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Comes a Horseman
The ancients saw Death as a blazing figure on horseback, swift and merciless. Those facing the black chasm often mistook their pounding hearts for the beating of hooves.
Now, two FBI agents pursuing a killer from a centuries-old cult realize they have become his prey.
Now, two FBI agents pursuing a killer from a centuries-old cult realize they have become his prey.
619 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2005
72 people are currently reading
2511 people want to read
About the author
Robert Liparulo
31 books798 followersRobert Liparulo's novels, Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall Deadlock, The 13th Tribe, and The Judgment Stone,have received rave reviews. His short story "Kill Zone" is included in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson. He is also the author of the best-selling young adult series DREAMHOUSE KINGS: House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, Gatekeepers, Timescape, Whirlwind, and Frenzy. Robert lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
February 3, 2011
I wanted to give this a 4 star rating, but let me explain why it is a 3. This book is a ride on the edge of the seat. You feel the thrill and tension from the beginning. You know how sometimes you can figure out the outcome of the story within the first chapters? Well, this is not one of those books. Your brain can't keep up with the action and all that is happening. It is truly a thrill ride. The characters are real, and you relate with them. The horror is real, real enough to make you not want to look out your windows. I honestly had trouble sleeping some nights - but I love that kind of ride! So why the 3 stars? When you've been on the edge through the entire book, how do you end it? I found the end a little anti-climactic after all that we'd been through together. Selfish, right? I think the author just couldn't top himself. If I could give it a 3 1/2 I would, it probably deserves a 4, but I was so bummed out with how quickly it went from 100 mph to 0 that left me wanting something more. The author is very talented, so read all his books! His Dreamhouse Kings Series (teen?) is amazing!
December 23, 2011
The best description of the book comes from its own pages (380-381): "...The person behind the murders and attacks possessed power and contacts, enough to track relatively anonymous FBI agents and arrange for their executions. The Antichrist story was flat-out weird, no doubt about it. But so were the grisly beheadings of so-called endears [a priest's term for those who've experienced NDEs, or near-death experiences], to use Father McAfee's term; a killer who pretended to be--or really was--a Viking and used war dogs; a would-be assassin who tormented priests and freaked out about Satan and child sacrifices; and an FBI division chief who was afraid of a shadow organization that monitored the bizarre from an ivory tower in the nation's capital. Flat-out weird. All of it."
Yet, Liparulo makes all of this weirdness somehow explainable and plausible. I guess he could be compared to Stephen King, whose books often feature the inexplicable and weird. Liparulo's talent is making the weird seem mundane and making the reader want to know what happens next, no matter how the plot twists and turns.
Yet, Liparulo makes all of this weirdness somehow explainable and plausible. I guess he could be compared to Stephen King, whose books often feature the inexplicable and weird. Liparulo's talent is making the weird seem mundane and making the reader want to know what happens next, no matter how the plot twists and turns.
June 15, 2009
When I started reading this book, I was waiting for a son as he got an eye exam. Intense from the beginning, I had to close the book for a few minutes so I wouldn't have to throw up!! But as soon as I gained composure, it was back in the book. I needed a breather when my son finally came out, and I was careful from then on where I was while reading!(And never alone...)
What a gift Liparulo has for writing a thriller! He grabs you by the throat, and brings in a hero to rescue you. It's highly personal, intense.
It is now in paperback and I'm giving away a couple autographed copies on my blog for comments. Come see!
What a gift Liparulo has for writing a thriller! He grabs you by the throat, and brings in a hero to rescue you. It's highly personal, intense.
It is now in paperback and I'm giving away a couple autographed copies on my blog for comments. Come see!
March 10, 2011
I'm not going to lie, this book scared me more than any piece of media has ever scared me before. I literally could not read it at night, nor could I read it in a room by myself. Despite those facts, Comes A Horseman by Robert Liparulo was a surprisingly good read.
I had no trouble getting into the book, the first few paragraphs sucked me in...but by the second chapter, gears had changed....and by the third, the gears had gone in even a third direction. I really had no idea what the book was about until the last few chapters, I had not connected most of the dots until Brady and Alicia did. Between crazed Norseman ax murderers, insane politicians who believe they are more than who they are, and a heart broken Special Agent, this book walked the fine line between my loving it and my hating it. In the end, I love it...it's just way too scary to read again!
I don't think I'll be reading any more of Bob's books because I can't handle the fear that comes with them, but I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys scary books, or to anyone who doesn't have to sleep alone at night.
