Fleenor’s new novel, Sweet Water, is walking the tightrope between the genre of American Theological History and poignant short stories of broken people looking for meaning. It takes its title from a fictitious small town in Oregon, not far from the I-5 corridor. Somewhere out there, there is a serial killer. The diverse characters are strong men and women, enduring against great odds. Scarred, they still seethe with their frayed emotions. Sweet Water is a readable story of an archetypical American Church known as the Restoration Movement. This one American Church is divided and troubled. It reflects our polarized America. In this land of pragmatist, some atheist and agnostics find little use for Christianity, since they see it in conflict with their changing mores. In contrast, other Americans hold on desperately to an increasingly extreme fundamentalist faith. Is there a middle course? Can a truth-seeker find an authentic faith? Mr. Fleenor’s multi-layered answer will rivet the readers’ interest.