An unexpected highway accident claims the life of Johnny Donaldson well before he expects it will be his time. Johnny’s story is only beginning, however, as his guardian angel accompanies him on a journey for closure with those family and friends he must leave behind. He witnesses their grief and difficulties in coping with his passing. Guided into the afterlife, he meets with Jesus and deals with the frightening prospect of having his time on Earth judged by his deeds, emotions, actions, and inactions. Vignettes and moments of the past replay before Johnny that he must witness and stand accountable for, although he is bolstered and armored by the prayers of those still alive wishing him well. In order to escape purgatory and enter the afterlife, Johnny can only rely on choices that he made that cannot now be changed and the impact and legacy that carries on in the lives of others who knew him.

The mystery of what lies waiting for us on the other side of life has inspired many great works of fiction throughout the years, and this story continues that tradition. Johnny’s vulnerability in the face of his history, both his stronger moments and his brushes with temptation, creates a considerable amount of suspense and tension. Each chapter opens with a concept of virtue or sin and an accompanying scripture that highlights the importance of that type of behavior. Johnny’s helplessness to change his actions seems like an inevitability, but his character and arc serve as a lesson for readers that their time should be used carefully and helpfully. Deconstructing the soul into actions and choices proves disarming for both reader and character alike. It shakes Johnny greatly but allows the reader opportunities to reflect on their own journeys and adjust accordingly.

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