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Faces in the Fire
Four lost souls on a collision course with either disaster or redemption. A random community of Faces in the Fire. Meet Kurt, a truck-driver-turned-sculptor with no memory of his past. Corinne, an e-mail spammer whose lymphoma isn't responding to treatment. Grace, a tattoo artist with an invented existence and a taste for heroin. And Stan, a reluctant hit man haunted by his terrifying gift for killing. They don't know each other, at least not yet. But something--or someone--is at work in the fabric of their lives, weaving them all together. A catfish, a series of numbers scribbled on a napkin, a devastating fire, and something mysterious. Something that could send them hurtling down the highway to disaster--or down the road to redemption. But they won't know which is which until they've managed to say yes to the whispers in their souls.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2009
7 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Hines
5 books65 followersTL Hines writes "Noir Bizarre" stories, mixing mysteries with oddities in books such as Waking Lazarus, The Dead Whisper On, and The Unseen, Faces in the Fire, and The Falling Away.
Currently, he’s writing and directing a feature film adaptation of his first novel, Waking Lazarus, with a Kickstarter campaign currently active at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Currently, he’s writing and directing a feature film adaptation of his first novel, Waking Lazarus, with a Kickstarter campaign currently active at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 28, 2009
Four different folks from four different worlds affected by a series of digits and the image of a catfish.
In T. L. Hines "Faces in the Fire: Where lives Collide" I was intrigued by the weaving of the storyline; somewhat educated about cyber fraud and assassins; and entertained by the intersection of the four main characters.
After reading 'Waking Lazarus' (the story of a man who clinically died three times but was alive at the end of the novel), I was anxious to read more of T. L. Hines work. He writing is witty, humorous, and cleverly interesting.
There are four 'stanzas' to the book each telling the story of one of the four main characters at a crucial point in their lives. Some scenes are revisited from other viewpoints depending on which stanza you are reading.
First there is Kurt, the truck driver/sculptor who faces the fire with his odd but entertaining ability to hear voices from its previous owners.
Then the terminal cancer patient Corrine, who is computer whiz who utilized her talent in the 'bottom feeder' field of computer fraud.
And, then there is Grace whose abandonment of her family and career as a tattoo artist has her seeing images in her artistry.
And finally Stan, the reluctant assassin with the strange ability to kill with his touch.
Each stanza weaves a thread that flows nicely together at the ending (which is somewhat unique as well).
This is my second T. L. Hines book and he is quickly becoming my favorite suspense author especially since he can weave such an interesting story using ability alone adding none of the vulgar and profane elements.
In T. L. Hines "Faces in the Fire: Where lives Collide" I was intrigued by the weaving of the storyline; somewhat educated about cyber fraud and assassins; and entertained by the intersection of the four main characters.
After reading 'Waking Lazarus' (the story of a man who clinically died three times but was alive at the end of the novel), I was anxious to read more of T. L. Hines work. He writing is witty, humorous, and cleverly interesting.
There are four 'stanzas' to the book each telling the story of one of the four main characters at a crucial point in their lives. Some scenes are revisited from other viewpoints depending on which stanza you are reading.
First there is Kurt, the truck driver/sculptor who faces the fire with his odd but entertaining ability to hear voices from its previous owners.
Then the terminal cancer patient Corrine, who is computer whiz who utilized her talent in the 'bottom feeder' field of computer fraud.
And, then there is Grace whose abandonment of her family and career as a tattoo artist has her seeing images in her artistry.
And finally Stan, the reluctant assassin with the strange ability to kill with his touch.
Each stanza weaves a thread that flows nicely together at the ending (which is somewhat unique as well).
This is my second T. L. Hines book and he is quickly becoming my favorite suspense author especially since he can weave such an interesting story using ability alone adding none of the vulgar and profane elements.
July 26, 2009
After reading "Faces in the Fire", I'm not too sure whether author T.L. Hines is extremely troubled or extremely talented...maybe both at the same time?
This is a story that begins with chapter thirty-four, then comes thirty-nine, then fifteen, then forty and well, I guess you get it by now. But amazingly, the story holds together and moves forward coherently. It's an overall book with four interconnected stories about disparate people whose lives interconnect, sometimes in ways they don't even know. Yet it all works together and the ending surprised even me (what hubris!).