I had no trouble getting into the book, the first few paragraphs sucked me in...but by the second chapter, gears had changed....and by the third, the gears had gone in even a third direction. I really had no idea what the book was about until the last few chapters, I had not connected most of the dots until Brady and Alicia did. Between crazed Norseman ax murderers, insane politicians who believe they are more than who they are, and a heart broken Special Agent, this book walked the fine line between my loving it and my hating it. In the end, I love it...it's just way too scary to read again!
I don't think I'll be reading any more of Bob's books because I can't handle the fear that comes with them, but I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys scary books, or to anyone who doesn't have to sleep alone at night.
July 13, 2017
A Quickie Review
Though this book has an intense, gripping story, and tight writing, the violence is a bit over the top. It definitely isn't for kids, and even some teens and young adults might be shocked at the amount of blood and gore; I know I was. If you're not too squeamish, though, this might prove to be a good read.
Score: 3/5
Though this book has an intense, gripping story, and tight writing, the violence is a bit over the top. It definitely isn't for kids, and even some teens and young adults might be shocked at the amount of blood and gore; I know I was. If you're not too squeamish, though, this might prove to be a good read.
Score: 3/5
January 5, 2009
An incredible, not to be put down book! This runs along the same lines of the DaVinci code, there are grusome murders, a mystery,love affair, and an insite into the Bible as to the existance of an Anti-Christ and his coming.
November 10, 2015
Powerful all action read...
March 24, 2012
Please don't open this book if you don't have the time to finish it. If you do you'll be late or absent for your appointed task.
It's a true page tuner from start to finish. I wanted it to go on and on. Mr. Liparulo is one of those wonderful 'sit around the campfire in the middle of the night' mesmorising writers. What more delicious turn around that the so-called hunters becoming the hunted?
Great plot that thickens better than any stew the longer it simmers. Such juicy characters only add to the flavor to make a daring and delicious read. Please do enjoy this one.
It's a true page tuner from start to finish. I wanted it to go on and on. Mr. Liparulo is one of those wonderful 'sit around the campfire in the middle of the night' mesmorising writers. What more delicious turn around that the so-called hunters becoming the hunted?
Great plot that thickens better than any stew the longer it simmers. Such juicy characters only add to the flavor to make a daring and delicious read. Please do enjoy this one.
June 3, 2009
When I got this book I was intimidated by it's size, over 600 pages on a mass market, wow. I'd never heard of the book or the author. When I started reading it, I couldn't stop. It was an easy read and an interesting read. Two FBI agents on the trail of a Viking serial killer then the story combines with Antichrist. What a combination. Good book, you should try it. I would definitely read the author again.
August 3, 2013
Whooa whooa whooa ! ! !
This was quite a crime thriller with lots of brutal scenes, just the way i like it...!!!
A real page turner with lots of scary scenes and gory murders.
The secret society in search of the Antichrist. now that was quite a plot taken into consideration, while writing this book...!!!
Even heard that this book will be made into a movie(Truly deserves to be made into one)
waiting anxiously for the movie!!!
cheers.
This was quite a crime thriller with lots of brutal scenes, just the way i like it...!!!
A real page turner with lots of scary scenes and gory murders.
The secret society in search of the Antichrist. now that was quite a plot taken into consideration, while writing this book...!!!
Even heard that this book will be made into a movie(Truly deserves to be made into one)
waiting anxiously for the movie!!!
cheers.
July 7, 2015
3.5 stars. I've read and enjoyed Liparulo's newer thrillers (13th Tribe, etc.) so thought it was time to read his first. Comes a Horseman was well-written, intricately plotted, and had an interesting (if not bizarre) spiritual thread. Some of the violence/gore is a little hard to handle, so definitely not for the squeemish. My attention was held through the whole book, but I did enjoy the 13th Tribe better.
December 27, 2011
Robert Liparulo is one scary writer. He paints characters thick with terror and evil. Who could imagine a present day hitman that is a Viking? Only Robert. This was his first book and all that have followed have gotten worse in the best way, I read this book in one sitting and it is no small book. Need a good weird scary story try Comes a Horsemen.
February 5, 2009
Really, really good, scary book about the Antichrist and a Catholic organization watching for him and the FBI agents who discover it. Excellent.
September 26, 2014
This book still grips me even though I have read it a few times, now. Enough time has passed between each reading that the book [and the story] remain [relatively] fresh for me. The first time I read this book I was petrified! It was truly an intense thriller! Holy cow! It had me on the edge of my seat and I had a hard time putting it down. It also has [what is in my mind] a somewhat-unique plot twist. There is a secret society that is waiting for the Antichrist to appear and this group searches through ancient prophecies in order to facilitate his coming to power. They are also a vicious group - 'false antichrists' are ruthlessly killed. James Byron Huggins also had groups waiting for the antichrist to appear in some of his novels [Cain, specifically, and maybe Hunter], but neither of his novels griped me as much as this one did. Perhaps it was due to the Viking who murdered people using three 'war dogs' and axes. That was crazy-freaky!
