Nobody by Creston Mapes

If you've ever wanted a good, clear picture of what Jesus meant when He said, "When you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto Me," read "Nobody" by Creston Mapes.

Reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning broadcast on his police scanner about an incident at a Las Vegas bus stop, and sets off to investigate. What he thinks he finds is a homeless man, murdered. Knowing the police will treat this as merely a John Doe, Hudson decides to at least find some identification.

But his search of the dead man's pockets reveals a bank book with hundreds of thousands of dollars recorded. A deeper search brings to light the homeless man's true identity, leading Hudson on an investigative journey he didn't intend to go on.

Who killed the homeless man? What happened to him, and why was he living as a homeless person? The stories Hudson uncovers lead him to discover many angels in disguise, and that nobody is a nobody in God's economy.

This book is poetic suspense that forces the reader to take a good, hard look at his or her Christianity. To look past the phony to find the genuine, and to see the heart of Jesus, buried beneath the prosperity and materialism we've settled for.

Creston's point of view shifts were a little hard to follow. We would be nice and cozy inside Hudson's head, and suddenly in the next chapter be inside Holly's...or Andrew's. That was a little odd, but didn't distract from the powerful message of the story.

This book also has a lot to say about "Think before you act". Hudson's stupid impulsive act plunges him into a waking nightmare that threatens to drain the life from him. Still, God can use anything we surrender to Him, even our blunders and missteps.

You cannot read "Nobody" and remain the same. You cannot pick up "Nobody" and put it down easily. And you will never look at the supposed "Nobodies" of this world again and not see what Jesus sees...a soul worth dying for.

I give "Nobody" six out of five bookmarks, and vote it "Best Contemporary Novel of 2007! Don't miss this life-changing novel!

Happy Reading!

Deena