What do you think?
Rate this book
Critical Times
Luke Harding is an ambitious young police officer with a promising career and a bright future ahead of him. His beautiful wife, Amy, is nearly the perfect picture of a loving, supportive spouse. Little does Luke know, she's also secretly studying with the Witnesses, and humanity is about to plunge headlong into the Great Tribulation, threatening his world and everything in it...====An excerpt from the ’s foggy and unusually cold for October and I’m nodding off to the beginnings of a post-carb-binge nap. The heady odor of a greasy cheeseburger and fries hangs in the air. I submit to the food coma and feel my consciousness ebb away. It’s a quiet night, and the worst I can expect for a little shut eye on the clock would be a mild tongue lashing from Captain Pryce, and even the best officers do it from time to time. It’s called the graveyard shift, for crying out loud.The dispatcher’s call cuts through the air like the hiss of a welder’s torch, threatening to ignite the space in my stuffy Dodge. I jolt to attention and crank the dial.“This is a code three, repeat, a code three,” barks the voice. “We’ve got a fire reported on Castle and Paso. Unit twenty-three, do you copy?” I clear my throat to force the sleepiness into retreat. “Unit twenty-three here, copy that. En route to Castle and Paso. Has the fire department already been notified?” I crank the key in the ignition, lighting up the dash and bringing the engine to a throaty rumble.“Affirmative, unit twenty-three. HFD on its way.”I flip a switch on my console, splashing blue and red light across the sleepy Shell station. A baggy-eyed teenage girl with faded pink extensions leans over the counter in the glass box convenience store at the far end of the pumps and stares. A break in the drudgery of her night shift, no doubt. My sirens split the night as I peel from the station.I blink away dry eyes as my adrenaline surges. The sluggishness is gone; in its place is the usual flood of concerns that come with any call. What will be waiting for me there? What kind of decisions will I need to make? Will everyone walk away unharmed? A code three can be anything from an overturned grill charring someone’s front lawn to a full-blown industrial blaze, though at half-past two in the morning, neither seems likely. I do my best to picture the intersection where Castle Lane and Paso Avenue meet and wonder what might’ve started the incident...====Reviews & comments from “Wonderful read. My husband and I read it out loud to each other. Made us laugh, cry and and worried for each character. It is so nice to read a book that is not filled with sex and descriptive violence. We appreciated the times that required the notion of bad things happening that the writer was able to express the severity and yet tastefully do so.’ -Cinnamon Flowers, USA“Great plot and development of the characters. Thank you for such a great book by any standard of any novels. I was up way too late three nights in a row after work because I couldn't put it down.” -Movenshake, USA“What a compelling story with a realistic feel! I felt like I was there & could sense the need to be faithful, the struggles of Luke to comprehend a world gone mad, & the urgency to follow the directions given.” -Teacher Wolf, USA
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2016
33 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
EK Jonathan
16 books54 followersEK Jonathan was born in Hawaii, USA, and has lived in various states across the country and abroad as a need greater. In 2013 he finished his first full length novel, "All Things New". Since then, he has released, on average, one new novel per year. His last project was "Time and Unforeseen" a suquel to his 2018 young adult novel "The Bloom of Youth".
EK Jonathan currently lives in the United States with family, where he teaches English and works as a graphic designer. He is also the writer, director, and artist for an upcoming paradise-themed video game called Project Paradise.
EK Jonathan currently lives in the United States with family, where he teaches English and works as a graphic designer. He is also the writer, director, and artist for an upcoming paradise-themed video game called Project Paradise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 1, 2024
This book was just as good (if not better) as his Flee, Stay, Stand series. It was hard to put it down. Loved it!!!
May 9, 2017
Only a couple of chapters into Critical Times, one gets the feeling that this novel is the one that E.K. Jonathan really wanted to write all along; All Things New and The Unrighteous were just practice.
I’m not sure if Critical Times is his best work yet (it may be), but it is easily the most thrilling. In fact, Critical Times has the most suspenseful final act of ANY book I’ve ever read. If you’re expecting another pleasant trip to the New World, think again. Critical Times is a conspiracy thriller with a clear villain. It is filled more with worldly people than Witnesses. It is dark and ugly.
Don’t let these facts scare you away.
The vividly drawn situations shine through more than the plot as you keep turning the pages. It feels unapologetically written the way it was with a clear purpose in mind.
E.K. Jonathan has grown teeth as a writer and he just keeps getting better and more versatile. Jonathan has proven why he’s the undisputed champion of Witness Fiction.
Critical Times is a fantastic action-thriller that should be sold with hot buttered popcorn.
I’m not sure if Critical Times is his best work yet (it may be), but it is easily the most thrilling. In fact, Critical Times has the most suspenseful final act of ANY book I’ve ever read. If you’re expecting another pleasant trip to the New World, think again. Critical Times is a conspiracy thriller with a clear villain. It is filled more with worldly people than Witnesses. It is dark and ugly.
Don’t let these facts scare you away.
The vividly drawn situations shine through more than the plot as you keep turning the pages. It feels unapologetically written the way it was with a clear purpose in mind.
E.K. Jonathan has grown teeth as a writer and he just keeps getting better and more versatile. Jonathan has proven why he’s the undisputed champion of Witness Fiction.
