Product Description

1968, with the swinging sixties sliding into decadence, finds Nicholas Darrow wrestling with overwhelming personal problems: How can he bring himself to marry his fiancee, Rosalind, when he is unable to avoid promiscuity? How can he become a priest when he finds it so difficult to live as one? And how can he break his dangerous dependence on his father Jon, whose psychic gifts he shares? It is at this crucial moment in his life that Nick becomes involved in the mystery surrounding his friend, Christian Aysgarth. Gradually, he realises that discovering the truth about this enigmatic and complex man will unlock the answers to his own baffling problems. However, his journey through darkness into the light reverses all the old certainties and, in his experiments with the psychic powers, Nick risks even his own life and sanity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57003 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Review
'One of the most original novelists writing today' Cosmopolitan 'She is writing for anyone who can recognise that mysterious gift of the true storyteller' Daily Telegraph 'Arguably no one writing today can equal Howatch's ability to write compelling novels that combine theology and psychology in a complex, fast-moving plot offering beautifully delineated characters and the suspense of a mystery thriller' Publishers Weekly 'A fascinating, mind-bending exposition! Howatch wins out' Sunday Times' 'Taking on the style of a psychological thriller!Mystical Paths covers in a profound and theologically thoughtful way the powers of light and powers of darkness!Her success should not go unrewarded' Catholic Herald 'Howatch writes thrillers of the heart and mind !everything in a Howatch novel cuts close to the bone and is of vital concern' New Woman

About the Author
Susan Howatch was born in Surrey in England. After taking a degree in law at King's College, London, she emigrated to America where she married, had a daughter, and embarked on her career as a writer. In 1976 she separated from her husband, left America and lived in the Republic of Ireland for four years before returning to England. While living in a flat overlooking Salisbury Cathedral and "trying to hold my divided self together", she found herself inspired by the beauty of the cathedral and became a convert. She wondered if she should continue producing romantic novels. Instead, she wrote the series of six Starbridge novels about the Church of England in the 20th century, all of which reflect her own spiritual crises.

Customer Reviews

the story continues...
The second trilogy in the Starbridge books takes place in the 1960's. In this book Jon Darrow's son Nick is now a young man shortly before his ordination as a priest. Nick is in no way a model ordinand. Like his father he has psychic powers, and cannot resist the urge to show them off as parlour tricks to impress the girls. He has quite a collection of female admirers and has it all figured out - how to separate the nice girls from the bad ones, and, of course, when to go to Confession (not compulsory in the Church of England) only to start all over again. The central story in this book is Nick's obsession with finding out the truth about a friend who has died under mysterious circumstances. He also has deep-seated issues with his father Jon - now living as a wise but fallible recluse - and problems keeping his psychic powers under control. Nick tends to blunder from one mess into the other - but remains a loveable and sincere young man who needs to learn the lesson: I CAN BE WRONG.

In spite of Nick's charms I wasn't entirely captivated by this book. I never really developed an interest in Christian and couldn't quite follow Nick's fascinationwith him. Also I found the psychic-occult element a little tedious this time around; it had been dealt with adequately in Glamorous Powers, I felt. Nevertheless it's an important part of the series and it was wonderful getting to know Nick, and witnessing the love between him and Jon.

Well-worn story but still a good read
The Starbridge novels have all kept me gripped, and this one is no different. By now though I am finding the storyline of 'messed-up priest seeks redemption through sexual experimentation' slightly hackneyed.

Nonetheless, Susan Howatch is a good story-teller and the plot moves quickly and holds the readers attention. The background of the Church of England is interesting although I think that Susan Howatch focuses too much on one particular branch of it (high church) and I am not sure that she ever quite manages to capture the essence of spirituality (though who can?).

All in all a good read, but should be read with the others in the series.

A bit too Mills and Boon
I thought this audio book had just too many cliches. I read audio books in order to help me wind down at the end of the day and this was just too full of well worn characters to be interesting or amusing. Handsome frenchmen and bored wives, wonderful landscapes and perfect french food. All too predictable and rather tedious, too irritating to please