"Faces in the Fire" is marketed as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. The fiction and suspense I get, but the Christian eludes me other than the face that these four people learn to face their real selves and turn their lives around. There are many, many 'coincidences' in the plot/s, but the author never comes out and says these coincidences have an unknown guiding hand. Maybe I'm supposed to grasp that myself. However you classify it, T.L. Hines book is an interesting and entertaining read. For those looking for an afternoon's escape, it would certainly suffice; and for those who want to look deeper...well, this is a story that could surely lead you there.
This is a story that begins with chapter thirty-four, then comes thirty-nine, then fifteen, then forty and well, I guess you get it by now. But amazingly, the story holds together and moves forward coherently. It's an overall book with four interconnected stories about disparate people whose lives interconnect, sometimes in ways they don't even know. Yet it all works together and the ending surprised even me (what hubris!).
"Faces in the Fire" is marketed as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. The fiction and suspense I get, but the Christian eludes me other than the face that these four people learn to face their real selves and turn their lives around. There are many, many 'coincidences' in the plot/s, but the author never comes out and says these coincidences have an unknown guiding hand. Maybe I'm supposed to grasp that myself. However you classify it, T.L. Hines book is an interesting and entertaining read. For those looking for an afternoon's escape, it would certainly suffice; and for those who want to look deeper...well, this is a story that could surely lead you there.
August 30, 2009
When I first started the book, I thought it was just a story about a quirky character who heard voices of the dead speaking to him. I didn’t expect the eloquent weaving of stories that would eventually reach a surprising and dramatic end.
The characters are richly and thoroughly developed. The chapters are oddly numbered out of order and starting with chapter 34. As the story unfolds and the other characters take a turn at telling their stories, it all makes perfect sense. If I had I read about each of them in another book, I may have had little sympathy for any of them, but the way the author brings together their lives and their desire for redemption made me see something special in them.
The book is listed as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. If you are expecting a Christian book that clearly spells out a salvation message, you will be disappointed, but if you want a richly written character driven novel with the subtle message of redemption, you will enjoy this interesting and remarkable book. If you are the type of person that avoids Christian lit, I think you will be very surprised by this one. I highly recommend Faces in the Fire.
The characters are richly and thoroughly developed. The chapters are oddly numbered out of order and starting with chapter 34. As the story unfolds and the other characters take a turn at telling their stories, it all makes perfect sense. If I had I read about each of them in another book, I may have had little sympathy for any of them, but the way the author brings together their lives and their desire for redemption made me see something special in them.
The book is listed as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. If you are expecting a Christian book that clearly spells out a salvation message, you will be disappointed, but if you want a richly written character driven novel with the subtle message of redemption, you will enjoy this interesting and remarkable book. If you are the type of person that avoids Christian lit, I think you will be very surprised by this one. I highly recommend Faces in the Fire.
June 8, 2012
Excellent. My students loved it.
April 4, 2019
This was a weird story. It would be interesting to read it again (later maybe), knowing the connections ahead of time. The story lines of the characters were unrelatable to me, although I did feel some compassion for them. I'm just grateful that Hines can tell a suspenseful, even dark, story without using offensive language. It's not needed. The creepiness factor is fine without it--even better, as far I'm concerned, as the language can be a distraction to me. It becomes part of the characterization and makes me not like the characters. Feel free to label me a prude. I accept that.
October 21, 2021
So sorry but this book was not one I cared for and could not finish.
October 14, 2023
Not my genre. Based on belief in spirits or coincidence as being real.
November 29, 2025
Weird. Really weird. As someone who likes weird books, this was a bit much. If you like utterly non sequitur books, this is for you.
February 28, 2017
Interesting book. Made me wonder if Hines was a Lost writer. The book has flashbacks, key characters' paths crossed during the flashbacks and present times, and even a fiery plane crash. Solid story.