The hero of the book is an FBI agent who prefers books and office work to getting his hands dirty in the 'real world' whereas his partner loves to get down in the mud, as it were, doing hands-on work and testing experimental equipment and processes in order to be better able to catch criminals. They are an interesting pairing due in part to their being such opposites of each other. Also, the male agent [can't remember his name] suffers from grief over his wife having passed away; a car killed her and their unborn child. He has to force himself to get up every day to go to work; the fact that he still has his son helps him face each day. Throughout the course of the story, the attraction he and his partner have for each grows to the point of being a potential distraction; not distracting to the story, but realistically distracting in that they have to discuss it and agree to pursue their feelings after the case is finished.
It is interesting, as the widow may or may not be a Christian. There are instances where it seems like he could be; his wife was the 'stronger Christian' of the two. I felt it added to the story, myself. He struggled with the grief he felt and the injustice over the loss of his wife and unborn child; it was not whitewashed away as a non-event in his life. I think he is supposed to be a Christian who's faith has been shaken and bruised but not completely shorn away by his wife's death, but that is my take on it.
The author does a crazy good job on expounding about the secret society awaiting the appearance of the antichrist. The individual who proclaims himself to be the antichrist is a criminal and scam artist who is playing for the greatest stakes imaginable; he ends up believing himself to be the antichrist. He has a team that scours any and all prophecies about the antichrist in order to 'fulfill' them to prove he is who he claims to be. He is a powerful, rich man who will stop at nothing to gain control of the world.
The Viking murder is crazy insane. He was the scariest part of the book. He uses a 'pack' of three dogs to 'hunt' his prey [the people on the list]; they are vicious extensions of himself that he uses skillfully to fulfill his contract. Crazy scary! His preferred 'weapon' is an axe. He is a giant of a man and wears simple clothing. He is also a family man, having three boys and a wife who love him and wait for him to return home after each 'mission'/contract. It is a bizarre juxtaposition.
Best 'scene' in the book:
The FBI is called in due to several brutally similar murders in different states. As the perp has obviously crossed state lines, it puts the crime scenes under FBI jurisdiction. The two FBI agents are too good at their task, causing the secret society to change the 'Viking's' plans in that he is now to execute them. Their search takes them from Colorado to NYC to the Vatican and on to Israel. It is a crazy trip, and a crazy journey. Still thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, despite having read it a few times before.
It is a dark, gritty, graphic book. Definitely not for the weak-stomach or faint-hearted. It becomes excessively dark before the dawn comes. Still, though, an enjoyable book.
The hero of the book is an FBI agent who prefers books and office work to getting his hands dirty in the 'real world' whereas his partner loves to get down in the mud, as it were, doing hands-on work and testing experimental equipment and processes in order to be better able to catch criminals. They are an interesting pairing due in part to their being such opposites of each other. Also, the male agent [can't remember his name] suffers from grief over his wife having passed away; a car killed her and their unborn child. He has to force himself to get up every day to go to work; the fact that he still has his son helps him face each day. Throughout the course of the story, the attraction he and his partner have for each grows to the point of being a potential distraction; not distracting to the story, but realistically distracting in that they have to discuss it and agree to pursue their feelings after the case is finished.
It is interesting, as the widow may or may not be a Christian. There are instances where it seems like he could be; his wife was the 'stronger Christian' of the two. I felt it added to the story, myself. He struggled with the grief he felt and the injustice over the loss of his wife and unborn child; it was not whitewashed away as a non-event in his life. I think he is supposed to be a Christian who's faith has been shaken and bruised but not completely shorn away by his wife's death, but that is my take on it.
The author does a crazy good job on expounding about the secret society awaiting the appearance of the antichrist. The individual who proclaims himself to be the antichrist is a criminal and scam artist who is playing for the greatest stakes imaginable; he ends up believing himself to be the antichrist. He has a team that scours any and all prophecies about the antichrist in order to 'fulfill' them to prove he is who he claims to be. He is a powerful, rich man who will stop at nothing to gain control of the world.
The Viking murder is crazy insane. He was the scariest part of the book. He uses a 'pack' of three dogs to 'hunt' his prey [the people on the list]; they are vicious extensions of himself that he uses skillfully to fulfill his contract. Crazy scary! His preferred 'weapon' is an axe. He is a giant of a man and wears simple clothing. He is also a family man, having three boys and a wife who love him and wait for him to return home after each 'mission'/contract. It is a bizarre juxtaposition.
