ISBN: 1-931816-01-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-931816-01-4
$13.95, 168 pages
$11.16 Online Price
(Quality paperback)

In this complex work of fiction based on the last day in Thomas Merton's life, Paul Hourihan has worked with words on the canvas of Merton's life to create a dynamic picture of how his inner dialog and his spirit's quest may have evolved on that December day of 1968 in Bangkok. Through Hourihan's words Merton has become even more exalted in my consideration, because through The Death of Thomas Merton I see myself in him and him in me. He is even more to be called venerable for his confrontation with a conflict that, were it fully known by his higher-ups, could potentially have raised the roof of theological and philosophical attitude.
    In Hourihan's book we sample what life is all about in our inner worlds through his portrayal of Merton. I highly recommend it to all readers, no matter what their opinion is about Thomas Merton, for they'll put down the book-having finished it-with greatly enhanced insight.
    To me, the real question raised by Hourihan's novel is, on that day when Thomas Merton died so suddenly, did something really die or was something being born?"
             - Lily G. Stephen, author of The Tenth Muse, Blooming Rose Press

.A profound and thoughtful testimony . very highly recommended reading both as a work of fact-based fiction and as a thoughtfully speculative portrayal of Thomas Merton in terms of his life and his thought.
                                                   - The Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI

Very interesting and worth studying. What I liked was the openness and frankness of the religious topics which were touched upon. I don't particularly agree with all of the author's ideas but believe different people would benefit from this book in different ways....
    The degree of penetration into the mind of Merton, the main character, is really amazing.... The chance to penetrate someone's mind and to get an idea of their inner speech, born by contradictions is really invigorating. To investigate the inner world from inside, astonishing.
    Not everyone will like the book, but it is my belief that it will provoke argument, and that is the most important thing. The main goal of art, in general, and literature in particular, is provoking feelings and emotions in our hearts and minds.
                                                   - C. Benard, Daytona Beach, FL

The Death of Thomas Merton by Dr. Paul Hourihan opened many doors for me and added more mystery to the already curious death of the Trappist monk, who I wanted to know more about.
   Dr. Hourihan's writing style brings you into the character to the point of believing this book is possibly not fiction at all but what Thomas Merton was really going through and thinking at the time of his death.
   An excellent book recommended to anyone who is not afraid of truth and change.
                                                - Nick Ciampi,  Redding, CA

Paul Hourihan's depiction of the Catholic Church in this book speaks so perfectly of the kind of institution that could create, and destroy, a person such as Merton. Hourihan's honesty and insight expressed the exact feelings I had about the Church, and without doubt history will prove the truth of his observations. We can only hope this wisdom will reach the masses, so to speak, and that the light and love that Christ taught will be spread beyond the dark walls that now attempt to confine it.
                                                   - F. T. Barrett, Sacramento, CA