The Better Part of Worse: A Novel of Hope

'An affecting, decades-spanning tale of love and mental illness.' — Kirkus Reviews

'Martin keeps the pace humming with heart-breaking plot twists and resonant emotional moments, transforming the narrative into a powerful rendering of the 'true meaning of love.'' — BookLife Reviews

Silver Medalist for Religious Fiction in the 2025 IPPYs Book Awards.

Award-Winning Finalist in the Religious Fiction category of the 2025 International Book Awards.

Finalist in the Christian/Religious Fiction and Inspirational Fiction categories of the 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards​​​​​​.

The Better Part of Worse is a gripping family saga that explores the meaning of family, the devastation of mental illness, the resilience of love, and the enduring hope that survives even the most overwhelming challenges. Set against the backdrop of the 20th century's most tumultuous decades, the story follows Jamie Murphy, a former seminarian turned family man, as he grapples with his wife Katie's mental illness in the late 1920s. For three decades, Jamie and his daughters hold on to the faint hope of Katie's recovery.

Katie's journey sheds light on the harsh realities of mental health care and the restrictive social norms of the time. It also highlights the groundbreaking impact of the first antipsychotic medications, such as Thorazine, which offered new hope for treating severe mental illness.

An unforgettable love story marked by human brokenness and powerful redemption, the novel bears witness to God's miraculous ability to bring light out of the darkest circumstances.