Mystery Books

Dead Heat (Political Thrillers Series #5)

Joel C. Rosenberg

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 159 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Are negative stars possible? 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have only myself to blame. Usually when I read an author for the first time I look at reader reviews, but for whatever reason, this time I did not. The end result is that I bought one of the least enjoyable books I have ever read. I found the writing style somewhat stilted, but I suppose that is a matter of taste. The real problem is that this is not so much of a story as a vehicle for proselytizing Evangelical Christianity. The ending (or really non-ending) is also absurd. The "good guys", i.e. those who have accepted Jesus as their personal savior, are suddenly zapped into heaven, leaving everything else unresolved.

Editorial Review:

For Jon and Erin Bennett, the world seems to be spinning dangerously out of control. A new dictator is rising in Iraq. China is making threatening new moves toward Taiwan. North Korean forces appear ready to strike south. Israel is feverishly trying to complete the Third Temple. Oil prices are surging. And in the wake of an horrific war in the Middle East, President James MacPherson's second term is coming to an end. Now the battle to succeed him is heating up into one of the most fiercely contested presidential elections in American history, and the Bennetts realize the stakes could not be higher. Who will lead a bitterly divided country over the next four years? What can the U.S. do to shape the new world order? And just what role--if any--does the U.S. play in the last days? As the presidential campaign narrows into a dead heat, the Secret Service learns of a catastrophic plot to assassinate one of the candidates--but which one, and can the terrorists be stopped in time?

Black/Red/White (The Circle Trilogy 1-3)

Ted Dekker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Three novels. Two worlds. One Story.

Enter an adrenaline-laced epic where dreams and reality collide.

Black - An incredible story of evil and rescue, betrayal and love, and a terrorist threat unlike anything the human race has ever known. A virulent evil has been unleashed upon the people of Earth. The only man who can stop it is Thomas Hunter, an unlikely hero whose life is stretched between two worlds. Every time he falls asleep in one reality, he awakes in the other. Soon Thomas no longer knows which reality is real. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that his choices in each world impact the other--and that the fates of both rest in his hands.

Red - In one world, Thomas Hunter is a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit sadistic terrorists intent on creating global chaos through an unstoppable virus. Thomas must find a way to change history--or face the destruction of two worlds.

White - Thomas Hunter has only two days to survive two separate realms of danger, deceit, and destruction. The fates of both worlds now rest on his unique ability to shift realities through his dreams. Thomas and The Circle must quickly decide who they can trust--both with their own lives and the fate of millions. And neither the terror of Black nor the treachery of Red can prepare Thomas for the forces aligned against The Circle in White.

Dawn's Light (Restoration Series #4)

Terri Blackstock

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Makes you think 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The entire restoration series made me realize how dependant I am on electricity for what I consider the "bare essentials". It was a very interesting and thought provoking read.

Excellent Reading 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Dawn's Light is an excellent written book. It is an appropriate end to a series of 4 books. It will hold you in captivity to see what is going to happen next. Terri Blackstock writes her books in an easy reading format and keeps you held captive with each chapter. I recommend this series of books to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel, without the worry of language and inappropriate scenes being used in the books.

Inspiring 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I loved this series! Dawn's Light pulled the series together without the happily-ever-after ending that many people expect for Christians. The way the parents go through a crisis in their faith shows that even the strongest believers experience doubts when faced with tragedy. This was a truly inspiring read.

Editorial Review:

In the final book of the Restoration Series by bestselling author Terri Blackstock, the end of a global electrical blackout signals the beginning of the Branning family’s ultimate test. Murder and affairs of the heart form the backdrop for a family sifting through the lessons they have learned—and how well they have truly learned them.

Adam

Ted Dekker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

It takes an obsessive mind to know one. And Daniel Clark knows the elusive killer he's been stalking.

He's devoted every waking minute as a profiler to find the serial killer known only as Eve. He's pored over the crime scenes of sixteen young women who died mysterious deaths, all in underground basements or caverns. He's delved into the killer's head and puzzled over the twisted religious overtones of the killings.

