"The Girl Behind the Red Rope" by Ted Dekker & Rachelle Dekker

The Girl Behind the Red Rope (Sept. 3, 2019) by Ted Dekker & Rachelle Dekker.*

How far would one go to be obedient and pure in faith? For members of the Holy Family Church, they retreat deep into the woods of Tennessee with their only partition of protection a red rope around the perimeter. There is a gate at the main entrance, but it’s clearly for aesthetic, as it’s keeping no one out except the Fury. Haven Valley is their refuge, and they live simply. Women wear compressors (corsets) and long dresses with multiple layers so that no man can know their shape and be tempted. Nineteen-year-old Grace has been married five months to Andrew Marks, a widower in his late 40s, but she does not live with him. She’s only permitted scheduled conjugal visits and will move in once she has conceived.

            Grace has been helping Jamie Weathers, her brother, avoid the perimeter patrols so he can slip beyond the red rope. Breaching the perimeter isn’t permissible and when he questions what is beyond and Grace admits her role in aiding him, they are both banished from Haven Valley. The Fury supposedly run rampant outside of the rope, so why was Jamie never attacked? When he is attacked and Grace is left unscathed thanks to her guardian, Bobbie, they are allowed re-admittance to Haven Valley. Jamie’s conviction in and commitment to Sylous, their guardian, is renewed and stronger than ever. Now it’s Grace who’s filled with doubt. Ben Weathers returns unannounced, clearly dying, but still unscathed by Fury a decade after being cast out for not putting his faith in Sylous. He arrives with Eli, who’s around the same age Lukas would have been had he lived. Grace is told Eli is her brother. Eli seems to Grace to be light and love; to Rose Pierce – who brought them to Sylous – he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Who is correct? Who is Eli? Why does Sylous feel threatened by a young boy?

            When I began this inspirational fiction novel by father-daughter duo Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker, I was thinking, It’s about a cult. Then I thought, It’s a supernatural cult, because that is what it felt like. It didn’t feel like an apocalypse so much as an ultra-dramatic world where all types of fear have manifested itself into corporeal form, even if not always seen. I typically love fantasy novels, but I found myself struggling with the pacing. I simply couldn’t fully engage with the novel, but I expect I’m in the minority there. The way the Fury present is a thought-provoking idea, and the plot is stimulating. The examination of obedience and faith from the perspective of a brainwashed group in this fictional setting was interesting, but I also can’t imagine not knowing I can think for myself without retribution or punishment. And that’s where my struggle with this book lies, so I’ll be grateful that I can be free-thinking.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The String" by Caleb Breakey

The String (July 16, 2019) by Caleb Breakey.*

The conductor runs the show. It is elaborate, and his rules are simple. Know that participation is mandatory, and know that if you don’t follow the rules, threats aren’t mere threats, but heinous actions against others, whether those close to you or your fellow participants in the string. University cop and SWAT team member Markus Haas has gotten tangled in the conductor’s twisted web. How he came to the attention of the conductor isn’t right away known, but Markus is a good guy, and in the conductor’s shattered mind, there must be something about breaking down a strong person. Someone who is strong in mind and body. Markus has no intention of playing this game by the conductor’s rules, but will he change his mind when the conductor takes those whom he cares for the most?

            This psychological thriller was unlike anything I’ve yet read in inspirational fiction. It was unexpected, though not in a negative way. The plot is certainly intricate and is weighed down by the gravity of the situation. This story is not for the faint of heart; the story can get violent. It is as twisted as the mind of its conductor. I thought the number of “strings” (unwilling participants) were too many, and it frustrated me that the protagonist seemed so far behind the antagonist when the protagonist clearly has the training, skills and smarts to investigate. And while I appreciated that this Christian fiction story wasn’t preachy, I still thought the threads of faith were too subtle. Not to say I expected vocal prayers every few chapters from the characters, but this is a story of keeping the faith in the midst of evil. Because of that, I expected faith to be a little bit more than subtle, but this first in the Deadly Games series remains a solid debut.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Blood and Bone" by Don Hoesel

Blood and Bone (July 1, 2013) by Don Hoesel.*

Years ago, Dr. Jack Hawthorne traded in his life of dangerous adventure for one as an unassuming university professor, husband to Dr. Esperanza “Espy” Habilla-Hawthorne and father to two boys. A past choice has returned to haunt him when someone demands that the bones of Elisha the prophet be brought to him. It is said that Elisha’s bones not only have the power to heal, but restore life. A rogue operative wants them and will use whatever means necessary to obtain them, even stooping to use Jack’s sons’ lives as leverage.

            Unfortunately for Jack and Espy, the bones are not where they buried them thirteen years ago. To complicate matters, they are being pursued by two factions that’d like to see them dead, and the one faction has its own discord which affects the Hawthorne parents. They are both the helped (at unexpected times) and the hunted. Will they also be the saved? One thing’s for sure: the Hawthornes would walk through fire and brimstone if they had to in order to reunite with their sons. They’ll span the globe to sort out the clues and get their boys back.

            It is apparent that Hoesel is a talented writer. In this Christian suspense fiction novel, well-researched history and fiction gray the lines between fact and the writer’s imagination. The suspense isn’t suspenseful in a scary way and the plot moves right along. The only thing I didn’t really care for were all the adversarial groups. One is understandable to make a story. Two can work to give the story layers and more depth. But a rogue operative and two adversarial groups, one of which has two faces? That can be overkill. But fortunately, Hoesel makes it work.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”