The Defilers has all the components of a commercial bestseller: strong plot, interesting characters, suspense, surprise, and, at the right times, beautiful ambiguity. Gyapong’s characters are multi-dimensional; they don’t fit into simple stereotypes. The book tackles a difficult subject matter (the child porn industry) with grace. The Defilers is a good plane read—fast paced and well written—but its story will stay with you long after you disembark.

Best New Canadian Christian Author Deborah Gyapong delivers a layered spiritual thriller told through the eyes of protagonist Linda Donner, a Mountie who finds herself entangled in a demonic murder, drug, kiddie porn drama spanning the globe. While Linda and her partner, Will, and pastor, David, fight the dark forces that have ensnared the town of South Dare, Linda must also fight her own personal demons and find a faith that was shattered years before by sexual abuse she suffered by a priest.

Fast-paced, authentic, intelligent and engaging with a satisfying ending, I would highly recommend this novel.

If you pick up "The Defilers" by Deborah Gyapong expecting a light read, you've chosen the wrong book. This novel is gritty, fast-paced, and dripping with suspense. The main character, Linda Donner, a policewoman, investigates a murder where the main suspect is a local pastor.

Several scenes might cause uneasiness as you read - the flashbacks when Linda recalls her childhood molestation by a priest, or scenes of intense spiritual warfare. But Deborah Gyapong writes of the physical world and the spiritual world with maturity and extensive attention to detail. It's obvious Gyapong took great pains to portray spiritual warfare with realism and theological accuracy, and the police investigation rings authentic as well.

When Linda Donner thinks she must be having a breakdown of some kind, help seems to come from a highly unlikely source, the pastor. How can she trust a clergyman who's at the center of her investigation, or any clergyman after all she's overcome battling her own past and the horrible memories associated with `men of the cloth'?

As I read the final chapters of The Defilers, I realized I held my breath, turning each page with trepidation. Pick this book up and expect a gripping, mature story you won't soon forget.

The Defilers gripped me with all elements of a good read: believable characters, skilful writing, and strong plot. I read it within 24 hours. The difficult topics of child abuse and demonic possession are handled with excellent skill and sensitivity, all told through the main character's eyes, Linda Donner, a RCMP constable. I became Linda, experiencing the strange community she found herself in, yet found the characters believable in spite of their eccentricities.

Author, Deborah Gyapong, successfully depicts the potential relationship between abuse and spiritual activities, yet leaves the reader feeling uplifted and positive. Far from being depressed, I was left with a feeling of satisfaction and hope. Gyapong wrote realistically, yet with great care.

The Defilers is a fascinating read. I highly recommend it.