August 14, 2009
The author does an interesting thing with this book by numbering the chapters in the order that they happened even though the book doesn't read chronologically. The chapters are numbered 34, 15, 40, 16, etc. Frankly, I think it would have made for a better story if he would have told it chronologically. Then again, I think it's just my personality to like to read a book in order instead of out of order. If you're presented with puzzle pieces, sometimes you can't see the whole picture if the puzzle pieces aren't actually put together. That's not to say that it's a bad book. It's just to say that it didn't immediately all come together for me at the end. And as I started to put the pieces together days later, I think I found some discrepancies (like the dead man that didn't die).
Also, this book is from a Christian publisher, so you'd think the author would attribute the strange things that happened in the story to God, but he attributed it to nothing. Besides, I'm not sure anyone would think some of the supernatural powers would come from God (if that's what the author is implying by using a Christian publisher). Or maybe I'm just too logical to "get" the supernatural stuff in the book. I should probably stick to other forms of fiction.
That said, the story is interesting. It has enough bizarre things going for it to keep up my interest level. A lucky number is passed along on a napkin from one character to the next, and with it comes extremely good luck and the intense image of a catfish. One character is a man who's lost his memory but who can hear ghosts that haunt dead people's clothing. Another character's occupation is making money through spam emails and identity theft (this seems to be a common theme in novels this year). Another character is cursed with killing innocent people through a simple touch. And yet another character is a tattoo artist with "dead blood" (whatever that means).
While the author is a good writer and there are interesting elements to the story, it just didn't really sing for me. Like I said, maybe it would have been better to be chronological. It's not as if there were any secrets to hide that wouldn't have been just as interesting revealed chronologically.
Note: While I critique both purchased and free books in the same way, I'm legally obligated to tell you I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for my review. Blah blah blah.
Also, this book is from a Christian publisher, so you'd think the author would attribute the strange things that happened in the story to God, but he attributed it to nothing. Besides, I'm not sure anyone would think some of the supernatural powers would come from God (if that's what the author is implying by using a Christian publisher). Or maybe I'm just too logical to "get" the supernatural stuff in the book. I should probably stick to other forms of fiction.
That said, the story is interesting. It has enough bizarre things going for it to keep up my interest level. A lucky number is passed along on a napkin from one character to the next, and with it comes extremely good luck and the intense image of a catfish. One character is a man who's lost his memory but who can hear ghosts that haunt dead people's clothing. Another character's occupation is making money through spam emails and identity theft (this seems to be a common theme in novels this year). Another character is cursed with killing innocent people through a simple touch. And yet another character is a tattoo artist with "dead blood" (whatever that means).
While the author is a good writer and there are interesting elements to the story, it just didn't really sing for me. Like I said, maybe it would have been better to be chronological. It's not as if there were any secrets to hide that wouldn't have been just as interesting revealed chronologically.
Note: While I critique both purchased and free books in the same way, I'm legally obligated to tell you I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for my review. Blah blah blah.
September 2, 2009
Faces in the Fire
Where Lives Collide
T.L. Hines
2009
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Christian/Suspense
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
This book is like no other book I have ever read. It is classified suspense, but I am not sure that is the classification I would have given it. It is different, at times I would think it was weird, at other times I was so fascinated at how it was all falling into place, that I could not put it down.
Four people, Kurt, Corrine, Grace and Stan, all connected. Yet not knowing or realizing they were connected. Each has a story, Kurt just appeared out of nowhere one day, with no memory,
thousands of dollars strapped to his chest. As if that is not enough to make him wonder about himself, he hears voices. The voices of ghosts in the clothing of people passed on.
Corrine, a big time computer hacker, and spammer, has incurable cancer. But as if by magic, a spam email sent to a private account brings her a cure to her cancer, a miracle bottle of pills. A miraculous bottle of hair growth cream.
Grace, a run away heroin addict, has abandoned her family. In Seattle she creates a new life as a tattoo artist, and under the power of a new tattoo ink, solves a crime plaguing Seattle, saves the lives of many and kicks her addiction.
Stan, a hit man for a private Organization, kills people with his own bare hands. He is in the power of the Organization, they control him. Will he be able to find a way to break loose?
