A Fast-Paced, Engaging Adventure Novel by Kieran Fanning
The Arrival by Kieran Fanning is a fast-paced, engaging adventure which asks us to consider some interesting theological questions, not least – if the second coming of Jesus were to happen, would anyone believe it?
Sarah is a teenager who would rather be spending time with her friends at the cinema than with her out-of-touch archaeologist father, but when she is sent to visit him and he takes her to a tunnel drilling site which has revealed a remarkable new discovery, she is pulled into a mystery that she becomes desperate to solve. Declan, a local boy who lives in the village next to the site, is lonely and struggling for friends. When he is dared to steal a hard hat from the tunnel site he then find himself mixed up in the strange series of events that begin to unfurl as this new discovery takes on a life of it’s own and becomes something entirely new.
The story moves along at a great pace, and pulls you in from the outset. From the moment the strange archaeological find is discovered, the story twists and turns in a very engaging way. The characters are all well-drawn; the way that Fanning pulls together and intertwines Sarah and Declan’s threads is very adept. I found Sarah and Declan to both be relatable and believable, and I was invested in their stories as they go on their incredible journeys that lead to the dramatic conclusion. There are elements of the spiritual, the supernatural, and the theological in the story and these work well within the context of the story. Fanning’s writing is tight and well-constructed, and respects its readers by embedding intelligent themes and ideas.
Ultimately, the book leaves us with more questions than answers, and, I must admit, at the end I was hoping for a little more by way of explanation for all the different elements of the puzzle. But, without giving too much away, there is clearly room for a sequel, and so perhaps that is where we will find these answers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the questions that it asks of its readers. A mystery that offers a fast-paced, flowing narrative, and keeps you hooked til the end, this story is highly recommended.
‘The Arrival’ is available for purchase at: https://amzn.to/4bOXJzE
