Genre

Historical Fiction, Western, Thriller

Audience

Catholic, Protestant, Secular, adult, teen

Author’s Worldview

Undisclosed

Year Published

1953

Themes

Mexico, Cowboys, Bandits, Small Towns, Priesthood, Redemption, Solidarity

 

Reviewed by

Corinna Turner

A spiritual thriller crossed with a spaghetti Western, The Singer Not the Song is an unusual tale about the battle between good and evil.

In 1920/30s Mexico, “Malo,” a ruthless young man who hates the Church and is little better than a bandit, has taken control of an isolated mountain town. Fr. Keogh is sent to bring the beleaguered population back to God. In the moral and physical struggle that ensues, can Fr. Keogh trust anyone—even himself?

Set during the period in Mexico when the worst persecution had passed and the dust was settling, this is a slow burn psychological thriller where the action occasionally explodes into the physical sphere.

What sets this book apart from most thrillers is that the struggle for physical control of the town is always secondary to the struggle for the hearts and minds of the population—and for the soul of “Malo” himself.

This book would probably have counted merely as a thriller when it was published in the fifties, but might now be filed in the religious fiction section.

The book was (sadly) filmed in the early sixties by a scriptwriter and director who appear to have simply chosen a book with two male lead characters in order to very loosely use the plot in a ‘boundary-pushing’ movie with strong homosexual overtones (there’s no hint of any such thing in the book).

The theme of spiritual struggle for the soul makes this book of interest to Christians and anyone interested in psychology, while the more physical struggle for the town also provides a more secular plotline. However, it’s definitely the spiritual, psychological, and emotional conflicts that are the driving force in this book.

More than once the reader finds themselves challenged by the way good sometimes seems disadvantaged in the face of evil because good must always believe that an evil person can change their ways and must therefore give them another chance. The reader, along with the townsfolk, sometimes wants Father Keogh to make a different choice, yet is confronted by how lacking in faith and goodness such a grudging response is. Practical experience of human nature is at war with ideals.

Ultimately, this book has a powerful message for our feeling-based society today. At a pivotal moment we see how evil assumes an outcome based on what it views as the inevitable triumph of feelings—only to be defeated by a simple choice not to act. In fact, the novel has a lot to say about choice vs. feelings, highlighted by the fact that both Fr. Keogh and Malo live ascetic lives yet choose very different sides in the war of good against evil.

Attitudes to women and indigenous peoples are of their day, but not to an obnoxious level. Only the very most sensitive to such issues are likely to find this problematic.

Since it was originally written as a secular thriller, The Singer Not the Song is suitable for all but the most faith-phobic of secular readers. The Christianity in the novel is specifically Catholic in nature, but Protestant readers will find a character to root for in the form of Miss Finch, a staunchly Protestant Englishwoman and one of the few strong women in the novel, respected by both Fr. Keogh and Malo himself. Catholics will probably enjoy the reminiscences about the persecution, along with the strong spiritual warfare theme.

A novel suitable for anyone who enjoys a character-driven thriller with strong spiritual themes, this is definitely one of those all too rare books that proves that the spiritual field of battle can be no less exciting than the physical.

2021 Summer Reading List for Preteens

Six series that are a must-have for your Preteen’s library ages 8-13

Treason by Dena Hunt

When the Queen Elizabeth’s agents are sent to investigate a small town, Protestant & Catholic alike must work together to avert tragedy.

The Phantom Phoenix

A humble phoenix rises from the ashes to clean up corrupt, 1920s Chicago in this thrilling superhero comic

Celtic Crossing by Len Mattano

Relic lost, and faith found.

For the Pastoral Care of the Sick: July Books to Pray with Reading List

Use your recreational reading to foster an empathetic and Catholic imagination. A reading list to reflect on the sacrament of anointing of the sick, for them and their caregivers.

Nowhither by John C. Wright

Ilya Muromets fights off a dozens of tempting sirens and finally grows into the man he needs to be to defeat the Dark Tower.

Coven (Book 7 of St. Tommy Series): By Declan Finn

St. Tommy fights the CPS and a group of pagans who have taken over a military base.

A World Such As Heaven Intended

Amara didn’t intend to fall in love with a Union soldier. Is love even possible in her war-torn world?

Murder in the Vatican by Ann Margaret Lewis

Sherlock Holmes teams up with Pope Leo XXIII to solve crimes in the Holy City.

House of War by Carlos Carrasco

With the government on the verge of outlawing Christianity, a group of Catholics launch a new Crusade.

Best Catholic Books of 2017

2017 was an awesome year for Catholic literature. Here are our best finds for every genre.

Lance and the Veil by Kevin Rush

She was Christ’s comforter, he, his executioner. Can the two find love in each other’s arms?

Why Reading Fiction Made Me a Better Catholic

How reading fiction became a crucial step in my conversion to the Catholic Church.

Brave Water by Sarah Robsdottir

What if you had to risk your life for a simple cup of water?

Most Highly Favored Daughter by Janice Palko

Her perfect life hides her city’s darkest secrets. Can Cara face the light of truth and come to understand real love?

The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas

Would you die for a flower? Would you kill for one? Providence, romance, and danger rule in this tense, heart-warming prison romance.

North Pacific: A Story of Life, Love, Suffering, and Grace by Michael Steffan

Joseph & Miku’s love was already illegal. Then WWII began. Now home, disabled, and questioning God’s love, he still searches for her.

Sister Aloysius Says, “Pray, Pray, Pray.” By Linda Etchison Illustrated by Denise Plumlee-Tadlock

Sister Aloysius teaches children how to be active in their prayer life.

Julia’s Gifts by Ellen Gable

A story of love and God’s providence in times of war.

Heaven’s Hunter By Marie C. Keiser

A man-hunt across space that forever changes both the criminal and the detective.