If James Bond Became a Pastor?

 

Check out an article by author and columnist Gene Veith about Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries series. The piece is titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor.” Read the article right here.

“What’s Lost?” is the Latest Pastor Stephen Grant Thriller from Award-Winning Novelist Ray Keating

 Gripping Tale Told in Pastor Grant’s Own Words

 

What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is an edge of-your-seat page-turner by Ray Keating that is torn from the pages of Grant’s own journal.

Pastor Stephen Grant tells a riveting mystery involving deception, betrayal, sacrifice and friendship, along with plenty of action and questions about what we truly can know about others. Grant takes us on a personal journey across decades and around the world, from Long Island to Vietnam.

 

This is the second Pastor Stephen Grant thriller by Ray Keating told from Grant’s own viewpoint, unfolding each day in the pages of his journal.

 

In a 4-star review of What’s Lost?, Self-Publishing Review said, “The Pastor Stephen Grant universe grows a bit wider and more fascinating with Ray Keating's latest short story release. This gripping tale of deception, retribution, and redemption is filled with espionage, action, and a good deal of enticing mystery. Keating's original twists and singular protagonist result in another solid ride.”

 

For good measure, Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” 

 

Ray Keating said, “Like Past Lives, What’s Lost? is an adventure written from a first-person point of view. Grant tells the story through his journal entries. And while this is a ‘short story,’ it’s packed with action, mystery and revelations about relationships.” 

 

What’s Lost? comes after the recent publication of Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which have earned widespread praise. 

 

Paperbacks and the Kindle edition of What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story are at Amazon via https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094GQN6PG and signed books are at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/whatslost.

 

About Keating and his Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, Kirkus Reviews simply says “exhilarating.” Lutheran Book Review says, “I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me.” The retired host of KFUO radio’s BookTalk declares, “Ray Keating is a great novelist.” David Keene of The Washington Times calls these novels “great reads.”  And another reviewer observes, “How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!”

 

Keating’s previous Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries – Past Lives (2021), Vatican Shadows(2020), The Traitor (2019), Deep Rough (2019), Shifting Sands (2018), Heroes and Villains (2018), Reagan Country (2018), Lionhearts (2017), Wine Into Water (2016), Murderer’s Row (2015), The River (2014), An Advent For Religious Liberty (2012), Root of All Evil? (Second Edition 2020), andWarrior Monk (Second Edition 2019) – have received widespread praise from all kinds of readers. 

 

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

 

Contact: Ray Keating

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels

Twitter: @KeatingNovels

PastorStephenGrant.com

RayKeatingOnline.com

The Masters and DEEP ROUGH: Book Excerpt

 The Masters – golf’s first major – is here. In DEEP ROUGH: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL, Grant – a Lutheran pastor, a former Navy SEAL and onetime CIA operative – is in the midst of the action on and off the course at the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and more! Kirkus Reviews says, “... when the action does hit, it's exhilarating, and Stephen proves once again he's as capable in fights as he is in quieter times of prayer and worship. A fast-paced, exuberant outing for the virtuoso clergyman and his numerous comrades.”

Grab DEEP ROUGH at Amazon via https://www.amazon.com/dp/107308843X and enjoy the following excerpt from the book…

 

     Each hole at Augusta National was named for a flowering and/or aromatic tree or shrub. This was a tip of the hat to the fact that the course was laid out on what previously had been a plant nursery. 

     The 11th hole, named “White Dogwood,” stretched out to a long, 505-yard par 4. Traditionally the second most difficult hole, it marked the beginning of “Amen Corner” – a name coined by Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated – which covered the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. 

     Chen launched a perfectly-shaped, left-to-right drive, but then badly misplayed his approach shot to the right of the green, leaving a long, tricky pitch. The gallery erupted when Chen’s pitch shot sped toward the hole, hit the stick and dropped into the hole. Chen pumped his fist, and then high- fived Grant. 

     As they made the short walk over to the 12th hole, Grant asked, “Doing your Larry Mize impression?” From a similar spot, Mize had chipped in during a playoff to beat Gregg Norman. 

     Chen replied, “The 1987 Masters? How old are you, Stephen?” 

