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Solomon's Dreams: The Hunting at Huntington
Solomon “Solo” Davis is a man of faith, but even for him not all things are believable. How quickly his life is turned upside when he comes face to face with one of his doubts. Can he believe in something that is so impossible?
What if your dreams of last night…
“Top story tonight,” read the senior news anchor. Solo held his breath, waiting to hear about the kidnapping or the death of the older couple. He had already had two of his dreams strangely come true with frightening detail, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was some cosmic coincidence; a million to one chance that all his dreams actually occurred. Could this really be happening?
Became your reality for today?
“Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?” Solo prayed hoping the perfect answer would drop out of the sky at his feet. The thought sickened him that if his dream with the preschool students with their laughter and singing was real. Then the ruthless kidnappers and serial killers must be real. And the crying, terror stricken kidnapped girl must be real too.
How can you do nothing when you know something is going to happen?
Watch out Washington D.C. The Carbon Monoxide Killers are on the loose.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked her father who slowly nodded, taking in a deep breath.
“It’s now or never.”
What if your dreams of last night…
“Top story tonight,” read the senior news anchor. Solo held his breath, waiting to hear about the kidnapping or the death of the older couple. He had already had two of his dreams strangely come true with frightening detail, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was some cosmic coincidence; a million to one chance that all his dreams actually occurred. Could this really be happening?
Became your reality for today?
“Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?” Solo prayed hoping the perfect answer would drop out of the sky at his feet. The thought sickened him that if his dream with the preschool students with their laughter and singing was real. Then the ruthless kidnappers and serial killers must be real. And the crying, terror stricken kidnapped girl must be real too.
How can you do nothing when you know something is going to happen?
Watch out Washington D.C. The Carbon Monoxide Killers are on the loose.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked her father who slowly nodded, taking in a deep breath.
“It’s now or never.”
321 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2018
21 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
About the author
Eric Suddoth
12 books20 followersBorn and raised in Western Kentucky. When not working as a CPA he writes mysteries and inspirational books along with posting weekly on his blog. He is an avid traveler who is always up for a new place to explore.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 17, 2019
I loved this story and it was well thought out. It was witty and fun to read. If you are a grammar fanatic, this one may make you cringe on occasion. BUT, in my opinion, the story is worth it. Definitely recommend. I loved the ending so much! This book was one of those that got a loud vocal reaction in a quiet house. Well done!
August 24, 2019
A superb psychological thriller.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, although the main character is Solomon. I thought several times I had it figured out, only to turn the page and find another possibility.
The author has a firm grasp on the genre. I expect this book to rise up in the rankings as more people discover it.
Solomon’s Dreams is full of intriguing characters. The sarcastic banter between many of them is pure genius. The Christian aspects of the novel are subtle, yet contribute greatly to the plot.
Fans of psychological thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and even police procedurals will love this book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, gripping, page turner.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, although the main character is Solomon. I thought several times I had it figured out, only to turn the page and find another possibility.
The author has a firm grasp on the genre. I expect this book to rise up in the rankings as more people discover it.
Solomon’s Dreams is full of intriguing characters. The sarcastic banter between many of them is pure genius. The Christian aspects of the novel are subtle, yet contribute greatly to the plot.
Fans of psychological thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and even police procedurals will love this book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, gripping, page turner.
December 23, 2018
I liked this book very much as it keep me interested throughout, unlike some of the ones I have been reading lately. I liked the character Solomon as he seemed to be a really nice guy who values life, even though he questions it. He also values his friendships. I love mystery books and I had a good idea who the female killer was. There were clues before she was revealed and I was right. So it kept me turning the pages and it was a good read.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
March 27, 2021
Loved this book!! What a crazy, thrilling ride!
December 18, 2018
Before pressing forward with this review, let me just say that at a very fundamental level, there are good stories and there is good storytelling. This book falls into the former category.
Having said that, I have to give the author a lot of credit for the time that was clearly put into the story itself. This book fits the genre very well. I am not changing my prior rating for the following reasons:
1.
2. There are secondary and even tertiary characters that receive names and are given circumstantial introductions, but no further development. I can appreciate the desire to give an identity to every character, but it becomes redundant and can even take away from the story.
3. Dialogue patterns in the book are inconsistent for the same characters (i.e., a character speaks one way in one chapter and then takes on a completely different speech pattern/attitude less than three chapters later) and it feels like the same person is speaking for many of the characters (speech patterns don't vary much from character to character, but conversations hinge a lot on emotions). In the referred-to instances, the dialogue comes off as "plastic."
4. Certain situations described in the book don't play out even remotely like they would in the real world.
5. I mentioned this in my prior review, but there are a substantial number of textual errors. I started to make notes and highlights in my kindle copy, but decided to stop around Chapter 42 because it was taking too long to read this and I was losing information I'd already read. In the notes that I made, I didn't make it a point to mark every single thing that I thought was a grammar/spelling/punctuation error, but there are some big red flags:
6. Also mentioned in my prior review, I'm having a hard time reconciling 130+ chapters for a less-than-400-page book. There were a lot of chapters in the second half of the book that could've been combined and there were opportunities for rewording that could've helped the flow.
Ultimately, the reason I gave this two stars is because I appreciated the author's dedication to the genre, and because I appreciated that the author tried to take a faith-based approach to writing this. It's not easy to do either in a well-established genre when you're trying to create an identity for your writing. However, in the end, I can't overlook all of the things mentioned above.
Having said that, I have to give the author a lot of credit for the time that was clearly put into the story itself. This book fits the genre very well. I am not changing my prior rating for the following reasons:
1.
2. There are secondary and even tertiary characters that receive names and are given circumstantial introductions, but no further development. I can appreciate the desire to give an identity to every character, but it becomes redundant and can even take away from the story.
