THE FISHERMAN

Retelling Bible stories through the eyes of a well-known character from scripture is a time-honored tradition in faith-based novels, but although this book offers a serviceable overview of the life of Jesus, it doesn't always make for compelling fiction. Peter, a "grumpy" disciple of Jesus with small dreams and lots of bluster, narrates the tale in the first person, speaking earnestly to contemporary readers with the understanding that they already know how the events will unfold. Through Peter's running conversations with himself, Jesus, his brothers and the reader, Huntsperger fleshes out the original Gospel accounts and analyzes the motivations of Jesus and his followers. "We were just ordinary people who somehow ended up standing next to the most extraordinary man who ever lived," muses Peter. The author uses plenty of scripture throughout the novel (even to the point of having Peter quote himself!), but the paragraphs can be long and preachy. In one of the best and most honest moments, Peter witnesses Jesus turning water into wine and plots a get-rich scheme. Less impressive scenes include humor that falls flat, slow pacing and forced or unnatural dialogue. The writing feels almost like revival oratory, with consecutive sentences using the same phrases repeatedly to drive the points home. Readers who are familiar with the life of Jesus will find few fresh insights or information; those unfamiliar with the Gospels may enjoy having events strung together as one continuous story. (Feb.)