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HIM: After the UFO Crash
Arthur Croft, a great rocket engineer, will send a special capsule into space hoping that it will be intercepted by extraterrestrial creatures. Then he commits suicide! Croft and many others who deal with space travel strongly believe that UFO’s are a reality.
Jasper Froch, an American hippie, learns how to control the phenomenon of synchronicity and finds out that all kinds of coincidences lead him in a certain direction. A Swiss psychiatrist asks Jasper to make friends with a special a rich American by the name of Francis Lockhart.
Meanwhile, a UFO crashes in Sanguine, Florida. Sanguine people act strange, and many of them turn out to be geniuses! There are also murderers who are so clever that they become a danger for the USA. The army is ready to destroy the town, but then Jasper finds out about the influence of the UFO, about Arthur Croft and his own role in a very dangerous game…
Jasper Froch, an American hippie, learns how to control the phenomenon of synchronicity and finds out that all kinds of coincidences lead him in a certain direction. A Swiss psychiatrist asks Jasper to make friends with a special a rich American by the name of Francis Lockhart.
Meanwhile, a UFO crashes in Sanguine, Florida. Sanguine people act strange, and many of them turn out to be geniuses! There are also murderers who are so clever that they become a danger for the USA. The army is ready to destroy the town, but then Jasper finds out about the influence of the UFO, about Arthur Croft and his own role in a very dangerous game…
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2016
4 people want to read
About the author
Koos Verkaik
97 books29 followersKoos Verkaik started to write at the age of 7, published his first work (comics, 3 pages each week in a magazine) at the age of 16, his first novel was published at the age of 18.
Over 60 different titles are published now, both in The Netherlands and the USA.
Koos is a master of magic, adventure and mystery, writes many urban fantasy books and children's books.
The publisher for his novels is RIGHTER'S MILL PRESS in Princeton, USA. For film: Three Corners Entertainment, USA.
His new series for children, ALEX AND THE WOLPERTINGER, is published internationally and there will be at least 30 different titles.
Outer Banks Publishing Group, USA, publishes the series of children's books Alex and the Wolpertinger and Saladin the Wonder Horse.
Over 60 different titles are published now, both in The Netherlands and the USA.
Koos is a master of magic, adventure and mystery, writes many urban fantasy books and children's books.
The publisher for his novels is RIGHTER'S MILL PRESS in Princeton, USA. For film: Three Corners Entertainment, USA.
His new series for children, ALEX AND THE WOLPERTINGER, is published internationally and there will be at least 30 different titles.
Outer Banks Publishing Group, USA, publishes the series of children's books Alex and the Wolpertinger and Saladin the Wonder Horse.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 5, 2016
UFO and its magic
First of all a huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of his book to read and review
To begin with, prepare yourself to commit to the book because it is not going to be easy and smooth as the book deals with UFO and the approach is highly scientific and not the comic book type. The author has dealt with the subject a little more complicatedly and hence you cannot expect to dive into the book with the ease of reading an archie comic or plain romance novels.
The book is very complex has various layers to it and that becomes the part of its charm. What I have observed in the author’s book is his ability to throw in small pieces of his story for its readers. While beginning each of these pieces seems unrelated and separate entities and its when you diligently proceed with the book that you notice how cunningly each of these pieces join together to give you an ending that in no way would have been in your thoughts and that is simply genius. The author completely plays with your head and serves you something that you would never have guessed
The book is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. It takes a certain kind of audience, psyche and love for sci-fi only then you would get an amazing and highly brain stormer plot from the book
I have always been amazed at the author’s ability to take you on a journey that at the beginning appears to be something else and doing a 360 on you at the very end which makes me so envious and enthralled at the author’s cunningness
The book does take a bit time to catch up on the pace and There is a certain point where the plot sort of gets stagnant and a bit of information overloads also makes the journey a bit exhaustive towards the middle but as soon as the pieces start joining the book just sprints fast and gets more and more exciting.
The book demands a specific set of audience and for them this would be an amazing experience.
First of all a huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of his book to read and review
To begin with, prepare yourself to commit to the book because it is not going to be easy and smooth as the book deals with UFO and the approach is highly scientific and not the comic book type. The author has dealt with the subject a little more complicatedly and hence you cannot expect to dive into the book with the ease of reading an archie comic or plain romance novels.
