The Basenji Revelation

by Simon Cleveland

In the suburbs of Washington a secret is lurking. Everyone notices that Sam Johanek, a weapons analyst with a top-secret clearance, is changing. He exhibits peculiar mood swings, weird food preferences and a bizarre case of amnesia. No one suspects that Sam is battling a recurring nightmare and a scary obsession with his Basenji dog. In fear for his well being, Sam's wife contacts an inexperienced psychologist. Series of events follow, that take the readers on a trip, from Egypt's Valley of the Kings to the jungles of Gabon, where hides the oldest secret of the ancient Egyptians. As time runs out for Sam, his fate rests in the hands of three people destined to uncover the 'The Basenji Revelation.'

182 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2004

About the author

Follow Simon Cleveland on Twitter


DR. SIMON CLEVELAND is the author of:

There Is No Box(2022) - a practical guide for leaders who recognize how critical it is to draw outside the lines of typical guidance in order to rethink leadership development and gain competencies that make them more inclusive, culturally aware, and empowered to facilitate collaboration.

Descent The R. Connors Story(2009) - a psychological suspense delivering a rare glimpse into the minds of identity-shattered individuals.

The Basenji Revelation(2004)-a mystery thriller about the oldest secret of ancient Egypt.

Existential Meditation - On the questions of Beginning the Meaning of Existence and the Consequences of the End(2005) - a nonfiction discourse on the meaning of life, development of consciousness and the concept of immortality.

Dr. Simon Cleveland is a philosopher, literary critic, faculty at Georgetown University and the Johns Hopkins University, a graduate of George Mason University, The George Washington University, Nova Southeastern University, Purdue University, City University of Seattle, and Northeastern University.

Interests include existentialism, magical realism, modernism, postmodernism, symbolism, deconstruction, multiculturalism, phenomenology, cosmology, quantum theory, realism, abstract expressionism, impressionism, literary theory, biocentrism, behavioral economics, randomness, sociology, psychology, and general non-fiction. Occasionally, the author enjoys reading books from the mystery thriller and horror genres.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/...

"The Basenji Revalation is an addictive and suspenseful read. From the first paragraphs of the prologue, I was sucked right in and was truly sorry to see the end. Written with vibrant imagery and solid character development, Simon Cleveland has landed himself an excellent novel.

Sam Johanek woke up one morning, a completely different man. His memories were gone, but a voracious appetite and strange visions became the norm. His wife Maggie did her best to help him recall past events, but it was to no avail. The only things that seemed constant were the strange nightly rituals, the hunger for meat, and the Basenji.

Was there a coincidence in the night of the strange bite marks on his foot; the night the Basenji dog was delivered to his home from his mother who had passed away, and the fact that since that night he'd been unable to recall a single thing? Nothing made sense, and Sam walked in a constant circle of confusion and angst. He felt tortured, ridiculed and watched. An old colleague wouldn't leave him alone to do his work and he woke up to find himself in odd places. Urges controlled his behavior and the rare little dog had a strange hold over him. If he allowed himself to be close to the Basenji for too long unexplainable things happened.

Unable to handle her husband's strange behavior, Maggie seeks out a doctor who promises to do everything he can to help. Together they gather together the facts of Sam's changes and uncover a shocking truth.

The Basenji Revalation is quite engaging and at many times gave me the shivers. It is a psychological horror/thriller that will hold your attention from the get go. Our journeys take us as far as Central Africa, a place that holds many secrets to Sam's current existence and the path the Basenji must take. What's wonderful is how much depth the character of Sam possesses; I was able to get fully caught up in his thoughts and the events that transpired around the plot. Between sacrificial rituals, demons, soul exchanges, entities, and old customs you will find out more about the Basenji than you might find comfortable.

Simon Cleveland has pieced together a very interesting and complex story, delving between a past and present, neither of which the character truly understands. It's smart and well thought out, taking the reader on a rare escapade that is somewhere between Hell and death. "

[D. Bernadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve all heard the warning that you never really know someone, it goes along with the warning that inevitably in a relationship people will grow and change. Of course we never expect these changes to be drastic; to the extreme that the person is totally different than the person we love.

This is where Maggie Johanek finds herself.

After the death of his mother a prominent archeologist Sam Johanek is changing in drastic and disturbing ways. His memories of his life before the event are missing, he has gone from a vegetarian to craving raw meat, and he wakes in the night from horrid dreams to sleep walk and talk. But most of all his temperament is far from docile, to the point that his wife, Maggie, is afraid of him.

In desperation she seeks out the help of a psychologist who happens to have a connection with a colleague hot on the trail of an archeological find that may well be related to the strange behavior. The answers they seek may not lie directly in his mothers death so much as they do in her parting gift to her son, the basenji dog she left in his care. Time is running out for all as they race to find the answers before it is too late.

This is an action packed thriller that will have reader’s white knuckled and holding their breath as they travel to far away places in search of answers that they may not want to find. The settings are rich and the history is utterly fascinating. Simon Cleveland has created a cast of characters that are so believable readers will truly feel every emotion they do as the story takes them on a thrill ride not letting go until the gripping conclusion.

Due for December release this book will make a perfect gift for all that love a great read regardless of genre. I am duly impressed and give Mr. Cleveland the highest praise for accomplishing the difficult task of composing such a compelling thriller. I do hope all my readers will heed my warning: this is one book you don’t want to miss and try not to read it with the lights off.

[Jenny K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine gave me a copy of the Basenji Revelation recently. He wanted my opinion on it. I'm not accustomed to reading unknown authors and refused, but he bet me I wouldn't put it down. I lost the bet. I read the book in one seating. I haven¿t read a more captivating description of the suburbia¿s psyche. The main character could have been me. Then the bizarre occurrences started. They shocked me. They amused me. They evolved over time to engulf the misery of Johanek's daily life. Books about Egypt are my favorite and a novel with richness of references and descriptions of Egyptian religious symbolism is rare to find. I liked the Da Vinci Code, but Brown¿s symbolism is no where near Simon Cleveland¿s. The author has even gone as far as to trace the Egyptian mythology to its ancient African roots. Action-adventure lovers, horror lover, psychological thriller lovers, ya¿ll will be entertained by this novel. You¿ll find yourself in Pharaoh¿s tomb, on an archaeological expedition to the heart of Equatorial Africa and then in the life beyond. But wait till the surprising twist at the end.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

To scattered.

I did enjoy the story, but it was like reading three stories in one that did not quite sync up or flow together. The stories were all over the place. I thought the characters were interesting enough. I had to see how you would end the story, I was disappointed, you could have done better or more...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can still hear the call of the Basenji. I have a basenji in fact. No wonder it's called the barkless dog, it sounds like a child crying. This book gives a new meaning to mythological horror. It's both a contemporary mystery and psychological thriller. Some refer to it as an occult novel. The book has a fully developed historical reseach to tie it nicely to the overall story. Before I bought it I read one of the reviews that said something like: Try not to read it with the lights off and something about giving people the shivers. This is quiet true. In one of the scenes where the psychologist is along with the basenji in the middle of the night, boy it freaked me out. Does anyone know anything about the Rosetta stone? Are the creature's phrases really based on the Coptic languages from ancient Egypt? Wow, what a book.