More a novella than a full-length novel, The Plot Against Heaven is an unconventional love story about a man named Paul Desuthe. Paul lodges a complaint to Heaven about an error that took his wife. Kate died tragically in an accident and Paul demands to speak to God about the injustice. Paul makes his way into a Heaven that is very different than he imagined. With armed guards and military checkpoints, peaceful conditions do not abound. Paul storms into God’s office and is surprised by what he finds. Ousted from Heaven, Paul lands in Hell undeterred. But his goal is the same; he wants to see his wife. The Devil proves devilish in a macabre tale that leaves readers creeped out and unsettled.
Peculiar and dark, Kirkbride’s bizarre love story falls somewhere between Kurt Vonnegut and Edgar Allan Poe. Many common literary tropes are exploited and satirized, making The Plot Against Heaven an unusual story in a category all its own. The pace is lightning fast, jumping from place to place without warning. Paul is an astute and sincere observer, and his character is a lot like Dorothy as she travels to the Emerald City only to discover the truth behind the curtain. The battle between Heaven and Hell that Paul finds himself caught up in is a strange juxtaposition of futuristic and timeless. At its core, though, The Plot Against Heaven is an enduring romantic tale set with one foot firmly in the grave.
