In this fast-paced, reflective novel, (the part of a trilogy which includes Strangers and Sojourners) Michael O'Brien presents the dramatic tale of a family that finds itself in the path of a totalitarian government. Set in the near future, the story describes the rise of a police state in North America in which every level of society is infected with propaganda, confusion and disinformation. Few people are equipped to recognize what is happening because, for more than a generation, the culture of the Western world has been deformed by a widespread undermining of moral absolutes in law and politics, the many attempts to compromise the Church from within and without, and the media mesmerism which captivates the minds of so many. Against this background, the Delaney family of Swiftcreek, British Columbia, is struck a severe blow when the father of the family, the editor of a small newspaper which dares to speak the truth, is arrested by the dreaded Office of Internal Security. His older children flee into the forest of the northern interior, accompanied by their great-grandfather and an elderly priest, Father Andrei. In a separate story within the tale, their little brother Arrow, who has been living with Delaney's estranged wife, also becomes a fugitive as the government moves to remove any witnesses, and eradicate all evidence, of its ultimate goals.

As the author draws together the several strands of the story into a frightening yet moving climax, he explores the heart of growing darkness in North America, examining events which have already occurred: the state's abduction of children from healthy families, the rising climate of hatred of the Church, the exhibition of blasphemous art works in public galleries, media blackout of news, globalist conferences at which the forced elimination of a portion of mankind is discussed as a reasonable option, and the implementation of laws which mandate the construction of concentration camps on our own soil. Woven into the narrative are cast of fascinating characters who, each in his own way, attempts to cope with the crisis.

The reader will take away from this disturbing book a heightened sense of awareness and a number of urgent questions: Are we living in the decisive moment of history? How dire is our situation? Have we exaggerated, or have we underestimated, the seriousness of the present crisis? Do we live in pessimistic dread, or facile optimism, or a Christian realism founded on hope? This is a tale about the victory of the weak over the powerful, courage over terror, good over evil, and, above all, the triumph of love.

Michael O'Brien, author, editor and artist, has written several books including the best-selling novels, Father Elijah and Strangers and Sojourners. Formerly the editor of the magazine Nazareth Journal, O'Brien writes and lectures widely on the topic of faith and culture. His articles have appeared in numerous journals. He has been a full-time artist for 20 years with paintings and murals displayed in churches and museums across North America. He lives with his wife Sheila and their six children near Combermere, Ontario.