The Church Builder

The Church Builder #1

by A.L. Shields

The Church Builder is the first book in a series of at least three Christian-themed thrillers written by A. L. Shields, the pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Stephen L. Carter. Each story is fast-paced and intricate, with the clock ticking as the protagonist battles malevolent forces. Harry Stean is an architect who designs traditional church buildings and cathedrals around the world. A former believer but now an agnostic, he is also an expert on the historical use of symbols in Christianity; that special knowledge is the key to each of the stories. Each of the novels revolves around a centuries-old struggle between believers and a shadowy organization known simply as The Garden, which has devoted itself, working entirely in secret, to the destruction of the faith. Manipulating events from behind the scenes, the Garden has devoted itself patiently over the centuries to what it calls 'snakebites'---causing tiny scandals here and there, enough to shake people's faith just a little, hoping, as time passes, that the cumulative effect of its work will bring an end to belief.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Thriller

432 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Pen name for author Stephen L. Carter.

Reviews

[Kevin McAllister · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stephen L. Carter is a respected professor of law at Yale University and an author of several fiction and non fiction books. When publishing the Church Builder he used the pseudonym A. L. Shields and after reading this novel I have a very good understanding of why he used a pseudonym. Mainly; the book is bad. Quite bad.

[Brenda Westervelt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the title was interesting that’s why I picked it. However, it was boring. It was drawn out too much . And there really wasn’t an end. It ends with you thinking there should be a second book. If so, I wouldn’t read it.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

From A. L. Shields---pseudonym for New York Times best-selling author Stephen L. Carter---comes a thrilling new series about a secret war between the forces of faith and those who would destroy it.

In the first volume, small-town lawyer Bethany Barclay, struggling to piece together the final months of her best friend's life, becomes the pawn of both sides. One group focused on destroying all religion. One group struggling to preserve the church. One woman searching for the truth. The evidence is against her. The FBI is right behind her. A malevolent killer has her in his sights. And as Bethany digs deeper into a complex web of lies surrounding her ties to the murder of her client's son, she remains unaware of the real battle in front of her. She thinks her friend Annabelle was killed because of what she learned about a rumored first-century Christian artifact. What Bethany doesn't know is that Annabelle died in the crossfire between two shadowy organizations that have been doing battle for centuries.

The Wilderness, wealthy and vast, is dedicated to the destruction of all religious faith. The Garden, a group of seven members led by a man they call the Builder, carries on a grim, secret struggle to protect the church. Only a few in the Garden realize that there's more at stake than the artifact the Wilderness is seeking. But as Bethany discovers that she's a tiny part of a larger war, can she trust the Builder to save her? Or will he sacrifice her for the sake of the cause?

My Review:

This can definitely be classified as a religious thriller. That said, this was a stay up all night sort of book. The mystery surrounding the Wilderness and the Garden was an intriguing plot, and the characters were constantly moving. Both sides are invariably clashing heads over their differences in opinion, but as Bethany discovers there is more at stake than a simple rumor over a first-century Christian artifact and the death of her friend, Annabelle.

Bethany's struggles with being tied to both sides of the conflict was actually really interesting for me, because she was invariably playing both sides. But with knowledge comes responsibility, and once she knows the truth there is a heavy price to pay. The crossroads between whether to obey or sacrifice was a hard one, but in the end she makes the only decision she feels is right. A recommended read if you are able to stay up till the last page - as this is a page-turner in ever sense of the word.

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six months ago, Bethany Barclay’s best friend was murdered. Now Bethany comes home to find the body of her ex-boyfriend on her floor, her gun on the floor, and a strange symbol painted on the wall—a symbol that reminds her of something Annabelle said before she died. Are the two deaths related? Bethany believes so, but the police are convinced she’s responsible for Ken’s death. She goes on the run to try and find the link between the two murders, but things get harder when she’s implicated in a bombing as well.