3. Dialogue patterns in the book are inconsistent for the same characters (i.e., a character speaks one way in one chapter and then takes on a completely different speech pattern/attitude less than three chapters later) and it feels like the same person is speaking for many of the characters (speech patterns don't vary much from character to character, but conversations hinge a lot on emotions). In the referred-to instances, the dialogue comes off as "plastic."
4. Certain situations described in the book don't play out even remotely like they would in the real world.
5. I mentioned this in my prior review, but there are a substantial number of textual errors. I started to make notes and highlights in my kindle copy, but decided to stop around Chapter 42 because it was taking too long to read this and I was losing information I'd already read. In the notes that I made, I didn't make it a point to mark every single thing that I thought was a grammar/spelling/punctuation error, but there are some big red flags:
6. Also mentioned in my prior review, I'm having a hard time reconciling 130+ chapters for a less-than-400-page book. There were a lot of chapters in the second half of the book that could've been combined and there were opportunities for rewording that could've helped the flow.
Ultimately, the reason I gave this two stars is because I appreciated the author's dedication to the genre, and because I appreciated that the author tried to take a faith-based approach to writing this. It's not easy to do either in a well-established genre when you're trying to create an identity for your writing. However, in the end, I can't overlook all of the things mentioned above.
March 12, 2019
I was asked by the author to review this novel last year, but due to a busy review schedule, I only go to it now.
I enjoyed this novel more than I thought I would. What influenced this was reading was two particular reviews on Goodreads. These reviewers were critical of Suddoth’s construction of the novel, too many chapters, too much telling and not enough showing, incorrect procedures used by the Coast Guard and inappropriate behaviour and unprofessionalism displayed by two Officers, both of them lesser main characters.
There is the saying, “The Power of a Review!”. This is very true. This power of the reviewer’s words can have a positive and encouraging effect on a potential reader or the opposite. For me, it had the latter. I started this novel with a pre-conceived idea of what I was going to experience based on those two reviews. I hate that! Would I have still read it if I was not asked by the author to read it? Good question. I can answer that I would have. I have the attitude that because a review is subjective, I might not find those issues as I read that novel. I have found this to be true many times before. What started out as a negative impression from a reviewer or from some other source that influenced my attitude before reading the novel has turned out to be not the case for me as I read it. I actually experienced the opposite! I can say also that there would be readers who would not agree with my reviews when I show positive, encouraging or not so positive content. Subjectivity wins the game every time!
For Suddoth’s novel, I can say that I did not experience these negative issues from these two aforementioned reviewers. If there was telling and not showing, this writing breach did not have the effect that it is described as doing: not enabling the reader to be engaged with the characters and plot. I looked out for evidence of this breach but did not find them. Maybe the intrigue and suspense kept me distracted from this. Maybe I am not proficient at identifying when telling or showing exists (the latter being the standard in effective authorship)! However, I was still engaged with the characters and the plot. I was not just an observer but was as if I was there with Solomon and experienced what he did. I was not aware of the incorrect procedure followed by the Coast Guard as I (and most likely the majority of readers) would not be aware of this breach unless you knew how the CG operated or specifically what particular code was breached (the aforementioned reviewer quoted the actual Title and Section of the United States Code pertaining to Law Enforcement).
The author should have researched this latter issue. Absolutely. If he did but then deliberately used poetic licence on this CG procedure to advance the plotline involving one of the main characters, then that is a risk the author takes. If it comes back to bite him, then he has learnt a valuable lesson on doing this next time.
Yes, I picked up the personality clash between the two Police Officers and maybe again, Suddoth has deliberately used poetic licence here to show the tension between Officers when they are under pressure to solve an increasing murder rate from prolific serial killers (The Carbon Monoxide Killers). It did add suspense and showed that these clashes are normal and expected from human interaction and people just being people. This happens in all walks of life and in relationships. I have seen this depiction between officers in many TV shows and movies. That is not to say that it should be continually depicted like this, but it is. And yes, I do appreciate it when an author adheres to and depicts the reality of these things in their novels. There is an art to poetic licence in doing it well, readers do not want to go from the sublime to the ridiculous!
For a début novel, Suddoth has made a positive impression. He writes well, he has structured the novel to flow well, there are not many peaks or troughs that slow the pace and result in disengagement for the reader. You never knew what to expect next.
I loved the speculative theme,
"What if your dreams of last night…
“Top story tonight,” read the senior news anchor. Solo held his breath, waiting to hear about the kidnapping or the death of the older couple. He had already had two of his dreams strangely come true with frightening detail, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was some cosmic coincidence; a million to one chance that all his dreams actually occurred. Could this really be happening?
Became your reality for today?"
This forms the basis for the suspense, action and plot developments throughout the novel. Suddoth has set this against a plotline involving serial killers and how his dream based premonitions contribute to ceasing the serial killings and exposing the killers. However, Suddoth has another major plotline running along this one. One of his premonitions affects him deeply where he acts alone in solving the crime committed in one of these dreams.
It is here and in other dreams sequences that I get concerned about this novel and the spiritual basis of it. This is not directed at the plotline at all or the characters. It directly relates to where the main character gets his ability to have premonitional dreams. Suddoth does not state directly that the ability to have these dreams is a gift from God. The only associations he includes are the following,
I didn’t understand how it was her fault, but if getting these dreams saved my best friend’s life, I will take them as a gift from God.
and
Once I say without a doubt that God cannot use signs or dreams, I am basically telling God that he can’t do something. So, I have come to realize that in my arrogance, I was belittling God’s mysterious ways. So, yes, I belive God can use these mystical dreams or signs. That God can speak through visions or revelations. That God can use mere men, who are but mists in a rainstorm, to give some insight on what He wants them to do. Once I say that God can’t do that, I am as faithless as…… (referring to Jeremiah, one of his atheistic friends)
This attitude of not knowing that they are a gift from God is where I have my concern. The novel’s description states that Solomon is a man of faith,
Solomon “Solo” Davis is a man of faith, but even for him not all things are believable. How quickly his life is turned upside when he comes face to face with one of his doubts. Can he believe in something that is so impossible?