     “Wow. That didn’t seem necessary.” 

     The two men laughed, and stopped near the next tee. The wind tended to swirl in “Amen Corner,” but fortunately the air was calm. Grant had his hand on the head of Chen’s nine iron, waiting for Xin’s decision on what club he’d choose for the 155-yard, par-3 12th hole – or “Golden Bell.” When Chen requested the nine, Grant was pleased with himself. 

     The narrow green was well guarded, by Rae’s Creek and a bunker in the front, and two bunkers behind the putting surface. Chen would hit first among the threesome, and his high nine iron shot came up short, with the ball plummeting into the front bunker. 

     As the next two players went through their respective routines and hit their shots, Grant once again casually scanned the gallery. Two faces caught his attention. They were a few people deep from the rope line behind the tee. A man and woman stood next to each other. They were both tall, and had light brown hair. The man sported a scar above his left eye. For some reason, they struck Grant as being out of place. 

 

“Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and "Heroes and Villains"

 With the arrival of Zack Snyder’s Justice League and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, what’s the ideal read to join these tales of superheroes? Consider Ray Keating’s Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

Stephen Grant, onetime Navy SEAL, former CIA operative and current Lutheran pastor, finds himself in an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists. Reviewers love the adventure...

 

“An entertaining, immersive jaunt with a formidable protagonist.”  - Kirkus Reviews

 

“Keating's creativity and storytelling ability remain on point, for a fun and different take on Pastor Grant, and one that's just as satisfying as longer books in the series.”  - Self-Publishing Review

 

“Heroes and Villains … is an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman. If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you! … How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!”  - Lutheran Book Review

 

“This is a fantastic novel... If you are a comic book fan who is fed up with the political correctness that's going on, you have got to pick up Heroes and Villains... I highly recommend this book... I'm definitely going to be paying more attention to Ray Keating, and getting more of his novels.”  - Jacob Airey, host of StudioJake

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ray Keating Chats About His New Book - PAST LIVES

 

 

“Past Lives” is the New Pastor Stephen Grant Adventure from Award-Winning Novelist Ray Keating

 Page-Turning Short Story Torn from the Pages of Pastor Grant’s Own Daily Journal

 

Long Island, NY – Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” And now, this latest adventure, Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story, is told from Grant’s own viewpoint, unfolding each day in the pages of his journal.

Pastor Grant tells about threats, murder and puzzling people from his past. It’s a compelling mystery involving action, unexpected turns, lost innocence, and twisted revenge. 

 

Regarding Past Lives, Self-Publishing Review says, “Ray Keating takes a new angle on his long-time hero in Past Lives. A mysterious enemy from the past comes back to haunt the warrior priest in this uniquely styled first-person story. As the clues mount, so does the body count, giving Grant yet another baffling and high-stakes case to unravel. This condensed mystery is enjoyably gripping, and marked by the author's characteristic style of suspense.”

 

Ray Keating said, “Past Lives is something new for me, and for Pastor Stephen Grant readers. It’s a short story written from a first-person point of view, with Grant telling the story through his journal entries. It’s something different, and I hope readers like it.”

 

Past Lives comes after the recent publication of Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which has earned widespread praise. For example, Kirkus Reviews said, “A riveting entry in a multivolume series that continues to deliver strong characters and suspense.” 

 

Paperbacks and the Kindle edition of Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story are at Amazon via https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WJTPT4M and signed books are at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/pastlives.

 

About Keating and his Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, Kirkus Reviews simply says “exhilarating.” Lutheran Book Review says, “I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me.” The retired host of KFUO radio’s BookTalk declares, “Ray Keating is a great novelist.” David Keene of The Washington Times calls these novels “great reads.”  And another reviewer observes, “How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!”

 

Keating’s previous Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries – Vatican Shadows (2020), The Traitor (2019), Deep Rough (2019), Shifting Sands (2018), Heroes and Villains (2018), Reagan Country (2018), Lionhearts (2017), Wine Into Water (2016), Murderer’s Row (2015), The River (2014), An Advent For Religious Liberty (2012), Root of All Evil? (Second Edition 2020), and Warrior Monk(Second Edition 2019) – have received widespread praise from all kinds of readers. 

 

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