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Ray Keating’s “Murderer’s Row” Named “Book of the Year 2015”

Fifth Book in Pastor Stephen Grant Series Wins KFUO “BookTalk” Award

Long Island, NY – MURDERER’S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL by Ray Keating won “Book of the Year 2015” as awarded by “BookTalk” on KFUO radio.

Ten books were nominated for the KFUO “Book of the Year,” and listeners were able to vote. While making the announcement, Rod Zwonitzer, host of “BookTalk,” said this year saw a record number of votes, and it was an extremely tight race between the four top vote getters.

Ray Keating said, “I am stunned and blessed. Thank you to Rod Zwonitzer and KFUO; to all of my friends and readers who voted for MURDERER'S ROW; to my family for their support, love and most assuredly, patience; and to God for everything, including the joy of writing. This is particularly humbling given KFUO’s Christian mission.”

MURDERER’S ROW is a gripping, thoughtful thriller that ties together rescuing a Christian family from the clutches of Islamic terrorists, minor league baseball in New York, a string of grisly murders, sordid politics, and a pastor who formerly was a Navy SEAL and CIA operative.

About MURDERER’S ROW, Kirkus Reviews says, “The author packs a lot into this frantically paced novel... a raft of action sequences and baseball games are thrown into the mix. The multiple villains and twists raise the stakes...  Stephen remains an engaging and multifaceted character: he may still use, when necessary, the violence associated with his former professions, but he at least acknowledges his shortcomings--and prays about it. Action fans will find plenty to love here, from gunfights and murder sprees to moral dilemmas.”

SeriousReading.com proclaims, “This novel is a fascinating read with a murder mystery, unique and exceptional characters, and wit... With multiple layers and a complex plot, the novel moves forward with a smooth and even pace.”

And the Lutheran Book Review observes, “I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me.”

This is the second year in a row that Keating has had a book nominated, as THE RIVER: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL was a KFUO “Book of the Year” finalist in 2014.

MURDERER’S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL is available in trade paperback and for the Kindle from Amazon.com

Ray Keating’s previous books include THE RIVER: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL and WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL.

Review copies, interviews for the media, and author appearances are available upon request.

Contact: Ray Keating

Phone: 631-909-1122

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

PastorStephenGrant.com

Ray Keating's Author Interview with SeriousReading.com

Check out Ray Keating's author interview with SeriousReading.com.

The interview can be read here.

Murderer's Row Gets Big Thumbs Up From SeriousReading.com

MURDERER'S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL received big thumbs up in a SeriousReading.com review.

From that review:

“This novel is a fascinating read with a murder mystery, unique and exceptional characters, and wit… With multiple layers and a complex plot, the novel moves forward with a smooth and even pace.”

Lutheran Book Review Thumbs Up for Murderer's Row

From Rev. Paul Cain at Lutheran Book Review on MURDERER'S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL by Ray Keating:

     Keating's fictional character Grant, a former Navy SEAL and CIA operative and a current LCMS Pastor, is the subject of five novels. The latest, Murderer's Row, pits Grant against politicians and terrorists in the midst of murders and minor league baseball in New York.
     I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me. Yes, I understand that the bad guys will use colorful metaphors, yet toning down their language wouldn't ruin Keating's plausible, realistic scenes. Keating deals with timely issues like political corruption, abuse of eminent domain, terrorists who sneak into our country, the consequences of bad decisions, the after effects of real violence, and the need for good people to stand for truth, protect the weak and innocent, and proclaim the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.

See
http://lhplbr.blogspot.com/2016/01/lutheran-book-review-fiction-and-film.html

Keating and Clancy

Reader/Reviewer Quote of the Day:

"My review of Keating's previous book noted he was a good author and almost to the level of Clancy. Murderer's Row puts him there. The plot is complex and multilayered. The tension is strong. The pace moves well, enough to keep me reading all day in order to finish. As an added plus, the plot involves crooked politicians, conservative philosophy, Lutheran LCMS theology, spies, guns, and -- best of all -- baseball. How could you ask for more?"

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: The River

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of THE RIVER:

"Pastor Stephen Grant is an enigmatic character. Ray Keating masterfully weaves his character's past and present lives, always keeping the reader involved in both the action and Grant's emotional struggle. Although I do not like the short chapter style, I was otherwise held captive from start to finish. I certainly recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, fast-moving thriller."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: An Advent for Religious Liberty

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

"Once you pick up, you can't stop reading Keating's novels. Great read!"

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: Root of All Evil?

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of ROOT OF ALL EVIL?:

"Who would have guessed that you could mix a CIA agent and a Lutheran pastor into one character, but Keating pulls this off. I enjoyed this one as much as his first book."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Week: Murderer's Row

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Week:

Amazon review of MURDERER'S ROW: "Keating hit another one out of the park!"

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: The River

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of THE RIVER:

"Fast paced story. This is the third book by Ray Keating that I've read and am looking forward for his next Grant novel."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: An Advent for Religious Liberty

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

"I've enjoyed all of these Pastor Stephen Grant Novels. They're easy to read but make me think theologically about the issues that are raised."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: Root of All Evil?

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of ROOT OF ALL EVIL?:

"Having read 'Warrior Monk' earlier this summer, I was eagerly anticipating 'Root of All Evil?' from Keating. What a splendid follow-up to the first novel. It is shorter (just over 300 pages), and so it is a faster read than 'Warrior Monk', but doesn't lack for depth and creativity. Keating has a firm grasp of the Lutheran ethos and it shows itself time and time again throughout the book in the personal failings of all of the characters and the remarkable power of forgiveness when all else is lost. The main character is further developed as a pastor and does us 'real-life' LCMS pastors proud. I am already looking forward to 'An Advent for Religious Liberty'. Keep up the great writing, Mr. Keating, us pastors are loving every page of it!"

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: Murderer's Row

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of MURDERER'S ROW: "Another good job for Keating."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: The River

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

From an Amazon review of THE RIVER:

"A fast moving action packed book.Great story. Have read all of the Stephen Grant novels and this is one of the best."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: An Advent for Religious Liberty

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

"Having read the first three novels of the Stephen Grant series by Ray Keating, I'm impressed by the author's ability to have Pastor Grant sound like a real pastor."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of teh Day: Murderer's Row

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of MURDERER'S ROW: "Best of the series."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: The River

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of THE RIVER:

"It's true - Pastor Stephen Grant is REAL. Okay, not real in that there's a guy named Stephen Grant who worked for the CIA and is now an LCMS pastor, but rather, in this book, Pastor Grant undergoes serious character development, showing the anguish of the soul that knows right, loves right, loves God, and yet wants and does evil. Lutherans speak of it as the 'simul' and it is too often over simplified, but author Ray Keating gives it a healthy fleshing out in the novel without making it sound contrived or overly dogmatic. The things I've come to love about Pastor Stephen Grant novels are all here - friendly jokes amidst the characters, smooth integration of theology into the lives of the characters, and a thrilling plot! Definitely worth the wait since 'An Advent for Religious Liberty', and a super read for anyone interested in a well-written novel that goes deeper than most."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: An Advent for Religious Liberty

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

Amazon review of AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

"This third adventure in the life of Pr. Grant was good but brief. The use of Church/State issues in the public sphere as a key ingredient was wonderful."

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day: Murderer's Row

Reviewer/Reader Quote of the Day:

On MURDERER'S ROW, a Facebook reader wrote: "Finished 'Murderer's Row' great read!"