Best 'scene' in the book:
The FBI is called in due to several brutally similar murders in different states. As the perp has obviously crossed state lines, it puts the crime scenes under FBI jurisdiction. The two FBI agents are too good at their task, causing the secret society to change the 'Viking's' plans in that he is now to execute them. Their search takes them from Colorado to NYC to the Vatican and on to Israel. It is a crazy trip, and a crazy journey. Still thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, despite having read it a few times before.
It is a dark, gritty, graphic book. Definitely not for the weak-stomach or faint-hearted. It becomes excessively dark before the dawn comes. Still, though, an enjoyable book.
April 7, 2020
Loved this! I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t mind some blood and gore.😂 The book starts off pretty dramatically and has a fast dramatic ending. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the ending, but hey, it works!
October 25, 2025
DNF. Garbage.
July 6, 2012
Wow. I mean, wow. This has been described as a rollercoaster ride and that is so true. However, this is a rollercoaster which comes out of the loading dock straight into a free-fall drop and never slows down until the very end. Take The Da Vinci Code, add few more octanes of amphetamine-fueled energy and you get Comes a Horseman. And that's the problem. As much as I love exciting, grand conspiracy-fueled action-thriller novels, I also like a bit of breathing room to take everything in, to allow my heartbeat to slow and my adrenaline to drop back to its baseline level. I don't mind the action getting a running start from the get-go, but, like any good rollercoaster, you need some flat sections, some gentle curves before your brain gets scrambled and your insides get rearranged by the next loop-de-loop. Right up until the very end, Liparulo keeps the action at a break-neck pace and by the time the finale rolls around, you as the reader are just so damned tired you're more numbed than relieved when the bad guy gets it and the battered yet satisfied main characters return home. However, the story itself is so well-told, so well-researched, with enough gruesome killings, conspiracies, and misdirections, when that ending does come, you don't care that you have the energy level of a beached jellyfish. You're just glad that it's fiction (or, at least, one hopes it's fiction) and can set the book aside for something a little more upbeat at the end of the day. And I have to say that even though the plot does concern the advent of Antichrist (that's right, just 'Antichrist', no 'the' involved) and the Christian mythology which revolves around such a person, there's a level of realism involved which makes the concept not only plausible, but downright scary, as there're no metaphysical elements involved. No appearance of the Devil, no singing of angels, just men who believe so much in a particular destiny that they will do anything, kill anyone in order to bring it about. And let me tell you, that's the scariest thought of all because you know there are people out in the world today psychotic enough to do just that a million times over. Hell, history is full of such megalomaniacs and the advent of bigger and more destructive weapons has made their quest for glory that much more bloody and deadly.
See more of my reviews at: http://lollyslibrary.blogspot.com/
See more of my reviews at: http://lollyslibrary.blogspot.com/
April 7, 2016
Comes a Horseman, is one of those books you just get into that you don't want to put down. This book had me from the get go. As soon as I opened it and started reading I just wanted to continue, whenever I could.
Comes a Horseman is about 2 FBI agents who need to find a serial killer, but while finding him their lives become in danger too. I do have to say I got teary-eyed during one part when it dealt with Zach who is the son to FBI agent Brady and his visit to his mom's grave. I also enjoyed learning about the special equipment that his partner used in one of the cases.
Overall I give this book a 5 star review, the characters where great, the plot was wonderful. This author is a great author that I just found by going to my library and happening to see his book on the "new book" shelf. I hope to read more from Robert Liparulo in the future.
Comes a Horseman is about 2 FBI agents who need to find a serial killer, but while finding him their lives become in danger too. I do have to say I got teary-eyed during one part when it dealt with Zach who is the son to FBI agent Brady and his visit to his mom's grave. I also enjoyed learning about the special equipment that his partner used in one of the cases.
Overall I give this book a 5 star review, the characters where great, the plot was wonderful. This author is a great author that I just found by going to my library and happening to see his book on the "new book" shelf. I hope to read more from Robert Liparulo in the future.
July 30, 2010
I got hooked on Liparulo's writing through his amazing Young Adult series, the Dreamhouse Kings. After that series, I found myself hungry for other books by him, so I read Deadfall/Deadlock and LOVED them. Then I went further back and picked up a copy of Comes A Horseman--and yet again, he pulled off an amazing story.
This tale is complicated yet beautifully easy to read and understand. I finished reading en route for a family vacation, and was so impressed with Liparulo's masterful manipulation of words that I started reading them to my husband (captive audience, what can I say?).
