The Lost Prophet

Ramsey #2

by James B. McPike

*PACIFIC BOOK AWARD WINNER - Christian mystery/thriller* After one of the Holy Land’s most sacred monuments is destroyed, the Ministry has to turn to their most prolific investigator to solve the case—Vince Ramsey. He soon discovers that they are facing a graver threat than any of them could’ve imagined. It seems the enemy’s primary objective is to abolish the remains of biblical prophets—and wipe out their very existence from history. With all-out war on the brink in the Middle East, Ramsey must stop the person responsible before he strikes again. Following clues through an ancient landscape rich with peril and religious undertones, he eventually is led to a remote desert inside Jordan where Deuteronomy 34:6 states: “God buried Moses . . . but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day.” Backed by a foreign superpower—the enemy has every intention of uncovering the elusive burial place. But can Ramsey prevent another horrific travesty with worldwide repercussions from happening . . . or will the villain accomplish his final blasphemous act?

Genres: Thriller

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2015

About the author

James McPike's 7th and latest adventure SHIPWRECK ISLAND is here! Based on a real New Zealand shipwreck full of gold treasure that's been lost since the 1800s.

He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and lives near Yosemite where he enjoys the great outdoors. Readers can follow him on X/Twitter @JMcPikeAuthor or reach him at mcpike@gmx.com

Reviews

[Vivian Chen (Vivian's Book Pavilion) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished my first book review request's book!!!!! I'm so excited to write this review...and for a lot of reasons!!! As you m get know, my first reason to start a book blog is to receive free books. (Which...I believe is every bibliophile's dream. In case you don't know--so many books, so little money.) Buy I gradually realize that it's almost impossible...since I live in Taiwan and the delivery expense is extremely expensive. Which...is really really SAD!!!! (NOOO!!! I need more books!!!) Plus, as I officially join the book community, I find out how many booktubers, bookbloggers...are there. And I'm a tiny book blog...who will ever send you a book? However, it slowly becomes an interest to blog about books and all the tags, they're just so much fun!!! Especially when someone is really reading!!!! (Regardless how poor my grammar is...sorry for that...I hope it'll improve someday...since I'm about to study in foreign languages and literature...it something like that.)
So...after about half year? Or more months after half year, I received an email from author James McPikes, an award-winning Christian author, he kindly asked me to write a review for his book, The Lost Prophets. This book belongs to a genre I've never do before…I think? In this blog, I mostly write about YA and fantasy, which I love most and are my favorite genres. But in fact, I also love mystery, history, and some types like those. I especially love books with archeology, with myths and legends, no matter Greek mythology, Egypt mythology, or stories from Bible. They're amazing! Not to mention extremely interesting. And...I've read The Lost Prophets...it's exactly the kind of genre I've want to do for a long time!!! And why didn't I do it? Because those I've read before are in Chinese, and it's hard to write reviews in English when you read in Chinese, this genre, particularly. And now, I received a book!!! Even though it's E-book, I still precious the chance!!! And I'm glad that I read it, because it's wonderful!!!
Well…actually, I’ve never read the first book. But, after reading the second one, I’d like to finish the first one as well. The Lost Prophets is a mix of Sherlock Homes, archeology, and thrilling. You know…died men, lost treasures…oh wait! Not treasure…bones. Ramsey is…oh, never mind, works as investigator. He was appointed to find out the mystery of serval brutal death. And blablabla…too much will reveal spoiler, right? Especially this kind of book. But, the plot twists…they’re definitely WOW. The story keeps twisting, twisting, and twisting. While the heroes might stand on the winning side, the next minutes, BOOM! The villains win. When the secrets are about to reveal…there are gun shots, running, car chasing, rescuing, investigating, oh! And Gods appear in the book as well! I think that is the most interesting thing about the books. If you’ve read my review about Melanie Dickerson’s fairytale retelling before, you’ll know that I’m not a Christen. But, in this book, Ramsey didn’t just fight the battle by himself, nor did the villains. Something…umm…unnatural occurs too. That’s great! Just like reading a more thrilling and mysterious Sherlock Homes. And it makes me want to read Bible more…and I’m about to buy one since my college lesson is going to need one copy. I really like this book, it’s a genre I’ve long forgotten. (Well…one of the reasons is that I can’t recognize some words…and that makes it extra difficult to read…but I’ve survive, and I love it.)
So…what’s now? Ready for the third book and go for the first one! I’m ready to embrace this kind of genre again! Thanks to The Lost Prophets! It reminds me the great type of book I love long ago…before I’ve been so obsess with YA. Of course…I still love YA extremely, but now…new genre is here!

