Ex-con sets up "The Word", a storefront church in an attempt to survive legally by taking in a few donations from rich folks. Things don't quite turn out as planned as his presence in a rundown neighborhood and chance encounters turn into something quite different than he expected. Lots of great characters here, and this book is just a pleasure to read from beginning to end. There are no earth-shattering events, just joy and sadness on a very human scale. Even the Scientology-like cult the protagonist must deal with doesn't get the full comeuppance we would like to see, but by the end it doesn't matter. Lives have been changed for the better, and there is hope. If you enjoyed Alverson's crime novels, this one is quite different. There is a great deal of Los Angeles flavor and Alverson brings it to life. Again, I can't stress just how pleasant a read this is. Highly recommended. ( )