It's nice to finally have an author whose stories are paced evenly and do not disappoint--including his debut novel, Comes A Horseman!
This tale is complicated yet beautifully easy to read and understand. I finished reading en route for a family vacation, and was so impressed with Liparulo's masterful manipulation of words that I started reading them to my husband (captive audience, what can I say?).
It's nice to finally have an author whose stories are paced evenly and do not disappoint--including his debut novel, Comes A Horseman!
November 30, 2011
This is a tough review to write. I absolutely loved this story, but am uncertain how to describe it. It is definitely suspenseful. I got started, then seemed to stop only to eat and sleep. The pacing of the story was fantastic! I felt compelled to care about the main character. The villain was dangerous in so many ways. It is a Christian fiction novel, so good versus evil is a key element, but the storytelling would make this accessible to any suspense reader. I think you would find this enjoyable if your a fan of: Frank Peretti; Ludlum's The Chancellor Manuscript; Criminal Minds (the main character is an FBI profiler); or might believe there is a shadowy cabal of super rich secretly acting as puppetmasters.
February 27, 2012
Gripping...no, really! I was gripping the book so tightly that my hands ached. This was like the opposite side of The Da Vinci Code. There is a secret society searching for the Antichrist so they can be on the wining side. Who is supporting them? Where are they getting their resources? What is their connection to the gruesome murders crossing the country? The corruption goes further than you think. It really is a gripping book. Cops, priests, vikings, wolf-dogs, Italians, very rich secret society, corruption, murder, and twist after turn will all lead you to the last page of this book!
I do have one thing against this book: they should have hired a better editor. There are a few mistakes and poorly worded sentences-a bit distracting- but over-all this is a great story.
I do have one thing against this book: they should have hired a better editor. There are a few mistakes and poorly worded sentences-a bit distracting- but over-all this is a great story.
October 27, 2014
Reseña en español
My thoughts on the first half of the book: This deserves a 3 stars.
The last half of the book: 3.5 stars!!!
This is a mixed-feelings book for me.
I loved Robert Liparulo in his Dreamhouse series and I don't know if they were easy to read because were YA, but this one was... Uhhh... a little long for me.
And I love big books -and I cannot lie- but I felt the author made the story too long.
However, it was quite creepy, so I liked that :)
My thoughts on the first half of the book: This deserves a 3 stars.
The last half of the book: 3.5 stars!!!
This is a mixed-feelings book for me.
I loved Robert Liparulo in his Dreamhouse series and I don't know if they were easy to read because were YA, but this one was... Uhhh... a little long for me.
And I love big books -and I cannot lie- but I felt the author made the story too long.
However, it was quite creepy, so I liked that :)
July 6, 2022
I found this at a used book sale our public library has every year. I had a little difficulty getting started, it just didn't hold my interest. But after about 100 pages I couldn't put it down! Very well plotted with a couple twists that made my mouth hang open.
In the end I have to give it 5 stars because it was such a tightly plotted and satisfying read. I plan to read more of this author's books. I always love discovering a author I did not previously know.
In the end I have to give it 5 stars because it was such a tightly plotted and satisfying read. I plan to read more of this author's books. I always love discovering a author I did not previously know.
July 26, 2011
Fast-paced, well-written, well-researched, complex, and very thrilling. Many scary and suspenseful moments. Olaf and his wolf-dogs manage to terrify. In my opinion, Olaf is much more menacing than the main antagonist, Luco Scaramuzzi. I was hoping for a more intense climactic scene but overall, I was very impressed by Liparulo.
October 16, 2008
Robert Lebarulo is a fantastic new author. I have now read all of his three books. They are exciting thrillers. Not for the faint hearted. This books starts in one direction and ends up in an entirely different direction,but in the end ties it all together. Whew!
May 5, 2009
Thia was my first Robert Liparulo book,and it certainly isn't going to be the last. What a suspensful book! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It is a christian novel a i think one of the best ones that i've read.
April 9, 2015
Comes a horseman
I gave this book the rating I felt it deserved because of the method and contents of the story. It was not what I expected but more. Well researched on the story subject. I liked it but speak for myself.
I gave this book the rating I felt it deserved because of the method and contents of the story. It was not what I expected but more. Well researched on the story subject. I liked it but speak for myself.
December 23, 2020
Not a fan. It began well enough, but declined pretty steadily after the midpoint of the book. Frankly I expected much more from the characters involved especially considering the resources at their disposal.
February 19, 2009
My first Robert Liparulo! Man what a page turner. Fast and furious. Believable innovative characters and plot. I can't wait to read more of his books.
May 29, 2009
Scary! Couldn't put it down. You will definitely want to read this one with the lights on!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews