They Shall See God

by Athol Dickson

After 25 years, the man Ruth and Kate helped lock away is released from prison, thrusting them into a horrible nightmare. Suddenly a series of bizarre crimes hits Ruth's Jewish community in New Orleans, reigniting the flames of age-old hatred. A page-turning story of bitter prejudice and the hope of reconciliation.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Suspense, Mystery, Amazon

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Athol Dickson's parents were living on the road when he was born. His first bed was a drawer lined with towels in a travel trailer. He has loved road trips ever since. Boating is a passion, too. Athol owns three boats, and once lived aboard a yacht full-time while cruising the Gulf of Mexico and the USA's Atlantic coast. But Athol's nine novels are proof he can sit still and write if he's with his wife of nearly 30 years, The Lovely Sue. They live in Southern California, where Athol is at work on novel number ten, the second in a series call "The Malcolm Cutter Memoirs" about a multi-millionaire chauffeur who would rather solve mysteries for his clients than hang out on his yacht. What bliss: a novel that combines boats and road trips!

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done, clever plot device. The theological aspect contributed, rather than detracted, from the story. So many Christian novels are hokey. This one is not.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is really a 3 1/2 star for me. I learned some things, and he definitely brought the creepy, dark factor like he does, but it was hard for me to connect with the characters and it was much longer than I expected. I really like his storytelling, in general, even though darkness is not usually my thing. The Kindle edition has several typos and mistakes, and I felt myself having to push through to finish.
BUT, as I mentioned before, I did learn some things, and the subject-matter in this one was particularly unique, so it gets the 4.

[Amber Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This suspense novel uses a complex plot to bring the past and present together for a Jewish rabbi, Ruth, and a Christian mother, Kate. Although from two different cultures, they are bound together by a crime that occurred 25 years beforehand. I especially liked the way the plot intertwined the spiritual journey of Ruth and Kate with their search for answers to the crazy tragedies that keep occurring around them. If you are interested in religious perspectives from both Judaism and Christianity, this book touches upon both in an intriguing way to broaden the readers' understanding of faith.

[Rick Higginson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is apparent in this book that Dickson did his homework. "They Shall See God" offers a story with perspectives from both sides of the Jewish/Christian divide, and it is often not a view that all of us will enjoy. My wife and I attended a Messianic Jewish Congregation for a number of years, and experienced many of the attitudes from both mainstream Christian and Jewish individuals, that Dickson illustrates in this story. These perceptions and tensions are woven well into the story to heighten the drama and suspense, and the reader is carried along as the two main characters are reunited after a separation of 25 years.

For the Jewish reader that may be considering this book, you can be assured that you will not find the Jewish culture or religion to be denigrated in this tale, nor does Dickson use the novel as a bully pulpit to preach Messiah. On the contrary, one of the elements in the story is the heavy-handed evangelism attitudes and efforts employed by a Christian outreach group, and the realistic reactions of the Jewish community to these tactics. The story does not cast a negative pall over the Jewish characters while portraying the Christian characters as all virtuous, and both the Jewish main charater and the Christian main character are shown with both their own strengths and weaknesses.

Of course, the dominant criteria that I consider when reviewing any book or movie is simply this: Did I enjoy it? Very much so. The story held my interest from the start, and gave me a good balance between those, "I guessed it," and, "That surprised me" elements. The only negative thing to say is that it was much too easy to stay up too late reading it, when I had to get up and go to work early the next morning.

[Marliss Bombardier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Athol Dickson has become a favorite author. After finishing a book of his, I think about it for days. I'm not sure I can think of anything to say about this book that is not a spoiler. It has an extremely cunning plot, and I was caught by surprise when the mystery was revealed. That doesn't happen very often. I will say that this book is not for the squeamish, but it is certainly not as dark and gruesome as Ted Dekker.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moeilijk door te komen boek. Veel van de hak op de tak en veel religieus geneuzel. De verhaallijn is wel goed dus het had een goed boek kunnen wezen. Helaas.

[Leola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favorite book by Athol Dickson, but it was still good. It had more death than I care for, but it was necessary for the story. It explored the craziness in misguided religious zealots, which was heartbreaking to read.

[Jon Horst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way the author was able to draw me in and almost make me feel the humidity of the hot summer days and nights. Great story of redemption.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've liked other of his books better. I didn't enjoy the anger of the characters and while some parts were very creative, the characters and parts of the plot just didn't ring true to me.

[Woorden Van Juul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Veel uitdrukkingen uit het Joodse geloof die ik niet begreep ik ben na 2 hoofdstukken gestopt

[Marith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit is simpelweg een héél goed boek en loeispannend.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not typical Christian fiction. Suspenseful, thought-provoking, surprising, disturbing, redemptive. Stayed up too late because I couldn’t stop until I finished.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has one man had such an effect on our history, our world religions, and our hearts that one mention of his name can inflame one person to kill, or move another person to quickly change the subject out of unease, or cause another person to smile out of their overwhelming peace and love that they feel for the change He has made in their life? Yes, there most certainly was/is such a man. He name is Jesus Christ, and He is much more than just a mere man which is why He has such a strong effect on people. He is the wonderful and amazing Son of God. People either love Him or hate Him. Those that are undecided about Him are either hiding from Him or don't wish to answer the question we must all answer at some point in our life - Will you choose to follow Him or not?

We all know that life tends to get in the way of our best laid plans. One way or another one or a series of events can change our life forever for good or for bad. We can't control those events for the most part, but we can control our reactions to those events. We can choose to allow them to take over our lives and affect our jobs, our family life, and our relationship with Jesus in a negative or a positive way. They can bring us closer to Jesus by relying on Him each day to get us through this trying time, or they can drive us further and further away by believing the lie that God doesn't love us and can't help because He has allowed this to happen to us. What we all need to realize is that we live in a world full of sin, and as a result of the fallen world we live in, our lives are inevitable going to be touched and saturated by the sin swirling around us each day. In the midst of our pain and suffering, we need to choose to see Jesus and allow His love and His grace to envelop us and guide us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

This premise is what drives this elegantly insightful story from start to finish. This is much more than a story of intrigue and suspense. It is a story that lays bare the complexities of dealing with the stark differences and historical atrocities between two of the world's most prominent religions. This is a multifaceted look at how our varying reactions to this sinful world can impact the lives of those around us. After reading this book, no one can comfortably continue lying to themselves that how I choose to live my life doesn't impact anyone but me. This story will rip open your heart and lay out your intentions for both you and Jesus to see and begin to change.

They Shall See God is a heart-wrenchingly, stirring piece of fiction that everyone who is serious about their spiritual growth unequivocally needs to read. The application of this story is essential to all who desire to allow Jesus to transform their heart and soul in order to shine the light of Jesus onto this dark world that is crying out to Him for love and grace. If only more people would long to allow God's love and grace to seep into their heart and replace their hatred for soul-drenching love and their confusion for unimaginable peace. How much better would our world be if more people like this were walking among us making life a little better one loving act at a time? Will you be one of them? Will you dare to make such a change in your heart and your life? Will you have the courage to open this book and continue reading until the end?

I recommend this book to everyone who has reached a stale point in their walk with the Lord. This book will shake you awake and scream its excruciating message into your slumbering heart. It will force you to take a good long look at where you are in your walk with God and where you know you should be/want to be. It will be the cold shower that your journey with Christ needs to breathe life back into your relationship with Him and help you to dig even deeper to continue to clean out the old cobwebs in those hidden parts of your heart. It will help to refuel the dying flame in your soul that has been waning for years now and help to keep it burning bright. You will begin to see people around you in a different light. You will see them for the wandering lost souls that they are and hopefully will encourage you to reach out to them in love. Sharing God's love is never a bad thing - it will always produce a fruitful harvest in time.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book is a review of the 2012 version.

When Katy O’Connor and Ruth Gold were five years old, they were the best of friends, despite the fact that Katy was Christian and Ruth was Jewish. They spent many days together going to the Jewish Community Center to swim.

On one particular outing, the girls were in the locker room when they heard a horrifying scream. Terrified, they both went together to investigate the situation. It appeared that Nan Smith, a Christian woman, had been murdered by a Jewish man, Solomon Cantor. The girl’s testimony helped to seal Solomon’s sentence to twenty-five years in prison. Unbeknownst to Ruth, Katy’s parents ended their friendship because of the growing animosity between Christians and Jews over this murder.