As a believer, our faith reinforces that we serve a supernatural God. Plenty of examples in the Bible and in the testimony of others, Christian and non-Christian alike, of this supernaturalism in the circumstances people have found themselves in that defy science and physics. Plenty of examples of supernatural gifting that are described in the Bible is given to Christians in the early church and that continue to be given today. So based on this, why does the author not connect this ability/gifting of these premonitional dreams of being from God seeing he is a believer? And if this was so, would not then he be in prayer specifically asking how to act on these dreams, either just after receiving them or in the hours, days after? I would consider this to be part of walking in the Spirit as the Bible encourages us to do or seeking His guidance as to act as again, the Bible encourages us to do!
Another concern I have is that by Suddoth having Sol say that God can use these “signs or dreams, these mystical dreams or signs, visions or revelations”, this does not attribute them as being from God. If not, where do they come from? They are not common to the majority of the population or part of our physical and mental function. If we believe God is the Creator, then all things have been created by Him and for Him. Not attributing the occurrence of these premonitional dreams to God, weakens Suddoth’s depiction of the supernatural elements of this novel as being from God or that Sol needed to act on them solely based on how God would encourage him to act, rather than his actions on them being in his own strength and in his judgement or sometimes on an emotional whim, impulsively.
Yes, constructing the novel in this way, i.e lack of definite divine attribution (of Sol’s ability to have premonitional dreams) and seeking divine guidance does contribute to the suspense and action of the plot. Yes, it does draw the reader in further, yes, it does make you think what would I do in Sol’s place? Would I react the same? But, if as a believer, in a relationship with God, then any ability and talent they have originated from God and due to this relationship, they would be wanting to use this ability His way by seeking His guidance and acting on it in the aftermath of receiving the premonitional dream.
However, there would have been just as much or more suspense, action if this novel had been crafted as outlined above. I could see it is not just entertaining but strengthening of the Christian’s faith, uplifting as well, educating in spiritual warfare, a positive witness of who God is; His Sovereignty, Omniscience, Omnipotent, Omnipresence. It would also show the importance of living and acting in accordance with His Will, being obedient and surrendered to Him as part of this process and not acting in one’s own strength but in God’s. Again, this is what His Word (Bible) instructs us to do.
To help Sol understand where his dreams are coming from, Suddoth introduces another character with the same ability and experience as Sol, but this character has had them for years while Sol has only had his for a short time. This is effective in seeing how someone else deals with this phenomenon but it only helps Sol to a point as he realises that he cannot deal with them the way that the other character has. It even ends up with this character developing a better understanding of this phenomenon by assisting Sol in how he is understanding his experiences. However, it is here that the difference faith made between them both. While this other character took a more passive attitude towards these dreams and in doing so did not risk her physical and emotional safety, Sol took the opposite, his was one of action, impulsiveness and believing that he needed to exact a positive outcome as doing nothing invalidates the reason for having them in the first place. He felt it was the right thing to do. What a team they did make when they worked together in acting on the dreams they both had!
I kept thinking throughout this novel that because Suddoth has constructed this novel with no direct and confirmed connection of Sol’s ability to have these dreams being God-given and his follow through based on God’s direction, then why depict Sol as a man of faith, a Christian? It would have still been a suspenseful, action-packed and fast-paced if Sol was not depicted as a Christian. It just would have lacked some of the depth of the why and the who on their occurrence and less of a supernatural thriller.
However, this would have meant that Suddoth would not have included the other Christian/Biblical themes of forgiveness and the theological debate about whether God exists as he has in the narratives between himself and Jeremiah.
Suddoth has handled these well, I loved the theme of forgiveness here. Sol’s testimony to another character as to why he forgave the murderer of his wife is a powerful narrative and shows the power of forgiveness and what it does for the person forgiving the other. This Biblical principle is depicted as it should be based on its origin (Jesus and the Bible) and does encourage and strengthen one’s faith and challenges all of us, especially Christians, why we need to forgive and how this will not hinder our relationship with others but especially with God. And what a great witness this is to the unbeliever or those seeking Him. This latter was depicted as realistically as possible and as I have typically seen in others as depicted in the reactions of Isaac and Amanda Fiddlestein when Sol suggested they forgive the perpetrator and the positive effects it has on their lives and enables them to move on positively in their lives free from the bitterness and anger that unforgiveness imprisons them in Sol bases this on his faith and his own experience from when he forgave his wife’s killer.
Suddoth has also depicted well how to have a friendship with an atheist and have a healthy debate about whether God exists or not, without coming across as being judgemental, critical or pompous, which unfortunately is a true criticism against Christians. I applaud Suddoth for depicting Sol like this to represent an effective witness of Christianity and Christ towards those who do not believe.
I must confess, I do not like novels where the author depicts many instances of how the victims are murdered. I was hoping that Suddoth would show this only in the first instance so the reader would then know how the next victims are murdered This would not deter how they obtained their murderous moniker, The Carbon Monoxide Killers. Multiple instances and details of how someone is murdered produces too much anxiety and tenseness in me while reading this. I hate these descriptions but understand that they are necessary to a point in the creation of a novel that involves a serial killer or to add suspense, mystery and the curiosity of a “whodunnit?”.
Suddoth has definitely mastered this side of being a novelist. He set up the method of killing, the influences and reasons why the two engaged in this destructive and evil behaviour without providing too much of these from their past that encouraged this way of life without it bordering on being an exposé of A Criminal Mind TV episode! This plotline was a major one that dominated the novel while surfacing in all its suspense and thriller-ness between the subplots of Sol investigating his dreams and deciding what to do with them, coping with the loss of his wife, developing a friendship with Elizabeth and Jeremiah and a potential romance with Jennifer. My anxiety lessened when I read of these subplots and heightened when Suddoth returned me to the chapters about The Carbon Monoxide Killers.
