Faith : a novel

 by Jennifer Haigh. Father Arthur Breen has devoted his entire career as a priest in Boston's South Shore community to a life of quiet but determined faith, enthusiastically serving his parishioners while unobtrusively placating his superiors in the Catholic hierarchy. Only marginally involved with his own family devout mother, alcoholic stepfather, go-getter half-brother, and contemplative half-sister Breen takes an instant shine to eight-year-old Aidan, the emotionally fragile son of the rectory's housekeeper, and makes tentative arrangements to help Aidan's newly clean-and-sober mother, Kath, start a new life. So when a sex abuse scandal rocks the Boston archdiocese, everyone is shocked, though no one is exactly surprised, to learn that Kath has accused Father Breen of harming Aidan. Looking back on the tragedy, Breen's sister Sheila chronicles the events leading up to and beyond the incident, revealing a family shattered by profound secrets. With an exquisite sense of drama and mystery, Haigh delivers a taut, well-crafted tale that potently but subtly explores myriad gray areas within essential issues of truth and trust, punishment and absolution. Indelibly rendered characters, suspenseful pacing, and fearless but sensitive handling of a controversial subject will make this a must-read for book discussion groups. --Booklist (Check Catalog)