I received the E-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is post originally on Vivian's Book Pavilion

[Vivian Chen (Vivian's Book Pavilion) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished my first book review request's book!!!!! I'm so excited to write this review...and for a lot of reasons!!! As you m get know, my first reason to start a book blog is to receive free books. (Which...I believe is every bibliophile's dream. In case you don't know--so many books, so little money.) Buy I gradually realize that it's almost impossible...since I live in Taiwan and the delivery expense is extremely expensive. Which...is really really SAD!!!! (NOOO!!! I need more books!!!) Plus, as I officially join the book community, I find out how many booktubers, bookbloggers...are there. And I'm a tiny book blog...who will ever send you a book? However, it slowly becomes an interest to blog about books and all the tags, they're just so much fun!!! Especially when someone is really reading!!!! (Regardless how poor my grammar is...sorry for that...I hope it'll improve someday...since I'm about to study in foreign languages and literature...it something like that.)
So...after about half year? Or more months after half year, I received an email from author James McPikes, an award-winning Christian author, he kindly asked me to write a review for his book, The Lost Prophet. This book belongs to a genre I've never do before…I think? In this blog, I mostly write about YA and fantasy, which I love most and are my favorite genres. But in fact, I also love mystery, history, and some types like those. I especially love books with archeology, with myths and legends, no matter Greek mythology, Egypt mythology, or stories from Bible. They're amazing! Not to mention extremely interesting. And...I've read The Lost Prophet...it's exactly the kind of genre I've want to do for a long time!!! And why didn't I do it? Because those I've read before are in Chinese, and it's hard to write reviews in English when you read in Chinese, this genre, particularly. And now, I received a book!!! Even though it's E-book, I still precious the chance!!! And I'm glad that I read it, because it's wonderful!!!
Well…actually, I’ve never read the first book. But, after reading the second one, I’d like to finish the first one as well. The Lost Prophet is a mix of Sherlock Homes, archeology, and thrilling. You know…died men, lost treasures…oh wait! Not treasure…bones. Ramsey is…oh, never mind, works as investigator. He was appointed to find out the mystery of serval brutal death. And blablabla…too much will reveal spoiler, right? Especially this kind of book. But, the plot twists…they’re definitely WOW. The story keeps twisting, twisting, and twisting. While the heroes might stand on the winning side, the next minutes, BOOM! The villains win. When the secrets are about to reveal…there are gun shots, running, car chasing, rescuing, investigating, oh! And Gods appear in the book as well! I think that is the most interesting thing about the books. If you’ve read my review about Melanie Dickerson’s fairytale retelling before, you’ll know that I’m not a Christen. But, in this book, Ramsey didn’t just fight the battle by himself, nor did the villains. Something…umm…unnatural occurs too. That’s great! Just like reading a more thrilling and mysterious Sherlock Homes. And it makes me want to read Bible more…and I’m about to buy one since my college lesson is going to need one copy. I really like this book, it’s a genre I’ve long forgotten. (Well…one of the reasons is that I can’t recognize some words…and that makes it extra difficult to read…but I’ve survive, and I love it.)
So…what’s now? Ready for the third book and go for the first one! I’m ready to embrace this kind of genre again! Thanks to The Lost Prophets! It reminds me the great type of book I love long ago…before I’ve been so obsess with YA. Of course…I still love YA extremely, but now…new genre is here!

I received the E-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is post originally on Vivian's Book Pavilion

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.

The only negatives are that there are two "bad words" in this book. I'm so glad I didn't stop reading after seeing the 2nd one, as there are no more. The only other thing is that the author used a falsehood to explain about a demon toward the end of the book .Being a fiction book, I can overlook that, but I think it would be better if he at least had a footnote that explains that no demon or any other created being can "hide" or lose himself from God. While an angel says it hid from him, not God, God is the one who tells the angels what to do. While I'm very aware we shouldn't get our theology from any where other than the Bible, sadly many people do.

Positively, it's a good Christian book that grabs your attention at the start and doesn't let go. It has a little of everything - mystery, suspense, and romance. Although it's part of a series, it's fine to read on it's own, and it doesn't leave you with unanswered questions. It's not a cliffhanger.

I have to ask a question and don't know where else to do it. Why do people who are reviewing books tell what the story is all about? (sometimes even to the point of spoiling it). Anyone can read what it's about on the page it's listed for sale on, so why repeat it?

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting tale with many twists and turns.

Read full review in the 2015 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written and exciting thriller. Someone is destroying ancient historical religious sites, and Vince Ramsey is called from his vacation to find who is behind it.

[Vera mallard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vince Ramsey And April Are Back

Fighting Evil Men Committing Atrocious Crimes

Christian Fiction At Its Best



Author James B. McPike's latest Christian fiction book is packed with action from start to finish. I love books based on biblical facts and/or biblical prophesy. Find a relaxing seat and get ready for a roller coaster ride.


STORY LINE:

Religious prophet's tombs are destroyed in Jerusalem; tombs dating back to biblical times are gone forever. Soldiers and innocent victims are murdered in an inhuman and inconceivable manner.

Vince Ramsey and girlfriend, April, are back in action again. Vacationing in Tahiti, Vince is contacted by Daniel Kopinsky of the counterintelligence division. Kopinsky enlists his help in stopping the destruction and apprehending "the bandit" as the villain's dubbed. Vince's skill-set is greatly needed by The Ministry and his country to solve the mystery and stop the villains.

What follows is an action packed roller coaster ride as we follow Vince and April through the Holy Lands in search of the evil genius and the reasons behind these heinous crimes.

Come along on the adventure.


CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:

Author Francis McPike has crafted a nonstop Christian action thriller that is a top-notch read. Mr. McPike begins the action in the first pages and follows through with precision and skill. His skill in hooking the reader and his writing skill are apparent immediately. His descriptions are so vivid I could see the scenes in the book. Inclusion of biblical and historical facts added an extra dimension to the story; I found them informative and interesting. This is a well researched book.


Mr. McPike infused Vince's character with courage, talent, and smarts; Vince's character is believable and likeable. He is the man you want standing at your back in a time of trouble. Author Francis McPike's inclusion of help from "on high" was skillfully crafted.


Francis McPike continues the romantic element between April and Vince. April's character is strong, determined, and independent. She is not just a beautiful face; she's the perfect romantic interest for Vince and the perfect partner in righting wrongs and fighting evil. She is tenacious and smart.


The secondary characters, good and evil, were well-developed and added depth to the story-line. His creation of the villains in this book were well-developed and skillfully depicted. They were the perfect foil for Vince. You will "love to hate" the villain and his evil cohorts. They are truly evil with mysterious assistance with their devious plans; is it magic, supernatural, or just expert planning? The villains are intriguing, mysterious and willing to kill and destroy to gain their end result; they are without conscience or moral compass. Well done, Mr. McPike, well done.


The plot was first-rate as Mr. McPike wove the many threads in this novel together and created a novel that will hold your interest and attention; the pace never slows or lags and the story-line is well-developed. You will not guess the true reasons for the destruction and mayhem. Mr. McPike kept the suspense level at high pitch.


This was an exciting book with colorful characters, an inside look at the élite Israel Military, wonderful descriptions, and a plot that will keep you reading into the night.


RECOMMENDATION: 4 STAR

I highly recommend this book. It is a clean Christian book, but does contain violence. Though this book is part of a series, it is a standalone. It is not necessary to read the first book, however, I feel your reading enjoyment would be greatly enhanced by doing so. I look forward to book 3 and further adventures with Vince and April.


I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest book review. All book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; all book reviews on line, on my blog and under my name are my opinion.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if there were actual places located in the depths of the Middle East that corresponded to the Bible? What if all those ancient tombs where the prophets of old were buried in caves along with their ancestors was real? What if someone was out to ensure that they were destroyed no matter how significant their contribution was to ancient history?


In an amazing novel that rivals that of such notable authors like Don Brown and Davis Bunn, comes James McPike, a name you won't want to forget. In The Lost Prophet, a group of people looking to destroy every last trace of the ancient prophets of old such as Abraham's entire line, Zechariah and on the verge of locating the missing grave of Moses before they can be stopped. Led by the notorious evil Dimitri Markovich who is being aided by a supernatural presence from ancient history to set about a diabolical plot that is virtually unstoppable.


The Israeli Defense is looking at stopping these men who will kill any witnesses to their crime and is being headed up by Vince Ramsey, a man who has a record of bringing in those responsible for crimes against Israel's historical landmarks in the past. Now he is once again being called upon by the Ministry to help find whoever is responsible before they locate another target. They have already destroyed the Tomb of the Prophets and killed innocent civilians who were part of a group touring the ancient site. With war and terrorists groups racing all around the Middle East with Hezbollah, ISIS and Hamas, Vince will have his work cut out for him. Now he will need to follow the ancient clues from the Bible in hopes of catching this man before he secures not on the lost Ark of the Covenant by locates the body of Moses which has never been found.


I received The Lost Prophet by James McPike compliments of CreateSpace and the author himself for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review outside the complimentary copy of the novel. This is the 2nd novel in the Ramsey Series, and I am truly sorry I didn't read the first one as there are some references to previous missions that Vince had tackled but hope to resolve that very soon. This is such a nail biter, with almost non stop action from the very first page. It's like Indiana Jones meets Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt. You get a sense of urgency that time is running out and there is a sinister sense of evil at hand when Dimitri keeps walking away without being captured leaving behind more victims to his rising body count. What really works well in this for me, is the authenticity of the locations. Whenever I am reading something like this, I use the Internet to see if these are made up locations or are based on real places. The author did an exceptional job at truly keeping this real and honestly believable. I inhaled it in one sitting simply because I could NOT put it down. It is that amazing. An adrenaline junkie's perfect novel because it is a roller coaster ride to the very end. Well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion!

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

James B. McPike in his new book, "The Lost Prophet" Book Two in the Vince Ramsey series published by the author gives us another adventure with Vince Ramsey.

From the back cover: After one of the Holy Land’s most sacred monuments is destroyed, the Ministry has to turn to their most prolific investigator to solve the case: Vince Ramsey. He soon discovers that they are facing a graver threat than any of them could’ve imagined. It seems the enemy’s primary objective is to abolish the remains of biblical prophets, and wipe out their very existence from history.

With all-out war on the brink in the Middle East, Ramsey must stop the person responsible before he strikes again. Following clues through an ancient landscape rich with peril and religious undertones, he eventually is led to a remote desert inside Jordan where Deuteronomy 34:6 states: “God buried Moses...but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day.”

Backed by a foreign superpower—the enemy has every intention of uncovering the elusive burial place. But can Ramsey prevent another horrific travesty with worldwide repercussions from happening...or will the villain accomplish his final blasphemous act?

There is only one thing wrong with this book. It ends. Mr. McPike did as I requested and has brought Vince Ramsey back with another nail biter. Vince Ramsey, April Fulton and quite a superb cast of characters join forces against the villain that wishes to change history. "The Lost Prophet" is a wonderful thriller as the tension mounts as Vince and April are trying to stay alive and ahead of a group looking to destroy every last trace of the ancient prophets of old. The action has us racing all around the Middle East. "The Lost Prophet" is loaded with twists and turns that will, literally, take your breath away. Don't start this book late at night because you will give up sleep while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. It is great to have Vince Ramsey and April Fulton back in action again and, as I mentioned, the only problem with this book is that it finishes. I am so looking forward to more stories featuring Ramsey and April soon.

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.”

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting The Lost Prophet, I was aware of the fact that it was the second in a series but decided to go ahead and read it first anyways since I was told that it was fine as a standalone novel. I totally agree – you definitely can read this book alone, though now I think it’d be really fun to read Ramsey’s previous adventures! Before I go in depth, let me tell you a little about the book.

Vince Ramsey is a top-notch investigator with the Ministry of Jerusalem. While taking a much deserved Tahitian vacation with love interest April after saving the world, Vince is reluctantly pulled back into action when the Ministry finds them to ask for help. Sacred monuments have been destroyed and countless lives lost and it’s up to Vince and April to find out who’s behind the horrific acts and stop them for good. But the enemy is always one step ahead and somehow has dark powers on his side. Biblical history and perilous action collide in this war to fight evil and save the world once more.

With this book the author clearly shows his talent and love of history. The almost-poetic storytelling has an indie vibe to it, with richly described scenes and settings. It had such an intriguing topic too — the whole storyline involving Israel and counter-terrorism was both interesting and exciting. I love how the story took a realistic outlook and mixed it with colorful characters, nail-biting suspense, and a dash of romance. It would make such an epic action movie!

Bringing to mind classic characters like Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan, or Ethan Hunt — Vince Ramsey is a dauntless hero with all the desirable traits of a solid leading man. Though my first thought was that his character seemed a bit contrived at times, he grew more and more likable as the story went on. And April was such a fun and tenacious supporting character! With such dark forces against them, it was nice that their characters still held a note of levity in an otherwise very serious-natured plot.

For those who will appreciate a powerful, intelligent thriller with a biblical twist and hold-your-breath moments, I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed The Lost Prophet and am very happy to add it to my ever-growing ebook collection. :)

{Content Warning: Contains violence and mild language. Would probably be rated PG-13 if it were a movie.}

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. My sincerest apologies to the author for my late response!

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Great premise, but an ultimately disappointing book

The Lost Prophet by James B. McPike starts off with an amazing premise and theme; an unknown person seems bent on destroying the all the tombs of the prophets of the three major religions, and Vince Ramsey, ace investigator, is on his trail. Ramsey identifies the perpetrator, who is protected by some strange power, but is determined to bring him down as he chases him from Israel to a remote desert in Jordan where they’re set for a final, bloody confrontation.
A profound story, with some interesting culture and history interwoven, but structural and grammatical anomalies make it a torturous read, and ultimately spoils what could have been a great story of the intersection of power politics and religion—with a bit of the paranormal thrown in—in the Middle East.
My problems with this book started in chapter 2. While the first chapter was competently written, grammar, wordiness, and poor spacing, beginning in the second chapter, made it extremely difficult to read. In addition, it was written in third person point of view, but with the author jumping from character to character in the same chapter, sometimes from the character’s view, others in an omniscient view, that made it difficult to follow.
Overuse of adjectives and wordiness also detracted from an otherwise good story. For example, describing ‘dead corpses’ and phrases like ‘. . . going through the perils they survived through . . .’indicated inattention on the author’s part to me. These are just two of the nearly 20 instances of such writing I found in chapter 2, and each successive chapter had similar instances.
The ending was okay, as it seemed to set the protagonist up for future adventures, but after the bloody finale of Ramsey’s confrontation with the main antagonist, seemed a bit anticlimactic and dull.
A good idea, but unfortunately, poorly executed. With extensive line editing, it could be so much better.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

