What they're saying about
The Coin of the Realm.
“…On the surface, at the level of turning pages as quickly as one can, this is a riveting adventure story. Deeper down it is a reflection on the choices we make and how we work out our own destinies, whether with magic, by fate, or through Divine Providence... Dubin is a fine, at times even a poetic, writer. His sense of plot, setting and character are excellent…the story is compelling, the prose rich, and the themes haunting. I found myself thinking about the book long after the leading characters had reached physical safety, wondering whether they might be on the way toward spiritual safety, too... It is encouraging that [Dubin] is at work on another novel. I’ll eagerly await the result, but with no less gratitude for his remarkable first novel, The Coin of the Realm.”
—Dr.
Jeff Mirus, CatholicCulture.org
read complete
review
“...It’s
hard to believe that this is [Roger] Dubin’s first
novel. His command of detail and style as he tantalizes
the reader with descriptions of exotic lands and even
more varied and colorful characters is excellent.
Dubin’s images are so concrete that the reader is
instantly drawn into the scene… The Coin
of the Realm sweeps the
reader along on a current of adventure and danger with
a splash of humor. Yet undercurrents of choice, faith,
one’s purpose, the dignity of individual lives, and
love call us into deeper considerations…
The Coin
of the Realm manages to
encompass several genres and will entertain and
intrigue readers of adventure, mystery, romance, travel
narratives, and introspective coming-of-age stories
alike. I highly recommend [Roger] Dubin’s first novel,
and I look forward to more like it.”
—Kelly
J. Henson, Book Reviewer
CatholicFiction.net read complete
review
"Roger
Dubin has accomplished something with his first novel
that every fiction writer desires: a book that utterly
transports the reader into the story's universe. In
part, he achieves this in The Coin
of the Realm through his
fully realized characters and artful turns of phrase.
In fact, Dubin's prose often reaches a kind of lyricism
that is all too absent from most adventure/thriller
stories."
—Andrew
Junker, The Catholic Sun
"With its sure-handed style and literary polish, one is
hard-pressed to accept that The Coin
of the Realm is a first
novel. This is pure adventure storytelling, yet
intertwined with the eternal quest for truths that lie
just beyond our grasp. Seagoing exploits aboard
Caroline
Coast, a ramshackle
freighter, conjure passages of Patrick O’Brian—distinct
praise indeed. But whether the scene is set in the
Great Lakes, the Atlantic, Tunisia, or the Sahara, the
author keeps the pace moving and the excitement high,
using action and mystery to skillfully project us into
the minds and hearts of his characters. Roger Dubin has
proven he's a writer to watch."
—Anthony
Eglin, author of The Blue
Rose,
The
Lost Gardens, Trail of the Wild Rose,
The Water
Lily Cross, and
Garden of
Secrets Past
(St.
Martin's Press) visit his site
"The
Coin of the Realm is hard to
categorize yet easy to love. On one level it's a
gripping thriller with exotic locales, memorable
characters, and a compelling romance; while just
beneath the surface swirl mysteries of destiny,
purpose, the intricate workings of fate, and the
ultimate sources of meaning in life. The novel's
transcendent themes will haunt the reader long after
the 'thrill[er] is gone.' I recommend it most
highly."
—Roy
Schoeman, author of Salvation is
from the Jews and
Honey from
the Rock
(Ignatius
Press) visit his site
Retail
USD
$16.95 trade
paper |
USD
$7.99
Kindle
360 pages |
5.5" x 8.5" | ISBN 978-0692310663
Library of Congress Control Number
2008906881
