Monument takes readers on a fantastical ride through the imagination of Ian Graham, who manages to make a hero of a shabby drunkard with little or no moral sense. After having been rescued from a death by beating, Ballas repays his savior, a priest, by stealing from the monastery that offered him protection and the possibility of a new life if only he would look inside himself in the hopes of finding his soul.

Ballas’ does more than commit a venal sin by stealing from those who serve God. In a twist of karma righting the wrongs perpetrated by the misguided, the article he steals winds up putting both him and the entire world on the brink of disaster and possible destruction.

Graham does an excellent job of making the character of Ballas despicable, then succeeds at an astonishing attempt of making him a somewhat sympathetic anti-hero without forcing him to experience a blinding “come to God” moment. This tactic makes the story very readable, enjoyable and believable; everyone knows someone who winds up doing the right thing despite themselves, even if it may be only for their own benefit. With brilliant imagination and a fast-paced yet easy-to-follow plot, Graham has created a novel for anyone who likes reading about moral comeuppance in a completely imaginary yet totally believable story.