Thus begins James Bernard Frost's new novel, "A Very Minor Prophet ... and illustrated with photocopied clip art that depicts Booker as Tattoo from "Fantasy Island." But Flynn soon finds himself ...

The 12 minor prophets are simply shorter, from Hosea through Malachi, some so short you have to check closely as you turn pages lest you miss the delights of books like Obadiah, Jonah or Micah.