Heads Deacon, Tails Devil

By P.J. Mccalla

Book Overview

Set in a small town in the early 1900s, 'Heads Deacon, Tails Devil' is the story of Robert Grant, an elementary school teacher, long-standing deacon, and spirit-stirring soloist at church. He shows... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0981971903
• ISBN13: 9780981971902
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Elevator Group Llc
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Difficult to put down

I really enjoyed this book, it moves as well as being moving. In other words, it's a page turner but it's emotionally involving as well. You will end up wanting to know what happens to certain characters beyond the final pages of McCalla's first novel - she paints a picture of a family touched by brutality as much as it is by good fortune and good people. The roles the three protagonists play in breaking apart and drawing together the family will have you cringing at the disturbing side of a dark man, while smiling at the strength of the resilient women who fight so that the family may have a chance of survival. Recommended for any fan of thrillers or stories about family dynamics. Excellent book club selection.

A curious and highly recommended story not to be missed

Hypocrisy is always most vicious to those near the hypocrite. "Heads Deacon, Tails Devil" tells the story of a small town, who have come to adore Robert Grant, a religious leader. But Grant hides a much more demonic interior than he shows his town and congregation, but even when you try your best, you can't hide your dark side forever. "Heads Deacon, Tails Devil" is a curious and highly recommended story not to be missed.

EXCELLENT READING!

The book is very has a very real story line that is easy to identify with. I am from the Bahamas where there are almost as many churches as there are businesses, so religion is a big thing here and the story seems like a real native story I can identify with. Once I began reading the book I couldn't put it down until I was done reading it! I highly recommend it! Very good suspenseful yet enjoyable reading!!

Compelling & Intense

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/09) Right after Rachel marries Robert Grant, against her mother's wishes, she immediately knows that she has made a huge mistake. Because divorce was not common in the early 1900s, Rachel is stuck with this abusive man. Having five children with him, his abuse extends to their children. Robert presents a charismatic, man-of-God persona to the outside world. Inside their home, he is the devil incarnate. Having some special intuitive abilities, Rachel's mother recognizes Robert for who he truly is. She visits often to try to intervene with his bad behavior. As time passes, Robert's behavior becomes even worse. In addition to continuing to brutalize his wife and children, he also begins having affairs. The women in these affairs also don't fair well with him. Rachel and her mother become desperate to protect her and her children. Drastic measures have to be taken to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, Robert wins some of the battles. To survive, Rachel holds on to her faith and her love for her children. "Heads Deacon, Tails Devil," is an incredibly intense novel. Knowing that the main characters were based upon real people related to the author, and that some of the story was based on true events, greatly increases the drama and suspense. As I read the story, I hoped and prayed that the man that Robert was based upon was really not as bad as the devil in the book. McCalla wrote her story in a manner that could easily convince me that he was. That is the scary part. Having dealt with women who have been in abusive relationships really opened my eyes to how difficult it would have been for women back in this time. There were no restraining orders, easy-to-get divorces, welfare or women's shelters. Even in our times today, it is very difficult to get an abusive man out of your life. This story really made me reflect on how hard it would have been to be in this time, especially when women had less rights. Because of this, evil men were probably even worse back in those days because they had less to stop them. McCalla really hit this issue on the head with her story. I think that readers will find it very eye opening and in spite of the harshness of the story, they will appreciate the relationship that Rachel has with her mother and her children. I highly recommend "Heads Deacon, Tails Devil" by P.J. McCalla.

Excellent Book

Heads Deacon Tails Devil was an excellent book that I found terribly hard to put down. I was caught in the story from the beginning and it kept me wrapped up in the story until the very end. I'm reading it again for the second time and I'm also letting everyone else I know about it. When is P.J. McCalla coming out with another book...wow!