The Resurrectionist

by Thomas F. Monteleone

Presidential candidate Senator Thomas Flanagan is unscathed when his plane crashes in a Florida swamp, but his campaign manager is not quite so lucky. Reaching out in anguish to touch his fatally wounded friend, Flanagan discovers that he now has the power to heal the sick and raise the dead. At first many are convinced that Flanagan's gift proves he is the new messiah--until they learn that every gift has a price.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

388 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Katie O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting kernel of a premise (the title is on point), but very uneven execution. Way too much telling vs. showing by the author. Lots of head-jumping/mixed POV without appropriate formatting or reader cues, too. Very old-school attitudes (misogyny, military tropes) - even for the eventual good guys - disrupted engagement with character development. But kudos for a mid-90s action story to step away from '80s excess' to try sharing that status should be less important than character. There was an attempt to show a dramatic turn-around in the main character's approach to life and priorities, but the way it was conveyed was meh. The love story developed quite awkwardly, too, and just as awkwardly slid into Hallmark movie land. The epilogue was 100% predictable and equally uninspiring. Several characters and groups, however, did have engaging traits or back stories. So, the premise and it's immediate and long term problems were enough to keep me reading (hence, two stars), but the book never could resurrect itself.

[David Bonesteel · Rating 1 out of 5]

US Senator Tom Flanagan gains the power to raise the dead, which makes him the target of machinations by powerful groups such as the US government and the Catholic Church.

This is a terribly written novel with clumsy characterizations. Author Thomas F. Monteleone comes off like a crazy militant libertarian at times. His depiction of the government is filled with unabashedly sinister and self-serving caricatures that all but rub their hands together with glee and cackle over their evil plans. The whole millennial fever aspect of the story seems silly in retrospect (and seemed silly to some of us even at the time). The pointless subplot involving Flanagan's visions of a burning man foreshadow something that is completely unconnected to the main story. Perhaps it was meant to be developed in a sequel. Was such a sequel ever written? I couldn't care less.

[David B · Rating 1 out of 5]

US Senator Tom Flanagan gains the power to raise the dead, which makes him the target of machinations by powerful groups such as the US government and the Catholic Church.

This is a terribly written novel with clumsy characterizations. Author Thomas F. Monteleone comes off like a crazy militant libertarian at times. His depiction of the government is filled with unabashedly sinister and self-serving caricatures that all but rub their hands together with glee and cackle over their evil plans. The whole millennial fever aspect of the story seems silly in retrospect (and seemed silly to some of us even at the time). The pointless subplot involving Flanagan's visions of a burning man foreshadow something that is completely unconnected to the main story. Perhaps it was meant to be developed in a sequel. Was such a sequel ever written? I couldn't care less.

[Elaine Bergstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is best known for Blood of the Lamb, a chilling tale of what can go wrong with cloning a god. Here, we have a U.S. Senator who survives a plane crash and discovers that he now possesses the power to raise the dead. And while he is trying to hide what he has become, he finds himself hearing strange voices in his head. It's a thriller with plenty of twists and great characters. The less said, the better, except to say this is an enjoyable read.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is an absolute mess.

[John Bruni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I view this as a kinda-sorta spiritual brother to Blood of the Lamb. A politician running for President of the US gets in a plane crash, which he survives, but his manager and best friend did not. In his grief, he touches his friend, and much to his surprise, he resurrects the guy from the dead. It's a brand new ability, and he can't control it, but the shadow government very quickly realizes what is going on. It soon becomes a race against the clock to survive those who would have him dead rather than in the Oval Office. Yet . . . is this newfound power a good thing? Sounds kind of like Blood of the Lamb, in which the Christ figure has no idea that he is actually the anti-Christ. Yet it's very different, but to explain that part would involve spoilers, which I try to never post here. TFM is the man.

[Randi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am torn about how to rate this book. It's a 2 or 3 star. I did not totally dislike it but I was not swept up in the story. I kept reading out of curiousity for how it would turn out, but it was not what I would consider a satisfying read.
I was drawn to the historical aspect of the novel but it is more about the damaged people than about the missing books of the bible.
The characters are fairly well drawn if a bit cliched. It's a sad story about sad people trying to fill the voids in their lives.
I am not recommending this book, but if you like stories where the pace is slow, the characters strained this may be for you.