The book is very complex has various layers to it and that becomes the part of its charm. What I have observed in the author’s book is his ability to throw in small pieces of his story for its readers. While beginning each of these pieces seems unrelated and separate entities and its when you diligently proceed with the book that you notice how cunningly each of these pieces join together to give you an ending that in no way would have been in your thoughts and that is simply genius. The author completely plays with your head and serves you something that you would never have guessed
The book is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. It takes a certain kind of audience, psyche and love for sci-fi only then you would get an amazing and highly brain stormer plot from the book
I have always been amazed at the author’s ability to take you on a journey that at the beginning appears to be something else and doing a 360 on you at the very end which makes me so envious and enthralled at the author’s cunningness
The book does take a bit time to catch up on the pace and There is a certain point where the plot sort of gets stagnant and a bit of information overloads also makes the journey a bit exhaustive towards the middle but as soon as the pieces start joining the book just sprints fast and gets more and more exciting.
The book demands a specific set of audience and for them this would be an amazing experience.
August 11, 2019
HIM: After the UFO Crash by Koos Verkiak
Arthur Croft is a Rocket engineer. He sends a rocket up into space hoping to find extraterrestrial beings. But then the unexpected happens, he commits suicide. Jasper Frost, An American learns how to control synchronicity. A Swiss doctor asks Jasper to befriend Francis Lockhart, a wealthy American. Jasper agrees, and soon he is about to learn all about Arthur, aliens and his life will never be the same.
The concept of possible life in outer space is very intriguing. The story is well written with vivid details, which pulled me in. The characters are likable, there is action, suspense and thrills on every page. I Highly recommend , Him, After the UFO crash, to sci-fi lovers.
Arthur Croft is a Rocket engineer. He sends a rocket up into space hoping to find extraterrestrial beings. But then the unexpected happens, he commits suicide. Jasper Frost, An American learns how to control synchronicity. A Swiss doctor asks Jasper to befriend Francis Lockhart, a wealthy American. Jasper agrees, and soon he is about to learn all about Arthur, aliens and his life will never be the same.
The concept of possible life in outer space is very intriguing. The story is well written with vivid details, which pulled me in. The characters are likable, there is action, suspense and thrills on every page. I Highly recommend , Him, After the UFO crash, to sci-fi lovers.
October 31, 2019
Two years ago, I virtually met the author Koos Verkaik when he had read my blog in the Netherlands and reached out to me to interview him for his book The Dance of the Jester. And most recently he reached out again for me to review his book HIM: After the UFO Crash which has been contracted by Three Corners Entertainment for film. So, I feel honored to be selected as a reader of this multi-layered, highly detailed and complex sci-fi novel with various twists and turns.
My interest was piqued because I’m a big X-Files fan---love Mulder and Scully and yes, I do believe the “truth is out there.” Anyway, the big question this novel poses is “What does a thief, a transient, a handyman/builder, a psychiatrist, and a rocket scientist have in common?” And the response after reading and putting together the various storylines is one word…synchronicity.
The novel takes place in the 1960s and opens with two strangers meeting in Paris at a bistro called La Gargouille that was being renovated. Jasper Froch is an American from Ohio, a traveling Bohemian, and a thief. Antoine Faverel, is a mathematician who lost his job at a big insurance company in Marseilles, his wife and all his money and is now a middle-aged transient living on the streets. Antoine introduces the concept of synchronicity to Jasper which he says means “simultaneity.” Jasper is taken by this concept and now has a heightened sense of simultaneity – observing things happening for a reason around him.
Next readers meet Nicole Ginella in Miami. She worked with Arthur Croft, a scientist at Scorpius Special Systems up until his “sudden, self-inflicted death.” Nicole is suspicious of Arthur’s death and only trusts a fellow scientist who goes by the name “Bird.” Nicole is approached by the CIA to find out what Arthur was working on before he died. But she is smart enough not to divulge anything.
While readers are soaking up Nicole’s story, we meet Leon Benjamin Turner who “carried his tools—hammers, pincers, saws, nails, screwdrivers, gimlet—in a big, heavy rucksack” and his wife, Florence living in the small town of Sanguine, Florida. This town has been plagued with hurricanes that has destroyed many homes there, yet, Leon is determined to stay.
Then there’s Mike and Irene Rees who were surprised by a tornado on their way home to Atlanta, Georgia. They got lost and ended up in Sanguine where they see a UFO crash during behind the school. Mike took some photos but they were confiscated by the police. Suddenly, army trucks began to enter Sanguine and for years things and the people there were never the same after HIM (the UFO) gave them enhanced power and knowledge.
Jasper is now in Switzerland where he meets Felix Hartman, a psychiatrist who offers him a job at a psych institution. Not only is Jasper to fix things around the complex, but he was tasked to get an American patient to talk whom no one can seem to get through to.