Four strangers, yet all connected. Read this powerful story from T. L. Hinds to connect the strangers. Learn the secret of the Catfish. A thrilling, exciting, different book. Most definitely a book to share with others. 354 pages $14.99 US
Where Lives Collide
T.L. Hines
2009
Thomas Nelson
Fiction/Christian/Suspense
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
This book is like no other book I have ever read. It is classified suspense, but I am not sure that is the classification I would have given it. It is different, at times I would think it was weird, at other times I was so fascinated at how it was all falling into place, that I could not put it down.
Four people, Kurt, Corrine, Grace and Stan, all connected. Yet not knowing or realizing they were connected. Each has a story, Kurt just appeared out of nowhere one day, with no memory,
thousands of dollars strapped to his chest. As if that is not enough to make him wonder about himself, he hears voices. The voices of ghosts in the clothing of people passed on.
Corrine, a big time computer hacker, and spammer, has incurable cancer. But as if by magic, a spam email sent to a private account brings her a cure to her cancer, a miracle bottle of pills. A miraculous bottle of hair growth cream.
Grace, a run away heroin addict, has abandoned her family. In Seattle she creates a new life as a tattoo artist, and under the power of a new tattoo ink, solves a crime plaguing Seattle, saves the lives of many and kicks her addiction.
Stan, a hit man for a private Organization, kills people with his own bare hands. He is in the power of the Organization, they control him. Will he be able to find a way to break loose?
Four strangers, yet all connected. Read this powerful story from T. L. Hinds to connect the strangers. Learn the secret of the Catfish. A thrilling, exciting, different book. Most definitely a book to share with others. 354 pages $14.99 US
August 21, 2009
Faces in the Fire by T.L. Hines is unconventional to say the least. The book starts on chapter 34, winds its way through other chapters in seemingly random order and ends on chapter 14. The story is like a roller coaster ride with no logical end, but be patient, the hit-you-between-they-eyes conclusion is well worth the bumps.
We first meet Kurt, a part-time truck driver who has turned his ability to hear the dead through their clothing into inspiration and a successful sculpting career. Oh, and he can only remember the last 6 months of his life. Next is Corinne who makes her living as an email spammer and is just biding her time until she succumbs to her lymphoma. Then there is Grace, a heroine-addicted tattoo artist who abandoned her family and created a new identity but cannot create happiness . Lastly there is Stan, a professional hit-man who is being blackmailed to continue his “career” and he has a weapon nobody can trace. These characters do not know each other but become intertwined by circumstantial meetings where a catfish is a shared theme and a series of random numbers are passed from one to the other that will either offer devastation or redemption.
This book was so much better then I expected. Bizarre, clever, surprising – all words that can describe this great read. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for giving me the opportunity to experience this thrill ride!
We first meet Kurt, a part-time truck driver who has turned his ability to hear the dead through their clothing into inspiration and a successful sculpting career. Oh, and he can only remember the last 6 months of his life. Next is Corinne who makes her living as an email spammer and is just biding her time until she succumbs to her lymphoma. Then there is Grace, a heroine-addicted tattoo artist who abandoned her family and created a new identity but cannot create happiness . Lastly there is Stan, a professional hit-man who is being blackmailed to continue his “career” and he has a weapon nobody can trace. These characters do not know each other but become intertwined by circumstantial meetings where a catfish is a shared theme and a series of random numbers are passed from one to the other that will either offer devastation or redemption.
This book was so much better then I expected. Bizarre, clever, surprising – all words that can describe this great read. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for giving me the opportunity to experience this thrill ride!
June 19, 2011
I given this book to review by the publisher, and it's sat on my bookshelf for days just saying read me. I finally had time to do so and once I picked it up, I couldn't put it back down. Similiar to the movie Momento, Faces in the Fire is a disjointed story of four different characters that touch each other's lives while trying to figure out their own. The story jumps from past to present and back again while quickly engrossing the reader in this mystical story. From the story of Kurt the truck driver who lost his memory and woke only knowing he was accepted in truck driving school to Grace the tattoo artist who sees words in people's tattoos, this book has characters that are just trying to find themselves.
