In TRUE BELIEVER, journalist Jeremy Marsh spends his time debunking
the supernatural. He has just finished exposing a fake television
psychic, proving that the man was not able to read people's minds
or see into their pasts. When he hears about a phenomenon happening
in the small town of Boone Creek in North Carolina, where ghosts
are seen inhabiting a local cemetery, Jeremy knows he will be able
to find the truth behind the lights that are seen glimmering on
certain nights above the cemetery grounds. He knows that ghosts do
not truly exist.

When Jeremy arrives in Boone Creek, he experiences what small town
life is all about. He's from the big city and feels like he's
walked into a time warp. Everyone knows everyone, and gossip
spreads like wildfire. His "hotel" is a hole-in-the-wall motel,
filled with dead animals ranging from a bear to snakes and all
sorts of wonderful critters that can be found in the wild. He's as
far from New York as he can get, and he's not sure he likes
it.

The very day he arrives in town, Jeremy makes a quick visit to
Cedar Creek Cemetery, where the ghosts are reported to have been
seen, when he notices a young woman there who catches his eye. He
later finds out that her name is Lexie Darnell. Neither of them
knows it but soon their lives will be changed forever. Lexie is the
granddaughter of the woman who had invited him to visit the town.
Doris Marsh is the town psychic.

As Jeremy slowly does his research in the library where Lexie
happens to work, he gets to know her. Despite what he feels about
the town, he finds himself interested in this woman who doesn't
seem to want anything to do with him.

Having read nearly every Nicholas Sparks book that has been
written, it is safe to say that TRUE BELIEVER is quite the
departure from his previous works. While Sparks tends to write
tragedies as opposed to true romances, this novel is far from the
tragedy that some of his other fiction books have been.

This is not to say that TRUE BELIEVER wasn't enjoyable. But fans
who are looking for the typical Nicholas Sparks book will not find
it here. Instead of concentrating on the romance, this reviewer
found the focus of the novel to be on the mystery behind the
cemetery, and the high point of the plot was Jeremy's answer to the
story behind the ghosts. The fact that Jeremy is dating a woman who
believes her parents' ghosts have come to her in the cemetery makes
the reader anxious to know what he finds, realizing that the answer
will greatly impact the relationship that is central to the love
story.

One aspect of storytelling in which Sparks excels is his ability to
create the characters who populate his books. His capacity to bring
into being likeable, everyday people helps make this novel
readable. The strength of the story isn't necessarily the plot, and
the romance that is found here is not one that a typical romance
reader might expect. For this reader, the characters were the
highlight of the novel, and the process of getting to know some of
the more prominent ones was a delight. One will find oneself
chuckling over some of the antics of the townspeople. The brouhaha
that the people make over Jeremy's celebrity is very cute, if not
humorous.

Overall, the plotlines are balanced between the mystery of the
cemetery, Jeremy and Lexie's relationship, the aspect of small-town
living, and the individual life stories of the two protagonists.
Focusing on the individual characters is just one way of truly
enjoying this book. It's a soothing type of read, and readers will
feel comfortable with these characters.

On that note, TRUE BELIEVER comes recommended. However, newcomers
to Sparks should not think that this novel is characteristic of the
type of writing that has popularized him over the years. His forte
lies in the tragedy, and to read THE NOTEBOOK or MESSAGE IN A
BOTTLE --- two of this reader's favorites --- is a must.