This story picks up steam and culminates in Florida and Jasper comes full circle when he returns to Paris and seeks out Antoine. So, without giving anything away in the story, I simply have to say WOW! I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Two thumbs way up for Koos! He did an excellent in bringing all the storylines together into an ending that makes you wonder about intelligent life and how we are affected by it.
Side note: I’ve had many moments of synchronicity but I simply chalk them up to coincidences. But sometimes, the universe has a way of connecting some of these moments that make me pause. After reading this novel, I’ll be more attuned to calling it what is truly is…synchronicity.
Some of my favorite lines:
“Well, do you have an explanation?”
“I do. Have you ever heard of synchronicity?”
Jasper shook his head. “No.”
“You know … This is so exciting! I should be drunk by now, but I feel completely sober.” Antoine stood up and walked, without reeling, past the bottles. He stooped, picked one up and read the label.
“What did I tell you? A French wine, an excellent Bordeaux!” He lay down on the couch and grabbed the coat to use as a blanket. “No, I won’t fall asleep. I’ll even wait a while before I open this bottle.”
Jasper leaned forward. Antoine had his full attention.
“Synchronicity, Jasper Froch,” Antoine continued, “synchronicity. It literally means simultaneity. An intriguing phenomena! A marvelous coincidence. Two events that apparently have nothing to do with each other and of which the one is absolutely not the result of the other, give one food for thought! Many people see it as an important warning or a sign. It was the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung who came up with the term and studied the phenomena. Synchronicity is unexplainable, elusive; it’s simply beyond us. I just gave you examples, experiences from your own life: you mention a falcon, I see one; you talk about getting pushed by the storm, and a storm splashes rain against the windows; you mention the Rhine River, and I pick up a bottle of Rhine wine. You think of a novel by Poe, open a book at random and read all about it on that particular page."
Rating: 5 Stars
My interest was piqued because I’m a big X-Files fan---love Mulder and Scully and yes, I do believe the “truth is out there.” Anyway, the big question this novel poses is “What does a thief, a transient, a handyman/builder, a psychiatrist, and a rocket scientist have in common?” And the response after reading and putting together the various storylines is one word…synchronicity.
The novel takes place in the 1960s and opens with two strangers meeting in Paris at a bistro called La Gargouille that was being renovated. Jasper Froch is an American from Ohio, a traveling Bohemian, and a thief. Antoine Faverel, is a mathematician who lost his job at a big insurance company in Marseilles, his wife and all his money and is now a middle-aged transient living on the streets. Antoine introduces the concept of synchronicity to Jasper which he says means “simultaneity.” Jasper is taken by this concept and now has a heightened sense of simultaneity – observing things happening for a reason around him.
Next readers meet Nicole Ginella in Miami. She worked with Arthur Croft, a scientist at Scorpius Special Systems up until his “sudden, self-inflicted death.” Nicole is suspicious of Arthur’s death and only trusts a fellow scientist who goes by the name “Bird.” Nicole is approached by the CIA to find out what Arthur was working on before he died. But she is smart enough not to divulge anything.
While readers are soaking up Nicole’s story, we meet Leon Benjamin Turner who “carried his tools—hammers, pincers, saws, nails, screwdrivers, gimlet—in a big, heavy rucksack” and his wife, Florence living in the small town of Sanguine, Florida. This town has been plagued with hurricanes that has destroyed many homes there, yet, Leon is determined to stay.
Then there’s Mike and Irene Rees who were surprised by a tornado on their way home to Atlanta, Georgia. They got lost and ended up in Sanguine where they see a UFO crash during behind the school. Mike took some photos but they were confiscated by the police. Suddenly, army trucks began to enter Sanguine and for years things and the people there were never the same after HIM (the UFO) gave them enhanced power and knowledge.
Jasper is now in Switzerland where he meets Felix Hartman, a psychiatrist who offers him a job at a psych institution. Not only is Jasper to fix things around the complex, but he was tasked to get an American patient to talk whom no one can seem to get through to.
This story picks up steam and culminates in Florida and Jasper comes full circle when he returns to Paris and seeks out Antoine. So, without giving anything away in the story, I simply have to say WOW! I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Two thumbs way up for Koos! He did an excellent in bringing all the storylines together into an ending that makes you wonder about intelligent life and how we are affected by it.
Side note: I’ve had many moments of synchronicity but I simply chalk them up to coincidences. But sometimes, the universe has a way of connecting some of these moments that make me pause. After reading this novel, I’ll be more attuned to calling it what is truly is…synchronicity.
Some of my favorite lines:
“Well, do you have an explanation?”
“I do. Have you ever heard of synchronicity?”
Jasper shook his head. “No.”
