| Book Review - Deception |
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By Randy Alcorn
Publisher:
Review by Tom Gilbert
Purchase book here
Ollie Chandler is about as hard-boiled as a homicide detective
can be. He has pretty much seen it all. He’s also lived through some tough
patches, including the loss of both a child and a wife. Death is part of his
world, but the biggest danger he faces might be the death of his soul.
Chandler works the murder beat in Portland, Oregon and when he gets the case
of the murdered college philosophy professor he faces some disturbing mysteries.
His rule is always to follow the evidence no matter where it leads. In this case
there’s a lot of evidence and not of it all makes sense. But it seems to
be pointing to someone in his department. And there’s also the disturbing
realization that he can’t account for some of his actions the night of
the murder.
Randy Alcorn, popular Christian fiction and non-fiction writer, has created a
real page turner with this novel. Deception is the third in a set of novels involving
some of the same characters (the others are Deadline and Dominion). I love the
humanity of Ollie Chandler. He’s a down-to-earth guy with a lot of frustrations
over the way the world is. He can’t swallow a belief in a loving God, not
after what he’s seen and experienced. And he’s also had the unfortunate
run-ins with the self-righteous Christian. You know the kind. They are in your
face about how if you aren’t saved you’re going right to hell and
you better get religion and find Jesus NOW. That brand of evangelism has always
done more harm than good.
The story will reel you in and entertain you for all the plot
twists and detective who-done-it speculation. And it’s hard not to like
the protagonist despite his faults. He’s got a big old dog as his best
friend and feeds him pizza, hamburger and donuts. He likes to eat at greasy spoon
diners and play old rock n’ roll on the jukebox. He’ll call a spade
a spade, but he also has friends who’ll tell him the truth, even when he
doesn’t want to hear it.
The underlying Christian message is also there, but it’s subtle and presented
by friends of Chandler who love him and enjoy him despite his gruffness and religious
apathy. There are deep discussions and there’s some soul light shining
in the darkness.
If you like Mike Hammer and you enjoy a good mystery then I definitely recommend
you give Alcorn and Deception a read.
Bestselling author Randy Alcorn is the founder
and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. He has written several novels
and non-fiction books. He lives with his wife, Nanci, in Oregon. They have two
married daughters and three grandsons. |
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