What Daniel can't possibly know is that he will be Eve's next victim. He will be the killer's first Adam. After sixteen hopeless months, the case takes a drastic turn on a very dark night when Daniel is shot and left for dead.

Resuscitated after twenty minutes of clinical death, Daniel finds himself haunted by the experience. He knows he's seen the killer's face, but the trauma of dying has obscured the memory and left him with crushing panic attacks. Nothing--not even desperate, dangerous attempts to reexperience his own death--seems to bring him closer to finding the killer.

Then Eve strikes again, much closer to home. And Daniel's obsession explodes into a battle for his life . . . his sanity . . . his very soul.

Enter a world of death and near death that blurs the lines between fiction and reality in a way that will leave you stunned.

"The detail is stunning, pointing to meticulous research in FBI methods, forensic medicine, and psychological profiling. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can't help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we're not careful."

David M. Kiely and Christina McKenna, authors of The Dark Sacrament

The Ezekiel Option (Political Thrillers Option #3)

Joel C. Rosenberg

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 142 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great Book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was not expecting much when I began this book (due to previous series on end times) but I found it to be riveting and unemotional. The author uses scripture throughout to explain and teach the characters' positions and opinions. In my view it is much better and more intellectual than the previous series.

Editorial Review:

New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg brings readers this thrilling new novel. When Russia's richest oil baron is killed, Moscow suddenly teeters on the verge of political chaos. Tehran races to complete its nuclear arsenal. Washington finds herself dangerously divided from her European allies. And in the dead of night, in the hills overlooking Jerusalem, a senior White House advisor uncovers a chilling ancient conspiracy as real as the morning's headlines. Woven through the writings of the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel, more than 2,500 years old, are eerily prescient descriptions of modern countries then unborn, modern alliances then unformed, and an imminent day of unspeakable terror. Now, with the clock ticking down to war, two Americans are caught in the crossfire, wondering, Is the last judgment at hand?

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)

Manly P. Hall

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 71 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact "reader's edition."

Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P. Hall's legendary The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Students of hidden wisdom, ancient symbols, and arcane practices treasure Hall's magnum opus above all other works.

While many thousands of copies have sold since its initial publication in 1928, The Secret Teachings of All Ages has previously been available only in oversized, expensive editions. For the first time, Hall's celebrated classic is now published in an affordable trade paperback volume. Literally hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy from throughout the centuries.

More than one hundred line drawings and a sixteen-page color insert reproduce some of the finest illustrations of the original book, while reset and reformatted text makes this edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages newly accessible to readers everywhere.

Saint (Paradise Series, Book 2) (The Books of History Chronicles)

Ted Dekker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 89 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great book, but left me with mixed feelings. 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have really enjoyed the writings of Ted Dekker, especially the Circle Trilogy, so I bought the Paradise series (Showdown and Saint). Both books are great, however "Saint" left me with mixed feelings. From the beginning (and through the whole book actually) it seemed too similar to the Jason Bourne trilogy with the whole assassin-with-no-memory plot. However, those who are unfamiliar with the Bourne series most likely will not be bothered by this, as even I who have read all three books soon just ignored it.
Most of the book flowed fairly well. There was plenty to guess about, and Ted keeps you trying to guess it yourself before he tells you. I personally was close in my guesses about the true identities of Carl and the Englishman, however I was not right on either of them. Ted keeps the action going well also with plenty of descriptions of training sessions with Carl and later with chase scenes, however those chase scenes once again reminded me too much of Bourne.
The ending of the book is the main part that left me with mixed feelings. The book built up so much climax that the ending was just too short. In my opinion, Carl found his real identity and power too quickly for the background that had been set up so thoroughly. Also, the final showdown just seemed too simple and Carl avoided it too easily. Also, what was with Englishman's "trump card"? It was referred to so much, then it never seemed to be used. Plus, the one possible instance I can think of it being used was the part that Carl avoided too easily.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it had just enough drawbacks that 4 stars is the absolute most I can give it. If you have read the Circle Trilogy and/or Showdown, than I certainly recommend this book. Otherwise, it is your decision. This certaily is not Dekker's best effort, but it is still a pretty good book.

