Praise for The Hartford Atonement

     Philip Barbara, a seasoned journalist, writes well, establishing the dilemma at the heart of the story in a believable setting. The characters are realistic…. The anti-gun theme is the center of the story; the characters serve it rather than growing as individuals. The narrative reflects a cynical view of the political posturing and legislative dysfunction that prevent meaningful progress on the issue of gun violence year after year, despite its horrific toll; still, Barbara sheds light on the reasons for the long-running stalemate without demonizing either side, managing to find moments of humor amid the tragedy and even a glimmer of hope for the future –Kirkus Reviews 

     Gun violence is an issue for our times. Emil Scordato, a self-made billionaire, decides to take up the crusade to reduce violence. Though, like the Job of Scripture, he is met with loss and lack of support, he never loses his belief that he was called to bring the changes we seek. The Hartford Atonement accurately reveals the effect gun violence has on each of us and challenges us to be like Emil and take up his quest. May his hope for safer communities be our hope, too —Monsignor Robert Weiss, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown, Connecticut

     With rapid-fire prose, The Hartford Atonement takes dead aim at Congress’s open and dirty secret: lawmakers are more interested in getting re-elected with the help of the powerful gun lobby than protecting constituents from ever-rising gun violence. Pushcart Prize-nominated author Philip Barbara’s deeply researched story makes you want to scream, “Wake up Congress. Do something! — Thomas Ferraro, 20-year Capitol Hill correspondent for Reuters and Bloomberg  

    Emil Scordato’s crusade in The Hartford Atonement typifies how successful members of the Wall Street community use their wealth to ease a societal ill, in this case trying to get assault weapons off the streets — Jonathan Niles, longtime New York Stock Exchange floor trader at Oppenheimer Securities

     Philip Barbara’s The Hartford Atonement probes how survivors in a small town process shock and grief after a high school massacre and the risks a billionaire takes to atone for his investments in gun companies. A heart-wrenching story of altruism and faltering hopes, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see if Congress would finally do something to stop the slaughter – John DeDakis, award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor