The Message? A thinking thriller about change and choice

by Avam Hale

If there is a god, and he or she wanted to deliver an important message to the world, Leah Wagner would seem a peculiar choice of messenger. A middle-aged widow and mother of two, Leah is not religious and doesn't attend church. Her life is patently uneventful.

God speaks in mysterious ways, however. Or so Leah claims upon emerging from a coma after a devastating car accident nearly kills her. The message is simple: "God loves us and wants us to love each other in the same way. God wants us to embrace humility and selflessness instead of acquisition and achievement."

The fallout from the message is much more complex. Leah's world turns upside down as she evaluates the validity of her own claim and her responsibility to be the messenger to a world ruled by people more interested in power than belief.

An intriguing, intelligent exploration of doubt, belief, and the human tendency toward precognitive conclusion in the face of evidence, "The Message?" is perfect for those who want to be both entertained and challenged by the books they read.

Unknown Binding

First published September 25, 2014

About the author

My actual name is Gary Moreau. I wrote two books using the pen name, Avam Hale, because I was in a high visibility position working for a multi-national company at the time and didn't want my writing to cause any headaches for my employer. An abundance of caution, for sure, since my writing is not generally considered controversial.

Avam Hale is an anagram of the names of my two daughters, Leah and Ava.

I am currently publishing my 8th book and now use my real name on all of my work.

Reviews

[Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leah wakes up from a coma after a bad car accident. She had broken bones, bruises, etc. She was in real bad shape.
She was in this coma for three weeks.
Miraculously, she wakes up perfectly healthy. She says she was with God and he left her with a message to give to the world.

This really was a thinking read. Especially during this Professor Bradshaw's classes.
Near the end, this "relationship" between Leah and Dr. Marcus seemed forced and lacked romantic chemistry.

I thought she had more chemistry with a security guard.
When the twist was revealed, it was confusing and unnecessary.

[Gary Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author (Gary Moreau) and wrote this book under the pen name of Avam Hale (an anagram made up of the names of my two daughters, Leah and Ava) because I was working for a well known corporation at the time. And while this book has nothing to do with my employer, I wanted to avoid tarnishing its name if it turned out to be a hater's all star.

I have written 8 books to date and this is my favorite. I wrote it after seeing the reaction to Dan Brown's delightful book, The DaVinci Code. Dan told a great story but I was surprised how many people were willing to project the "corrupt church" subplot into reality, even despite Dan's insistence that it was just a good story.

That made me think: What if the opposite were true? What if everything we'd been told about religion was accurate? What would it take for us to believe that? And how would we react?

I did not write this as a religious book. The protagonist is decidedly non-religious by design. I wanted to explore two themes through an entertaining and mysterious tale: 1. Why do we believe what we believe? 2. Why is momentum so powerful? (i.e., Why is it so hard to give up existing beliefs?)

If I am a character in the book I am Professor Bradshaw, although I only wear cotton, not polyester.

Don't be afraid of the God angle. There is some romance and even a murder. There is a mother angle--I adored my mother. And there is some of my dry attempt at humor.

This book was originally titled, "Pascal's Wager". I changed the name because it became apparent that a lot of people found my book when they were actually looking for books on mathematics. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a French mathematician and theologian who postulated that it was a better bet to believe in God than not. If you do and it turns out there isn't one you haven't lost much. If you don't and it turns out there is, you're in big trouble.

I hope you enjoy the tale.

[A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I receieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Message tells the fictional story of a woman who experiences a tragic car accident which leaves her in a coma for three weeks. When she suddenly awakes, almost completely healed from both the internal and external trauma, she claims that she was in God's presence and received a message from Him, which she is meant to share with the rest of the world. Her duty to share this message is both a blessing and a curse for her, as she learns the hard way how religion and politics can easily get mixed up.

I have only good things to say about this book. It's intellectual, well-researched, and well-written. Sometimes it was so smart that I felt like it was over my head, but the overall story and the underlying meanings were extremely profound and thought-provoking. I highlighted so many great passages so that I can refer back to them later, if I ever need a motivational pick-me-up.

You can read my official review at onlinebookclub.org:
http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...

[Ann Babenco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting...I took away some knowledge and was forced to battle within myself as to which side of the fence I found myself, my friends, and my family. At times it was a little too political for me...but I did enjoy it none the less. I say it is definately a read for college students who may even learn a thing or two...

[Gill D. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message is about a woman who is hurt by a driver under the influence of alcohol. When she comes out of a coma several weeks later, she is not only healed, but also claims to have been in God’s presence during that time. The woman alleges that God requested that she sends a caring message out to the masses. The story goes on to depict a professor teaching philosophy, however it’s is a little unclear why a number of others are so deeply opposed to the message the woman is trying to spread. While it may be obvious to some that it is due to the conflicts with many religions and atheism, I felt that this part could have been unpacked a little more to strengthen the story line.

The author’s intent was to write a thriller that depicts the unexplained aspects of the current world we find ourselves living in. I feel to that end that Avam Hale has succeeded in this quest. The author’s intelligence shines through as the reader navigates this modern political tale that ends with a thought provoking conclusion. The professor’s character was the most fascinating and his lectures contained the major strength of this work.

The message is likely to both stimulate and encourage much thought and debate about what humanity is really all about and will invoke various thoughts on the validity of philosophy in relation to this. I was intrigued by the premise of ‘the message’ and the difficulties experienced by the main character in order to deliver the message delivered from God.

This novel is clever, timely and and relevant to our contemporary times. The main character Leah Warner would be well placed to act on behalf of the people on the current world stage given we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. The notion behind the book is ultimately to allow the reader to pause and experience ‘food for thought.’ I strongly sensed that the take home message here is centred on finding world peace in the forms of faith, philophosy and believing in the power of good.


The book carries a powerful message, regardless of the morals and values of each reader. At the very least, it will strike a chord in the hearts of many and with that said, the author’s job is done here, regardless of whether the message resonates with you or not. I became invested in the characters, who were varied in their viewpoints and lens on life. This thriller by Avam Hale has succeeded in bringing faith and beliefs to the forefront. This book would be a great one for discussion at a book club where the partcipants are open minded and enjoy themes of philophosy. I believe that the topics contained in this book could be discussed for many hours with varying interesting takes on its meaning and validity. Bravo to Avam Hale for thinking outside the square and coming up with a unique tale such as this one.

This was a free copy for an honest review which can also be found at https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book whose cover caught my attention more than anything and I was slightly intrigued by the summary of it. A book that wasn't only suppose to be a fictional read but one that also explored philosophy at the same time.

Unfortunately I found this book an even more hard read than what would have been suggested. The book did a great job in introducing the reader right away to a questionable situation and giving alternative choices to the reader but at the same time it also led the reader to part of a minor climax so everything else that followed after it just seemed to be riding out the wave and even though there is another climax at the end it didn't seem as big as the first one.

Another thing that I found with this book is the fact that it was told from multiple points-of-view. The author did a great job in exploring his fictional world from his many characters and making strong episodes from each but since he also did the philosophy in a more or less class background away from the actual story it didn't seem to blend as well. As a result at most times it was basically a fictional story with questionable motives of some of the secondary characters with philosophical interludes added.

One last thing that kind of bothered me with the book was the fact that the author used at times way too many details in his writing. There are times for such details but needing to know who the benefactor was for a named classroom and why when it doesn't pertain to the story really just irked me.

All in all it was a decent story when taken as a whole but nothing to replace a full in-depth search of philosophy for those who are interested in the subject.

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

[Katie Rufo Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author Avam Hale real name is Gary Moreau. Avam Hale is an anagram of the names of his two daughters, Leah and Ava. I really enjoyed this novel since it is so different from others in its class. This novel takes a look at the social, economic, political impact of Leah's message from God. In most of the novels I have read about messages from God/the great beyond/etc...seem to focus on the person who was able to meet with God and not what happens in the world around them. I enjoyed how we were able to jump from seeing what was going on with Leah to the classroom of Professor Bradshaw. Hale does not waste any time developing noninfluential characters but is able to paint the picture of being in a classroom and educate the reader on different theories, phenomenon, religions, and world views. I appreciate the language that Hale uses and Hale's ability to tell a story and not get lost in too many details. Hale is able to educate readers and have them thinking about his work long after the reader finishes the book.

[Emma Bond · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was described as 'a thinking thriller', but I found it unrealistic verging on the unbelievable and difficult to read, so I often 'skipped ahead'. Whilst I like the idea of the world learning to 'be nice to each other' and rely less on 'accumulating stuff' - I find it very hard to believe that a person waking from a coma providing such a peaceful 'message from god' would incite riots, mayhem and murder. I also balked at the hypocrisy with the 'messenger' having millions of dollars thrown their way, after sending the message of 'living with less.....'

[Alice Langholt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful and timely

The world needs a miracle and a message of hope, but is it ready for it? Leah's story will make you think, learn, and imagine what would happen if this was real. So much to see here about faith, power, and philosophy. Worth reading and discussing in depth.

[Jewell C. Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off really great, and I was excited about reading it. Somewhere along the way it got bogged down. It moved too slowly for me and I thought the ending to be totally unrealistic.

[Lynn McClelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever and Relevant

Our nation could benefit from someone like Leah Warner, the main character, in this trifling year of 'pandemic and politics'.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Message? A thinking Thriller about Change and Choice", written by Avam Hale, is a fascinating story about a young widow injured horribly in a head-on collision. In a coma, Leah Wagner is on life support, and there does not seem to be much hope of her survival. After weeks in a coma, her life support alarms sound, sending nurses scrambling. Upon reaching her room, they found her sitting on the side of the bed, praying. She had removed the respirator, IVs herself. Most of her facial cuts and bruises are miraculously healed. Leah tells them that she has been with God, and He has given her a message to tell the world. Will anyone believe her? Who, if anyone, can she trust anyone?

This is a page-turner, and as the sub-title suggests, "a thinking thriller about change and choice."

I was given a copy of this book by its author, for my honest review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Message? is a hard thinking book. Makes you wonder what you would do in Leah Wagner's place, she is a widow with 2 young boys.

She is in a car accident, her body is broken in several places, she is in a coma. Then 3 weeks later, she mysteriously wakes up & is healed. Its a miracle. BUT, what she claims is even more of a miracle. She says when she was in the coma that GOD spoke to her. Telling her to tell everyone to love one another--live with less and do more to help one another.

What she doesn't know is that she's "opened a can of worms". Some people love her, some hate her, some try to kill her. Political parties are trying to sway her to one side or another--but she declares "I'm not attatched to anything political--I just have a message that GoD wants me to give out".

She finds love and friendship. Its a great book. Check it out.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a first read. The writing is crisp and clean. The thoughts are well elucidated. The dialogue is logical and realistic. The book provides interesting religious, medical, psychological, and philosophical viewpoints on being a messenger of God and holding religious convictions. It also delves into how simple religious ideas are easily perverted and inspire fanaticism. It provokes thought and asks readers to ask themselves how they know what they know and if they can ever truly be sure of anything. It also poses the standard religious questions of God's motives and intentions and what God knows or plans. The book wasn't preachy which was nice and provides some nice balanced views from both the religious and scientific sides of thought. This would be a nice choice for a Christian book club or a philosophy student.

[Bob Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah Warner miraculously heals after being badly hurt in an auto accident, and has a message to share with the world. The philosophy of God's existence is addressed in a unique way. Avan Hale was either a philosophy major or he did an amazing job of research in writing this book. I always enjoy when I learn something from a fiction novel and I did with this book. That being said I thought the pace of the thriller was slow. I felt bad for Leah as the book progressed but I didn't feel much for the other characters. For those reasons I didn't give it five stars. However, I think we can all learn a little from reading this book and I would recommend to anyone that wonders about the existence of God.

[Julie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received The Message?, by author Avam Hale through Library thing. I don't think the description of "thriller" is appropriate for this book. That description is very misleading. There is no big mystery or any type of thrill to this story.

This is a very good read and quite interesting. I enjoyed this book and was able to sink into it immediately. The message is simple, Love each other as God loves you and stop putting material things above that love.

The characters are well rounded and interesting. This is a page turner, but not because it has exciting thrills. Sometimes a simple message can be more complex than a murder mystery and this book is just that.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little different from what I normally read. I wanted to try something new and I enjoyed this book. This book has a good message. I enjoyed the story and the message the book is sending out. I try to live by treating people the way I want to be treated and it is not easy to live by in the world today. I think more people need some of this ideas and the think more people need to live the way this book talks about living. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read that won't take days to finish. The writing is well thought through with no complex wording or ideas so it's a good fit for all ages and levels of readers. It's a straightforward idea and message fit into a plot that weaves a few threads of suspense and excitement, but only a hint of that genre. Overall it's well written and enjoyable to read in a single sitting. I received an ARC through the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.

[Levi Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I love this book!! What a beautiful message, regardless of what you believe. Both ethereal and philisophical and deftly striking the heart of the issues in our society today. Great characters, both the affable and the cynical. Bravo Mr. Hale, I read this on a Kindle but it has earned a place in my heart, and on my shelf as a hardcover should it ever be printed that way."

[Linda Stopani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message is God love us and wants us to love each other selflessly. Hale has written a novel that really makes you stop and think. It is a well-written and intriging novel, although I don't think I would have called it a thriller. I quite enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. This would make a good read and discussion for a Book Club!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really quick read. Enjoyable. Loved the deep thoughts provoked. Definitely a good book.