The Lost Testament

by Brian Thompson

After a public scandal leaves his personal life and ministry in ruins, Darrion James makes plans to start over elsewhere. On a train ride south, he meets a quirky Jewish writer who hands him a notebook with a controversial origin. . . Finding himself drawn to the writings, which he calls The Lost Testament, he spearheads a fiery, spiritual revival in the segregated mountain town of his youth - much to the chagrin of Ku Klux Klansman Geary Johnson. Meanwhile, Jack Miles Everham and his wife Betty Lou are desperate to escape their loveless marriage and prostitute Charlie Evans and her Creole friend, Josephine Courtier, do whatever they can to survive. All cross paths with Darrion, resulting in life-altering, violent, and even deadly consequences. Taking place over fourteen months, The Lost Testament combines engaging characters and fast-paced events inspired by the 1906 Asuza Street Revival to teach powerful lessons of faith, humanity, healing, and restoration."

Genres: Christian, Historical Fiction, Relationships

266 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

With eight novels in print, including his highly-successful science-fiction teen series, Reject High, Brian Thompson continues to shape his career as a storyteller who fuses high-concept plots with down-to-earth characters. As a child, Brian could always be found drawing superheroes or etching out action stories in a notebook. Leaning on his experience as a well-respected journalist and writer and with his love for science fiction classics, Brian formed Great Nation Publishing, LLC. – an independent publishing company aimed at promoting creative projects with integrity. Its published works include historical fiction novels The Lost Testament (2010), and The Revelation Gate (2011), with the latter landing on Amazon's Top 80 List for Historical Fiction-Africa. With those works under his belt, Brian turned to his first love of science fiction and released the dystopian/speculative fiction work, The Anarchists (2012), and he introduced the Reject High series geared toward young adult readers. When he is not urging others to pursue their writing passions, Thompson chases his own: preparing for the summer 2023 release of The Doomsday Clock: A Reject High Legacy Novel, being a full-time high school English/Language Arts teacher, and co-running the day-to-day operations of Great Nation Publishing. A proud graduate of both Morehouse College and Temple University, Thompson and his family live in Covington, Georgia.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian Thompson’s The Lost Testament is strongest in those places where it depicts racial tensions in the 1960s in the South, and weakest where it uses the mysterious Lost Testament to drive the story. The large cast of characters can leave the reader feeling disconnected from the tale, but the characters all have their own agendas, which, by later chapters, do finally intersect.

The depiction of worship with full sermons, singing and people falling down is powerfully evocative, as is the story of a cross-burning and lynching. Wounded characters, of all shades of background, faith and skin, struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives. And the author places Christian belief, fortune telling and visions all together in the mix, waiting for faith to win through.

The story certainly speeds up as the protagonist’s church and the Klan both gather followers. A final scene is as surprising as it is enticing. But the curious Lost Testament’s power remains mostly implied, uncontested, and oddly disconnected from the tale that bears its name.

Disclosure: I bought a free ecopy of this book when it was on sale.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my book, so naturally, I have to love it :)

[Rick Farlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

THOUGHT PROVOKING

I found that the best parts of this book are the sermons preached by the main character, Darian James. I was hoping for more information about The Lost Testament, but the storyline talked around it... instead, relying on how it impacted the local community and the power of Gods Word and the mysteries of the Holy Ghost. I would have preferred more details on the 5th Gospel and less about the drama associated with this book

[B.J. Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Testament by Brian L. Thompson is twenty-six chapters of action-packed faith and inspirational suspense released in September 2010 by the author through Smashwords. The beautiful novel is available in both paperback and eBook formats. Vivid description, history, and culture come alive as characters jump off the page and illustrate the real South during this period of history. Darrion James attempts to start over after his reputation is ruined and he's divorced. I found The Lost Testament easy to get into with a quick start and fast pace, and I wanted to keep reading until I found out what happened. A reader will journey with Darrion through trials, tribulation, heartache, pain, love, loss, fear, and faith that overcomes. The characters realistically illustrate how the South wasn't always so charming and polite. Troubles united some and faith brought them together through an educated preacher who could talk country when the need arose. His y'all and sermons held a rapt audience that grew until the old foothold of the South erupted in violence. Mr. Thompson asks his readers if they would have ended the novel differently. Yes, this one would have. I found it ended too abruptly, and I didn't buy the ending. Discussion questions are provided at the end, so I still have to give it five stars, since I feel it has great potential and is otherwise well researched and well crafted.

[OOSA]

Coming to the Light

Needing to put some distance between himself and his ex wife, Darrion James set out to get away. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he ended up in his childhood hometown longer than expected. With his mother's urging, he's called back to what he's good at doing. His beliefs and preachings opened eyes and turned lives around. Not everybody was happy to have him around.

When I first started reading "The Lost Testament" by Brian L Thompson, I thought it was going to be uninteresting and boring. It started out a little slow but picked up. The characters were all full of life, each being driven by their own personal vendettas. You will experience a mixed array of emotions and the ending will definitely be a surprise.

Reviewed by: Jas

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could tell this was a first book. Barely made it through the first half. I don't believe "the lost testament" was the best title as the "testament" itself was rarely mentioned and was hardly essential part of the novel.
I have read many, many Christian books... this had some very "Pentecostal" scenes: some that would completely lose the interest of many readers. The end was way too abrupt and barely believable.
It's a good effort for a first book, but this novel was just not my style and too bizarre for me to really enjoy.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading

Was confusing at times but the growth of the characters made sense. Promotes a leap of faith. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I listened to racist conversations and never understood the reasons behind them. Still don't but I believe that such things continue to move further into the past We need to stop "segregating" by having hyphens in our descriptions. We are Americans and we are humans, regardless of color. Why do we insist on containing to draw attention to it?

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for the ending. Rather abrupt and a bit hokey. I enjoy historical fiction and thought it depicted the south in the 60's accurately. I also like some christian fiction. Story of Darrion, who starts anew after a divorce and the people that he encounters in his hometown.

[Karen B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This began by catching my interest quickly, but stalled at the middle and got downright preachy and uninteresting by the end. I didn't connect well with the characters and the plot line became a series of sermons towards the end.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not feel a connection with the characters and did not care for the ending.