Pagan Babies by Elmore Leonard

Days after arriving in Rwanda, Father Terry Dunn watches his congregation butchered to death inside his church. The massacre is part of the Rwandan Genocide that tears apart this African country. Five years later, Father Dunn -- or "Terry" to his one-armed housekeeper -- has to return home to Detroit, with a tax-fraud indictment hanging over his head.

While in the States, Terry is forced to come to terms with a criminal past, while falling for an ex-con named Debbie who has just been released from prison for running over her ex-boyfriend with a car. Amidst all of this chaos, he trades wits with a series of mafioso characters (e.g. a Capo boss; a dumb as rocks hit man; a wannabe gangster), while seeking to raise money for Rwandan orphans, in an a fundraising operation that may or may not be a scam.

With brilliant writing, Elmore Leonard introduces a seres of wonderful characters and fantastic plot twists in this great book. Reading through this excellent novel I was reminded why he is one of the best contemporary fiction writers

3 1/2 out of 5 stars