As with any suspenseful and thriller mystery, the author had all the plotlines converge together to create one deepening and heart racing conclusion. So it was with this one. It is edge of your seat reading and the and the icing on the cake was the twist at the end that I did not perceive. And just when you get over that one, Suddoth adds one more!
All in all, this is one satisfying novel. This author shows a lot of potential for mastering this craft of novel-writing. This is an encouraging start. I do look forward to more from him. I pray he develops the Christian/Biblical aspects better in subsequent novels.
Strongly Recommended.
The three ratings below are based on my discernment:
World Building 4/5
Characters 4/5
Story 4/5
The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:
Spiritual Level 3/5
Enemy Spiritual Level 0/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
I enjoyed this novel more than I thought I would. What influenced this was reading was two particular reviews on Goodreads. These reviewers were critical of Suddoth’s construction of the novel, too many chapters, too much telling and not enough showing, incorrect procedures used by the Coast Guard and inappropriate behaviour and unprofessionalism displayed by two Officers, both of them lesser main characters.
There is the saying, “The Power of a Review!”. This is very true. This power of the reviewer’s words can have a positive and encouraging effect on a potential reader or the opposite. For me, it had the latter. I started this novel with a pre-conceived idea of what I was going to experience based on those two reviews. I hate that! Would I have still read it if I was not asked by the author to read it? Good question. I can answer that I would have. I have the attitude that because a review is subjective, I might not find those issues as I read that novel. I have found this to be true many times before. What started out as a negative impression from a reviewer or from some other source that influenced my attitude before reading the novel has turned out to be not the case for me as I read it. I actually experienced the opposite! I can say also that there would be readers who would not agree with my reviews when I show positive, encouraging or not so positive content. Subjectivity wins the game every time!
For Suddoth’s novel, I can say that I did not experience these negative issues from these two aforementioned reviewers. If there was telling and not showing, this writing breach did not have the effect that it is described as doing: not enabling the reader to be engaged with the characters and plot. I looked out for evidence of this breach but did not find them. Maybe the intrigue and suspense kept me distracted from this. Maybe I am not proficient at identifying when telling or showing exists (the latter being the standard in effective authorship)! However, I was still engaged with the characters and the plot. I was not just an observer but was as if I was there with Solomon and experienced what he did. I was not aware of the incorrect procedure followed by the Coast Guard as I (and most likely the majority of readers) would not be aware of this breach unless you knew how the CG operated or specifically what particular code was breached (the aforementioned reviewer quoted the actual Title and Section of the United States Code pertaining to Law Enforcement).
The author should have researched this latter issue. Absolutely. If he did but then deliberately used poetic licence on this CG procedure to advance the plotline involving one of the main characters, then that is a risk the author takes. If it comes back to bite him, then he has learnt a valuable lesson on doing this next time.
Yes, I picked up the personality clash between the two Police Officers and maybe again, Suddoth has deliberately used poetic licence here to show the tension between Officers when they are under pressure to solve an increasing murder rate from prolific serial killers (The Carbon Monoxide Killers). It did add suspense and showed that these clashes are normal and expected from human interaction and people just being people. This happens in all walks of life and in relationships. I have seen this depiction between officers in many TV shows and movies. That is not to say that it should be continually depicted like this, but it is. And yes, I do appreciate it when an author adheres to and depicts the reality of these things in their novels. There is an art to poetic licence in doing it well, readers do not want to go from the sublime to the ridiculous!
For a début novel, Suddoth has made a positive impression. He writes well, he has structured the novel to flow well, there are not many peaks or troughs that slow the pace and result in disengagement for the reader. You never knew what to expect next.
I loved the speculative theme,
"What if your dreams of last night…
“Top story tonight,” read the senior news anchor. Solo held his breath, waiting to hear about the kidnapping or the death of the older couple. He had already had two of his dreams strangely come true with frightening detail, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was some cosmic coincidence; a million to one chance that all his dreams actually occurred. Could this really be happening?
Became your reality for today?"
This forms the basis for the suspense, action and plot developments throughout the novel. Suddoth has set this against a plotline involving serial killers and how his dream based premonitions contribute to ceasing the serial killings and exposing the killers. However, Suddoth has another major plotline running along this one. One of his premonitions affects him deeply where he acts alone in solving the crime committed in one of these dreams.
It is here and in other dreams sequences that I get concerned about this novel and the spiritual basis of it. This is not directed at the plotline at all or the characters. It directly relates to where the main character gets his ability to have premonitional dreams. Suddoth does not state directly that the ability to have these dreams is a gift from God. The only associations he includes are the following,
I didn’t understand how it was her fault, but if getting these dreams saved my best friend’s life, I will take them as a gift from God.
and
Once I say without a doubt that God cannot use signs or dreams, I am basically telling God that he can’t do something. So, I have come to realize that in my arrogance, I was belittling God’s mysterious ways. So, yes, I belive God can use these mystical dreams or signs. That God can speak through visions or revelations. That God can use mere men, who are but mists in a rainstorm, to give some insight on what He wants them to do. Once I say that God can’t do that, I am as faithless as…… (referring to Jeremiah, one of his atheistic friends)
This attitude of not knowing that they are a gift from God is where I have my concern. The novel’s description states that Solomon is a man of faith,
Solomon “Solo” Davis is a man of faith, but even for him not all things are believable. How quickly his life is turned upside when he comes face to face with one of his doubts. Can he believe in something that is so impossible?
As a believer, our faith reinforces that we serve a supernatural God. Plenty of examples in the Bible and in the testimony of others, Christian and non-Christian alike, of this supernaturalism in the circumstances people have found themselves in that defy science and physics. Plenty of examples of supernatural gifting that are described in the Bible is given to Christians in the early church and that continue to be given today. So based on this, why does the author not connect this ability/gifting of these premonitional dreams of being from God seeing he is a believer? And if this was so, would not then he be in prayer specifically asking how to act on these dreams, either just after receiving them or in the hours, days after? I would consider this to be part of walking in the Spirit as the Bible encourages us to do or seeking His guidance as to act as again, the Bible encourages us to do!
Another concern I have is that by Suddoth having Sol say that God can use these “signs or dreams, these mystical dreams or signs, visions or revelations”, this does not attribute them as being from God. If not, where do they come from? They are not common to the majority of the population or part of our physical and mental function. If we believe God is the Creator, then all things have been created by Him and for Him. Not attributing the occurrence of these premonitional dreams to God, weakens Suddoth’s depiction of the supernatural elements of this novel as being from God or that Sol needed to act on them solely based on how God would encourage him to act, rather than his actions on them being in his own strength and in his judgement or sometimes on an emotional whim, impulsively.
Yes, constructing the novel in this way, i.e lack of definite divine attribution (of Sol’s ability to have premonitional dreams) and seeking divine guidance does contribute to the suspense and action of the plot. Yes, it does draw the reader in further, yes, it does make you think what would I do in Sol’s place? Would I react the same? But, if as a believer, in a relationship with God, then any ability and talent they have originated from God and due to this relationship, they would be wanting to use this ability His way by seeking His guidance and acting on it in the aftermath of receiving the premonitional dream.
However, there would have been just as much or more suspense, action if this novel had been crafted as outlined above. I could see it is not just entertaining but strengthening of the Christian’s faith, uplifting as well, educating in spiritual warfare, a positive witness of who God is; His Sovereignty, Omniscience, Omnipotent, Omnipresence. It would also show the importance of living and acting in accordance with His Will, being obedient and surrendered to Him as part of this process and not acting in one’s own strength but in God’s. Again, this is what His Word (Bible) instructs us to do.
To help Sol understand where his dreams are coming from, Suddoth introduces another character with the same ability and experience as Sol, but this character has had them for years while Sol has only had his for a short time. This is effective in seeing how someone else deals with this phenomenon but it only helps Sol to a point as he realises that he cannot deal with them the way that the other character has. It even ends up with this character developing a better understanding of this phenomenon by assisting Sol in how he is understanding his experiences. However, it is here that the difference faith made between them both. While this other character took a more passive attitude towards these dreams and in doing so did not risk her physical and emotional safety, Sol took the opposite, his was one of action, impulsiveness and believing that he needed to exact a positive outcome as doing nothing invalidates the reason for having them in the first place. He felt it was the right thing to do. What a team they did make when they worked together in acting on the dreams they both had!
I kept thinking throughout this novel that because Suddoth has constructed this novel with no direct and confirmed connection of Sol’s ability to have these dreams being God-given and his follow through based on God’s direction, then why depict Sol as a man of faith, a Christian? It would have still been a suspenseful, action-packed and fast-paced if Sol was not depicted as a Christian. It just would have lacked some of the depth of the why and the who on their occurrence and less of a supernatural thriller.
However, this would have meant that Suddoth would not have included the other Christian/Biblical themes of forgiveness and the theological debate about whether God exists as he has in the narratives between himself and Jeremiah.
Suddoth has handled these well, I loved the theme of forgiveness here. Sol’s testimony to another character as to why he forgave the murderer of his wife is a powerful narrative and shows the power of forgiveness and what it does for the person forgiving the other. This Biblical principle is depicted as it should be based on its origin (Jesus and the Bible) and does encourage and strengthen one’s faith and challenges all of us, especially Christians, why we need to forgive and how this will not hinder our relationship with others but especially with God. And what a great witness this is to the unbeliever or those seeking Him. This latter was depicted as realistically as possible and as I have typically seen in others as depicted in the reactions of Isaac and Amanda Fiddlestein when Sol suggested they forgive the perpetrator and the positive effects it has on their lives and enables them to move on positively in their lives free from the bitterness and anger that unforgiveness imprisons them in Sol bases this on his faith and his own experience from when he forgave his wife’s killer.
Suddoth has also depicted well how to have a friendship with an atheist and have a healthy debate about whether God exists or not, without coming across as being judgemental, critical or pompous, which unfortunately is a true criticism against Christians. I applaud Suddoth for depicting Sol like this to represent an effective witness of Christianity and Christ towards those who do not believe.
I must confess, I do not like novels where the author depicts many instances of how the victims are murdered. I was hoping that Suddoth would show this only in the first instance so the reader would then know how the next victims are murdered This would not deter how they obtained their murderous moniker, The Carbon Monoxide Killers. Multiple instances and details of how someone is murdered produces too much anxiety and tenseness in me while reading this. I hate these descriptions but understand that they are necessary to a point in the creation of a novel that involves a serial killer or to add suspense, mystery and the curiosity of a “whodunnit?”.
Suddoth has definitely mastered this side of being a novelist. He set up the method of killing, the influences and reasons why the two engaged in this destructive and evil behaviour without providing too much of these from their past that encouraged this way of life without it bordering on being an exposé of A Criminal Mind TV episode! This plotline was a major one that dominated the novel while surfacing in all its suspense and thriller-ness between the subplots of Sol investigating his dreams and deciding what to do with them, coping with the loss of his wife, developing a friendship with Elizabeth and Jeremiah and a potential romance with Jennifer. My anxiety lessened when I read of these subplots and heightened when Suddoth returned me to the chapters about The Carbon Monoxide Killers.
