A thriller with heart.
Raine belongs to The Teaching, an intimate religious community that outsiders are quick to label as a cult. From a practical standpoint, The Teaching provides for everyone’s needs and Raine is generally happy with her humble life in the Haven. David is also in The Teaching, although his confidence is wavering. The stresses of being married to the daughter of Haven’s leadership often puts him at odds with his own desires. Noah is a decent guy that has made some bad choices. Most recently, he’s become indebted to a loan shark and has a huge debt to repay. A lucrative offer brings Noah to the Haven in search of a runaway teen. The lost girl was last seen in the woods by Raine, who might be the only lead. Noah’s future depends on finding the girl. And David may be ostracized if he fails to recover the runaway. Finding the truth might be more difficult than it seems in a community that thrives on secrets.
The term cult tends to have severe and negative connotations thanks to some notable and deadly examples in American history. However, T.O. Paine takes a refreshingly balanced approach in his thrilling novel, The Teaching. Able to separate the sensationalized stories from a less outrageous sample, the Haven offers a glimpse of life most of us will never experience. Readers are introduced to an emotionally and spiritually protected community where adherents voluntarily choose between the world and The Teaching. As with any group, there are dark elements within the Haven, and Paine skillfully unfolds the story so as to not give too much away too quickly. The relationships between the characters are developed thoughtfully, creating more and more complexity as naivety gives way to enlightenment and the mystery deepens. A thriller with heart, The Teaching is a sophisticated novel that will keep you guessing until the last dramatic moment.
