If I Came Back from Hell

Frank McGovern has not lived a traditionally "good" life, being disloyal to his wife and a distant father to his son. However, when an accident befalls him and his existence is transformed overnight, something rather miraculous happens. In the struggle to find his way back into the light of the living, he must also traverse the long road that brought him to this point. These realizations come back in fits and starts, worked in expertly by the author, so readers are essentially rebuilding the puzzle of McGovern's life right along with him. The story has a universal quality that will speak to everyone, even if readers don't consider themselves to be overly religious. There is a spiritual and philosophical aspect to the points he is making, and the beliefs that the characters hold, rather than overtly religious - the potential to change your behavior and improve the path you make through the world is something to which everyone can aspire. Donnelly is both inspiring and gut-wrenching at the same time, capable of making readers laugh through tears and take a hard look at their own life story. As a whole, If I Came Back from Hell is a creative, thought-provoking, and passionate book by an author who is constantly finding new ways to probe the marrow of the human spirit. SPR - Professional Review July'18