Tuck Jameson vows to stop his brother Clay from joining The Body, a religious cult that uses nanotechnology to turn its members into Christian automatons.But Clay disappears—and in three days, his nanotechnology conversion will be complete. Desperate to find Clay, Tuck enlists the aid of former high school mentor Adam Shimura, now a black ops agent with potentially mixed motives.Brother Moody, the cult’s Chief Elder, mobilizes his acolytes against Tuck. Worse, a shocking prophecy ups the ante, making Tuck realize the stakes involve not only him and Clay, but all of America—and perhaps, the world.
Mike Bogue writes both fiction and non-fiction, spinning speculative tales because he finds SFF the perfect genre to explore timeless themes and timely science.
A veteran of Jerry Jenkins’ Your Novel Blueprint course, Mike’s short stories have appeared in G-FAN, Scary Monsters Magazine, Daikaiju! 3, and Don’t Go In the Water.
In October 2023, Winged Publications published “A Perfect Flock,” Mike’s first Christian science fiction novel, which boasts an Amazon customer rating of 4.8. In addition, 2023 Realm Award Winner Bryan Timothy Mitchell calls the tale “immersive and compelling.”
In the non-fiction category, Mike wrote the critically acclaimed “Apocalypse Then: American and Japanese Atomic Cinema: 1951-1967” (McFarland 2017), which received an NPR endorsement.
His second non-fiction book, “Watching the World Die: Nuclear Threat Films of the 1980s” (McFarland 2023) boasts a 4.8 customer rating on Amazon.
Currently, Mike is working on “Eden Colony,” a post-apocalyptic novel in which select nuclear war survivors find they are immune to radiation.
Single, Mike lives with his cat Bendi in Western Arkansas, where he and Bendi regularly hold contests to see who can nap the longest in a single day.
I did enjoy this story! Great ideas, scary if you take the time to think about it! Good selection of characters as well as good pace, a few unexpected moments, a good mix of cult, sci fi & dystopian genres which added extra interest. Overall a good fun read & I will look for more by this author for sure!
“The Body was growing like a cancer every day and Clay would soon be a part of it, unless…”
A Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue is a very fast moving, gritty, twisty Christian sci-fi novel that will have you quickly flipping the pages to figure out just who to root for. We get acquainted with Tuck Jameson, who no longer believes God cares about people, and who tries to tell others around him what they ought to do with their lives.
We also get acquainted with Coach, a major player who was a favorite male figure of Tuck’s in high school, and has now come back to help Tuck rescue his brother Clay from “The Body.”
The Body turns out to be a cult-like group who believe, under the leadership of Chief Elder Graham Moody, that they can become sinless with the help of technology. Willingly, people give up their free will to become automatons, assured of a place in heaven, because of their perfection. Many important, rich, and influential people support the message and wish to spread it from Arkansas to the rest of America and to the world. Yet, a few dissenters such as Tuck , Ham, Coach, and April, see some underlying issues, especially when Tuck’s brother is picked to join the cult and become the Prophet.
I found it very interesting how much Truth was used in The Body’s message, yet skewed and taken out of context. I continually had to compare what Moody and others said with Scripture. I thought it very interesting when a certain prophesy was considered urgent, yet the person prophesying was not always accurate. “‘how do we know anything about …prophecies is true?… ‘ ‘Because seventy-five percent of her prophecies have come true in the past.’” Yet, God’s Word says not to believe any prophet who is not 100% accurate. Little by little, as Tuck and his friends search for Clay, more and more cracks appear in this perfect religion. And more and more, Tuck must depend upon a power other than himself.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“You think using technology to force people to be moral is a good thing?”
“I also need a friend who can help me see the light without shoving it in my face.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it…But grace had everything to do with it.”
This story is a chilling look at the disastrous results when someone with great charisma twists the Bible to their own ends. It had more of a horror/ supernatural/ paranormal feel than Science Fiction. reminded me of an episode of the old Twilight Zone TV show. It felt like the author pulled many of the cultural references from that time as well.
It’s set in a rural part of Arkansas that will be as foreign to many as any far-flung planet. While overall light on action, the fight scenes are well executed with visceral impacts. The reader can feel every blow, making them empathize with the character being beaten.
My favorite aspect was the display of genuine male friendship between Tuck and Ham. This is so rarely seen in modern stories, and it’s authentically done here. I also rather enjoyed exploring the benefits of free will and if we, as a species, would be better without it.
If made into a movie, this would likely get an R for one scene toward the end that is strongly grotesque and quite disturbing. This is a story for older teens and adults. I strongly recommend that readers have a solid foundation in good Biblical doctrine to avoid confusion caused by the way the antagonists twist scripture to their own ends. There were also some moments at the end that pushed my suspension of disbelief.
I prefer my sci-fi more on the whimsical and fantastical end of the spectrum, but if you go for the strange mix of horror, science-fiction, drama, comedy and superstition that Twilight Zone was famous for, you’ll probably enjoy Perfect Flock.
This novel creates a situation where advanced technology is used by a powerful cult leader. The cult leader uses the Bible to manipulate people and nanotechnology to control them. The novel is a worrying picture of a possible future. There is quite a bit of Christian jargon in this novel. Christians will understand it but others might be overwhelmed by the terms.
The development of Moody, the cult leader's character, is disturbing as he can sound so Christian. It made me wonder if Bogue wanted us to consider if Moody could, at times, really hear from God. Perhaps we are to conclude it is a deceiving voice. I was unsure and would have rather had a clearer development of this aspect of his character. His mother's character was puzzling as she seemed to really be in touch with the Holy Spirit, yet sometimes seemed to be obeying her son. I didn't understand her actions as they felt inconsistent. Coach's character was the most puzzling of all. His actions seemed to be contradictory. In the end I was still wondering about him as there was no definitive conclusion.
