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Periodical Reviews
Even in her romances, Rivers (Redeeming Love, LJ 11/1/97) tackles some difficult issues, so this story of a family and a community in turmoil is different from her other books only in that it lacks a love interest. Ten-year-old Cadi's grief over her beloved grandmother--the only person who seemed to love her unconditionally--is compounded by a previous family tragedy for which she believes her family blames her. While at her grandmother's grave, Cadi sees the "sin eater," a human who absolves the residents of the tiny Smoky Mountain community of their sins. Somehow Cadi, touchingly portrayed by Rivers, comes to realize that the sin eater is false and learns of Jesus, and her conversion to Christianity leads to a reconciliation with her family. Rivers delivers both a powerful message about Christian beliefs and the need for forgiveness of sins and an evocative portrayal of life in the 1850s. Highly recommended.
– Library Journal
A sin eater was a person who took the sins of others upon himself at the time of their burial. No one was permitted to look upon the sin eaters face, or it was said that sin and evil would transfer to them. This custom from early 19th-century England, Lowland Scotland and Wales, was continued by immigrants in the Appalachian Mountains. With a terrible sin on her conscience, young Cadi Forbes is convinced she will never be forgiven as long as she’s living. Cadi contemplates ending her life so the sin eater will come take her sin away. But before she can do so, she’s befriended by an encouraging girl named Lilybet, whom no one else seems able to see. With Lilybet's help, Cadi and her friend Fagan Kai, son of the most feared man on the mountain, begin a search for the sin eater and are soon led on another, more important search for the truth. A man claiming to be sent from God makes his presence known among the mountain folk. Danger soon finds Cadi and Fagan as they uncover dark secrets that many in the hollow would rather stay hidden. This unforgettable novel is rich in style, lore and action, revealing a profound truth in a way only Francine Rivers can do. Transcending age, gender and reading genres, this gripping story is a must read for men, women and young people alike.
—Romantic Times
Rivers offers an unusual tale of Scottish settlers in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1850’s. An unexplained depression permeates the isolated mountain community, and youngster Cadi Forbes begins to understand her elders’ despair when her beloved grandmother dies. An old Scottish custom requires that the Sin Eater be called to attend the funeral to remove the sins of the deceased. Cadi becomes obsessed with the Sin Eater and vows to find this mysterious man who has the power to take away sin, but whom no one may look at without dire consequences. Rivers skillfully combines character and mood to create a haunting story that effectively depicts the horror of sin and the beauty of forgiveness. This clever parable is sure to attract Rivers’ fans, as well as readers unfamiliar with her previous works.
–CBA Marketplace
For the people isolated in one high Smoky Mountain valley in the 1850’s, the old ways and superstitions of their Scottish ancestors still held firm among these practices was a “sin eater,” a masked pariah living apart from the community whom they would summon to each funeral to take upon himself the guilt of the dead person’s sins and assure that his ghost would not haunt the countryside. But for 10-year-old Cadi Forbes, laden with guilt over the death of her sister, the existence of the sin eater only compounded her problem. Would she, like her grandmother, have to wait until her late 80’s before someone could offer her hope of easing her burden? And why do her elders become so upset over her inquiries about the sin eater – as well as over the presence at the edge of the valley of a man who comes preaching the gospel. Francine Rivers has crafted a compelling tale and poignant reminder of humanity’s desperate need of the gracious redemption that only Jesus Christ can bring.
–Moody
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