The Falling Away by T.L. Hines

Reviewed by Dale Lewis

"Hines is a master storyteller and an exceptional wordsmith. It’s all good even though you’ll probably be scratching your head and asking lots of questions!"

Native American Dylan Runs Ahead is a runner! Feeling responsible for his sister's disappearance, he ran away from the Crow Reservation to the U.S. Army. While in Iraq, his leg is mangled and his buddy killed when a bomb explodes. Now, he’s attempting to run away from those memories---as well as a few associates that want him dead.

Pursued by Quinn, a less-than-sane woman who claims to see things others don't and believes he's "chosen," Dylan must come to terms with the reality of what that means and what must be done as the result. Oddly enough, Claussen, his Army buddy in Iraq also told him he’d been chosen. The internal dialogue with his sister, Joni, within Dylan’s head/mind personifies the struggle to remain in control despite all the overwhelming external circumstances.

TL Hines storylines will always contain elements of crime meeting macabre mystery and suspense intertwined with the supernatural. There are multiple layers within the bizarre storyline where sprinklings of Twilight Zone behavior abound . . . where nothing seems to be as it appears.

The intense intrigue is at an all-time high in The Falling Away with psychological games, drug-induced episodes and demonic activity. Dylan’s conversations with Quinn ran the gamut of emotional highs and lows while providing some humorous moments.

Deeply complicated characters dealing with the messiness of life and attempting to decipher the larger picture versus individual events is what propels The Falling Away forward. Hines’ take on a demonic virus infecting people as opposed to thousands of active demons was clearly conveyed and provided a new perspective on the supernatural.

This was not a quick read for me even though the pace bordered on the extreme. I needed to reread some sections at times, taking time to fully understand the content and the connections. It is certainly not your typical cookie-cutter mystery/suspense storyline.

Hines is a master storyteller and an exceptional wordsmith. It’s all good even though you’ll probably be scratching your head and asking lots of questions!

Dale Lewis is the graphic designer/pre-press production artist at the EFCA (The Evangelical Free Church of America) National Office in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to that, he was the publications manager at his alma mater, Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN in the public relations office as well as the adviser to the college’s yearbook. He's directed the Hope Church (Oakdale, MN) adult drama worship team and was the senior editor of the church newsletter. He's also written two collections of poetry, “Whispers of Assurance” and “On Life: Constant Communion Without Ceasing” as well as a devotional entitled “Eternal Education.” He and his family live in Oakdale, Minnesota.