A Breath From Tragedy, a Whisper from Glory
For Patrick Nolan, every climb tells a story. And now maybe it's his own.... He's right at the rim, staring over the cliff's knife edge and wondering how things went wrong so quickly.
It all started after arriving home from a weekend climbing trip with his father, Kevin. That's when word reached them. In a silent moment, they'd lost the person most important to them--her death raising unanswerable questions and dangerous doubts.
Launching a new life in a new town to escape their pain, son and father find themselves in danger of being torn apart forever. As his father seeks a route to solace on the dangerous high face of the rock, Patrick finds a path to hope with the unlikeliest of allies--a pastor's daughter. Together they must discover the one answer that can bring Patrick and Kevin back from the brink of the precipice
Sometimes There's No Place to Go But Up
"It is rare to find a 'man's man' who knows the human heart, much less one who can write with such a well-balanced combination of sensitivity and adrenaline-charged adventure."
--Athol Dickson, Christy-Award-winning author of
River Rising
"Beautifully exciting, haunting, and satisfying. Morrisey leaves you hanging by your fingertips."
--Lisa Samson, award-winning author of
The Church Ladies and
Straight Up"Tom Morrisey is a master wordsmith and an expert at weaving gripping stories. If I pick up a book with his name on it, I know I'm going for gold."
--Angela Hunt, author of Uncharted
A ChristianBook.com Pick of the Week
"If it weren't for the detailed descriptions of rock climbing and its gear (and the name on the cover), I wouldn't have thought this was Tom Morrisey. His action sequences certainly come through as they always have, but there's a depth of character development here that's far greater than his previous books. I'm reminded strongly of Dale Cramer's novels and his ability to bring the reader down into the head and life of the main character. And the last page left my eyes somewhat damp.
I'm extraordinarily impressed. This is easily Morrissey's best work, and now I'm truly interested to see what he does next. Highly Recommended." --Tim Frankovich, christianfictionreview.com
"In High Places is a wonderfully written story full of colorful imagery, and realistic characters .... If you pick up In High Places, you will enjoy a well-told story, and might even learn something about yourself, or find a message you can hang on to." --Laura V. Hilton, faithwebbin.net
"Whether or not the reader is a Christian, In High Places will appeal to a wide audience, especially male readers, who will enjoy a father-son story where the male characters act with maturity and respect toward each other. Many young men would do well to model themselves upon the character of Patrick. This book would make a great gift for Father's Day or to a teenage or college-age boy. In High Places has made me want to read more of Morrisey's books." --Tyler R. Tichelaar, readerviews.com
"In High Places is not an average coming of age story. It's a story of continued hope and faith made real by the fact that even years later the narrator continues to struggle with those events.... This book is one that will cause conflict in the reader's emotions; it will make him question what happens as surely as if it were his own life. From a personal standpoint, I thought that this book held an attraction for me because it took place only fifty miles or so from where I grew up, but now I know that Tom Morrisey's writing, with its honesty and liveliness, is what made it truly gripping. In High Places is my personal pick for best book of the year." --David White, christianreviewofbooks.com
"Morrisey's experiences as a travel-adventure writer make this a page turner, one that will leave you stunned. Some of the rock climbing terminology went over my head, but outdoorsy readers will love it. Especially satisfying is the ending, which offers readers a real-life glimmer of hope that transcends the realm of fiction." --Heather Ivester, christianwomenonline.net
"Tom Morrisey's best novel to date, In High Places, cost me a good night's sleep and a set of chewed-off fingernails. As a young boy's coming-of-age story, it is superb; as a suspense-filled cliffhanger (pardon the pun), it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I found I couldn't put it down until the very last page....
Most impressively, Morrisey eschews the easy Christian fiction ending without eschewing faith. This is not one of those happily-ever-after tales; there are no assurances that right choices have been made.... Choices, after all, have consequences. And there are regrets when we make the wrong ones and our lives turn out differently than we expected. But, as he writes in the final scene, 'Sometimes, hope is all we have. And sometimes, hope is enough.'" --Cindy Crosby, faithfulreader.com
"At first glance, this book looks like it's a book for guys, but anyone who loves a story deep with characters will easily relate. The first person narrative also appeals to people who enjoy reading memoirs. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a detail-rich story with plot depth. It is a great narrative of the hope we have and the journey it takes to find it." --Alyssa Curry, Christian Book Previews.com
"In High Places hooked me with its rock climbing subplot. While I never aspire to be a rock climber (I'd rather get knocked to the ice playing hockey than fall on a pile of rocks), I enjoyed learning about the sport.... Another hook was the era--like me, the main character was a teen in the mid-70s, so I could relate to the cultural milieu.... Morrisey paints a more realistic picture than many Christians novels, making it a more satisfying read even as some questions are left unanswered." --Randy Brandt, contend4thefaith.org
