Somewhere Safe . . .

. . . With Somebody Good is the title of Jan Karon’s book, one her latest in the life of small-town Mitford.  Karon is a prolific and easy to read author. 

Nonetheless, her series of tales about the mythical town of Mitford has grown into at least nine books, all of which are better read in sequence.

I discovered this when I purchased Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good at a Barnes & Noble book store in Washington, D.C. during one of my visits there.

It’s much more enjoyable to have read Karon’s books about life in Mitford in the order in which they were written.

The plot lines in Somewhere Safe . . .  resolve around the servant leadership of an Episcopal parish priest, Tim Cavanagh and his wife Cynthia, both of whom become the center of life in their little corner of the world. 

 

Father Tim evokes a time when residing in  and participating with the activities and rituals of a Christian parish was at the core of life for many people. 

  In this story, Karon casts Father Tim as a retired priest adjusting himself to a different lifestyle, one far removed from the responsibilities of caring for the souls of his people.

Tim Kavanagh is also greatly enjoying relief from the administrative tasks of running a parish which, at times, feels like managing a small business.

But not so quickly!  His life and that of Cynthia suddenly take a different turn when his bishop asks him to resume responsibility for his prior duties.

For those who have read all or most of the preceding nine-volume Mitford series, the characters in this novel, including their qualities and quirks will come to life much more easily.  Otherwise, head for the library!