Upon Solomon’s release from prison, killings of several Jewish members from Rabbi Ruth Gold’s Temple congregation began, with Ruth trying to convince Lieutenant Lincoln Washington that they were related to Nan Smith’s murder twenty-five years ago. Because the MO’s were so different, he was unconvinced. When one of the cases involved Kate (O’Connor) Flint, for reasons unknown to Kate, Ruth Gold was bitter and antagonistic with her, which set for a difficult reunion and subsequent cooperation when they decided the murders were somehow linked to the witnesses at Nan Smith’s murder trial. To help solve the murders, they must learn to lay down their differences.

The author’s multiple twists and plots upped the ante with each significant scenario. Whether a murder or a weird episode, the suspense never ended. Though you think you know the perpetrator, you are thrown off with another character thrown into the mix. They mystery of who is behind everything and why is always in the back of your mind as you sift through the evidence.

The characters fit the mold of the story impeccably, making the story realistic. I found myself relating to several of them, especially when the tension between the Jews and Christians explodes. Ruth and Kate are the obvious main characters, but it’s the divisive Orvis Newton, the sneaky Jake Singer, and the thorough Lincoln Washington that keeps the story moving along, sometimes with great surprise.

You will learn some very interesting history between the Jews and Christians, some of which may shock you. But it will give you a greater understanding of the animosity that grows throughout the story. The author did a magnificent job of mediating the scenarios through his characters. Never a dull moment! And wait till you catch the ending! Did not see it coming!

For a great mystery with unusual circumstances, balanced with the Jewish/Christian animosity, They Shall See God is definitely a book I’d recommend!

Though the book is fiction, the cemetery in New Orleans that the book was based on is real–Cemetery Dispersed of Judah. It’s one of the graves in the Jewish cemetery has the inscription, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” a verse spoken by Jesus from the New Testament.

This eBook was provided by the author in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was received.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Athol Dickson in his new book, “They Shall See God” published by Author Author brings us into the lives of Ruth and Katy.

Little Katie was a Christian. Her very best friend Ruth was a Jew. The girls’ eyewitness testimony sent a bad man to Louisiana’s infamous Angola prison. 25 years later, Ruth has become an embittered Rabbi, Kate is a lonely widow, the bad man is out, and people are dying in the strangest of ways.

Torn apart in childhood by animosities beyond their understanding, Kate and Ruth can no longer elude the past’s unfinished business. To survive, these very different women must reach out to each other in spite of the mayhem and mistrust that shrouds one vital truth: sometimes the most dangerous of enemies crouches just inside the human heart.

Before Athol Dickson became a master storyteller he was a master architect. It takes great creativity, imagination and “smarts” to design a building that will fit within the specified acreage and have all the required components and still be spectacularly beautiful. Now that Mr. Dickson tells stories he utilizes all the skills he developed in building buildings to build stories for us.

When Athol Dickson tells a story he builds it like an architect, start with the foundation and then each floor goes up methodically after the previous floor has been built. Reading “They Shall See God” is a lot like being thirty-five stories in the air, walking on nothing but a steel girder just wide enough for your foot; no walls, no floors, nothing but air. Very terrifying but it leaves you with a deep sense of fulfillment when you are done. Mr. Dickson has provided us with another winner with a twenty-five year old murder that had been witnessed by two young girls. Now the murderer is free, new murders are happening and the two women must join forces to find out what is really happening before they become the next victims. “They Shall See God” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. When you finish this book you will heave a hugely satisfying sigh because you have enjoyed yourself immensely. But “”They Shall See God”" also has beautiful themes such as the past catching up to you, unresolved trauma and friendship. I liked this book and recommend it highly!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. 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.”

[Cathy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two best friends in the rosy-cheeked bloom of childhood skip through life sharing deep secrets, innocent dreams and little girl giggles...until they are thrust head-long into a generations-old hatred they are too young to know exists. They are torn from each other's lives just when they need one another the most. When tragedy reunites them years later, the two women, now virtual strangers, discover the reason their parents tore them apart.

