A Matter of Faith by Duke Woodrick tells the story of Ella Mae Martin who suffers a cardiac arrest. She then has an out of body experience, briefly tastes heaven, and is sent back to fulfil a mission she didn’t know she had. She is able to see and hear things, but no one knows she is there because she is in spirit form. She witnesses the murder of Sandra Brown and gets a good look at the killer, who - it seems - may well be a serial killer with an obsession for women with the initial SB. The question is: why the obsession and what is the significance of SB? She then returns to her body, which is lying in the morgue, and astounds her doctor by telling her story. She sets out to bring the killer to justice, but who is going to believe her?

This was a surprise. The way the author described the experiences of the protagonist, the contrast between heaven and the earthly world, the feelings and emotions really made this story work. It was interesting to see just how the story would evolve in order to convince the police that she knew the killer's identity. Although perhaps unintentional, author Duke Woodrick manages to convey an almost supernatural experience, but quite a reassuring one for the reader. Ella Mae is a convincing character, well developed, and the story flows well. An interesting concept and written with good visual perceptions which would convert well to film. This may be one to watch.

A Matter of Faith by Duke Woodrick is a faith filled suspense novel. This is a book that would appeal most to an audience of adults and young adults who believe in God, enjoy stories about those brought back from death, and those who like reading about out of body experiences with a purpose. Ella Mae Martin experienced a cardiac failure that propelled her to the other side where she catches a glimpse of heaven. While on the other side, she meets a little boy and his dog that can only be described as angelic; she is told that her mission is not yet complete and she must return to life and Earth. However on her way back to her body, she views a serial killer’s latest murder. Will she catch the killer before another victim is claimed and will anyone believe her?

A Matter of Faith by Duke Woodrick is unique, unlike all other books about people returning from the dead. This book was not about romance, love, or a zombie apocalypse. Instead this book took me on a journey alongside Ella Mae Martin to use her knowledge from the time after her death to stop a killer. There were many times during the book where I wondered if she was supposed to have seen the serial killer’s action so that she could have the killer caught, and if that was the mission she had to complete on Earth. When I read the scene about Ella Mae Martin meeting the little boy and his dog after her death, I immediately looked at the cover, and I loved the fact that Duke Woodrick captured the beauty and angelic nature of the moment, both in words and in the cover image.

I recently had the privilege of reading Duke Woodrick's most recent novel, " A Matter Of Faith."
Regretfully, I am not an avid reader but after reading this very intriguing story, I have become re-energized to become a more active reader.
Once I began reading this novel, I found it hard to pause since the inherent and ongoing suspense was exceptionally composed. The choice of varied characters added greatly to a "what's coming next?" concept.
Lastly, as a Christian, Duke's vivid description of an afterlife and the transitional process from life to death reinforces my belief in the "hereafter." The ending of this novel is very moving.
I highly recommend this novel to all who may be interested in this type of subject manner and who thrive on intrigue. I look forward to future novels released by this very talented author.