The Last Sin Eater

The Last Sin Eater (1998), a work of Christian fiction by Francine Rivers, follows a woman looking for freedom from her sins, and the sin eater who is on her trail. The book won the 1999 ECPA Christian Book Award and has been generally well received by both Christian and non-Christian readers. Rivers is a New York Times bestselling author of historical and Christian novels for adults. A member of the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into more than thirty languages

Ten-year-old Cadi Forbes lives in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1850s. Although she lives in this mountain range, she is part of a Welsh-American community that is very isolated from other mountain communities.

One of these customs of this community is what’s known as the sin eater. Sin eaters, as Cadi explains, make a living by taking on the sins and the moral crimes of the dead. Families pay sin eaters with money, food, or other means to take on these heavy debts. Cadi’s ancestors brought this tradition with them to America, and it plays a very significant role in the novel.



As The Last Sin Eater opens, Cadi is mourning the death of her beloved grandmother. She is unhappy because instead of focusing entirely on her grandmother, she was preoccupied with other thoughts. She feels guilty about something that happened over a year ago, and she is too afraid to tell anyone about it. More than anything, Cadi wishes she could speak with the sin eater, but the sin eaters are reserved for the dead.

At her grandmother’s funeral, Cadi ponders her guilt. She is so busy worrying, she does something entirely forbidden—she makes eye contact with the village’s sin eater. This is a shameful crime and Cadi adds it to her burdens. She doesn’t remember much of her grandmother’s funeral. When Cadi wakes up the next morning, she decides she must do something to atone for her sins or get rid of them for good.

Cadi disappears before anyone else awakens, going to the river running through the mountains. She contemplates washing away her sins, but she knows that this isn’t enough for the crime she committed. Again, Cadi is so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn’t notice a young girl sneaking up on her.



Cadi is startled when she discovers this girl lurking nearby. Cadi shouts at her as the girl approaches. She calls herself Lilybet, and Cadi wonders why she doesn’t recognize her from the community. There is no one else around them for miles. Cadi stops worrying, though, because now she can talk to someone who doesn’t know her and couldn’t possibly know the sins she has committed.

Lilybet, however, tells her that she should approach the sin eater. Cadi is surprised that Lilybet knows about sin-eating, but she agrees that this might be the only way to cleanse her soul and conscience. When she returns to the village, she talks to her parents about visiting the sin eater. Her parents, however, are less than enthusiastic about the idea.

In the meantime, a man of God visits, encouraging everyone to convert to the new religion. Cadi is intrigued by this God he speaks of, but she doesn’t feel worthy of Him. Lilybet is the only person who makes Cadi feel safe and loved, but even she can’t convince Cadi to approach this outsider.



Cadi brings Lilybet to the settlement and introduces her to everyone. The problem is that no one else can see Lilybet. Lilybet is either a ghost or a demon. The villagers assume that Cadi is going mad or she is worshipping the devil. Everyone shuns her, and so Cadi takes refuge with the only person who indulges her—Elda Kendric, the settlement’s elder.

Cadi knows that, if anyone catches her talking to the man of God, they will assume she is tempted by false prophets and they may exile her. With no one to talk to, she finally visits the sin eater. The sin eater is surprised to meet someone so young; he doesn’t sense any sins on her. She must admit her sins before he can take them away.

Eventually, she tells the sin eater that her sister died the year before because she followed Cadi somewhere dangerous. Cadi couldn’t save her, and her parents blame her for venturing so far outside of the village. The sin eater performs his rituals on her, but they don’t work. She must approach the man of God.



Cadi finds the man of God and confesses her sins to him. She asks to follow his religion and he baptizes her. She feels absolved and happy once more, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her now. She even convinces others in the village to visit the man of God, because this may be their true path.

The town elders don’t stand for this false religion, and so they kill the man of God. Cadi and other believers flee the village, making for the sin eater, who welcomes them. Together they ponder the word of God, and the sin eater casts off his burdens. He finds comfort in Christ. They all return to the village, demanding acceptance.

Cadi’s mother confronts her, asking her what this is all about. Cadi confesses her guilt, and her mother absolves her entirely. She explains that she wishes she had died in her daughter’s place and that she loves Cadi dearly. Everyone in the village either embraces Christ or accepts this new religion into their community.