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	Jackie Fleming is a mother of two, grandmother of three. She works as a 'Public Service Specialist' for the county Coroner. Before that she was in the Air Force (Non-Destruction Inspection Specialist and Personnel Technician). She's held numerous part time jobs (she's currently at a funeral home, before that she worked at Block Buster. She's also been a mystery shopper, information operator, and worked fast food. "I know that's not your normal bio, but it is me," says Jackie.   Jackie is a member of the Romance Writers of American and the following RWA chapters: SFA RWA, SV RWA, FTHRW, and RomVet's. She can be reached at jackiesf@yahoo.com.

THE OCULI INCIDENT
Regis Schilken
Turn Key Press, October 2005, $16.95, 346 pages
ISBN 0-9764981-3-8
 
Father Paul Logue has been pastor at Saint Martin’s Church long enough to see many sad changes within the faithful and declining numbers in his congregation. He is motivated to serve and protect them without thanks, whether it is from those who lay false claims or to forgive those who honestly repent their crimes as dictated by the Catholic Church.

Timothy Comstock is a Loyalten Police Officer. He lives his life like the badge's motto: to protect and serve. He is initially motivated to help Pastor Logue out of curiosity and civil duty. Seven years have passed since the bewildering disappearance of Brother Anthony, a monk from Saint Luke’s Monastery and a friend of Officer Comstock.

Now a miracle has happened. The figure of Christ has been witnessed to shed tears. Pastor Logue doubts its ethnicity, but unable to prove its falsehoods, he enlists police services to deal with over zealous news and spectators. Officer Tim Comstock arrives for crowd control, to return a balance of normalcy. He discovers that the crucifix in question was Brother Anthony’s last commission. He had restored the cross to its gothic beauty so that it could once again hang majestically from Saint Martin Church.

Every clue that might solve the mystery brings a death. As one who has never had to combat evil beyond petty matters, Pastor Logue’s faith is tested when he is trapped by the killer’s ploy, the rules of the church and the sacredness of the confessional. Bound by his oath, Pastor Loque is forced to keep silent and pay blackmail to prevent any further deaths, because the deaths are not accidents. They're murders.

Regis Schilken is a talented writer as shown by his logical plot, his use of language, and his grasp of church principles. However, those readers looking for a deeper, emotionally driven plot may be disappointed. I know that a person is not just his job, and yet that’s how it felt as I read the brief character sketches and had to interject my own assumptions. I wanted to know the characters' motivations earlier, and the reasons for certain scenes and plot details were left until nearly the end. A little more information up front would have helped to carry me through the middle when I struggled to keep reading.
 
 Jackie Fleming

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