By page 67 I knew who the killer was and after reading chapter eleven I knew why. I didn’t peek at the end pages to see if I was right…I always enjoy the wait because it adds more suspense to the story for me.

The first chapter introduced Judy Linder, her lover, Red Bosch and her three uncles, Chase, Bobby Linder, and Meryl Tapper.

This beginning chapter made me a little wary, certain that the book would waste my time with more on sexual descriptions that never advance the story. Fortunately, while the story wasn’t sparkly clean, the scenes didn’t waste my time or hold up the story.

Chapter two took me to the year 1986 where I spent 155 pages and 21 chapters meeting and getting to know the Linder family and the people of the town Rose, Kansas.

I absolutely enjoy when a book swaps back and forth between times. This one is divided into two parts, past and present. I liked the way the book continued chapter 22, page 169 from chapter one as if the last 155 pages were simply a thought, a glimpse into the past.

Chapter 22 brought me back to the present, and I didn’t see 1986 again until chapter 38. The story was tied up in the present time with two short chapters, 43 and 44.

Though I would have enjoyed a bit more to the ending after 319 pages, my questions were answered and the future was made clear so I was happy.

The Book of Illumination is an interesting, clean cut book, and a swift read. Single mother, Speranza (Anza for short) O’Malley, tells the story. I experienced the events as Anza had and liked the way timelines were weaved.

Drawn into the story by the very first sentence, “I should not have answered the phone,” made me immediately wonder why and want to know more.

I instantly fell for Johnny “Woolsie” Graby, the charming old butler. His part involved a second book, a children's book that was misplaced. His story was separate from the main course but his resolution allowed for an easier ending, brought calm to the chaos of the entire story.

My favorite part with the monks was in chapter twenty-two, when they explained the creation of the book…“A spell for the eye weaved we, letters of magic to sanctify the page as the flower sanctifies the meadow and of the bird the air”…

There were ghost but this was not a tale of horror in the slightest. This was a mystery with a supernatural twist, a whodunit kind of mystery/drama. There was no sex or gore/graphic violence, which was extremely nice.

Cop and robber, FBI, and similar stories are usually not my kind. This book kept this at a distance, Anza is not a cop so her involvement in catching the robber’(s) was as a common citizen. An A for me.

The TV show, Ghost Whisper does come into mind when reading. One difference is that Anza can not only see the, “light,” but can summon it to allow earth-bound spirits entrance.

The Book of Illumination was a great read with well-formed characters. I quite enjoyed it and would recommend it as a must read. I look forward to more fiction from, Mary Ann Winkowski and Maureen Foley.