“You know … This is so exciting! I should be drunk by now, but I feel completely sober.” Antoine stood up and walked, without reeling, past the bottles. He stooped, picked one up and read the label.
“What did I tell you? A French wine, an excellent Bordeaux!” He lay down on the couch and grabbed the coat to use as a blanket. “No, I won’t fall asleep. I’ll even wait a while before I open this bottle.”
Jasper leaned forward. Antoine had his full attention.
“Synchronicity, Jasper Froch,” Antoine continued, “synchronicity. It literally means simultaneity. An intriguing phenomena! A marvelous coincidence. Two events that apparently have nothing to do with each other and of which the one is absolutely not the result of the other, give one food for thought! Many people see it as an important warning or a sign. It was the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung who came up with the term and studied the phenomena. Synchronicity is unexplainable, elusive; it’s simply beyond us. I just gave you examples, experiences from your own life: you mention a falcon, I see one; you talk about getting pushed by the storm, and a storm splashes rain against the windows; you mention the Rhine River, and I pick up a bottle of Rhine wine. You think of a novel by Poe, open a book at random and read all about it on that particular page."
Rating: 5 Stars
October 17, 2019
SYNCHRONICITY VS SERENDIPITY.....Koos Verkaik's HIM After The UFO Crash explores the very interesting concept of Synchronicity, things happen for a reason or reasons even though we might not know what they are. Things often happen that are simply unexplainable. He makes the reader think, something a good author hopes to achieve with every novel he or she pens. I read HIM in just a few days. In fact, Koos was helping me turn the pages, through his riveting storytelling.
When Konrad discovered a naked mystery man in the mountains, I was there, like a fly on your wall. When Nichole confronted eight men in a secret meeting, I was there standing next to her. When Jasper grabbed Antoine to prevent him from breaking his neck, I supported Jasper to keep him steady. He couldn't see me. I stood directly behind him. I was part of the action at every turn while reading HIM. Koos achieved his goal- to make the reader feel like he or she is in the story.
Brian Hailes' front cover attracted me as soon as I unwrapped the book. His color scheme is bright and eye-catching. Righter's Mill Press' formatting and choice of font is very easy on the eyes, a necessity for most readers. Koos' back cover blurb is easy to read using white print and a high-contract background. If Righter's Mill edited Koos' manuscript they might want to up their game or slow down a tad, other than that this book was a fantastic fast-paced read. Koos, keep writing. You rock. I look forward to reading more Verkaik creations. Koos sent me his book to read and review and I was more than happy to do so. This is not a paid review. Thank you, Koos, for hours of reading pleasure... Dennis @ Moneysaver Editing
When Konrad discovered a naked mystery man in the mountains, I was there, like a fly on your wall. When Nichole confronted eight men in a secret meeting, I was there standing next to her. When Jasper grabbed Antoine to prevent him from breaking his neck, I supported Jasper to keep him steady. He couldn't see me. I stood directly behind him. I was part of the action at every turn while reading HIM. Koos achieved his goal- to make the reader feel like he or she is in the story.
Brian Hailes' front cover attracted me as soon as I unwrapped the book. His color scheme is bright and eye-catching. Righter's Mill Press' formatting and choice of font is very easy on the eyes, a necessity for most readers. Koos' back cover blurb is easy to read using white print and a high-contract background. If Righter's Mill edited Koos' manuscript they might want to up their game or slow down a tad, other than that this book was a fantastic fast-paced read. Koos, keep writing. You rock. I look forward to reading more Verkaik creations. Koos sent me his book to read and review and I was more than happy to do so. This is not a paid review. Thank you, Koos, for hours of reading pleasure... Dennis @ Moneysaver Editing
August 5, 2020
I reed this book in a few days! Is a very interesting story and the way the autor develops everything is amazing. I coundnt put it down because I really felt like I was in there with all the caracters, feeling what they were feeling. This one is a very good book to spend your weekend in.
December 10, 2024
Incredible book indeed! don't hesitate to get yours now! I recommend it for all readers out there.
December 18, 2019
HIM: After the UFO Crash by Koos Verkaik is a compelling story. I gave it four stars.
La Gargouille was being remodeled. "Jasper Froch was leaning back in the chair; he had put his legs on the desktop and had folded his hands behind his head. He was a young man, slim—almost too thin; the skin of his face tightened over his cheekbones. But his most striking feature was the light gray, almost white irises of his eyes; people who met him for the first time often wondered if he was a blind man or an introvert visionary."
Later Jasper traveled and met many interesting people.
