Contact: Barry Connolly, 203-748-1033

BETHEL, Conn., Feb. 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Reviewers and readers alike are praising 'The Good Thief,' a powerful and moving novel by Christian author Barry Connolly. The book makes an ideal selection for individuals and book clubs looking for inspirational reading during the Lenten and Easter seasons.

Set in the tumultuous weeks leading up to Christ's passion and crucifixion, "The Good Thief" introduces us to Dismas, the "good thief" promised paradise by Jesus on Good Friday. It is the story of a young Jewish man whose world is turned upside-down when his brother and sister are killed during the investigation of a politically sensitive crime. Obsessed with exacting revenge on the Roman tribune responsible, and despite the pleas of the woman he loves, Dismas embarks on a dangerous quest. His journey will take him from the shadowy back alleys of Jerusalem to a thieves' lair in the remote mountains of Judea, to a fateful confrontation that leads to his crucifixion alongside Jesus. It is a compelling and compassionate story of love, loss, repentance and redemption.

Steve Donoghue, editor of "Historical Novel Review Online" and managing editor of the arts and literature review "Open Letters Monthly," called "The Good Thief" "...everything first-rate Biblical fiction should be: it's rich in period detail, sharp and telling in its character delineation, strong but not bossy in its faith, and immediately engaging... Connolly has tapped narrative gold and made it shine."

"Midwest Book Review" said, "A riveting read with Biblical and historical ties...very hard to put down."

Readers on Amazon.com said: "I found myself caught up in the lives of the characters and wept at the conclusion" ... "Dismas is the protagonist of this book, but Jesus' message of forgiveness is the star" ... "...brought the message of the Gospels to life in a way that only enhanced my reading of the scriptures."

"The Good Thief" by Barry Connolly, (308 pages; ISBN: 978-1-4502-3287-6), is available in paperback and Kindle, Nook and e-book editions. It can be ordered here at Amazon and here at Barnes and Noble as well as at local bookstores. The author is a professional writer who lives in Bethel, Connecticut.

(Note to Editors: A color JPEG of the book's cover -- an original painting by noted New Yorker Magazine artist and author Joseph Farris -- can be found here.)