The Second Thief

by Travis Thrasher

Boarding the plane, Tom knew he was making a choice that would change his life. After surviving the plane's crash, Tom has a second chance to redeem his past mistakes. What will be his decision when faced with a new opportunity and a chance to change?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Suspense, Religion

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 75 books, from fiction in a variety of genres to memoirs and children’s books. He has collaborated with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, comedians and pastors. Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Reviews

[Lauren Sager · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main plot line is the transformation of the main character as he found God and got a second chance in life. It was written as though the author has never understood that struggle. So cliche and shallow.
The book features a couple of flashbacks/time line shifts that are not well defined making it confusing to read.
Though written in third person, the author uses the character’s name redundantly and awkwardly (Tom was unsure what to think. Tom was thinking about getting in the car.).
It makes me wonder if the synopsis on the back of the book was written by someone who has even read it.

[Court Dog]

Decent enough read, surpising end

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is complete garbage. I'm so glad I'm done with the phase of my life where I pick up books and think about whether or not they're appropriate for grade nines.

When I bought this book I didn't realize that it was published by a Christian publisher. However, I realized it before I started reading, and decided to go for it anyways just to see how cringey it is. The writing is incredibly boring with no subtlety whatsoever. The main character, Tom, is a selfish douchebag with no redeeming qualities. Ironically, he gets angry at all the characters who "preach" at him, yet this is the purpose of the book. Apparently, any wretched non-believers will be "saved" if enough pushy Christians force their beliefs on them...

The synopsis of the book made it sound far more interesting than it actually is. The "interesting" parts with the corporate espionage and plane crash all happened in the beginning of the book and weren't really touched on again. It was basically two hundred pages on a shallow douchebag questioning his faith and feeling like an idiot for leaving the "love of his life."

The author is fucking terrible at writing about women. Allegra has nothing going for her, other than that she is "amazing" (whatever that is supposed to mean...) and stunningly beautiful. Tom broke her heart with no reason, left for six years, gets her address and place of work from his family (for some reason she corresponded with them...okaaaay), and then shows up one day to surprise her. Dude is a fucking creepy stalker, and she forgives him. This book is so laughably bad that it was obvious that she has a kid and that it's his.

The only thing that was somewhat interesting is the "plot twist" at the end. Although it makes zero fucking sense. Tom gets a chance to re-live the day of the plane crash and basically chooses to die because he realized his life is pointless.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it; I really did. But at this point, I'm not even sure how to rate it. A vast majority of the book was drab & boring. The main character is whiny, rude, & just not a likeable guy. (I know his transformation is a huge part of the novel.) It's the getting to the juicy bits that takes forever.

So despite most of the book feeling repetitive, when we come to the end, there are a few twists and turns that spiced things up and caught my attention. In a weird sequence of events, Tom gets a redo and makes different decisions thus leading to a different outcome overall. I don't know how it happened. I don't know why it happened. But it felt like a choose your own adventure book, except I didn't have the choice to go back to the same scenario and try a different path.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book while browsing at the library. I thought it was a mystery and adventure story from reading the back cover. Nothing stated on that cover was wrong, however, the book is not a mystery, except in the mystery of GOD. The story is about a man who has lived the majority of his life for himself and when he survives a plane crash his life slowly by inexorably begins to change. The ending was a bit of a surprise. The writing is acceptable although a bit mundane. This book is about the redemptive nature of religion and GOD.

Borrowed from the Berkley, MI Public Library.

[Karen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with a truly sad ending since I had grown to love the character despite his mistakes. Not sure if something like this (the ending) would happen in the real world but then again our God is the God of the Impossible.

[Melissa Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

[Grandma Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an easy read with a good message. Steals something two times and makes it right.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After committing a felony, Tom Ledger boards a plane that changes his life forever. He escapes the crash with his life, but he can't seem to escape the mistakes of the past. Wondering why he lived and the man who sat beside him did not, Tom re-evaluates his life. What he sees is not much of a life; disconnected to his family and leaving the only girl he ever loved. In his climb up the corporate ladder, he has disregarded anything and everything that means anything to him. And somehow, he has lost himself. Is it ever too late to redeem yourself? Or can there truly be life after death?

The twist in this story came in it's final pages. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Thrasher changed one crucial part of the story and suddenly everything was different. This book took me on a journey that was rich with excitement and made me care about Tom - even though he brought most of his troubles on himself. Watching him run away from the bad decisions that eventually ruined his life reminded me that in this life it is never too late to find redemption from the One who forgives and will change your life forever.

[Sara Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book because it was a) a paperback and b) it sounded slightly interesting. After reading it, I would say if it wasn't a library copy, I would have used it for a firestarter. Thrasher had a bad habit of always calling his character by name (Tom did this, Tom did that) and the writing wasn't anything special. The whole premise of the book is negated when he pulls a "it was really just a dream or a glimpse and now I'm going to show you what he does with it" at the end that is left hanging and unexplained. Overall, I really didn't like the writing or the story and I won't be picking up anything else by Thrasher.

[Lynnda Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the theft in the first chapter to the miraculous twist at the end, The Second Thief kept me turning the pages. When a horrific plane crash leads a thief to reconnect with his old life while leaving his dangerous new life on hold, only Divine intervention can lead to the happily-never-after ending.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about the big twist at the end of this book. I know God can move mountains, but I just feel like it took a little away from the true conversion that the main character was going through.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to get my head around the twist at the end, but this may deserve a '3'

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Thrasher form, once I started I had to keep reading until the end.

[Randy Alcorn]

Travis Thrasher’s thought-provoking story will cause you to take a fresh look at the second chances we get every day. The Second Thief is well-written, moving, and full of perspective.