After one of the Holy Land’s most sacred monuments is destroyed, the Ministry has to turn to their most prolific investigator to solve the case: Vince Ramsey. He soon discovers that they are facing a graver threat than any of them could’ve imagined. It seems the enemy’s primary objective is to abolish the remains of biblical prophets, and wipe out their very existence from history. With all-out war on the brink in the Middle East, Ramsey must stop the person responsible before he strikes again. Following clues through an ancient landscape rich with peril and religious undertones, he eventually is led to a remote desert inside Jordan where Deuteronomy 34:6 states: “God buried Moses..but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day.” Backed by a foreign superpower-the enemy has every intention of uncovering the elusive burial place. But can Ramsey prevent another horrific travesty with worldwide repercussions from happening…or will the villain accomplish his final blasphemous act?

This book is for young adults.

I was asked to review this book and received a free digital copy for an honest review.

As you may know the reason I started this blog was to receive free books and eventually get paid to write a review. (Some day I will get there. Half way there right?) It was weird to receive the second book in the series when I had never read the first. Which I should have done because I was confused a lot while reading this book. Right away the first chapter captured my attention. The story line is captivating but I found myself daydreaming often and getting confused with what I was reading. I had a hard time following the storyline.

The characters and thought that went into this story are most impressive. I really liked the Biblical twist which I have never seen in a mystery book before.

Again it was hard for me to finish this one and I found myself getting lost but overall this was a good book that I am glad I read.

I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

[MrsK Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

While enjoying the "blissful" Tahitian shores, Vince Ramsey and April Fulton were cherishing all of the splendor of the moment. Drifting thoughts of just giving up their old life and reinventing a new "islander" life was very tempting. An enjoyable dream... until a mysterious message was passed onto Vince. Did the bartender give him a used napkin by mistake? Who even knew where to contact him? What could be so urgent?

Daniel Kopinsky, a counterintelligence techie for the Ministry of Jerusalem, knew all about the "most brilliant investigator," Vince Ramsey. The only one who could track down and stop the power behind the destruction of the holy sites of the Prophets. While Vince and April have been away, the Tomb of Prophets became nothing more than rubble. Who committed the "atrocious" act? Who would have absolutely no "regard" for the sanctity of human life, history, or the "priceless" shrine?

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) knows that such destruction is connected to someone loyal to ISIS. Vince is trained, and perhaps the only one who can track, eliminate, and deliver justice for such atrocious attacks of evil.

Once back in Israel, Vince learns of another target. This time it will prove catastrophic for the ministry and IDF. Who is this woman caught on tape? What is her connection? Who is the mastermind behind the destruction of the prophet's tombs? What are they after and why destroy the sites? There must be a central, command location... can it be found before any other site is destroyed?

Vince's biblical training leads to discernment about various scriptural passages, its depth of meaning, and burial location of the most sacred biblical prophet in all of history. Will he be able to keep the remains of Moses from harm?

MrsK http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Prophet is an absolutely captivating and vividly stimulating mystery with a biblical spin that easily keeps readers on edge until the very end.

Vince Ramsey and his girlfriend April are getting some much needed rest and relaxation after the last case and neither are eager to leave their beautiful island vacation. However, when Ramsey is approached by the Ministry with the news of a horrific crime that destroyed The Mount of Olives and the remains of the prophets who were buried there, his conscience gets the better of him and he knows he has no choice but to act. Upon learning the grisly details of the attack, Ramsey concludes this to be the work of a group who will soon strike again if not stopped. Does Ramsey have what it takes to put an end to the terror that's targeting the Holy Land?

First of all I have to say this is the second book in the Ramsey Series and I did not read the first one. There are references to events from the first book found in The Lost Prophet, but I was never left feeling lost or confused. I am however, now compelled to find out what happened in book one. Next, The Lost Prophet is an excellently penned story filled with interesting and intriguing characters. The story is well researched and the author's creativity and gift for storytelling shines through. Lastly, I really like the Biblical twist which sets the story apart from other mysteries out there. Just an all around great read!

