Debut novel ‘This Damnable Dilemma’ is a revelation | Book Talk

Pastor Pastor is a good pastor. In “This Damnable Dilemma,” a debut novel by Uniontown resident David Nypaver, Tom Pastor is a priest at a Catholic church in a Cleveland suburb. Some people have gotten a kick out of his name, but he’s an easygoing guy and the jokes have fizzled out.

Tom also is devout and diligent. He cares about his parishioners, manages the finances and hears confessions. It is while he is in this role that he finds trouble: A man enters the confessional and reveals his sins, beginning with the commonplace (“I took the Lord’s name in vain”) and continuing through the most atrocious of acts. Tom tells the penitent that he can be absolved if he is sincere, but the penitent isn’t done yet.

Tom urges the man to turn himself in and face justice, and promises to accompany him. The man agrees.

Tom meets regularly with three other priests. They drink bourbon and play euchre, and discuss some confessions with the greatest of discretion, never with any details that could identify the confessor, because the Seal of the Confessional is among the most significant sacraments in the Catholic church. No priest may divulge anything said in a confession, no matter how abominable; to do so could result in excommunication. Tom is so distressed that he consults a fellow priest who is his spiritual adviser. Before they can speak, the penitent returns.

It becomes evident that the penitent, as Tom thinks of him, is taunting Tom. The theological implications are vast. Are these actions the work of the devil? Can Tom do anything to stop future transgressions?

This story isn’t inspirational, but it does respect religion and its structure. It isn’t quite a mystery — the villain’s name is known, or is he the devil? Is he a figment of Tom’s imagination? Does the devil exist? At its heart, it is a sequel-worthy thriller with a likable protagonist.

“This Damnable Dilemma” (300 pages, softcover) costs $13.99 from online retailers. Nypaver is retired from the University of Akron, where he worked in the Department of University Communications and Marketing.

Events

Seats may remain to hear Brad Thor talk about his spy thriller “Shadow of Doubt” from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Parma-Snow branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library. The $30 admission includes a pre-signed copy of the book. Go to cuyahogalibrary.org.

Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland): Deanna Adams (“Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Roots”) signs her novel “A Place Where We Belong,” set in 1940 Cleveland, and Kim Adrien Zonneville, who performs as Charlie Wiener, signs “Sequel,” continuing a fiction series, 7 p.m. Monday.

Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights): The Plum City Reading Series features poet Jason Koo, author of the collection “No Rest,” and Zack Meisel, Cleveland Guardians beat reporter for The Athletic, 7 p.m. Monday, followed by an afterparty at the Literary Cleveland offices at 13002 Larchmere. Suggested registration is $20 but there is a “pay what you can” option; go to loganberrybooks.com. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, journalist Jordan Chariton talks to former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner about “We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans.” From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the 17th annual Author Alley book fair brings more than 70 authors to the alley next to the shop. See the list at loganberrybooks.com.

Cleveland Public Library : Sagit Schwarz joins the Writers Unplugged series to talk about her debut novel “Since She’s Been Gone,” in a virtual event at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Register at cpl.org.

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library : Jennifer Levasseur, curator of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and author of “Through Astronaut Eyes: Photography from Early Human Spaceflight,” joins the Online Author Talk Series with “Behind the Scenes at the Space Station: Astronauts Invite You On Board,” 2 p.m. Wednesday. Register at smfpl.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd.): Musicologist Richard Koloda discusses “Holy Ghost: The Life & Death of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler,” about the influential Cleveland-born jazz saxophonist, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

National First Ladies Library & Museum (205 Market Ave. S., Canton): University of Mount Union professor Jamie C. Capuzza talks about “The Fifth Star: Ohio’s Fight for Women’s Right to Vote” in a virtual presentation from noon to 2 p.m. Friday. Registration, $9, is at firstladies.org.

Stark Library (715 Market Ave. N., Canton): 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Rondé Barber reads from his children’s book “By My Brother’s Side,” 1 to 2 p.m. Friday. No memorabilia will be signed. Register at starklibrary.org.

Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N. Main St., Hudson): Jason Lady reads from “Monster Problems: A Magic Pen Adventure,” second in his series for young readers, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Garfield branch, 5409 Turney Road, Garfield Heights): Carlo Wolff signs “Invisible Soul: Uncovering Cleveland’s Underground Soul Scene,” 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Visible Voice Books (2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland): Katie Tastrom, author of “A People’s Guide to Abolition and Disability,” talks with activists C Stonebraker-Martinez and Jeanne Li, 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event will be held at Crust Pizza below the shop; in case of rain, it will be inside with masks required.

Mac’s Backs (1820 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights): Author Matthew Erman and illustrator Sam Beck talk about the graphic novel “Loving, Ohio,” 5 p.m. Saturday.

Email information about books of local interest, and event notices at least two weeks in advance to beaconbooktalk@gmail.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Debut novel ‘This Damnable Dilemma’ is a revelation | Book Talk