It’s quickly apparent hat Bethany has been set up. It’s also apparent that there is more than one group of people after her. What isn’t immediately not clear is why. What does she know? And who can she trust? Her search leads her first to Chicago, The World Foundation for the Fulfilment of God’s Personal Plan and Martin Potus, another ex-boyfriend who is now leader of God’s Planners, a possible cult.

The Church Builder is the first novel in what promised to be an exciting series from AL Shields (better known as Stephen L Carter, Professor of Law at Yale). It’s tightly-plotted with two secret societies fighting for opposing sides in a religious battle, a range of ambiguous characters (it’s hard to tell who is good and who Bethany needs to be suspicious of) and a fast pace that sometimes makes it even more difficult to keep the characters straight—not to mention their loyalties.

The Church Builder disobeys several 'laws' of modern fiction with its distant POV, switching between past and present tense for no apparent reason and an over-reliance on telling (especially at the beginning), but somehow it works, for me at least (even though my mind says it shouldn’t). It’s the first book in a series, and while the central plot of this book was resolved, the ending also serves as the introduction to the central conflict in the next book.

Recommended for those who like fast-paced thrillers and don’t mind reading a serial.

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Girl on the Run in the Battle Between Good and Evil

Bethany Barkley, an attorney, meets with Ken Kirkland. He's convinced his mother was manipulated into leaving her fortune to what he considers a religious cult, the Planners. He holds Bethany responsible because she prepared the will. Bethany knows she acted in good faith, but when she arrives home she finds Ken dead on the kitchen floor with two bullets from her gun in him. The police are sure she's responsible. When Bethany starts receiving text messages directly related to the crime she panics and starts to run.

Her best friend Annabelle was recently murdered by a hit and run driver. As she struggles to evade the authorities, Bethany starts to believe there is a connection between herself and Annabelle's death. She plans to retrace Annabelle's steps to find out what really happened. As she finds more information about what Annabelle was involved with, she realizes that she's caught in a centuries old struggle between good and evil.

I found this book very slow in spite of the chase scene and the plots twists. The major character is very remote, hard to feel attached to. The plot hinges on this character. If you can't relate to her, the book loses a great deal of immediacy. I did enjoy some of the other characters, the Judge, the Mathematician, the Builder, and other member of the Garden, the force for good. However, since they only put in infrequent appearances, it wasn't enough to carry the story.

Another problem for me was the author switching from past to present tense on a chapter by chapter basis. Since all the action was taking place at relatively the same time, I found the constant shifts jarring and could see no reason for them.

The book has a religious theme, but it's not heavy. If you enjoy searches for ancient artifacts and secret organizations, you may enjoy this book. I found it rather slow.

I reviewed this book for Booksneeze.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. L. Shields has written a taut, absorbing read in "The Church Builder", a book full of twists and turns as Bethany Barclay races to uncover the secrets that have forced her to be on the run. The story moves along well, although at 432 pages it's a lengthy read. There were several moments that I didn't see coming, and the author kept me guessing as to who were the good folks and who were the bad. Along with the action-packed scenes that drive the story forward, the characters are well-developed, and Bethany is sure to invoke your sympathies as her life is upended. The glimpses we are given into her past are utterly intriguing, and I appreciate the complexity of her character, her journey of faith, and her determination to succeed. One of the main villains in this book, "The Professor", is particularly well portrayed, and I thoroughly enjoyed his scenes and his chilling perspective on life. The author uses some interesting writing techniques as he switches writing perspectives, allowing us to get into the minds of the characters in a unique manner.

I definitely enjoy a well-plotted novel of grand conspiracies reaching back through the ages, and this is one of them! "The Church Builder" is written with a sure hand, and readers are sure to enjoy this suspenseful read. I'm curious to see where the author is going next with this series, and am greatly anticipating the next installment. A solid read, I award this book 4 out of 5 stars.

A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to try out new authors, especially if the book is suspense. I had been looking at this book for quite a while, wanting to buy it, but not wanting to fork out the $26.99 for it. The one reason I don't like hardcover books - the price. I was still debating buying it when I discovered it on the list of books for review from Thomas Nelson/Zondervan, so I snagged it.