And now the opinions, beliefs, and biases that caused their parents' heart-wrenching decision have become their own.

Athol Dickson surprised me with They Shall See God. His previous novels, though set in the real world, have held a somehow “mystical” aura for me. However, in his newest novel, They Shall See God, what impacted me was reality of what I was reading. I had no idea that, in today's America – a nation founded on religious freedom -- some Christians have such intense prejudice against the Jewish nation, or that some Jews despise to the core the very thought of Christianity.

This novel is packed with action, suspense, and nail-biting angst. It's also full of truth--as viewed through a prism of tradition, religion, and culture. Despite the fact that I really didn't like either character, I kept rooting for both. I wanted them to see the truth the way I know it.

And that, I think, might be the point. All of us see God through prisms, or at the most, a dark glass.

They Shall See God is a must read in this day and age of our nation's rising fear of an “infidel” enemy attacking from without. The enemy we battle can strike from within our very hearts.


I was provided with a free copy of They Shall See God in exchange for my honest review.

[Marion Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mentioned in a previous review of an Athol Dickson novel that he was becoming one of my favorite writers. Dickson’s ability to write suspenseful Christian fiction with literary quality merits wider recognition outside of the genre.

They Shall See God tells the story of two women, Ruth Gold and Kate Flint, who were best friends as kids growing up in New Orleans. They witnessed as children a murder to a high-profile Christian woman in their community. The fallout of that murder trial ruined their friendship. However, the man convicted for that murder has been released from jail after serving his sentence. His return to the community has reunited both women as a new threat to them emerges.

Meanwhile, Ruth Gold has become a rabbi of a local temple and Kate Flint a small business owner and mother of two. The differences based on their faiths, Ruth as Jewish and Kate as a Christian, creates more conflict as they try to rekindle their friendship.

Dickson creates the right of suspense and tension to keep the pages turning and does an excellent job with the characterization of both women. Also, he gives great insight into a schism with interfaith relations that ranged true to this reader. As the story closes, Dickson reveals a bigger message that both women had to learn by going through their ordeal.

They Shall See God is a solid, thought-provoking novel about female friendship, interfaith relations, and the power of love overcoming all obstacles. Dickson has written another winner and I will continue to promote that he deserves to be read by a wider audience outside of the Christian fiction genre. It is one of my favorite reads of 2016 and highly recommended.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The ending was a bit predictable but it had sort of a comic justice to it, so I didn't mind too much.

This is a story of 2 women, one Jewish, one Christian, who were best friends as children. They witness a murder, or the moments right after the murder, and have to testify in court. The murderer is sent to prison. The story really starts 25 years later when the murderer is released from prison. At this point the two childhood friends no longer speak to each other. This is due in part to long-standing animosity and fear between Jews and Christians, and in part to their parents decision to keep them apart in relation to the murder and the "trauma" it might cause, only really, it's about their own fear, not the kids. Whatever... moving on... read the book, it will make more sense ;)

Anyway, the murderer is released from prison and within days people who were witnesses in the murder trial start turning up dead. The two women are sort of forced by circumstance to reconnect and their relationship is rocky and angry to say the least.

The story unfolds pretty well, and there are lots of plot twists so I don't want to say a whole lot but if you like serial killer, suspense, and an underlying message of "why can't we all just get along" you're going to enjoy this book.

Just an aside: no swearing, no gratuitous descriptions of gore and guts and no random sex thrown in just to sell the book. Imagine that! And yes, it's still suspenseful and engaging! Say what??!! Yup, no lie.

[Pam Funke · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Warning!! Severe hatred toward Christians inside."The book's description should hold this disclaimer. I'm not even sure how the author is able to get away with calling this a Christian fiction novel ~ there's nothing Christian about it! In the very first chapter hatred for Christians is quite evident. At first, I thought maybe it was just to help set the tone between several characters, but later I'm not so sure. It seemed more apparent that this is the author's feelings and less of the characters. Normally it only takes me a couple of days to finish a book, but this one took me almost two months to finish. It was hard to ignore all the hatred, the grammatical errors, misspelled words, wrong usage of words. The sad thing about this whole thing is the story itself could actually be good if the author toned it down some. He could still get the point across without instilling so much ugliness. I bought this book because it was supposedly a Christian novel and a thriller to boot. I am severely disappointed and will not be purchasing anything else from this author.

