The First Phone Call From Heaven - Book Review

Some of the residents of Coldwater, a small town near Lake Michigan, are receiving phone calls from their deceased relatives. Speaking of heaven and offering comfort, the phone calls from loved ones spark a world-wide debate about heaven. As the media descends on the small town, one resident--Sully Harding, still grieving the death of his wife, is determined to find out whether the heavenly phone calls are legitimate or a hoax.

The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom is a quick read and enjoyable. The prose is concise and his story telling is well plotted. There are so many characters, that initially I had trouble keeping them straight. Because of the brevity and the numbers of characters, I felt like they were not as developed and individual as they could be.

More a discussion on faith than a discussion of whether or not heaven exists, Albom shows the various character's reactions to hearing from their loved ones who have passed on. It was interesting for me to compare and contrast the ideas and reactions in this novel to the characters in Jason Mott's The Returned. Some of their reactions are similar, though Albom's version is much tamer and less violent.

The mystery behind the calls and Sully's investigation was the most engaging part for me. The ending was a bit odd but ultimately satisfying. Fans of Mitch Albom and readers looking for a feel-good story will enjoy The First Phone Call From Heaven.

**I received a complimentary copy of The First Phone Call From Heaven in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.**