Week 17 Reading Wrap-Up: Maps, Meditation, and Murder…

Reviews

Another week, another stack of finished books. This time around, we’ve got a mix: spiritual nonfiction, map-based magical realism, and a true crime (ish?) detour. Here’s how it all shook out.

God Has a Name by John Mark Comer — ★★★★☆

This one digs into the character of God, unpacking that pivotal moment in Exodus 34 where God describes Himself. It’s thoughtful and rooted in scripture, but for me, it didn’t land with the same punch as some of Comer’s other books like The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. That said, it’s still worth the read—especially if you’re wrestling with how to see God not just as an idea, but as someone with personality, emotion, and relationship at His core.

💭 Side Note: This would pair nicely with a study of the Hebrew names of God if you’re into that sort of rabbit hole.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd — ★★★★☆

Modern fantasy meets magical realism in this one, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. The premise plays with the idea that maps—especially “phantom” ones—can unlock more than just directions. As soon as the strange details started piling up, I had a decent hunch about what was going on… and was mostly right.

Yes, there are some logic gaps, but they didn’t spoil the fun. If you enjoy secret societies, mysterious inheritances, or the idea of paper maps holding literal magic, you’ll probably vibe with this.

🧭 Plot twist potential: Mildly predictable, but still enjoyable. Like guessing the magician’s trick and still being impressed by the sleight of hand.

Down the Hill by Susan Hendricks — ★★★☆☆

Let’s call this one: “Not What I Thought I Ordered.” I went in expecting true crime deep dive, but got more of a journalistic memoir. That mismatch threw me, and I suspect I’m not alone. Hendricks brings a personal connection and sincere interest to the Delphi murders, and if you’re new to the case, this might be an accessible entry point.

But for those already familiar—or looking for more hard facts and legal analysis—it may feel a little thin.

Personally, this case hits closer to home. I’m a fellow Hoosier, and even though I don’t know anyone directly involved, it carries that eerie proximity. I’ve driven through Delphi. A friend of mine in law enforcement worked on the case. All that to say: I wanted more out of this book than it was really built to give.

While writing this, I remembered that I had listened to the Down the Hill podcast about a year ago. I liked the podcast quite a bit better than the book. It was produced by HLN and was of a very high quality. If you want to check out the podcast, I embedded the entire show below in the “Resources” section.

⚖️ Final verdict: The book isn’t bad, just mis-marketed. (It’s the same complaint I had for How Propaganda Works.)

Get Your Copy

If any of these books piqued your interest, here’s where you can grab a copy and judge for yourself:

God Has a Name by John Mark Comer
(For fans of thoughtful theology and approachable biblical insight.)
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
(If you like your fantasy grounded in the real world—with a twist.)
Down the Hill by Susan Hendricks
(Just be aware: it’s more memoir-meets-true-crime than deep-dive reportage.)