The Name of the Rose: including the Author's Postscript

Umberto Eco

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 271 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Way over rated 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

As a mystery this book was just OK, if even that. I enjoyed Foucault's Pendulum because with that book you learned a lesson that I often think about. I was expecting something similar with this book but all I got was a book that was a pain in the rear to read and did not offer anything of substance for the effort.

So, where's the whodunit? 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book reminds me of the line "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out." Apparently, there's a murder mystery to be found somewhere between the cover's 500 pages. The murder whodunit is actually a pretty good one if you can stand wading through the many, many -- did I say many -- arduous pages of jumbo that goes nowhere. I barely give this two stars because I realize the author does a nice job putting together the numerous philosophical conversations. My advice is to skip this book unless you're looking for an academic read and discussion.

Editorial Review:

It is the year 1327. Franciscans in an Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, but Brother William of Baskerville’s investigation is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths. Translated by William Weaver. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

House

Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 273 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Is Frank Peretti Really a Christian 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have tried to read a few of Mr. Perettis books and just don't get them. His books go directly against Phillipians which tells us to think on those things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. I couldn't get past the second chapter, it repulsed me. If you are a Christian, don't waste your money or time. Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!

What?????????????? 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book has left me really irritated. About halfway through, I thought it was the greatest mystery/horror story ever. Great characters, imagery, compelling story, etc... Then the authors started all this religious craziness disguised as a metaphor. First, the victimized characters in the book are not evil and the idea that they are and are responsible for "creating" this situation is just stupid. And when they started yelling, "Son of Man, Son of Man, Have Mercy on me, blah, blah, blah.." I was just so disappointed because I felt like a truly brilliant novel was obliterated by the authors' need to turn it into a morality tale. Great writers tell stories. Sermons are for preachers. Going into this, I had never read "Christian Fiction," a term I thought was redundant. If you are religious, you'll probably like this, but why bother? There is plenty of great fiction in the Bible.

Editorial Review:

From the minds of multi-million selling suspense authors (Peretti & Dekker) comes House - an epic supernatural thriller that gives a new meaning to the phrase "haunted house." Two couples vacationing in Alabama are pursued by a maniac killer who lures them to a vacant house which won't let them leave. The "house" mirrors their own heart and souls and they must defeat the evil within.

Night Light (Restoration Series #2)

Terri Blackstock

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Truly Sacrificing to Help Others 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Three months into the world wide technology outage, the Branning family and their neighbors are beginning to get the hang of surviving. They are bartering for what they need and digging a neighborhood well.

But then they are robbed. Jeff chases after the thieves and discovers they are four children, siblings, who have been living alone for months. Against their better judgment, the Brannings feel compelled to care for these kids. Where is their mother? And will the Brannings be able to feed these extra mouths?

If I were viewing this series as a mystery series, I'd be highly disappointed. While there are some mysteries surrounding the kids, they develop in fits and starts. And the climax of that story is pretty weak. Instead, this is a novel about survival and what humans will do when faced with the end of our civilization. As a result, it is fascinating and page turning. I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters are real, and I found myself asking if I would have the faith and compassion to respond as they did multiple times over the course of the novel.

This book relies heavily on the events of the first in the series. There is a recap and character guide in the first few pages, so you could jump in here if you needed to. But I'd advise you to read them in order. And there are some great develops as far as the overall story goes in this book that made me look forward to the third.

This is another challenging and captivating novel from a great writer. If you want a great read, consider this series.

Editorial Review:

As the power outage continues, the Brannings struggle to bring their neighborhood together into a functioning community where everyone helps each other make their homes ready for winter, and fight the crime that is running rampant among them. Book Two in the Restoration series.