This is an awesome book. It had a complicated plot, but not so complicated that its hard to keep up with or understand. The idea of two secret groups, one good, and one bad, trying to accomplish their goals was intriguing and added a lot to the plot. I liked the main character, and though the book is fictional, found the police and FBI actions and investigating believable and realistic.

This is the first book in a series, and the only thing I didn't like about it, is it didn't really end. I was never much for continued stories, so I am already looking forward to the next book so I can find out what happens.

If this book is any indication, the author isn't afraid to make his books Christian. Its not a "preachy" novel, but it is clearly Christian, and no bad language at all. Its a long book, coming in at 432 pages, but I did find it so hard to put down that I read it in one sitting, other than a few interruptions. I really enjoyed the book, and can't wait to read more from this author. His forage into Christian fiction is looking very promising.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bethany Barclay is running for her life. She’s a struggling attorney who’s been framed for the murder of a client. To clear her name, she must follow the trail left by her friend Annabelle to find out who killed her and why. This is a fast paced thriller of a novel, the first in a new series, written by bestselling novelist Stephen L Carter (Emperor of Ocean Park) under the pseudonym A.L. Shields. Even though it is on the Zondervan list it is not a novel written just for a Christians but for fans of religious conspiracy novels, Nelson Demille, John Grisham, et al. Two thumbs up!!

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it is because I listened to the audio version of the book, but this was a confusing book. There are several shadowy organizations to which we are privy, but we don't know the names of the members. Most of the time I wasn't really sure what their aims were. True to form, the author, Stephen Carter writing under his pen name, A.L. Shields, is quite wordy. I thought the book was overly long. What I did like was the suspense as lawyer, Bethany Barclay, tries to uncover the truth of her friend, Annabelle’s death and clear herself as suspect in the death of a client’s son. Bethany comes in contact with a cult-like organization only to find that a former boyfriend is in charge. She is able to stay underground because of the help of other friends, And there is the Builder, who is working to save religious belief, or the church?— That part is very confusing to me. I am beginning to think I am not intelligent enough to read Carter’s books. Even though I did enjoy parts of the book, I can't say that I recommend it. There is a sequel, but think I'll pass on that!

[Peter Sidell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book requires a lot of willing disbelief. I got started reading Stephen Carter’s books after he spoke at my daughter’s graduation from Stanford in the mid 90’s. He has written some non fiction for popular consumption, then I discovered his fiction. It covers the gamut from contemporary fiction about black families to historical fiction involving a young woman’s affair with JFK, and a post civil war America where Abraham Lincoln isn’t assassinated. Then I discovered the Church Builder series he has written under a pseudonym.
I suspect he chose to write under a pseudonym because of the far out nature of the conspiracy theory that underlies the story. At first I found the story too outlandish to be interesting but I have gotten into the characters now.
The first book really doesn’t complete the dramatic arc. It’s as if the book was divided into two parts out of convenience rather then because they are truly free standing novels. I have just begun the second book and find myself more engaged.

[David Pyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after the second in the series. When I went to shelve the second book, I found this one shelved as already read. Hate it when that happens!

This story has characters whose faith is portrayed as a natural part of their lives, not forced or heavy-handed. The plot has excellent twists but continues to move inexorably forward. Body count is high but not gratuitous. Well worth a read!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and interesting!

The Church builder creates a complex world of characters and brings them together in a dynamic way. The ending makes you want the next book right away but doesn't have such a cliff hanger as to be unsatisfying. A thrill a minute read.

[Claudia Gerwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting on the next one. I want to know how it ends!! Twists and turns and surprises!!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrill ride! There were so many twists and turns I truly didn't know friend from foe for most of the book. I'm still not sure about one of them.
I can't wait to read the sequel.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. L. Shields in his new book, “The Church Builder” Book One in The Church Builder series published by Thomas Nelson introduces us to Bethany Barclay.