Overall I really liked this novel except for the end. I was really hoping that the author would tie everything back together in the last chapter, but it didn't happen. Each person's stories are told but never ended and never closed out. At the end of the novel I found myself wondering what happened next for each character because it kind of leaves them all without resolving anything. I wish there was some type of resolution for all characters at the end of or something to close out the book in my mind. I had way too many questions after I read the last sentence for me to feel good about the book ending. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a different sort of read. A little bit of fantasy, reality, and mystery all wrapped into one. 3 stars.
Overall I really liked this novel except for the end. I was really hoping that the author would tie everything back together in the last chapter, but it didn't happen. Each person's stories are told but never ended and never closed out. At the end of the novel I found myself wondering what happened next for each character because it kind of leaves them all without resolving anything. I wish there was some type of resolution for all characters at the end of or something to close out the book in my mind. I had way too many questions after I read the last sentence for me to feel good about the book ending. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a different sort of read. A little bit of fantasy, reality, and mystery all wrapped into one. 3 stars.
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December 6, 2009Faces in the Fire is a very interesting book. Nothing like any book I have ever read before. For starters, the chapters aren't in order. At first I felt this a little confusing and wanted to look for the first chapter to start from there but eventually I resisted and read the book as is. One day I may go back and read the chapters in order out of interest.
Despite being jumbled, the story itself is actually really interesting. I was hooked in from the first chapter.
I loved the supernatural element present within the whole book. It was so interesting to see the four people all having a supernatural element with them.
I didn't have a favourite character as all four were very different and interesting in their own ways. I did love seeing how all the characters were intertwined and how the numbers affected everyone.
Overall, Faces in the Fire is really bizarre but addictive and definitely a good read. This is more for an adult audience but would suit a teen audience fine too. If you get the opportunity to definitely read this book.
Despite being jumbled, the story itself is actually really interesting. I was hooked in from the first chapter.
I loved the supernatural element present within the whole book. It was so interesting to see the four people all having a supernatural element with them.
I didn't have a favourite character as all four were very different and interesting in their own ways. I did love seeing how all the characters were intertwined and how the numbers affected everyone.
Overall, Faces in the Fire is really bizarre but addictive and definitely a good read. This is more for an adult audience but would suit a teen audience fine too. If you get the opportunity to definitely read this book.
December 29, 2009
Kurt is a sculptor with no memory of his past. He starts digging and discovers that he’s miraculously healed from major body trauma. Doctors are baffled. And the private eye is spooked and tells him he should stop digging.
There are four main characters, and each story comes into contact with another. Each person experiences a supernatural phenomenon, whether it’s hearing or seeing ghosts, creating tattoos with prophetic messages, or killing with the touch of a finger. These four are all connected, but will their lives end in disaster or redemption?
Wow. What a clever and bizarre story. It reminds me a bit of that movie Memento. In fact, someone should make this into a movie. It’s got Oscar winner written all over it. It’s a story that hooks you with a mystery, then tosses twists and turns so fast you almost can’t catch them. Your brain is spinning to guess what might happen, how it all might tie together, and BAM! I totally didn’t see that end coming. A very awesome adventure. My mind is still spinning. Nicely done, Mr. Hines.
There are four main characters, and each story comes into contact with another. Each person experiences a supernatural phenomenon, whether it’s hearing or seeing ghosts, creating tattoos with prophetic messages, or killing with the touch of a finger. These four are all connected, but will their lives end in disaster or redemption?
Wow. What a clever and bizarre story. It reminds me a bit of that movie Memento. In fact, someone should make this into a movie. It’s got Oscar winner written all over it. It’s a story that hooks you with a mystery, then tosses twists and turns so fast you almost can’t catch them. Your brain is spinning to guess what might happen, how it all might tie together, and BAM! I totally didn’t see that end coming. A very awesome adventure. My mind is still spinning. Nicely done, Mr. Hines.
February 21, 2013
Wow, what a powerful story. The novel begins with Kurt, a man who's suffered from amnesia and has no real idea of who he is. He picks up clothes from estate sales because they talk to him, the ghosts of the folks who owned them and wore them.
But it's not a book about the paranormal. There are four different stories told in this novel, yet they're all inexplicably related. The chapters are told out of order, and while the reader can start to piece things together after a time, it's not until the very end that everything falls into place.