As with any suspenseful and thriller mystery, the author had all the plotlines converge together to create one deepening and heart racing conclusion. So it was with this one. It is edge of your seat reading and the and the icing on the cake was the twist at the end that I did not perceive. And just when you get over that one, Suddoth adds one more!
All in all, this is one satisfying novel. This author shows a lot of potential for mastering this craft of novel-writing. This is an encouraging start. I do look forward to more from him. I pray he develops the Christian/Biblical aspects better in subsequent novels.
Strongly Recommended.
The three ratings below are based on my discernment:
World Building 4/5
Characters 4/5
Story 4/5
The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System for Rating Books by David Bergsland:
Spiritual Level 3/5
Enemy Spiritual Level 0/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
March 2, 2023
Solomon's Dreams is an exciting thriller with an intriguing plot and a complex protagonist. The plot revolves around Solomon "Solo" Davis, a deeply religious man who struggles to believe in certain apparently impossible things. When his dreams begin to come true as a result of a chance meeting at dinner, Solo must decide whether he can believe in something so improbable.
As Solo's dreams become more vivid and dangerous, he begins to suspect that they are linked to a duo of serial killers terrorizing the city. However, Solo must assert the possibility that his dreams are merely a coincidence.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Suddoth's
writing is excellent, and the plot is well developed, making the story easy to follow and exciting to read. This is a great option for fans of suspense and intrigue, as well as those interested in exploring deep themes like faith and belief.
As Solo's dreams become more vivid and dangerous, he begins to suspect that they are linked to a duo of serial killers terrorizing the city. However, Solo must assert the possibility that his dreams are merely a coincidence.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Suddoth's
writing is excellent, and the plot is well developed, making the story easy to follow and exciting to read. This is a great option for fans of suspense and intrigue, as well as those interested in exploring deep themes like faith and belief.
March 1, 2023
As a huge fan of psychological thrillers, I can say that Solomon's Dreams: The Hunting at Huntington by Eric Suddoth is a very promising series-opener. When I started reading it, I didn't know what to expect. It is like an open-story that leaves readers guessing what will happen next. I loved how the book brimmed with so much intrigue, mystery and unpredictability from start to finish. What I especially loved about it was also the main character "Solo". He is one of the rare protagonists that I find really likeable. There might be some grammar errors you find here but setting that factor aside, it was still a good story as a whole. I wonder what comes next in the next book. I'm excited to find out!
March 2, 2023
The Hunting at Huntington is the first book in the series Solomon’s Dreams and has Solomon “Solo” Davis as protagonist. I liked this character a lot. He is interesting; a man of integrity and great intelligence. The story revolves around him and it is driven to a satisfying end by him. The plot, which mixes mystery, suspense and thrilling events, is well created and developed. It contains enough twists and turns to make this novel an unputdownable one. When Solomon starts having strange dreams of a murder scenes, he doesn’t know what to do at first. Then, as the dreams continue, he will get more and more involved in the situation and will try to stop the killings. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.
March 3, 2023
An excellent thriller
This is definitely an engaging and absorbing novel! “Solomon´s Dreams” is the first book in the series called “The Hunting at Huntington” penned by Eric Suddoth. I started reading it and I couldn't put it down.
Solomon Davis is a believer who always finds himself at a crossroads when he starts dreaming weirdly. He starts thinking that his dreams might be revelations but he doubts whether he can save potential victims or not.
The author's writing style is exquisite because any reader can feel inside the plot. In fact, while I was reading, I had this feeling of uncertainty and worry about the protagonist´s dreams. It's an engaging thriller with many surprising turns and twists. It's definitely a must read! For sure, I'll continue with the saga.
This is definitely an engaging and absorbing novel! “Solomon´s Dreams” is the first book in the series called “The Hunting at Huntington” penned by Eric Suddoth. I started reading it and I couldn't put it down.
Solomon Davis is a believer who always finds himself at a crossroads when he starts dreaming weirdly. He starts thinking that his dreams might be revelations but he doubts whether he can save potential victims or not.
The author's writing style is exquisite because any reader can feel inside the plot. In fact, while I was reading, I had this feeling of uncertainty and worry about the protagonist´s dreams. It's an engaging thriller with many surprising turns and twists. It's definitely a must read! For sure, I'll continue with the saga.
March 3, 2023
Solomon’s Dreams by Eric Suddoth is an engaging psychological mystery with suspense dripping until the very end. Solomon’s life is upheaval when he encounters dreams that are very murderous in nature. He is a man of faith, but he himself doesn’t believe things so easily. Solomon’s confusion is all high as he is unable to decipher the reasons behind such dreams, will he be able to control it, or is it a sign to save those victims. Confused and alarmed as his dreams come true, Solomon must do something to understand it all. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book, the characters are well developed, and the sarcasm is unmatched. The author ‘s narration is on point, and the storyline keeps you guessing till the end. I highly recommend it.
March 3, 2023
Solomon's Dreams: The Hunting at Huntington is the first installment in the Solomon Series by Eric Suddoth. It is an incredibly suspenseful psychic mystery. Every turn was unexpected, even though it reads like an open book—that is, the entire time multiple perspectives are narrated, including the antagonists’, and it’s our task to figure out what is and will happen. In this way it reminds of The Da Vinci Code. Solo’s abilities, seeing dreams of serial killers, caught my attention as I’m a fan of the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Series by Byrd Nash in which a medium solves mysteries. The opening quote too, “Then Solomon awoke – and he realized it had been a dream. 1 Kings 3:15” was perfect for this book.
March 2, 2023
Eric Sudoth is the writer of the suspense novel "Solomon's Dreams: The Hunting at Huntington"; in this first book, the author introduces us to Solomon "Solo" Davis, a man of faith, but who still has some doubts about some issues. Could his faith be bigger than his doubts? After a chance meeting at dinner, his dreams begin to come true.
