Recipient of the Illumination Book Award.
Recipient of the Nautilus Book Award.
Elijah Campbell is on the verge of losing his writing career, his faith, and his marriage when a recurring childhood nightmare drives him back to his hometown, Bradford's Ferry. There, his encounters with loved ones both past and present shed light on the reason his wife left him—and the meaning of his nightmare. However, beyond the light he begins to glimpse something even more terrifying—a decision he must make either to continue hiding the secrets of his past or unhide the only thing that can save his marriage: himself.
In psychologist Kelly Flanagan's non-fiction works (Loveable, True Companions), he drew from clinical insight to explore the spiritual depths of identity and relationships. Now, in this debut novel, he weaves a page-turning and plot-twisting tale that brings new life to those insights, along with fresh revelations about personal growth, spiritual transformation, and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships.
This visit to Bradford's Ferry will linger long after the final page has been turned, and a guide for group discussion invites further conversation about the story's themes of healing, grace, faith, forgiveness, and freedom.
Read an excerpt from The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell on the publisher's website.
My Thoughts:
The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell stands as psychologist Kelly Flanagan’s debut novel. Flanagan’s expertise was fully on display as Elijah, the protagonist, struggled with his mental health and the buried trauma haunting his dreams. I marked many quotes while reading because I felt the truth of them. Then again, when I prepared to write this review I reread all I had marked and found the statements still worth further pondering.
The theme of “The past is behind us, but it is also, always, within us” repeated throughout The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell. As Eljah processed his trauma, he came close to suicide twice which might be a trigger for some readers. I admit, the book unsettled me with its depictions of emotional pain and a child carrying a family secret. Hard situations, complex feelings, and disturbing memories surfaced along the plot. A few mild cuss words appeared in times of frustration. The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell by Kelly Flanagan was not a pleasure read, but it held a lot of truth for survivors of childhood trauma. The book mixed self-help with fiction, and it would make a good therapy resource. Four stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
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