The longer you sit with the knowledge of this book, the more things that seemed unimportant begin to make sense. And that is what makes this book so very powerful.
Highly recommended.
But it's not a book about the paranormal. There are four different stories told in this novel, yet they're all inexplicably related. The chapters are told out of order, and while the reader can start to piece things together after a time, it's not until the very end that everything falls into place.
The longer you sit with the knowledge of this book, the more things that seemed unimportant begin to make sense. And that is what makes this book so very powerful.
Highly recommended.
January 1, 2011
Faces In The Fire by T.L. Hines is a thrilling suspense novel with a story of restoration. It is well written in a unique narrative style and with an equally unique storyline. T.L. Hines takes you through the life journeys of four seemingly unrelated characters. Their lives are all connected and bettered by two supernatural common denominators, a catfish and a list of numbers. At first glance, even the numbered chapters don't seem to relate because they're jumbled and in the wrong sequence. However, in the end, everything is masterfully brought together. Faces In The Fire is a book that I really enjoyed and recommend.
March 7, 2012
Normally I hear about people hating Christian fiction because of how it's so typical, you can predict that someone's turning Christian by the end and all who don't get offed somehow. Not so here, not a single person gets saved, not even a reference to Jesus nor God, nonetheless, it's an extremely edgy, symbolic story in a disjointed fashion. Never having read a story in that fashion, it was a surprising read, especially with the uniqueness of each main character and their intersecting weaves. It was a truly unique read from an intriguing author who doesn't rely on conventional storytelling methods.
March 5, 2010
How are a trucker, a cancer patient, a druggie, and an assassin related? T.L. Hines weaves together their encounters & connections in this intriguing story of human frailty and the power of a "chance" meetings. Quite an intersting tale, which kept me reading when I should have given it a rest. Several supernatural elements. My only qualm with this tale, is the lack of any spiritual aspect. God is, after all, the Master Weaver, and I figured He should have been given some credit. This story made me think of how my behavior & reactions can affect the people I meet - quite thought-provoking!
August 21, 2013
This was my third time through and it was just as intriguing as the first time, even though I knew the ending. A bizarre, somewhat dark story of four unique, lost souls whose lives intertwine to find the redemption that comes from reaching out to others. The authors unique narrative style of numbering the chapters according to their actual place in the story (it starts with chapter 34!)rather than sequentially is confusing at first but actually helps put the story together as it develops. I love this book and will undoubtedly read it yet again some day.
March 20, 2010
This would get a five, except the usual 'oh! I get it now' was so-so. NOT to say I didn't like the story.... I really liked it.
Richly textured characters, deeply involved plots, WAY better than any of dekker's stuff.
Although, I didn't really get the 'clothes' talking to him. Maybe if I reread it, I could see the point, and why it mattered to the story.
Richly textured characters, deeply involved plots, WAY better than any of dekker's stuff.
Although, I didn't really get the 'clothes' talking to him. Maybe if I reread it, I could see the point, and why it mattered to the story.
July 13, 2009
Is it possible to love every single page in a book, but still not like the book?
I had a hard time rating this title because it was a great story and yet, you never really find anything out. NO answers were given!
I had a hard time rating this title because it was a great story and yet, you never really find anything out. NO answers were given!
May 17, 2019
I liked this book, but I didn't really get it. It's super well written and maybe if I thought about it some more, it would be more meaningful. I just don't like to work that hard when I read.
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October 14, 20111312
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November 7, 2009
Interesting odd book. Reminds me a bit of Spider Robinson's Mindkiller. The chapter numbers are mixed up to show where in his life the events took place.
September 8, 2009
This is a very interesting book- noir bizarre is the genre (never heard that term before!) I am enjoying it although it is very strange.
August 31, 2010
i love hines' "noir bizarre" style. great intertwining story with a brilliantly beautiful climax. well done.
January 30, 2011
This was one more excellent book. It's odd to find a book in this genre that has these kind of twists and psychological battles, but this book had it all.
June 25, 2013
Phenomenal, but I wouldn't label it as "Christian."
February 11, 2013
This book is so fascinatingly awesome, a real page turner...looking forward to reading more books by TL Hines
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews