Randy Alcorn is one of my favorite authors. His books are gripping and hard to put down. They have affected my spiritual awareness more than most other novels I've read. This series is sort of a mix between John Grisham and Frank Peretti -- murder mystery with some delving into the spiritual realm. I ordered to have for my personal library so I could loan it out to people, because I am often recommending it to fellow readers!
A shocking murder drags the reader into the world of gangs and Clarence Abernathy desparately seeks answers to the violence and to his own struggles. This book will make you laugh, cry and think and is a must read.
Alcorn is great:)
I read this without having read Dominion and had no trouble understanding it or following the story- it is not really a sequel, just a story which has some of the same characters. The author really did his research into gangs and inner city life. It is an interesting book to read because it captures so well the differences between African American and White people's lives and attitudes. I really felt like I knew the main character, and understood him, although he is very different from me. Also, the heroes are likable but not perfect, which made them more realistic. The mystery was interesting and the solution surprised me. The only downside is the heavy-handedness of the religious material. It is definitely a Christian novel. There are many scenes of people in Heaven and many religious conversations which were interesting at first but after a while got really tedious. Also, there seemed to be a lot of "information dumping" i.e. political or religious material that was thrown in there that didn't seem to be necessary for the plot, the author just wanted to preach. It got so annoying that by the end I was skipping over pages- of course, I am a liberal atheist and most of Alcorn's intended audience are Christian conservatives, so it might not be a problem for most readers. In that respect, I think dedicated Christians would appreciate and enjoy the book more than nonchristians like me.
Aclorn combines extensive research (of characters and subject matter) with good writing and a gripping plot. This book is an enjoyable and thought provoking read.
Randy Alcorn is an excellent author able to develop his characters in the way that you feel you know them on a very personal level. He weaves his story and articulates today's moral issues clearly, concisely and with authority. His development of the supernatural life around us is so unique, so believable, I expect to see his vision come to fruition!
I really enjoyed this book. Randy Alcorn did a masterful job. It takes you through the pain of Clarence Abernathy. In the beginning of the book, his sister is shot by a gang banger. His anger at the injustice of it all brings him out of his shell and forces him to take a good look at his life. His lifelong struggle with the racism he has experienced and his faith in God all come under review. He is forced to evaluate his goals and reshift his focus as he searches for her killer.