"To Bird, UFOs proved that extraterrestrial life was a fact. He was a researcher who didn’t shrink from fantastic theories. “When you’re searching for apples, you shouldn’t look under a pear tree,” he said often, and when he saw that everyone had agreed with him, he would continue: “That does not alter the fact that it isn’t impossible to find an apple under a pear tree. And as soon as you have picked it up, you begin to realize how many explanations there are for that apple lying on that specific spot. So don’t say too soon that something isn’t possible, even though it seems very impossible to you."
Corey is being introduced to the UFO: "Erica, who had told all she knew about the inhabitants of Sanguine during the ride, stopped Corey at the entrance of the school, “Be prepared for a great shock. You’ve hunted UFOs in a fighter jet. They remained unreachable. Now you will see the phenomenon at close quarters. You would not be the first to have a nervous breakdown. No matter how strong a man is mentally, some confrontations can be so impressive that they are beyond all comprehension and cause a heavy panic.”
I received a complimentary .pdf copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/HIM-After-Cras...
La Gargouille was being remodeled. "Jasper Froch was leaning back in the chair; he had put his legs on the desktop and had folded his hands behind his head. He was a young man, slim—almost too thin; the skin of his face tightened over his cheekbones. But his most striking feature was the light gray, almost white irises of his eyes; people who met him for the first time often wondered if he was a blind man or an introvert visionary."
Later Jasper traveled and met many interesting people.
"To Bird, UFOs proved that extraterrestrial life was a fact. He was a researcher who didn’t shrink from fantastic theories. “When you’re searching for apples, you shouldn’t look under a pear tree,” he said often, and when he saw that everyone had agreed with him, he would continue: “That does not alter the fact that it isn’t impossible to find an apple under a pear tree. And as soon as you have picked it up, you begin to realize how many explanations there are for that apple lying on that specific spot. So don’t say too soon that something isn’t possible, even though it seems very impossible to you."
Corey is being introduced to the UFO: "Erica, who had told all she knew about the inhabitants of Sanguine during the ride, stopped Corey at the entrance of the school, “Be prepared for a great shock. You’ve hunted UFOs in a fighter jet. They remained unreachable. Now you will see the phenomenon at close quarters. You would not be the first to have a nervous breakdown. No matter how strong a man is mentally, some confrontations can be so impressive that they are beyond all comprehension and cause a heavy panic.”
I received a complimentary .pdf copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/HIM-After-Cras...
June 8, 2016
Given To Me For Review
HIM: After the UFO Crash by Koos Verkaik is a book that you'll read and then you'll wonder did you really read what you did. Before beginning though you must be sure to have your seatbelt on nice and tight, then hold on because you're about to go on one twist and turned ride of your life. Once you open the first page, it will grab and hold you tightly until you finish reading the last page. As you are reading, you will begin to feel that you are being drawn in and become a part of the story. Then when you think you have just read a fantastic part, up comes another one, then there is more and more. The storyline is very unique and is a great one. You will be kept on the edge of your seat as you read all the action, thrills and suspense that is on each and every page. My question i,s why would Arthur Croft create that special capsule, sending it into space then commit suicide? Or was it really suicide. The writing is amazing. After reading this you may (as I did), wonder can this someday be in our future. This book is a must read for all. It would make a great addition to anyone's book shelf. It would also make a perfect gift for anytime of the year, especially for that special person that loves sci-fi. I gave it 5 stars but wished I could give it more because it deserves more. I very highly recommend it all. I have to admit that Koos Verkaik hit it out of the ballpark with this book and Koos, I wait for another great book from you.
HIM: After the UFO Crash by Koos Verkaik is a book that you'll read and then you'll wonder did you really read what you did. Before beginning though you must be sure to have your seatbelt on nice and tight, then hold on because you're about to go on one twist and turned ride of your life. Once you open the first page, it will grab and hold you tightly until you finish reading the last page. As you are reading, you will begin to feel that you are being drawn in and become a part of the story. Then when you think you have just read a fantastic part, up comes another one, then there is more and more. The storyline is very unique and is a great one. You will be kept on the edge of your seat as you read all the action, thrills and suspense that is on each and every page. My question i,s why would Arthur Croft create that special capsule, sending it into space then commit suicide? Or was it really suicide. The writing is amazing. After reading this you may (as I did), wonder can this someday be in our future. This book is a must read for all. It would make a great addition to anyone's book shelf. It would also make a perfect gift for anytime of the year, especially for that special person that loves sci-fi. I gave it 5 stars but wished I could give it more because it deserves more. I very highly recommend it all. I have to admit that Koos Verkaik hit it out of the ballpark with this book and Koos, I wait for another great book from you.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews