Redemption in Paradise

By Shane Joseph

"THERE ARE NO right or wrong choices. If your choices do not lead to wisdom, you will get other chances. In this life - or in another," says Gunananda, a fi fth century sage, somewhere in Sigiriya.

This prediction follows a motley collection of tourists arriving in present-day Sri Lanka on a four-day tour. Aggressive Australian journalist Sarah has troubling visions of a past life. She desires John, an idealist from Vancouver writing a thesis on fear. American expatriates Margaret and Robert Keane are embroiled in a love-hate relationship, haunted by the memory of their dead son. Returning emigrant Lionel is anxiously seeking the country he left behind. And burly Jefferson conceals the secret that brought him east, whilst liberally indulging an appetite for prostitutes. Escorting them is hard-drinking Asoka, struggling to survive the hardships of life in the war-torn island. As they step on the tour bus, each traveller unknowingly makes an appointment with destiny.

Beginning with a roadside shooting of terrorist suspects, the tour meanders through Kelaniya, Dambulla and the rock fortress of Sigiriya, culminating in Kandy. Then things go terribly wrong and unexpected events force them to a temple in the jungle and a meeting with the mysterious Buddhist nun Gunanandani.

Mix in psychometry, a ghostly image captured on camera, arms smugglers and a tattered band of military deserters, and the travellers are swept into a confl ict that was never part of their itinerary.

In the tragic climax at the crumbling temple, valuable lessons are learned, leaving lives indelibly changed. And the prophecy of Gunananda is fulfilled.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1412036089
• ISBN13: 9781412036085
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Redemption in Paradise is an engaging read.

While novels are works of fiction, good novels open the reader to new worlds and new ideas. The Author, Shane Joseph, lived in Sri Lanka and has first hand knowledge of the government conflicts and civil war in that country. (It is interesting to note they are on the verge of another civil war today.) He presents a country that, on the one hand, is mysterious and beautiful, and on the other is in turmoil. As well as learning about the history of Sri Lanka I learned about its religion and social structure. Joseph has the ability to create a compelling story with his five unique characters sharing in the discovery of Buddhism and the concept of reincarnation. We follow Sarah as she is directed by her intuition in search of a country she feels she had lived in before. By throwing in a ghost and some astral travel Joseph has created and exciting, engaging, story of conflict and intrigue. I enjoyed the history, religion, and adventures the author created. I recommend this book to everyone, and I hope he writes another one soon.

A redeeming read.

Redemption in Paradise pulls you into its action with vivid, authentic details of the civil strife, history, ethnic food, and beautiful varying terrain of Sri Lanka. Woven within the plot are intriguing metaphysical manifestations, from reincarnation to astral projection. Overall, an enjoyable, redeeming read.