The best Peretti novel I've read so far. I've always enjoyed his work, though I wouldn't really call any of his books modern classics. Usually, I read him when my brain is tired from reading theology. It keeps me focused on spiritual matters without frying the grey cells.

While this remains a fun read and easy to get into, Peretti's plot and characters have filled out quite a bit from his earlier novels I'm impressed at how real his hero seems, and how urgent the plot.

The story takes place in a small Washington town that suddenly has a visitation from a man who basically claims to be the second coming of Jesus. The world seems to flock to him as he performs miracles and advocates love for everyone, but for former pastor Travis Jordan, something doesn't seem quite right. This would-be messiah does not line up with the Jesus of Scripture.

I do recommend this one above his other books. My only suggestion is, if you cannot figure out what is wrong with the ministry of this false christ, then study the Word about it. The more we know about Jesus, the harder it will be to draw us away from Him. ( )

I didn't enjoy this book like I have others by this author.
I think the premise of the book was valid and the main characters searching for the truth behind the events were somewhat realistic. The darkness involved in the self-proclaimed prophet's life regarding his family was just too real to be in print.

However, I enjoyed the author's writing style immensely and caught myself chuckling and laughing aloud while reading the descriptions of the thoughts that Travis had and his take on thoughts others had. Those were clever. On two occasions where I was chuckling out loud, two women commented it must be a very good book. ( )

I can’t review a Peretti novel without dragging out my dusty copy of his last book and giving you a quick rundown.

“The Visitation” happens in a little eastern Washington town called Antioch, where nothing ever happens. Overnight, it became the centre of the supernatural - with sighting of angels, messianic images in the sky and a weeping crucifix that heals.

But that’s only the beginning. A self-proclaimed prophet appears at a local ranch and the people of Antioch accepted him as the Messiah of the second coming of Christ.

This turned out to be very good for Antioch when the visitation gives the town a booming industry in religious tourism. Everyone is happy but for one Travis Jordan, a burnt-out former pastor who came to Antioch to run away from his past. What happened to Antioch made Travis confront his past and work on uncovering the truth behind what is going happening.

Now the trap behind “Christian” thrillers, supernatural or not, is that someone out there will decry the entire thing as misleading and dangerously speculative. That’s why it’s called “fiction”, duh. If books like Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” or Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins’s “Left Behind” series poses a threat to your faith, then my warning label for this week is to stick to the non-fiction works that inspired novels of this genre.

(2005) ( )

Other than the Veritas Project YA books, this is my first Peretti novel. It wasn't really the excitement that I expected. It was long and drawn out, and while it did end up being interesting, I expected more of a spiritual battle between demons and other beings (angels?). At least that was the impression I got from people reading his stuff when I was a Christian college back in the mid-90's.

Certainly, there is a spiritual battle here, but it is firmly planted on earth and with a particular pastor versus another person presenting himself as "Christ". The spiritual warfare is mostly psychological and not particularly action-packed. So while I did end up enjoying the story, I was somewhat disappointed because of my incorrect presuppositions about the subject matter. I was not turned off by the book, although my Christian heritage is a little more conservative than the main character here.....so I may venture another Peretti book in the future - but I'm not rushing out for one. ( )

Not as good as his other books, but still a good read. ( )