Obsessed

In Ted Dekker's Obsessed, the death of a Holocaust survivor provides a clue that seemingly makes Stephen Friedman the heir to an incredible treasure. The story flashes back and forth between the 1940s, where two pregnant concentration camp inmates are tormented, and the 1970s, where Stephen becomes obsessed with learning his mother's secrets.

As a fan of Ted Dekker's books, I agree with some reviewers that this wasn't his best book. The characters make weird decisions along the way and it doesn't have that "wow, I didn't see that coming" ending I've come to expect. But, it did give the reader a chilling reminder of the evil of the Holocaust.

And, I disagree with a reviewer that felt this book crossed the line exploring the darkness of evil by portraying characters involved in satanic rituals. Since the "sheer depravity of the deeds" made the reviewer uncomfortable, wasn't that the point? Ted Dekker is known for his confrontations between good and evil so readers that are uncomfortable with spiritual warfare should steer clear of them.

Walking Lazarus

Since T.L. Hines gives away the subject of his book in the title, Walking Lazarus, it is no surprise that the main character, Jude, has died and come back to life. The twist is that it happened three times and seems to have an underlying purpose. Jude has changed his name, moved to a new town and become a recluse near an area where children are disappearing.

As Jude unravels the mystery of his own deaths and the evil lurking around his new hometown, he struggles to hide his identity while being accused of killing children. the book definitely has the one thing most appealing about a good supernatural suspense thriller ... things are not always as they appear while the reader is traveling through the pages of the unknown.

Dead Heat

Joel C. Rosenberg's Dead Heat is the fifth and final novel in his geopolitical thriller series. The author's note prefacing the first chapter reiterates that the novel is fiction, but it still makes one wonder about the turbulent world we live in and what role, if any, the United States will play in the end times.

President MacPherson's second term in office is ending, a new dictator is rising in Iraq, Israel is on a urgent quest to complete the Third Temple, China and North Korea forces appear ready to strike and  the world is on the verge of a mammoth disaster. After terrorists attack the United States, Jon Bennett is called upon again to help. But this time he is in a remote Jordanian refugee camp with his wife, Erin, who has contracted a potentially fatal illness.

Although it is a fast-paced, action-packed and thought-provoking read, I add my prayer to the author's that the events stay fictional.

In Search of Eden

In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols is the story of an unwed teenager who is forced to give up her baby for adoption and the subsequent search for her child.

Miranda DeSpaino begins her search after her mother's death when her aunt gives her an envelope postmarked "Abindgon, VA" containing a baby picture. While she eventually finds her child, along the way she also finds out about her family heritage explaining her deceased mother's coldness, an unexpected visit from her long-lost father, a brother she didn't know existed and a new family.

In the end, she makes a decision of love and also finds forgiveness, redemption and God's grace.

Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again!

Sister Betty! God's Calling You, Again! by Pat G'Orge-Walker is a book of comedic short stories. The stories celebrate the gospel heritage and faith of African Americans using humorous sketches of  life inside some of the black church traditions. Although the stories focus on a black church, the book is for anyone in need of laughter therapy. The back cover sums it up best when it states that each of the stories "serves up lessons about love and life, with a big helping of humor."

The main character is Sister Betty from the Ain't Nobody Else Right But Us - All Others Goin' to Hell Church. Other characters include The Reverend Knott Enuff Money (pastor), Bishop Was Nevercalled (overseer), Deacon Laid Handz (head deacon), Mother Pray Onn (head mother), Brother This Mythang (choir director), Sister Carrie Onn (church blabbermouth), Sister Ima Hellraiser (head of confusion), and Ma Cile (church matriarch and butt whipper). With names like these you know you're in for a wild ride with unforgettable characters.

A final word of caution. These stories cause extreme laughter while imparting an uplifted message about God's Word.

Adam

Adam by Ted Dekker is about a serial killer known as Eve and the FBI agent who is tracking him, Daniel Clark. This one had me hooked from the opening pages and I read the entire book on a Saturday afternoon while doing laundry. Thankfully, stopping periodically to check the clothes gave my eyes enough rest to avoid blurred vision and red eyes.

Daniel Clark is obsessed with finding the serial killer until he becomes one of the killer's victims. When Daniel experiences death and is brought back to life, the case becomes more than a hunt for a serial killer. In the end, Daniel is forced to fight for his life, his sanity and his very soul while battling forces much greater than the mind of a deranged serial killer.

If you enjoy supernatural suspense thrillers, this book will let you (as stated on the inside cover) "Enter a world ... that blurs the lines between fiction and reality ... that will leave you stunned."

Spiritual Thrillers

Although This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, and Prophet were written years ago, the reprints were packaged together and provided hours of action-packed suspense and thought-provoking entertainment.

This Present Darkness takes the reader to the small town of Ashton where a troubled pastor and a reporter team up together to fight the escalating spiritual warfare gripping their town. The angels and the demons watch over the battlefield and also engage in warfare. The book demonstrates how much power and influence demons have over the thoughts and actions of humans. However, in the end, prayer strengthened many of the angels and changed the balance of power.

The sequel, Piercing the Darkness, takes place in Bacon's Corner where a silent and undetected warfare is in the schools as demons attempt to take over the entire town. The reader is thrown into a world of a covered-up murder, a bizarre lawsuit, the search for a missing woman, the appearance of the reporter and his wife from This Present Darkness, and yet another demonic battlefield.

Prophet is a thought-provoking book addressing a controversial issue. An anchorman investigates his dad’s accidental death and discovers a corrupt business being kept secret by the government and the media. This book is very different from the first two, but it still looks at spiritual warfare from a different perspective.

Great books for the supernatural thriller and suspense enthusiast.