The Baker’s Wife is a new fiction title by Erin Healy. It tells the story of Audrey, the wife of a former pastor who was kicked out of his church after being accused of paying for his son’s ex-girlfriend to have an abortion. (The pastor denies paying for the abortion or even knowing about it.)

The family starts a bakery after they are kicked out of the church, turning their lifelong hobby of baking bread into a way to sustain themselves financially. The story begins with a foggy morning. Audrey and her son are driving to the bakery to work, and they hit a scooter. The scooter belongs to the mother of the ex-girlfriend. The mother’s blood is all over the street, but no one can find the body.

The rest of the book follows Audrey as she tries to discover the truth behind these mysteries and lies.

Although the plot of the book is rather complicated and seems like it would easily become confusing or predictable, the author does a good job of revealing information as necessary to create a mystery with a  fulfilling finale. The character development is solid.

I was most impressed by the author’s willingness to deal with topics that are often taboo in Christian fiction, namely legalism, sexual purity and abortion. These topics are central to the story, but through the author’s handling of them, she makes it clear that they are sins like any other, and grace is not withheld just because the sin is too “big.”

Unlike many Christian fiction books, I would recommend this book not only as an interesting fiction read, but also as a good way to engage others in important theological discussions.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”