Bogue explored several issues in this novel. Here are a couple. Is it acceptable to do something illegal to ultimately fulfill God's will? What is the price we should be willing to pay to stand up for what we believe is right?
I felt Bogue's writing style could have used some editing and polishing but, in general, I liked the premise and he has certainly written a thought provoking novel.
I received a complimentary egalley of this novel through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I found the book to be very interesting and kept my attention. The story moves at a good pace and I was intrigued by Tuck. He is out to rescue his brother from a group that could be harmful to him. The story is one where it is possible that this could be happening right now with people. A well spoken Charismatic person can convince others to follow them without realizing they are essentially being brainwashed.
There is danger, deceit, secrets and much more as we follow the story and see how easy it could be for some to be tricked into a place where only greed and power are present. The author does a good job of using Bible references throughout and developing the characters.
Readers will find some things a little hard to read so I would recommend older teens and adult readers for this book. It is written as science fiction, but could this be happening around us right now?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Even though I am not a huge fan of science fiction, I was curious to see what A Perfect Flock by new to me author, Mike Bogue. I found it interesting to see this time of story with a Biblical twist to it. I enjoyed getting to know Tuck and taking this journey with him. The story is full of adventure, drama, danger, action, and suspense with an element of faith. I thought it was an overall good read that held my attention from start to finish.
I am giving A Perfect Flock four stars. I believe readers who to read clean science fiction. I would be interested in reading more from Mike Bogue in the future.
I received a paperback copy of Mike Bogue's A Perfect Flock from the publisher, bur was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
A Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue is Christian Science Fiction. Tuck Jameson vows to keep his brother Clay from joining a religious cult called The Body, which uses nanotechnology to control its members. But when Clay disappears, Tucker relies on his best friend Ham and his former coach, Adam Shimura, who is now a Black Ops agent.
The author takes the reader through twists and turns, including kidnappings, murders, deceitful behavior, etc. The leader of the cult, Brother Moody, proves to have self-serving, evil intents.
Once I began reading, I could not put this book down. The conclusion provided the perfect ending.
So, if you enjoy Christian Science Fiction, check out A Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Wow! The Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue is a great read about a man trying to save his brother, and potentially the world, from a bizarre religious cult. I had a hard time putting this book down. Not only is this an interesting story, but the author also makes a lot of references throughout the book to songs and movies from the 70s and 80s--that definitely made the narrative feel more tailor-made to me and people growing up in that era. Don't get me wrong, I am a Christian, but this cult's way of gaining followers is NOTHING like Jesus's teachings. It's not anti-Christian at all. Overall, I give this book 4.75 stars--I'm posting with 5 stars though, because it really took off in the second half of the book and kept me on the edge of my seat.
This is a stunning debut novel that has me following this author. Here in lies a sci-fi world, complete with a cult-style group called The Body. That's a scary type of name, with some Biblical foundations there. The author clearly showed how a cult relies on mixing the Truth with some lies, just muddled up enough to confuse people. But to what lengths will the leader with The Body take them? Brother Moody has a lot of motives, and he's interwoven technology into religion. What follows Tuck and us as the readers is a deep dive into the what-ifs and the "there but for the grace of God go I". I think it creates a very absorbing read.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review is my own, and a positive review is never required.
For a long time, I’ve been fascinated with cults, and for that reason, I’ve researched them quite a bit. A Perfect Flock does a good job of making this cult believable. The story is immersive and compelling. I was rooting for Tuck and worried for his brother Clay. Brother Moody was written very well too. I think stories like this are best when the writer can make the antagonist not only believable but relatable as well. Mike Bogue achieved that and more. I feel like I know these characters and I feel like I’ve followed them through Arkansas. I’m glad I picked this one up and will follow Mike so I can pick up his future works as well.
This book is packed with suspense, action, twists, betrayal, fight scenes, family drama, and more, keeping me turning the pages. Just my kind of book. But most of all, I enjoyed the redemption arc of the main character, Tuck. Tuck, prideful, cynical, and thinks he knows better, risks all to save his younger brother from joining a "Christian" cult who are trying to take over America. But in the process, he is humbled in many ways, what it truly means to follow Christ shines forth. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Mike Bogue’s A Perfect Flock grabbed me from the very beginning. It takes the idea of a cult of personality into a science fiction world that is scary because it is so easy to imagine. A perfect flock is the desire of all extreme Christian fundamentalists who will do anything to create one; a perfect flock (as they understand what that is). In his book Bogue narrates a story that is all too imaginable. Bogue creates a world where no one is a saint but many are willing to become sheep.
An eerily plausible future. A well written and clever page-turner, this one grabs you with its stunning cast of characters, its chilling realism, and its creative futuristic tech. All of this is skilfully underpinned by the main character’s personal and very compelling crisis of faith—a crisis that seems to hold a mirror up to the society at large. A cautionary tale indeed.
“The Perfect Flock” is a high-tension, fast-moving, gripping suspense story. Its premise is so “now” as to read like a post from today’s news. The corruption of the Body of Christ is imminent. But who holds the truth? And who is willing to die for it? Definitely will keep you up at night reading.
This story would make a wonderful TV movie. It makes me think of a plot line for a fun 1950s Sci-Fi Feature Film with futuristic technology, adventure, mystery, and a hint of romance thrown in.
While Science Fiction isn't a genre I read often, this novel grabbed my attention because of the cult aspects, which I found fascinating. The story has a good pace, and the writing is well done.
The ending came quickly, and I found myself wanting to know more about Tuck and Clay between the last scene and the epilogue.