“In the Catholic novel Fatherless, author Brian J. Gail takes dead aim at the pervasive denials and chronic weaknesses that afflict men of every age, but especially men of the post-Pill generation. I think the greatest contribution of Mr. Gail\'s book is the honest presentation of real-life scenarios of how much damage the Pill has caused men and their relationships with women. No one thinks that the Pill is a man\'s issue, but Gail shatters that denial with his insightful rendering of the accounts of woe that follow in the train of the poison Pill. All men, not just Christians, need to read this and weep (in repentance) and then get up and make a difference in the world by taking on themselves once again the role of the virtuous man, father and warrior.”
Fr. Tom Euteneuer,
President Human Life International
“ … The remarkable novel Fatherless is a resounding YES to fatherhood … especially spiritual fatherhood. It reminds us all of the need to commit ourselves to the truth, to speak truth with courage, and to do so, always, with love …”
Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix
“A gripping and deeply moving read that is, at the same time, a hauntingly and beautiful exploration of man, God, morality, faith, and the Church in our contemporary world. Masterfully done….”
Roy Schoeman Author, Salvation Is from the Jews
“… The research alone that went into Fatherless is phenomenal! … This fast paced thriller provides amazing insight into the struggles of a young priest challenged by laity to deepen his commitment to the Lord … as well as the difficulties experienced by young families trying to live their faith in a hostile culture. … I enjoyed it immensely …”
Dr. Janet E. Smith
Author and Fr. J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
“ … Fatherless is, in a word, powerful …”
Richard J. Neuhaus (+2009), Editor, First Things Magazine
“ … Some novels are seared in our American conscience because they sparked a societal powder keg that was destined to blow. Fatherless may prove to be just such a novel. For anyone who\’s wondered why the culture has spiraled out of control the past 40 years, this novel is a must read. … Fatherless addresses head on the pre-eminent sacred cow of our age. … This is fiction for our time; and not a moment too soon …”
Christopher West Author and Research Fellow, Theology of the Body Institute
“… Brian J. Gail can write! As a former Madison Avenue senior executive, he knows how to conceive an important overarching theme, outline a gripping plot with memorable characters, fill it in with fast paced scenes, and season it all with authentic dialogue. … The ultimate proof of his success as a novelist though is that readers will very much want to know what happens to his main characters after the stunning climactic scene. … Gail has addressed sobering contemporary realities in a bang up good story that is hard to put down. …Two thumbs up …”
Defend Life Monthly
“ … Author Brian J. Gail may have just created that rarest of literary genres – the instant classic. His first novel, Fatherless, is a stunningly painful cri de Coeur clearly intended to stir the soul of his own Church – a Church he appears to love deeply. ”
“ … Mr. Gail skillfully weaves several fascinating subplots into a cohesive narrative, with some breathtaking surprises and a searing climatic scene. We see too much of ourselves in his characters … real flesh and blood people struggling mightily to live in a culture waging a relentless assault on their core values. Its large metaphysical themes and vivid characterizations make Fatherless nearly impossible, once started, to put down. This is story telling at its heart-pounding, page-turning, masterful best.”
The Philadelphia Bulletin

Listen to some audio interviews with Brian Gail about the book Fatherless
NEW! Teresa Tomeo's The Catholic Connection - 1-5-2010
More interviews here!
Meticulously researched, brilliantly crafted, Fatherless takes the reader on an unforgettable journey inside Fortune 500 boardrooms and Madison Avenue screening rooms, behind one-way mirrors in America's heartland and two-way screens in church confessionals, to the very peak of Ireland's highest mountain and inside the papal dining room of John Paul II in Rome.
It is the searing journey to the center of conscience, however, that marks Fatherless as the signature Catholic novel of its generation. In its pages we meet flesh and blood characters - noble and flawed, driven and seeking; each struggling to achieve the American Dream ... discovering instead a uniquely American nightmare. How each confronts the reality of ethical and moral dilemmas - while struggling to balance faith, family, and career - goes to the very heart of the Catholic experience in America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This is a tale you will never forget.
Brian J. Gail is a former college and semi-pro athlete, Madison Avenue ad man and Fortune 500 senior executive, entrepreneur and CEO. He is currently an educator and author. Mr. Gail has served on numerous civic boards in his hometown of Philadelphia, including the National Adoption Center, the William Booth Society, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and the Regina Academies. He is a husband, father of seven, and grandfather of five. He and his wife of 40 years, Joan M. Gail, live in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
If you're an avid reader, you may find the author's style a bit lacking, but if you can get past that, it's definitely a good read (similar to others, I too stayed up a bit late just to read a few more chapters). I'm not in the habit of giving away movie or book plots. But I will say, the book has some nice apologetics (explanations) about the Catholic faith on several different fronts that I think (hope) can actually benefit people in the midst of a good plot. I enjoyed the book!
Fr. Tom Bush (via Amazon.com)