Mark Andrew Olsen

A suspenseful thriller with a premise unlike any other I have ever read or even imagined. "For two thousand years he has wandered the shadows of humanity’s blood-stained history, secretly carrying out an ancient mission." Consider that this man is Lazarus of Bethany that is on a mission given to him by God and until he succeeds he is unable to die and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

I didn't know if I could read this book because I didn't know if I could imagine the premise even to read the novel. However, as I began reading the story, I felt compelled to continue reading. This is the author's first solo novel but he obviously knows the craft of writing as a screenwriter and has worked in collaboration with another author. This however was my first introduction to the writing of Mark Andrew Olsen. It is a novel of suspense that weaves past and present across a wide spectrum of locations beginning in Poland to Boston, MA, to France to Ireland to Rome to Jerusalem.

I'm glad that I finished reading the novel but I don't think it is a novel that I could recommend. I think that in whatever way one comes to find this novel, it is a very personal decision to read a novel of this content. It was once said that "Reading expands your mind and opens your world to a myriad of possibilities." [Specific author unknown.] This quote seems the best way that I can express my own choice to continue reading...to take me beyond my own thoughts, my own beliefs, and to consider other possibilities that might be different. It is definitely a unique portrayal of good vs. evil. I have learned through research about the author that he has written other novels but I do not anticipate reading another title.… (mehr)

If you like your thrillers mixed with visions of Angelic beings and calls for humans to get involved in spiritual warfare than this is the book for you. You should read Watchers, the first book in the series first, as this book continues the relationship between Abby and Dylan, the main characters. Abby finds out through her spiritual gifts that her spiritual mentor is dying. Meanwhile Dylan accepts a government top secret assignment that has him travelling to a place that may very well be a demonic stronghold. The two eventually get reunited and discover that they are being called to combat the forces of evil in a whole new way--and that if they don't succeed their homeland will be in dire danger.
This stood up well as a thriller where I had to keep turning the pages to find out how the heroes were going to save the day. A couple of times they were saved a little too convientially, but that's about average for a typical thriller. The supernatural and spiritual stuff mixed in added an extra layer of complexity and enjoyment. It's a good choice for a face paced break from the ordinary.… (mehr)