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Incarnate
"A thriller, driving right through this life and into the next, Incarnate wraps past and present into a ride that had me from page 1. Incarnate is a take on reincarnation that's both wholly original and deeply terrifying!" — Josh Conviser, author of Echelon
Two men, born decades apart, are caught up in a complex web of reincarnation and murder. Chicagoan Vic learns his fiancée is being stalked — just as his last wife was, before she was killed. And Los Angeleno Guy begins having dreams of a 19th century murder in Ireland — dreams he's convinced are from his own past life — in which he was the killer.
Guy also learns he has a brain tumor, which his doctors tell him is the cause of these delusions. But he believes the tumor is the karmic result of his past-life murders, and if he can only find out what it was he did back then, and to whom, he can atone —and maybe the tumor will go away.
What ensues are the parallel stories of these two men — Guy hunting down clues to his past life in an old Irish manor, where a young bride is living with a man whose ancient family portraits look strikingly like the murderer in Guy’s dreams; and Vic, trying to catch the man who’s stalking his fiancée before she gets killed, like his first wife.
How these seemingly unrelated dramas connect leads to the shocking surprise that turns everything on its head — and may stop a series of murders, if those involved can just unravel the true meaning of the dreams, and the reincarnative labyrinth that binds them all.
"Incarnate is a mesmerizing journey across oceans and lifetimes exploring the most heinous crimes of the heart and that even greater mystery of who we are. It is a kaleidoscope of clever storytelling, an amazingly addictive novel that refuses to be put aside." — Monte Schulz, author of Naughty and The Big Town
"I haven't seen twists like this in a reincarnation thriller before. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the payoffs were both dark and unexpected." — Marc Scott Zicree, author of The Twilight Zone Companion
Two men, born decades apart, are caught up in a complex web of reincarnation and murder. Chicagoan Vic learns his fiancée is being stalked — just as his last wife was, before she was killed. And Los Angeleno Guy begins having dreams of a 19th century murder in Ireland — dreams he's convinced are from his own past life — in which he was the killer.
Guy also learns he has a brain tumor, which his doctors tell him is the cause of these delusions. But he believes the tumor is the karmic result of his past-life murders, and if he can only find out what it was he did back then, and to whom, he can atone —and maybe the tumor will go away.
What ensues are the parallel stories of these two men — Guy hunting down clues to his past life in an old Irish manor, where a young bride is living with a man whose ancient family portraits look strikingly like the murderer in Guy’s dreams; and Vic, trying to catch the man who’s stalking his fiancée before she gets killed, like his first wife.
How these seemingly unrelated dramas connect leads to the shocking surprise that turns everything on its head — and may stop a series of murders, if those involved can just unravel the true meaning of the dreams, and the reincarnative labyrinth that binds them all.
"Incarnate is a mesmerizing journey across oceans and lifetimes exploring the most heinous crimes of the heart and that even greater mystery of who we are. It is a kaleidoscope of clever storytelling, an amazingly addictive novel that refuses to be put aside." — Monte Schulz, author of Naughty and The Big Town
"I haven't seen twists like this in a reincarnation thriller before. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the payoffs were both dark and unexpected." — Marc Scott Zicree, author of The Twilight Zone Companion
ebook
First published July 8, 2014
29 people want to read
About the author
James Kahn
49 books115 followersJames Kahn is an ER doctor, novelist, TV writer-producer, and singer-songwriter. In addition to many original novels (including the sci-fi trilogy World Enough and Time, Time’s Dark Laughter, and Timefall) he authored the novelizations of Return of the Jedi, Poltergeist, The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
His television credits span the genres, from St. Elsewhere, to William Shatner’s TekWar, to Xena: Warrior Princess. He was a Supervising Producer on Star Trek: Voyager, Co-Executive Producer on Melrose Place, Emmy-nominated for his work on All My Children, medical advisor on Spielberg’s ET: The Extraterrestrial; and produced the feature film The Bet, which won Best Feature at the LA Femme Film Festival, 2013.
He’s previously released four Americana music CDs, including Waterline, The 12th Elf, Man Walks Into A Bar, and The Meaning of Life. Matamoros is the first simultaneous novel and CD release, and his first foray into deeply researched historical fiction.
His television credits span the genres, from St. Elsewhere, to William Shatner’s TekWar, to Xena: Warrior Princess. He was a Supervising Producer on Star Trek: Voyager, Co-Executive Producer on Melrose Place, Emmy-nominated for his work on All My Children, medical advisor on Spielberg’s ET: The Extraterrestrial; and produced the feature film The Bet, which won Best Feature at the LA Femme Film Festival, 2013.
He’s previously released four Americana music CDs, including Waterline, The 12th Elf, Man Walks Into A Bar, and The Meaning of Life. Matamoros is the first simultaneous novel and CD release, and his first foray into deeply researched historical fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 4, 2016
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Vic, from Chicago, learns that his fiancée is being stalked. This is uncomfortable especially because his late wife had also been stalked before being killed.
Guy, from Los Angeles, is having dreams of a murder in 19th century Ireland. Guy learns that he has a brain tumor, which he's told is causing the hallucinations. Guy believes, however, that the dreams are his memory of a past life and he's certain if he can understand who he killed, he can overcome his tumor.
Two stories, thousands of miles and decades ... and a century ... apart, with two men hunting down what haunts them, with reincarnation a theme that binds them together.
Author James Kahn really challenged himself with a story this wildly diverse and intricate. Unfortunately, he also challenges the reader by not being particularly clear, especially early on, with where the story is. Some mystery is good. Even some confusion, allowing (or forcing) the reader to work hard) can be good. But it needs to be handled deftly, leading the reader forward. A trail of bread crumbs leads forward. Tossing the breadcrumbs to the wind leads nowhere. To often this felt simply tossed out.
There were moments that the writing was really engaging and engrossing and I couldn't wait to read on. But there were also moments that made no sense (to this reader) and I would backtrack to try to see what I missed. Backtracking is rarely good.
I typically like a crazy, wild ride, but I never felt that I was strapped in here. The payoff was only mildly worthwhile.
Looking for a good book? Incarnate, by James Kahn, is ambitious, and there are moments when the writing is strong and encouraging but overall the story just doesn't flow.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Vic, from Chicago, learns that his fiancée is being stalked. This is uncomfortable especially because his late wife had also been stalked before being killed.
Guy, from Los Angeles, is having dreams of a murder in 19th century Ireland. Guy learns that he has a brain tumor, which he's told is causing the hallucinations. Guy believes, however, that the dreams are his memory of a past life and he's certain if he can understand who he killed, he can overcome his tumor.
Two stories, thousands of miles and decades ... and a century ... apart, with two men hunting down what haunts them, with reincarnation a theme that binds them together.
Author James Kahn really challenged himself with a story this wildly diverse and intricate. Unfortunately, he also challenges the reader by not being particularly clear, especially early on, with where the story is. Some mystery is good. Even some confusion, allowing (or forcing) the reader to work hard) can be good. But it needs to be handled deftly, leading the reader forward. A trail of bread crumbs leads forward. Tossing the breadcrumbs to the wind leads nowhere. To often this felt simply tossed out.
There were moments that the writing was really engaging and engrossing and I couldn't wait to read on. But there were also moments that made no sense (to this reader) and I would backtrack to try to see what I missed. Backtracking is rarely good.
I typically like a crazy, wild ride, but I never felt that I was strapped in here. The payoff was only mildly worthwhile.
Looking for a good book? Incarnate, by James Kahn, is ambitious, and there are moments when the writing is strong and encouraging but overall the story just doesn't flow.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2014
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Originally published at West Coast Book Reviews
I don't know how to describe this book without using words you see printed on the front of all thrillers; gripping, action packed, intense. Somehow simply using words like that after seeing them so many times feels like taking the easy way out in spite of the fact those words accurately describe Incarnate.
I requested this upon seeing the word reincarnation, a favourite of mine, and loved how the plot twisted it about. Reincarnation was there, but it wasn’t a book about reincarnation. Just like it had the theatre without being about the theatre and plenty of great medical detail without being a medical thriller. The characters were well placed in the story, each strong and relatable. Whether I felt they were good or bad, they earned those feelings from me.
Kahn lures you in, as I’ve found in his other works as well, so deeply that when the plot releases a big moment your senses are wide open. So many big revelations, ‘bad things’ and oh my God surprises gave me cause to flinch inside and reread the passage to relive the moment again.
Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to experience this book.
Originally published at West Coast Book Reviews
I don't know how to describe this book without using words you see printed on the front of all thrillers; gripping, action packed, intense. Somehow simply using words like that after seeing them so many times feels like taking the easy way out in spite of the fact those words accurately describe Incarnate.
I requested this upon seeing the word reincarnation, a favourite of mine, and loved how the plot twisted it about. Reincarnation was there, but it wasn’t a book about reincarnation. Just like it had the theatre without being about the theatre and plenty of great medical detail without being a medical thriller. The characters were well placed in the story, each strong and relatable. Whether I felt they were good or bad, they earned those feelings from me.
Kahn lures you in, as I’ve found in his other works as well, so deeply that when the plot releases a big moment your senses are wide open. So many big revelations, ‘bad things’ and oh my God surprises gave me cause to flinch inside and reread the passage to relive the moment again.
Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to experience this book.
November 6, 2014
This book is definitely one to read if you like suspense and/or thrillers. I have to admit though that there were times in the beginning time periods were not clearly defined at the beginning of the book and there was a lot of medical terminology used. Overall, once the characters and time periods were clearly defined it was solid read and the twists and turns were riveting.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review thanks to NetGalley.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review thanks to NetGalley.
September 15, 2014
Video review coming soon but the ending pushed it up from 4 stars to 5!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews