Ultra-conservative Christian zealots rule a dystopic future United States called the New Republic. The Divine Council appoints Prophets to lead cities with names like New Jericho, New Nazareth and New Beersheba. Modern medicine is banned, followers of other major religions are imprisoned in penniless ghettos, currency and length are measured in shekels and cubits, sins are expiated with animal sacrifices and worship at SuperChurch is mandatory. These oppressive commandments are enforced in part by the Faith Crimes Unit, police special forces also known as Acolytes.
Jonah Murtag is an Acolyte in New Bethlehem. He patrols the city with two partners, investigates faith crimes like membership in banned religious sects or possession of heretical artifacts, and dishes out violence in the name of the New Republic. The Acolytes are used to Muslim suicide bombings, but a new wave of attacks in New Bethlehem puts the city on edge. And something else is wrong: the bombers are fellow New Republican Followers. Murtag's loyalty is questioned and his faith shaken when he fails to protect the Prophet's daughter from a bombing.
Nick Cutter (The Troop; The Deep), a pen name of Toronto novelist and short story author Craig Davidson, combines creepy speculative fiction with crime thriller in The Acolyte. Though the New Republic is sometimes farcically overblown (streets named after Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson feel jarringly comedic), the world is overall successful. Murtag's growing crisis of faith makes him an intriguing protagonist. The Acolyte is an entertainingly disturbing read. --Tobias Mutter, freelance reviewer