Book Review : Dead Heat

My delight was doubled when I picked up Dead Heat by Joel Rosenberg at the library. On first sight, I thought it would be another thriller action novel, along the likes of Dan Brown and James Rollins. The book is a page-turner with its suspense and playout of end-time prophecies.

From the time I had a taste of James Rollins and his mastery in incubating fact with fiction to hatch a fascinating tale of thrilling action, I got hooked onto this style of writing. And so, now Rosenberg presented me with another series of books written along a similar vein. I love how the authors threaded real fact with imagination to weave an almost credible story bordering on real-life investigative work. Some of the plots and subplots mentioned in their books bring a thrill along your spine as they hint of a sinister slant to real world events.

Dead Heat is a roller-coaster ride that had me gripping the political thriller till the end and then, left me rushing to get hold of its earlier prequels. It brings into play Biblical prophecies of the end-times (or eschatology) and shares bone-chilling insights to how it parallels with world happenings as they unfold. What is scarier is that, each of the 5 books in the series was written/published just before the major events mentioned in them happened in our world.

Verdict : 9/10. Two thumbs up!

Book Review : Fame

Most people tend to view Christian literature as well…boring, dry and functions best as a sleep-inducing tool. Reading has always a favourite hobby of mine, as far back as I can remember, and I enjoy books of various genres. The one thing that I had always wondered is why there is an absence of books written for a widely secular audience but yet loaded with Christian values and presented in a manner that paints Christianity in a positive and appealing light. It would be a perfect way of sharing Christ and His values in a most non-threatening manner.

Over the years, I had concluded that it is probably a case of sensibility – dollars and cents just do not marry seemingly lofty heavenly morals. It would be hard to create a riveting storyline with God lurking between the lines, most people would have turned away. Thus, most Christian authors of secular fiction books will just mention God in their foreword or acknowledgment page.

Imagine my delight when I found Karen Kingsbury’s series of books. If you have not read any of her books, you would have missed out on powerful stories beautifully crafted to illustrate God’s blessings and ways in the lives of ordinary families and people. It is totally refreshing to see how ordinary people struggle with and live out kingdom values. Her stories touch on themes of love, loss, death, forgiveness, fame, acceptance, loyalty, trust, etc. Kingsbury effectively portrays Christianity not as a religion but for what it is – real relationship with God.

God comes through so strongly through her books that as I followed the story, I found myself tearing at times and stopping now and then to pray for myself or my family. You know it is a good Christian book when you feel motivated to do something for God. But you know it is a fantastic Christian book when you are compelled to immediately stop reading to respond to the message God is bringing you through the book. And only after you have responded then you are able to pick the book up to continue reading.

God bless Kingsbury for being a literary agent of God’s message to the world. She is also involved in various ministries ministering to different groups!

Verdict : 10/10. I love all her books!

Book Review : Black Order

I love this book. It has all the elements of suspense, intrigue and action to hold you spellbound to the novel, gripping you in its page-turning pace as it brings you from the tops of the mountains to the depths of the earth.

To my pleasant surprise, James Rollins has thrown in a bit of romance in this one and it has its tender moments as the main character grapples with his fragile humanity. Black Order is a winner, juxtaposing the brash with the soft and the horror with the triumph.

Verdict : 9/10. I would read it again!

Book Review : The Whole Truth

Hubby introduced me to David Baldacci’s books and from the first book of his that I read, I fell in love with his style of writing. I would eagerly trawl the library bookshelves, searching more new titles to feast upon.

I love the way he fleshed out his main characters. Most action thrillers tend to confer their heroes near-superhero status, but Baldacci chose to make his more human-like, with strengths and weaknesses.

The Whole Truth brings the reader to a world of spies, espionage, murder, mayhem and like while spinning a tale of how events unfold at the strings of a master puppeteer.

Verdict : 8/10. A wonderful read.

Book Review : Deep Fathom

This is another book by James Rollins, one of my favourite authors. I picked up Deep Fathom with confidence that it will be just as good a read as another book of his that I finished not too long ago.

Sadly, I was a little disappointed. While the theme of science-cum-history-cum-action is perpetuated, somehow the plot seemed a little too simple and not sufficiently convoluted to generate a sense of intrigue and suspense. The eventual fate of the enemy also seemed too conveniently resolved and hardly did justice to the hero’s abilities.

Perhaps this being one of Rollins’ earlier works, it might have been a exploratory journey as he honed his writing skills.

Verdict : 5/10.

Book Review : The Judas Strain

I chanced upon The Judas Strain by James Rollins at the Tampines Regional Library and borrowed it without any prior knowledge of this writer and his works.

The book proved to be a thrilling and riveting read. I finished it in three days, bookmarking and returning to it whenever I found snatches of time whenever I had free time on hand.

The suspense was masterfully strung out throughout the novel, the pace of developments was quick yet controlled. Rollins employed a clever mix of modernism with history and with a satisfactory dose of science injected into the drama that unfolded. However, there were elements that left me disappointed at their simplicity and later portions that jarred with the earlier general sentiments that the book conveyed. Parts of the ending felt like an anti-climax that had seemed to promise more.

Verdict : 8/10. A great entertaining read nevertheless.

Book Review : For One More Day

I came across some recommendations on Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. While I was unable to borrow it from the local library, I found For One More Day by the same author.

It is a story of a guy who attempted suicide, went into a coma and got a chance to spend one day with his decreased mother. Through incidents that opened his eyes, it brought to light his mother's undying love and support for him.

To be honest, I was not impressed by the storyline. I had also read Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven which also employed a similar fantasy/fairytale-kind-of theme which does not appeal to me. There have been great reviews for Tuesdays With Morrie so maybe, I will just pick it up and see if it will reverse my verdict on this writer.

Verdict : 4/10.