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Katy and Ruth are childhood friends that witness a terrible event at Ruth's Jewish community service swimming center. After the tragedy, Ruth's parents decide that Katy is no longer a suitable friend for Ruth because of her Christian faith. Fast forward to present day, where Ruth and Katy are unwillingly reunited after learning that the man they thought would be in jail for life is suddenly released from jail. Immediately after his release, a series of strange incidents and murders start to take place amongst Ruth's Jewish community. Ruth and Katy begin working together to try and solve the mystery, but they are confronted by obstacles concerning their faiths at almost every turn.

The author does a terrific job of highlighting the history between Jewish and Christian faiths. While this topic greatly interests me, the story itself didn't. Nevertheless, props to the author for his solid writing and meticulous research.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished "They Shall See God" by Athol Dickson. I give it 4 stars. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because some of the language (just a little) was hard to understand because it is about the Jewish religion. No this book isn't about the religion per se. This book is about two friends, (children one is Jewish and one is Christian and they witness a murder and then they cannot be friends anymore. But then the man accused of the murder is released from prison and strange deaths starts happening all over town. There are even lions, tigers and bears (oh my) and other animals let loose on the town. So in order to stop even more murders Ruth and Katy come together to help put Solomon back in jail where he belongs, or does he really belong there? This book has alot of surprises and twists to keep you reading till the end! Can't wait to read the other 3 books I have by him.

[Kristina Seleshanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I read and really enjoyed Athol Dickson's "The Gospel According to Moses," so when I ran across this novel, I had to pick it up when I saw it as a Kindle freebie (apparently recently updated by the author). I'm glad I did.

The novel is a murder mystery/suspense with a more literary undertone about relations between
Christians and Jews. I enjoyed how the author helped me understand why Jews might be wary of Christians (and vice versa), as well as his insights into people who believe in Christ, but don't let him affect their lives. But I didn't feel the book was preachy, and the plot moved along quickly. I even had to stay up late to finish it.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was truly moving and gripped my attention and curiosity throughout. It gave me a better understanding of the religous conflicts between the Christian and Jewish faiths; how stubborness, hostility, and anger could be overcome in the midst of trials and persecution. The transformation of each character beautifully unfolds, as some move closer (and one moves further) from the God they love. Jesus' words in Matthew 5:8 ring true thoughout Dickson's pages: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Yes, blessed indeed.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning starts a little confusedly, but that's because there's so many people's lives intwined with the story that it takes a bit to sink it in. Once that's overcome though, this is a good read. The two main characters of the book are a little annoying: Ruth is too confrontational, and Kate is too passive; but as the story progresses it comes to light why they are that way. I particularly like the ending chapter, the "they shall see God" scene where just that phrase itself really hits home.

[RaeAnn Mock · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure of what to think as there were numerous plots you had to be able to follow. But boy did this one progress quickly. And just when you have the ending figured out... The book shows how complicated relationships can be. Especially when mistrust relating to differences in faith are allowed to continue without a dialogue (in this case Judaism vs. Christianity). A definate must read!

[Diane Aldinger-samson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Jewish and Christian cultures and how they can oppose each other. The first 10 chapters were a bit difficult to get through as there were so many characters and trying to understand each of their significance to the storyline. Once I plowed through that I really enjoyed the story and suspense. The ending was good too as it didn't end in Christian cliches as so many Christian books tend towards.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought when I first started to read this book that it was going to be boring. WOW was I ever wrong! Great book, exciting storyline, and very mysterious! I would love to read something elese by this author.

[Diana Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this books, it is a book you need to read from cover to cover to understand the chain of events that took place. This was my first book by Athol Dickson and I can't wait to read his other books.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, the beginning of the book moved rather slowly but once I got into the heat of what was going on I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. It is suspenseful and will keep you guessing. Great read!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea and story line but thought it dragged at times and was somewhat difficult to get through. Author definitely needs a proofreader!