The Chair by James L. Rubart

This is the third book of Mr. Rubart’s I’ve read. His books defy simple categorization. If you must have a category or genre, I’d call this one a supernatural thriller. This excellent book features the best kind of redemption. It also does a great job of showing the destruction that unforgiveness can wield.

Corin Roscoe is a thrill junky who owns a struggling antique store. The story starts with an elderly lady bringing a chair to his store and telling him she’s giving it to him. No explanation as to why other than he needs it and it’s a special chair. Through their conversation, the implication is it could be a chair made by Jesus Christ.

Mr. Rubart does a superb job of weaving in the tragedies of Corin’s family’s life. Corin is wracked by nightmares around events that happened to him as a child. These things are what drive him to be like he is.

The chair attracts attention and several factions want it for its supposed power. Corin is conflicted as to what to do with it. Sell it or keep it.

Twists abound. There are numerous tense situations. Rubart takes us on a believable, yet fantastic journey mostly through the eyes of Corin. And Corin is not the only character that has a life-changing experience. And not all of these experiences are positive.

This is a clean novel. No sex, no profanity, and no gratuitous violence. It’s about faith, but not heavy-handed about religion. Rubart gives us several views of Christianity and shows what good and not-so-good religion can do to people. I’ll rank this one number three so far this year. It’s a standalone novel that I highly recommend.

1. The Last Exchange by Charles Martin
2. The Keeper by Charles Martin
3. The Chair by James L. Rubart
4. Weapons of Remorse by Chevron Ross
5. Relentless by Ed Gorman
6. The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke
7. Framed by James Scott Bell
8. 61 Hours by Lee Child
9. The Big Empty by Robert Crais
10. After Her Deceit by Steve Rush
11. Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes
12. The Book of Answers by Darrow Woods
13. My Brother’s New Wife by Matt McGregor
14. Deadly Silence by Erik Carter
15. Neon Prey by John Sandford
16. A Tan and Sandy Silence by John D. MacDonald
17. Perfect Daughter by Ion Esimai
18. Her Last Wish by Blake Pierce

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