A Step of Faith

Evans (The Christmas Box) opens this installment of the Walk series with former advertising executive Alan Christoffersen contemplating death and dying. Written as his journal, early pages detail more calamity than most protagonists will encounter in an entire novel. Suffering painful memories, Christoffersen sets out “to take a walk—one that would take me as far away from Seattle as physically possible.” About halfway to his Key West destination, Christoffersen discovers he has a serious medical condition. Treatment waylays him for a few weeks, during which time he manages to alienate the few friends and family he has left. With the exception of Christoffersen’s encounter with a disturbing cult that consumes two chapters, Evans moves events along at a rapid-fire pace. A few random strangers add to the complexity of the story as they provide physical, emotional, and spiritual assistance throughout the journey. There is also a healthy peppering of historical background for many of the towns visited. Christoffersen’s unconventional road trip travels a path of self-discovery and determination. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (May)