I think author Sudoth did a great job with this work, since he managed to combine aspects of faith with fiction. It is an original book and in turn super engaging. I look forward to reading the entire series and seeing the protagonist in action again. Highly recommended!
I think author Sudoth did a great job with this work, since he managed to combine aspects of faith with fiction. It is an original book and in turn super engaging. I look forward to reading the entire series and seeing the protagonist in action again. Highly recommended!
March 2, 2023
This book is highly engaging and well written. I like how it mixes dreams with reality in such a fascinating way that sometimes the limit between them isn’t clear.
I have already bought the second book in the series since I was excited and anxious to know a bit more about the characters.
The plot is perfectly developed with just the right number of details to avoid becoming boring.
Let me say that the story is a bit long but at any rate heavy, it's a great read and no one should miss it. Contemporary, well-researched and full of intelligence and action, this is an outstanding book that I’ll always remember.
I have already bought the second book in the series since I was excited and anxious to know a bit more about the characters.
The plot is perfectly developed with just the right number of details to avoid becoming boring.
Let me say that the story is a bit long but at any rate heavy, it's a great read and no one should miss it. Contemporary, well-researched and full of intelligence and action, this is an outstanding book that I’ll always remember.
March 3, 2023
This book will have you hooked from the start. "Solomon's Dreams: The Hunting at Huntington" is the first series of psychological thriller books by Eric Suddoth, which tells the story of Solomon Davis, whose dreams begin to come true, and he needs to figure out what he is going to do with those dreams in which there are people who will die. His decisions lead you into this incredible story with a great plot. The author gives us a good description of the characters and makes us get involved in the story.
For people who enjoy these types of books, I would like to recommend this thriller. This book has everything to be an interesting read.
For people who enjoy these types of books, I would like to recommend this thriller. This book has everything to be an interesting read.
March 3, 2023
Author Suddoth has given us a literary masterclass here since he honored the genre and seemed to have put all his knowledge into play in order to offer us such a delightful read. After reading this first installment of a promising series, I realized it made me quite simply makes us a better, more observant and more understanding reader.
Suspense can be felt right from the first page and the reading gets more and more joyful and playful as long as we flip through the pages.
If I have to summarize my review in just one sentence, I would say that this is a book full of wisdom, one to drink in slowly.
Suspense can be felt right from the first page and the reading gets more and more joyful and playful as long as we flip through the pages.
If I have to summarize my review in just one sentence, I would say that this is a book full of wisdom, one to drink in slowly.
March 3, 2023
“Solomon’s Dreams” by Eric Suddoth is a pretty solid thriller/action novel with supernatural elements. I am happy to see that the author has accepted reader feedback and has had his novel newly edited! It’s encouraging to see indie authors take editing seriously, as excellent story ideas otherwise usually fall flat. The protagonist of the novel has to grapple with a clash between his faith and the dreams he is having. Are they evil, or are they meant to help him save others? This novel is a good choice for fans of Christian fiction, although this doesn’t mean that the story is in any way tame – plenty of violence in this story (so sensitive readers beware!).
March 4, 2023
filled with mystery
Solomon’s Dreams: The Hunting and Huntington is the first installment in the series by Eric Suddoth and features a main character that is quickly immersed into a world of mystery and uncertainty. The author sets the scene well, with depictions that play out as if readers were watching the events unfold in a live setting. The plot has a steady build and is crafted with ease for a reader’s vision. I would recommend this story to any reader who has a taste for mystery and enjoys a strong lead character. I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series and expect the suspense and mystery to keep me engaged just like this one did.
Solomon’s Dreams: The Hunting and Huntington is the first installment in the series by Eric Suddoth and features a main character that is quickly immersed into a world of mystery and uncertainty. The author sets the scene well, with depictions that play out as if readers were watching the events unfold in a live setting. The plot has a steady build and is crafted with ease for a reader’s vision. I would recommend this story to any reader who has a taste for mystery and enjoys a strong lead character. I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series and expect the suspense and mystery to keep me engaged just like this one did.
December 10, 2018
Good story, interesting premise
I liked the characters and the story was a different one. Although there was a tv show some years ago based on a similar plot line, this was the first time I had encountered it in written form, so it was unexpected and refreshing. I have only one complaint, and it is that at times I needed to reread ocassional passages where common grammatical or punctuation errors were encountered. It was somewhat distracting, but did not take away from the story.
I liked the characters and the story was a different one. Although there was a tv show some years ago based on a similar plot line, this was the first time I had encountered it in written form, so it was unexpected and refreshing. I have only one complaint, and it is that at times I needed to reread ocassional passages where common grammatical or punctuation errors were encountered. It was somewhat distracting, but did not take away from the story.
January 18, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. The premise is great, the plot is action packed, the twist at the end was spot on, and there isn’t sex and swearing. BUT I couldn’t get past the things that other reviewers have pointed out: spelling errors, stereotypical characters, telling not showing, and head hopping in the middle of scenes. These things made it difficult to really immerse myself in the book.
I understand Mr. Suddoth is writing another book. If the issues from this one are cleaned up for the next one, I think I’m going to like his style.
I understand Mr. Suddoth is writing another book. If the issues from this one are cleaned up for the next one, I think I’m going to like his style.
March 3, 2023
This book presents a very engaging plot, a character who is presumably very religious but starts having dreams that do not follow that same path. This type of novel is one of my favorites because authors always surprise me with the twist and turns. It keeps the reader very involved with the story and the characters, that I must say are really well developed.
This first book in the series sets the tone to a very unique story; this is my first book of author Eric Suddoth and I'm in. "Solomon's Dreams" was a very enjoyable read; I can't wait to see what else Suddoth has in storage.
This first book in the series sets the tone to a very unique story; this is my first book of author Eric Suddoth and I'm in. "Solomon's Dreams" was a very enjoyable read; I can't wait to see what else Suddoth has in storage.
