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McComb is a community ravaged by crime, and because of that, its population is dwindling. Reverend Bubba Newcomb finds himself at a loss about what to do, even though he desperately wants to help McComb. He turns to a higher power, seeking answers about what he and his church can do to fight the rising crime and give back to the community. After Newcomb's church finds itself at the center of a break-in, Newcomb's mission to save McComb becomes even more urgent. Realizing the police department lacks the manpower to fight back against gangs and other criminals slowly taking over McComb, Reverend Newcomb begins a mission to inspire the townspeople to band together and save their community.
Even though this is a work of fiction, the novel resonates with a myriad of real-life news stories in which community members work together to help one another and to save and restore their communities. Reverend Newcomb is an inspiring character. He shows how one person, through determination and hard work, can spark great change in their communities. As he visits college campuses, the police station, and community groups, he becomes a kind of motivational speaker, inspiring others to join his cause. He serves as a positive example to the book's audience, especially those who might feel called to help with such situations in their own communities.
While this book is, essentially, Reverend Newcomb's story of striving to reclaim his community from gangs and criminals, it is also a thrilling mystery. Initially, Newcomb works with the authorities to identify the culprit in the break-in. However, as the novel progresses, the violence within the community also progresses, so much so that the DEA and the FBI must become involved. Thus, the novel offers crime fiction lovers a new kind of mystery to solve.
The novel also addresses another glaring issue in American society—gun violence. As a shooter rampages across a college campus, students, staff, and faculty flee for their lives while trying to protect one another. Once again, Newcomb works with those around him to find common ground and community-based answers to ensure that others remain safe. This means addressing tough issues like bullying, the right to carry and bear arms, and the impact violent events have on communities. These are all real and serious contemporary issues faced by schools, businesses, and the general population, making their inclusion in the novel all the more significant.
Nonetheless, this book is not simply a fictionalized account of events in real communities. The principles and strategies employed by Reverend Newcomb and other characters are ones that everyday people can use in their own towns in order to create safer streets, playgrounds, and community spaces. Therefore, this book is a unique kind of handbook for community restoration and for fostering positive community action and spirit. This book will also encourage people to speak up when they see problems in their communities and to become more involved in the issues that concern them and affect their lives, their families, and their homes.