British crime writer Philip Kerr's latest explores faith
British crime writer Philip Kerr is best known for his Bernie Gunther series. Those books follow a Berlin detective working to solve murders amidst the horrors and criminality of Nazi Germany.
His new book is quite different. It's a thriller too, but also an examination of faith.
"Prayer" is the story of FBI agent Giles Martins in Texas, who is hot on the trail of a serial killer. Martins' personal life is a mess, in part because he is going through a crisis of faith. He's become an atheist, much to the distress of his evangelical wife.
Theology and crime become increasingly entangled as the story unfolds, until Martins realizes he is dealing with forces far beyond the human realm.
Kerr, no relation to MPR News reporter Euan Kerr, also grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. He said that "Prayer" is a very personal book for him, which grew out of his own experiences.
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