention. Many side characters have enough "color" to them that they stick in your head.

The action moves along briskly. Occasionally I would like a little more detail in settings, but it all works.

The thing I appreciate the most is that the author doesn't make all of the conclusions for you. You have room for interpretation at the end. But don't worry, it's not a philosopical tome, but an enjoyable read.

Too often Christian writers settle for being imitative instead of original. Thankfully Chris Well is not the Christian answer to Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen; his voice and style is unique. While fans of Leonard and Hiaasen - and Shakespeare - will enjoy this novel, it will be because it presents a fresh and funny take on the mob scene, instead of the all-too-typical over-moralized Christian fiction knockoff.

Forgiving Solomon Long is the story of a contract killer who develops a conscience late in his career. It's also the story of mobsters who quote everything from Chekhov to The Odd Couple (and, unfortunately, Punky Brewster), pop decongestants like tic-tacs, and try to find their way in a world that has stopped making sense. And then there are the men and women of law enforcement, whose worlds are beginning to fall apart as well. All of it told in a fast-paced, funny style that will keep you laughing as the chapters whiz by.

My only problem with the book comes at the ending. In an effort to keep things fast-paced, description and imagery are sacrificed, characters are forgotten (although that seems somewhat intentional based on a literary observation by one of the gangsters), pop culture references all but disappear, and the story gets stretched a bit thin. It's not enough to detract from the brilliance of the first three-quarters of the book, but still - bada-bing - there it is.

If you're looking for a book with engaging characters and an entertaining plotline, that deals with issues of faith without preaching, and tackles Shakespearean tragedies (e.g., Macbeth, King Lear, Julius Caesar) without being overly blatant, pick up a copy of Chris Well's breakout first novel. You might not forgive yourself if you don't.