Once I started "Candle For Consuela" I couldn't put it down, initially because the action, plot and pacing are thrilling.  However, the real draw of the book turned out to be the drama about what was at stake for the characters, including each main character fighting powerful political, theological and philosophical influences.  The risks and forces acting on the characters were gripping.

The book provides a fictionalized presentation of events in England in recent times.  Those recent events in England resulted from brutalities that actually occurred in El Salvador in a twelve year civil war in the 1980's.   Among the past atrocities were torture and murder of civilians and the cold-blooded murder of six Jesuit priests.   Thankfully, we are spared witnessing the atrocities.   Instead, we are treated to intricately woven repercussions of those atrocities involving money, power, corruption, justice and The Catholic Church.  Some characters wrestle mightily with their consciences, while others apparently have little, if any, conscience.  All of these events are spiced with romance and sexual scenes that never seemed gratuitous, but instead advanced the plot and themes.  

"Candle For Consuela" reminded me of some great and provocative books, such as those by Dan Brown, Graham Greene, Thornton Wilder (The Bridge Of San Luis Rey) and Morris West (The Shoes Of The Fisherman, etc.), while also being a page-turner like some by James Paterson and Tom Clancy.   

I couldn’t stop reading until the very last page, and look forward to reading it again and its promised sequel.