I highly recommend picking up a copy. Available on Amazon.

[Apex Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

James B McPike’s novel The Lost Prophet follows Israeli investigator Vince Ramsey as he takes on a new evil, Dmitri Markovich. The cast of characters are so well written that they feel like old friends. Though descriptions of the characters were a bit lacking, their actions and thoughts were so well portrayed that the mental picture of each character was vivid enough without heavy descriptions. While McPike’s heroes are undoubtedly written to perfection, the villains are the most impressive. Markovich comes off as terrifying and devious, yet surprisingly eloquent, and his female assistant Natalya is evil to the core and makes your skin crawl whenever she appears on a page.

Although The Lost Prophet isn’t McPike’s first Ramsey novel, it never felt like a sequel, in which it is necessary to read the other books in the series first. Any background information necessary for the story was thoroughly explained, and there were only two or three occasions where the story from a different novel was mentioned. In these few cases it did not feel like knowing the whole story was necessary to understand what was happening better. If anything, they only made me want to read any other Vince Ramsey novels I can get my hands on. The Lost Prophet was an exciting novel in a fairly new setting, and Vince Ramsey is a new take on the protagonist in detective fiction that we all know and love.


Mariah Smitala
Apex Reviews

[Cynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vince Ramsey is called in from his vacation to investigate the desecration of a religious site in Israel. Upon arriving he ascertains the destruction was carried out by a group of bandits lead by a mysterious ex- Russian bent on destroying the resting places of the prophets. The group seems to have a supernatural ability to escape capture and are continuing on with there destruction. It is up to Ramsey to stop their destruction and capture these criminals before they start a religious war.
This is a fabulous Christian mystery/ thriller, a new genre for many people. It is well written, well researched and the characters are well thought out and believable. The storyline is similar to the genre lines that Robert Liparulo,Ted Dekker,and Frank Peretti.
The story was very believable and could have been torn from today's headlines with all the destruction of religious sites ISIS is responsible for.
This book is actually the second in the series and I will definitely go back and read the first and any forthcoming books by this author. He is a fresh new voice in a growing genre that is not to be missed !! I highly recommend "The Lost Prophet " to all who are interested in this genre!!!!

[Elizabeth Ehlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramsay is really trying to put the drama behind him, but it just won’t leave him alone. While on vacation he is sucked into another case, this time involving a crazy guy who enjoys blowing up prophets. It will take all of his skills, and some of April’s, like it or not, to bring this guy down, and even then, can he be killed?

The Lost Prophet continues the story begun in Realm of the Unknown, full of action and a bit of the supernatural sprinkled throughout. The writing is very smooth, and there is a lot of action that really keeps it moving. I have to admit, I missed April in this one, as it was more Vince-centric. The story still made sense, but she just wasn’t as central a character this time. Hopefully the next one will feature more of her story. Still I love the chase and the history, and hope the next book has lots of it. It really is a great read, and is shaping up to be a great series.

[James McPike · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Christian Retailing's Best Awards - Fiction: mystery/suspense
*Pacific Book Award Winner - Christian mystery/thriller
*Beverly Hills Book Awards Winner - Religion Fiction
*New Apple Book Awards Official Selection - Suspense/thriller

"Exciting and captivating...a wonderful combination of creativity and biblical history, The Lost Prophet is a great read. Vivid descriptions, intense action and an amazing glimpse at life in the Middle East, hold your attention and keep the pages turning. Vince Ramsey is a true action hero...a cross between Indiana Jones and James Bond." -Readers' Favorite

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**SPOILER FREE**


Diffidently not what you would think when looking at the cover. What lies behind the cover will grab you and keep you! A great book that intrigues the mind. This book will have you turning the pages!
This is the 2nd of the series but can be read as a stand alone.

*Received for an honest review*