March 2, 2023
Dreams
Solomon Davis has disturbing dreams. So disturbing he wonders is they are real and if so, can he use the information to help prevent more murders? His faith undergoes a deep questioning as these dreams are more than he can decipher. This book is full of murder, mystery, and thoughts about faith. This is the first in a new series and while there is no cliffhanger, the next book is set up nicely in order to entice us to get the next book.
Solomon Davis has disturbing dreams. So disturbing he wonders is they are real and if so, can he use the information to help prevent more murders? His faith undergoes a deep questioning as these dreams are more than he can decipher. This book is full of murder, mystery, and thoughts about faith. This is the first in a new series and while there is no cliffhanger, the next book is set up nicely in order to entice us to get the next book.
March 11, 2020
Interesting story but......
This book is in serious need of a good copy edit. It is loaded with grammatical errors, using incorrect words (like antidote for anecdote), and an annoying overuse of similes, most of which are inappropriate and completely unnecessary. I have highlighted most of them. If this book had a good scrubbing it would get a much higher rating.
This book is in serious need of a good copy edit. It is loaded with grammatical errors, using incorrect words (like antidote for anecdote), and an annoying overuse of similes, most of which are inappropriate and completely unnecessary. I have highlighted most of them. If this book had a good scrubbing it would get a much higher rating.
Read
October 16, 2020I received this book through Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review. I'm sad to say I can't fulfill my review obligation because I presume my copy was corrupted I got as far as finishing chapter 21 then it jumped to chapter 63 ??. It seemed good up to that point.
February 21, 2019
A very enjoyable book. There were a few editing issues and at times I seemed to get lost, but it all came together in the end and I’m glad I read it.
February 11, 2020
Being a native from the DC area this book piqued my interest almost immediately. and then hooked me after the first few chapters. there was a time when the lines got a little blurred but honestly, I think that was the point. To make you think you know whats going on and then Bam!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological murder mysteries/ thrillers, or to anyone who is from the DC area. All around a good story!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological murder mysteries/ thrillers, or to anyone who is from the DC area. All around a good story!
February 14, 2021
Really good, especially for a self published novel. I've been told the descriptions of Washington D.C. are very accurate, so the author did their homework and the setting feels alive and real as a result. The best part of the book though, is great spiritual themes. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading book two.
May 23, 2019
To summarize the review below let me just say that this is a very interesting, unique, and entertaining novel that I enjoyed thoroughly. Overall, I have to say that this is very well written considering that this is Suddoth’s first book.
It’s hard to find original ideas that haven’t been done before. The premise of the story may be cliche (as most mystery novels are) but what sets this apart as unique is the plot of the story, the way in which the antagonists kill their victims. Suddoth has a mind for suspense, and he is able to bring back a sense of originality in the ways that his “bad guys” operate.” Aside from the actually plot itself though is Suddoth’s ability to efficiently produce character development as the story goes along. I found his characters to not only be relatable, but believable and I think we all have people like his characters in our lives. Suddoth has an exceptional talent for illustrating these characters and their unique attributes and personality traits. I have read other reviews that comment on Suddoth’s inaccurate portrayal of Law Enforcment in the story. If there is anyone who is thinking about not reading this book because of comments like that, let me fill you in...I am a Law Enforcement officer myself and I can tell you without a doubt that if Suddoth were to stick to realistic guidelines and procedures that the police use, it would make for a rather boring book. Police work is mostly boring, with a rare moment of true action that gets portrayed on TV. Even then though, most of what is on TV is fiction. Sure, he could improve some things pertaining to policing procedures and behavior, but I don’t think it it makes the story unworthy of praise.
One of the most difficult things to do in writing is to create dialogue that is believable and not cheesy. Not only is it the most difficult thing to do, but it is the most critical to writing a novel people will read. For a first book, I can say that Suddoth does a fine job, with room to improve of course. Some of the speech in the book is choppy, but it is certainly not cheesy. I think if he continues to write and create works of literature, his dialogue will improve, as will his overall abilities to write.
All in all, excellent job for your first novel, and I recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a good mystery novel, with the influence of religion woven into the story.
It’s hard to find original ideas that haven’t been done before. The premise of the story may be cliche (as most mystery novels are) but what sets this apart as unique is the plot of the story, the way in which the antagonists kill their victims. Suddoth has a mind for suspense, and he is able to bring back a sense of originality in the ways that his “bad guys” operate.” Aside from the actually plot itself though is Suddoth’s ability to efficiently produce character development as the story goes along. I found his characters to not only be relatable, but believable and I think we all have people like his characters in our lives. Suddoth has an exceptional talent for illustrating these characters and their unique attributes and personality traits. I have read other reviews that comment on Suddoth’s inaccurate portrayal of Law Enforcment in the story. If there is anyone who is thinking about not reading this book because of comments like that, let me fill you in...I am a Law Enforcement officer myself and I can tell you without a doubt that if Suddoth were to stick to realistic guidelines and procedures that the police use, it would make for a rather boring book. Police work is mostly boring, with a rare moment of true action that gets portrayed on TV. Even then though, most of what is on TV is fiction. Sure, he could improve some things pertaining to policing procedures and behavior, but I don’t think it it makes the story unworthy of praise.
One of the most difficult things to do in writing is to create dialogue that is believable and not cheesy. Not only is it the most difficult thing to do, but it is the most critical to writing a novel people will read. For a first book, I can say that Suddoth does a fine job, with room to improve of course. Some of the speech in the book is choppy, but it is certainly not cheesy. I think if he continues to write and create works of literature, his dialogue will improve, as will his overall abilities to write.
All in all, excellent job for your first novel, and I recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a good mystery novel, with the influence of religion woven into the story.
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