From the back cover: One group focused on destroying all religion. One group struggling to preserve the church. One woman searching for the truth.

The evidence is against her. The FBI is right behind her. A malevolent killer has her in his sights. And as Bethany digs deeper into a complex web of lies surrounding her ties to the murder of her client’s son, she remains unaware of the real battle in front of her.

She thinks her friend Annabelle was killed because of what she learned about a rumored first-century Christian artifact. What Bethany doesn’t know is that Annabelle died in the crossfire between two shadowy organizations that have been doing battle for centuries. The Wilderness, wealthy and vast, is dedicated to the destruction of all religious faith. The Garden, a group of seven members led by a man they call the Builder, carries on a grim, secret struggle to protect the church.

Only a few in the Garden realize that there’s more at stake than the artifact the Wilderness is seeking. But as Bethany discovers that she’s a tiny part of a larger war, can she trust the Builder to save her? Or will he sacrifice her for the sake of the cause?

Bethany Barclay is an attorney and the death of her friend, Annabelle, bothers her so she sets out to check into it. That is when Bethany becomes a target. There are two factions in the world: the Garden and the Wilderness. The Garden guards people’s religious freedom, The Wilderness wants a world based on reason, and will undermine faith any way they can. Bethany is framed for murder and is on the run, not only from the FBI but from assassins from The Wilderness. ”The Church Builder” is a thriller, which simply means that everyone is in grave danger from, practically, the beginning. Mr. Shields has given us a really complex mystery and sections of story that will chill you. ”The Church Builder” is full of twists and turns, with a few red herrings thrown in just to cause confusion. Bethany is a warm and likable character and we get engaged in her life. This is an exciting book, extremely well paced and suspenseful. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

You can find “The Church Builder” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/sh...

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are 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.”

[Gayle Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW

This first novel of A.L.Shields (Stephen L. Carter, Professor of Law at Yale) is going to carry on in a wonderful series. The plot revolves around two secret societies opposing each other while involved in a religious battle. There is a wide variety of characters that is hard to know who is good and who is evil. The story moves at a fast pace which at times it is hard to keep the characters straight.It is a roller coaster ride with lots of twists and turns. The book is full of evil and good. The problem is, how do you know which is which?

Now we have two deaths. Six months ago, Bethany Barclay's best friend was murdered. Bethany now finds the body of her ex-boyfriend on the floor of her home. Alongside him is her gun. Her friend Annabelle had told Bethany something before she died. On the wall is painted a strange symbol that reminds her of what Annabelle had said. Bethany thinks the two murders are related but the police think she is the killer. She knows she must find the connection to the two murders but she must get away so she runs. On top of the murders she is now linked with a bombing. Can things get any worse? Bethany realizes she has been set up and there are several groups after her. One group is composed of individuals whose leader is the Builder. This group called The Garden are trying to protect the Church and the right to religion. Then we have the Wilderness who are just as determined to destroy religious faith. Why are they chasing Bethany? What has she done? Does she know something that they want or need? Bethany becomes involved in the fight between The Garden and the Wilderness. Does she have anyone to turn to? Her best friend and her ex-boyfriend are dead. Where does she go now? She is trying to come to terms with her beliefs and her own character. She heads first to Chicago. What happens next is in your hands. The book goes against the norm for fiction. There is a distinct point of view, between past and present. I didn't quite understand why but it didn't change the way I felt about reading the book. If you are interested in fast paced, mystery, and conflict you will definitely like this book. It may make you step back and reflect on your own beliefs.

I would give this book 4 STARS.

I was given a complimentary copy of THE CHURCH BUILDER from the author A.L.Shields for my uncompensated review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book for review is “The Church Builder” by A.L. Shields. It falls into the genres of fiction, Christian and suspense.

Over the centuries good versus evil has been fought. Each side believing their right The Garden and the Wilderness are their names with members in high places and very prominent as well.

Enter Bethany Barclay, a lawyer by profession, who simply does a will for a woman. An ordinary part of her job. What she does not know is events have been set in motion with her in mind. She is about to encounter the ride of her life and for her life. Her best friend, Annabelle has died but it was no accident. She had been an agent for the Garden. Now they have set their sights on Bethany.

Finding a dead body in her home, someone she knew, Bethany is on the run. With just her wits about her she picks up the trail of her friend Annabelle in hopes of finding out who killed her. And hopefully Bethany can prove her own innocent in the process.

The Pilot Stone is what the fuss is about. A piece of history that can prove or disprove Christianity. Both sides want it and are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain it. Even if that means collateral damage on the side.

I truly enjoyed this book. It hooked me from the beginning. The pace was good though slow in some parts The suspense done with just the right amount of flavor that it kept the pages turning. The details were really good. However some sections it was not really necessary. I didn’t like how it ended. However this is going to be a series so that would explain why the author chose to finish the book the way he did.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always a little wary of writers who publish under pseudonyms. There are good points on both sides of the debate, but Ann Rice managed to go from vampires to Jesus without a pseudonym quite successfully. I’d also never read anything under A L Shields’ real name of Stephen L Carter, so I really had no idea what I was going to get. What drew me to The Church Builder was the plot. It promised to be a battle between the good and the totally not so good. I also knew going in that it was the first title of a new series so I realized it was possible that nothing would be resolved by the end of it. What I didn’t expect was to be so thoroughly hooked!

As a character, Bethany is mediocre. She’s probably not an attorney I’d hire. Her business isn’t doing well, but somehow she’s able to leave it all behind on the spur of the moment to go on a treasure hunt. She also has an annoying tendency to constantly call her younger traveling companion, “Honey,” which comes across as patronizing. Despite that, she does have some street smarts and uses them where possible. We know she probably is innocent of the accusations leveled at her, and this means she’s not much of an interesting character. Other characters intrigued me as they’re more ambiguous. What side are they on? Who do they work for? Can they be trusted? The Church Builder is fast-paced and straightforward in its writing. I just have one problem with this novel: it ends on a cliff-hanger and I’ve got no idea when book two will be released!

Thank you to Zondervan and Booksneeze for my free review copy of The Church Builder, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m struggling to write this review because I don’t really know what to say. I want to be encouraging and excited, but the truth is that I barely finished this book. If I hadn’t agreed to review it, I probably would have put it down and walked away. The most concise explanation for my review: by chapter 15 I still hadn’t related to the main character and found it hard to care what happened to her.

There’s no real connection to the main character, Bethany. I’ve read some books where I’m so drawn in to and connected with the characters that I react with them to their situations (regardless of whether or not I like the characters or can personally relate to them). Bethany is so distant, however, that it’s like reading a diary of where she went and what she did. After a few chapters, it failed to hold my attention.

This book is also full of information, but I’m not convinced all of it was necessary. The characters repeat information constantly, bogging down pages and slowing down the story. It jumps from past tense to present tense between chapters, but I couldn’t figure out why; for me, it didn’t add anything to the story, it just made it awkward to read. By chapter 10 I was skimming whole pages trying to get through it.

I’m sure there’s a great story in there, but I couldn’t find it in all of the telling and description.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the BookSneeze program.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good thriller. The action and mystery, the intrigue and suspense. The Church Builder has all of it. Plus conspiracy theories, assassins and ancient artifacts.

The plot is exciting, lots of action, lots of drama, and some surprising twists and turns. But there are also some calmer, and even comforting moments, usually about God. I like the way the story occasionally takes breaks from the action. There are a few parts where the story drags a bit, but overall, very exciting.

As you might expect, there is quite a bit of violence, some of it pretty graphic. It’s not horrible, just something to be aware of.

As far as the characters go, there are a lot of them. It gets a bit difficult keeping track of everyone. The main character is likable, and the others all seem pretty realistic. The dialogue also seems pretty natural.

My main problem with the story is that the tense changes. Sometimes it’s past tense, sometimes is present. And it doesn’t seem consistent when it changes. It’s kinda distracting and throws me off.

Overall, however, it was a good enough story that I read the sequel again. (I already read it, because I didn’t realize it was the sequel. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for older fans of Christian Thrillers.

[Karen Deblieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the spirit of all things conspiratal A.L. Shields weaves a fine tale of deep rooted secret societies with Bethany Barclay as a pawn. This book had a surprise at every turn and I had no idea where it was going. To the point that sometimes I didn't want to turn the page for fear of what would happen to the poor protagonist. The pace and plotting were well done and mostly plausible. Once in awhile I did wonder if anybody in their right mind would take the chances that Bethany did. But all in all it was an entertaining read and will keep you at the edge of your seat with the thrills and danger. As the story progressed (after about chapter five) I began to worry about Bethany and what delightful mishaps the author had planned for her. This book is a good fit for those who love thrillers and conspiracy theories but long for a Christian element as well. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was in no way compensated for this review.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful that I looked beyond the title to the synopsis of this incredible book. The title led me to believe that it would be a book about enlarging church attendance which really would not be a book that I would read.

It took me a while to read this book. At over 400 pages it is a long; however, I never wanted to put it down. The characters were so well portrayed that I felt like I knew them. I cheered on the main character, Bethany Barclay, who had been set up, framed for murder and now was on the run. Two sides are at work in this story,: the garden and the wilderness--good and evil. It almost seems as if they are playing a game and Bethany is caught in the middle as their pawn. Each side creates circumstances that force Bethany to make her next move.

If you like Christian books filled with suspense, mystery, secret societies and codes, you will love this book! I highly recommend it to everyone and look forward to finding more books from this author.

[Brian Meadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, once you get into it, is gripping and hard to put down. The events are complex and shrouded in mystery. You never know who is working for who and when deceit is being practiced. However, it is billed as a Christian-themed novel, but I thought that aspect was there but very weak. No one was overtly relying on God - it was man's forces for evil trying to ruin the church in general (Wilderness) vs man's forces for good trying to preserve the church (Garden) against the evil intent of the Wilderness. That was not really satisfying to me as the perspective was from man's efforts. You really didn't sense the hand of God. So, it was a good story for entertainment, but little takeaway from a spiritual standpoint. It was written leaving some ends loose to lead into the next book in the series.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Church Builder is a fast-paced conspiracy-and-chase novel. Bethany retraces her dead friend Annabelle's steps, FBI Agent Carraway tries to catch her, and the shadowy members and minions of both Garden and Wilderness plot and manipulate.

Bethany is a pawn in a centuries-old power struggle between two secret groups: the Garden and the Wilderness. The Garden guards people's religious freedom, Christian and other. The Wilderness wants a world based on reason, and will undermine faith any way they can.

I enjoyed the novel, and will definitely be on the lookout for the next one in The Church Builder series.

[A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.]

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads First reads. It's not my usual genre, but this was such a good book!! I am so glad I read it. The plot twists were unending. It is an exciting book, full of intrigue, murder mystery, and a good vs. evil component that goes back for centuries. I highly recommend this book. The only bad thing was that when the book ended, the story didn't, so I will be looking for the sequel.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CANNOT wait to read more of this series! It has all the elements that would make an AWESOME TV series (though I don't know how they'd hide the identities of some characters when you can hear their voices). A battle between good and evil, darkness and light...."The Church Builder" is not one to be missed. With missing religious artifacts, fugitives from justice, and 2 secret societies that have been battling for centuries - I am looking forward to what happens next.

[Talaiyah Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. It kept me guessing, until the end. It is refreshing at times, to read a book that isn't so obvious. Definitely, recommend this book. Now, if only UPS could hurry with the next installment of this series.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer, I won this book through First Reads. It was an enjoyable read, lots of twists that I wasn't expecting. Hope that the next book in the series isn't too long in the writing.

[Ryan Hillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent Christian thriller

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, looking forward to next book