Critical Times is a fantastic action-thriller that should be sold with hot buttered popcorn.
June 14, 2019
Thought provoking story
This story, although a work of fiction is based on Bible prophecies yet to be fulfilled. I myself have ideas of how things will end and how we will survive after Armageddon, but that story is yet to be written. Please enjoy this book and hopefully it will get you thinking about your relationship with our creator and hopefully one day, you can write your own survival story too.
This story, although a work of fiction is based on Bible prophecies yet to be fulfilled. I myself have ideas of how things will end and how we will survive after Armageddon, but that story is yet to be written. Please enjoy this book and hopefully it will get you thinking about your relationship with our creator and hopefully one day, you can write your own survival story too.
August 15, 2021
Heart warming, faith inspiring!
The self sacrifice, love, and concern more for others than self was very healing for me and inspired me to be more like the Jehovah’s people in this novel. I was moved to feel more love, faith and determination for serving Jehovah and others and keeping loyalty, self-sacrifice, love, gratefulness and integrity to our Heavenly Father Jehovah and our King, his Son Jesus Christ. Recommend to all with the desire to obey and love Jehovah.
The self sacrifice, love, and concern more for others than self was very healing for me and inspired me to be more like the Jehovah’s people in this novel. I was moved to feel more love, faith and determination for serving Jehovah and others and keeping loyalty, self-sacrifice, love, gratefulness and integrity to our Heavenly Father Jehovah and our King, his Son Jesus Christ. Recommend to all with the desire to obey and love Jehovah.
October 8, 2019
Spurred me on!
I was alerted to this book by a living friend a
and I was anxious to read it. I wasn't disappoint
ed . I realize that this is fiction , but the book has real!y made me think about how much I need to do to prepare for the times to come. I look forward to the second book in the series.
I was alerted to this book by a living friend a
and I was anxious to read it. I wasn't disappoint
ed . I realize that this is fiction , but the book has real!y made me think about how much I need to do to prepare for the times to come. I look forward to the second book in the series.
October 22, 2022
A stand alone book!
I'm thrilled to be reading about the tribulation and the diverse circumstances surrounding it. I love EK Jonathan's writing and also our brother Thomas Walkers stories of the end of this system and into the new world. I appreciate the realistic setting of this story. Also from the point of view of the unbeliever. Thank you
I'm thrilled to be reading about the tribulation and the diverse circumstances surrounding it. I love EK Jonathan's writing and also our brother Thomas Walkers stories of the end of this system and into the new world. I appreciate the realistic setting of this story. Also from the point of view of the unbeliever. Thank you
January 19, 2023
EXCELLENT, anxiety filled, nerve-wrecking, tear-jerking, exciting, can't-wait-for-the-end-of-this-wicked-system, fantastic book!!
Thank you Br Jonathan for the countless hours of pure reading joy I've been able to experience through your wonderful books. I'm only sad that there aren't a hundred more to entertain myself with 😆👏🏽🎉
Thank you Br Jonathan for the countless hours of pure reading joy I've been able to experience through your wonderful books. I'm only sad that there aren't a hundred more to entertain myself with 😆👏🏽🎉
February 6, 2023
love it
I loved this fun book. It was fun and I love how his imagination thought of different scenarios that could be reality, and how the witnesses portrayed were honest and kind through the whole book. Great read! Can’t wait to read again in the future!
I loved this fun book. It was fun and I love how his imagination thought of different scenarios that could be reality, and how the witnesses portrayed were honest and kind through the whole book. Great read! Can’t wait to read again in the future!
November 3, 2023
A good eye opener for the very near future to take place.
I loved this book. I know this is not a true story but is definitely eye opener to get a glimpse of what the near future could be like.
I loved this book. I know this is not a true story but is definitely eye opener to get a glimpse of what the near future could be like.
July 8, 2017
Excellent Read!
January 3, 2018
A Great Read
It was a riveting read! Couldn't put the book down. Kept me on the edge of my chair from cover to cover. Looking forward to the next one.
It was a riveting read! Couldn't put the book down. Kept me on the edge of my chair from cover to cover. Looking forward to the next one.
March 24, 2018
Great story!
I enjoyed this apocalyptic story of good verses evil. Was easy reading...maybe too easy. I read it in one day!
I enjoyed this apocalyptic story of good verses evil. Was easy reading...maybe too easy. I read it in one day!
May 18, 2020
Started at bedtime...
Then didn't go to sleep till 8 am because I had to finish it. Loves the story line. Characters were great and the twists keep you reading.
Then didn't go to sleep till 8 am because I had to finish it. Loves the story line. Characters were great and the twists keep you reading.
December 3, 2022
Outstanding!!!!
Wow, is all I can say. I know this is fiction. But boy does it strengthen my faith in Jehovah. Thank you, Brother Jonathan!
Wow, is all I can say. I know this is fiction. But boy does it strengthen my faith in Jehovah. Thank you, Brother Jonathan!
September 27, 2023
I’m just starting with EK Jonathan’s books. I really enjoy these books. They seem very realistic and so many things to look forward to.
December 12, 2025
Interesting. Enjoyed his series, Flee, Stand and Stay more.
February 20, 2023
An amazing book of fiction. Uplifting, and gets my imagination going for what may lie ahead.
January 11, 2017
Loved it from start to finish..! I could not put it down!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews