Be Near Me is a poetically rendered fall-from-grace story, juxtaposing love, respect and tenderness with prejudice, ignorance and snobishness. Set in small town Scotland, a priest commits some stupid transgressions that preceed his ultimate demise. This book is filled with enough rich detail to merit a much longer novel, yet its sparse tightness vibrates with lifelike nuances. Despite some campy Oxford scenes, this is a near-perfect piece of work that will resonate inside you long after you put it down. Drop whatever you are doing and read it now!

Laura