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Average Joe
Sometimes in life, people are given a rare gift—a gift of foresight, of premonition—a sixth sense that goes far beyond what we can feel, touch, see, or smell. In some cases, these individuals are born with their abilities; they grow up with it, nurture it, it’s a part of them and they know no difference. However, in some cases, such as with private investigator Joseph Beck, these gifts are bestowed unexpectedly—and the results are such that those gifts are misconstrued as curses.
A haunting memory of childhood tragedy plagues Joe’s sleep, and with every waking moment, his curse, his ability to see into the spirit realm, threatens to rear its ugly head.
To compound his mental anguish, Joe finds himself as the target of a serial killer with a personal vendetta. Now, forced to face more than just his own internal demons, Joe sets out on an investigation with the local police to find the serial killer before everything Joe loves is destroyed.
Forced to face his darkest fears, Joe confides in a local pastor to help him come to terms with his abilities as his search for the killer brings him closer and closer to his own spiritual awakening—an enlightening that helps him realize his supposed curse is, in fact, a gift from God.
Average Joe, a thrilling roller coaster ride of suspense, is the debut novel by Christopher J. Thomasson. Played out in the mid-sized city of Roseland, Texas, Average Joe delivers colorful characters, a twisting turning plot, and a breathtaking ending that will leave readers wanting more.
A haunting memory of childhood tragedy plagues Joe’s sleep, and with every waking moment, his curse, his ability to see into the spirit realm, threatens to rear its ugly head.
To compound his mental anguish, Joe finds himself as the target of a serial killer with a personal vendetta. Now, forced to face more than just his own internal demons, Joe sets out on an investigation with the local police to find the serial killer before everything Joe loves is destroyed.
Forced to face his darkest fears, Joe confides in a local pastor to help him come to terms with his abilities as his search for the killer brings him closer and closer to his own spiritual awakening—an enlightening that helps him realize his supposed curse is, in fact, a gift from God.
Average Joe, a thrilling roller coaster ride of suspense, is the debut novel by Christopher J. Thomasson. Played out in the mid-sized city of Roseland, Texas, Average Joe delivers colorful characters, a twisting turning plot, and a breathtaking ending that will leave readers wanting more.
448 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2014
1 person is currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Christopher J. Thomasson
11 books16 followersChristopher J. Thomasson was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1972. His family permanently settled in the piney woods of East Texas when he was two years old. He discovered a love for reading and writing at a very young age and until recently, only ever wrote for himself, his family, and his closest friends.
In April 2013, at the age of 40, Christopher suffered a mild heart attack while on the tennis court. Within a couple of days, he was undergoing triple-bypass surgery. Because of his love for tennis and the increased active lifestyle the sport provided, the doctors informed him of a miracle: with the clotting in his veins, his heart created new vessels to transport blood to those areas of the heart that were being depleted...and as a result of those new vessels, his heart had sustained no damage!
As a result of this experience, Christopher realized that he has more to add to this life than merely existing; he has a story to share...a lot of stories to share! He loves the challenge of writing outside just one or two genres. Many of his early short stories and poetry compositions include fantasy, science fiction, romance, and horror. And while those early stories have a secular, mainstream tone, he is enjoying the added challenge of revisiting those stories and adding a faith-based Christian element that will touch, inspire and encourage others.
Christopher lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife Debra. They have two children, Camron and Megan; and four grandchildren, Braydon, Cheyenne, Brookie, and Wyatt Christopher.
In April 2013, at the age of 40, Christopher suffered a mild heart attack while on the tennis court. Within a couple of days, he was undergoing triple-bypass surgery. Because of his love for tennis and the increased active lifestyle the sport provided, the doctors informed him of a miracle: with the clotting in his veins, his heart created new vessels to transport blood to those areas of the heart that were being depleted...and as a result of those new vessels, his heart had sustained no damage!
As a result of this experience, Christopher realized that he has more to add to this life than merely existing; he has a story to share...a lot of stories to share! He loves the challenge of writing outside just one or two genres. Many of his early short stories and poetry compositions include fantasy, science fiction, romance, and horror. And while those early stories have a secular, mainstream tone, he is enjoying the added challenge of revisiting those stories and adding a faith-based Christian element that will touch, inspire and encourage others.
Christopher lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife Debra. They have two children, Camron and Megan; and four grandchildren, Braydon, Cheyenne, Brookie, and Wyatt Christopher.
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November 11, 2014
Joe is a man haunted by his past; a past that holds great power over him. He possesses an unusual gift—he can see into the spirit realm. And so the story unfolds, and we, the reader, learn more about Joe’s fears and trials as he struggles with his ability (or disability, as Joe himself thinks).
This book skillfully combines the literary conflicts of Man vs. Man (the central plot of the novel) and Man vs. Self (Joe’s struggles with his “gift”). The action takes place in East Texas, and the characters and their dialogue feel accurate in their depictions. Their interactions with one another ring true and at times made me laugh out loud. There are hints as to the identity of the antagonist, but the presence of a few red herrings adds interest and allows the suspense to build. The tension is palpable as our villain enacts the vendetta against Joe, causing him to embark on a circuitous journey as he tries to unravel the clues to the killer’s identity. As hard as he tries to avoid it, all paths lead him to the same place and Joe is forced to confront his fears. Ultimately this is a story about good vs. evil, acceptance, and “letting go and letting God.”
This book skillfully combines the literary conflicts of Man vs. Man (the central plot of the novel) and Man vs. Self (Joe’s struggles with his “gift”). The action takes place in East Texas, and the characters and their dialogue feel accurate in their depictions. Their interactions with one another ring true and at times made me laugh out loud. There are hints as to the identity of the antagonist, but the presence of a few red herrings adds interest and allows the suspense to build. The tension is palpable as our villain enacts the vendetta against Joe, causing him to embark on a circuitous journey as he tries to unravel the clues to the killer’s identity. As hard as he tries to avoid it, all paths lead him to the same place and Joe is forced to confront his fears. Ultimately this is a story about good vs. evil, acceptance, and “letting go and letting God.”
Displaying 1 of 1 review