Sister Jane

The Best Books of 2021 Indie recognizes Sister Jane. Kirkus Reviews states, "Brown writes it all with an invigorating pace and an enjoyably understated humor that breaks through everywhere.''

All her life, Jane believes she is small-town ordinary. . . until she isn't. Some people brand her a witch because of the cat while others believe she has a demon. Her family thinks she's ready for the nursing home, and the down-and-out reporter assumes she's a fake. But nobody, including Jane, can figure out how she does it: heal the sick. All the sick. All the time. Is it a gift of God? The Church is divided. Then, everything erupts when the foreigners arrive along with the government people and the scientists. Will Jane become a pawn or save herself?

Sister Jane is a story that combines realism, considerations of the supernatural, and the conflicts and conundrums that are set loose by Jane's ability to heal. Author Irmgarde Brown creates characters that hold the reader's interest because they evoke an emotional response that registers as real. This is fiction that contains depth and serious questions. However, answers are left open to interpretation, and faith is never presented as a "one size fits all" experience of the human spirit. The plot begins on a strong note, and continues to build to an ending that is both unexpected and intriguing.