In book three of the Newpointe 911 series, “Word of Honor,” we learn more about Jill Clark, a character we’ve seen before but haven’t fully explored yet. She is an attorney who has often worked with the emergency service people of Newpointe, and has made friends with them as well.
She is staying overnight in a hotel room, when suddenly her door crashes open and in comes a gunman, holding a rifle. Leveling it at her head, he takes her hostage, and she learns that a bomb has gone off at the post office, killing three people instantly and leaving a five-year-old boy in a coma, with slight chance at survival.
Dan Nichols, preacher and volunteer firefighter, is Jill’s old flame and horrified to learn what has happened. He stands by, helping as he can, knowing that the final outcome of the situation depends on God.
Jill is terrified, desperate to bring the situation to a close and come out with her life. She makes a promise to the gunman, and eventually is released, unharmed. The man is taken into custody, and Jill is faced with a terrible dilemma: should she keep or break her promise?
This book presented integrity to me in a way I had never looked at it before. Of course Jill’s promise was made under duress; no court in the land would make her keep it. But her deep commitment to doing what was right kept her from just walking away. Regardless of what the law told her, she knew what her moral compass was telling her, and she chooses her path accordingly, going against the advice of friends and even co-workers, as she seeks to make herself right with God.
A breathtakingly suspenseful novel, I loved every minute of the read. Make sure to look for this book next time you’re out or online; the outcome will surprise you.
(This book was published by Zondervan in 1997.)
Related Blogs — previously reviewed books in the Newpoints 911 series by Terri Blackstock:
Related Blogs — other books by Terri Blackstock: