Redemption in the Old West

Travel back to the Old West by reading Beyond Redemption, a historical fiction book that is also an entertaining western romance. Written by Mark Swarbrick, this novel begins with an actual historical event, the U. S. Army payroll robbery in the Arizona Territory in 1889.

What the Mormon robbers hoped would be an easy holdup quickly turns into a shootout where men are injured on both sides. One young man, Cal Chandler, had been forced to participate in the robbery. After the shooting stops, he turns his back on his old way of life and his Mormon beliefs. Overwhelmed with guilt and disillusioned with what he had been taught all his life, he begins a life of running and hiding, hoping to be untraceable by the law and by the other robbers who want the gold they believe Cal has.

As Cal questions if there is any hope for him to be saved, God brings Lorena McKenzie, a strong-willed and outspoken Christian woman, into his life. By gently asking Cal about his beliefs and by sharing her own testimony, Lorena shines Christ’s light into his darkened spirit.

While I enjoyed the action and adventures in the story, the most appealing aspect to me is the spiritual journey of Cal as he gradually awakens to the fact that God has made a way of salvation that does not depend on works.

Though the book does contain a racial slur, it is used only a few times during the robbery at the beginning of the book. The author explains in the Preface that he has thoroughly researched the holdup and wanted to accurately report what happened. These dialogue lines are direct quotes from the court records of the trial.

Beyond Redemption is a delight to read. It has action, drama, suspense, humor, sweet romance, and important spiritual conversations. The writing is impressive, and the story kept my interest all the way through. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I cared about the characters from the first page, and I especially liked the playful banter between Cal and Lorena. A sequel is coming soon, and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Mark Swarbrick is a pastor and has written several nonfiction books that are available online. Check out his website at https://christiananswerman.com.

Beyond Redemption is available on Amazon.