Title: Prophet
Author: Frank E. Peretti
First published January 1, 1992
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781581345261 (ISBN10: 1581345267)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
When John Barrett, the celebrated news anchor of the city’s most popular news program, begins to hear mysterious voices, he is plunged into a world of intrigue and danger. As he tries to uncover the truth behind the voices, he discovers that his comfortable life is unraveling at an alarming pace.
His colleagues, who were once his allies, have become his enemies, and his own son returns to confront him about the man behind the TV image. With his father’s death suddenly looking suspicious and his producer fabricating stories, John must fight to uncover the truth before he loses everything he holds dear.
Will he be able to unravel the mystery before it’s too late? Find out in Prophet by Frank E.
Peretti.
About the Author
Frank Peretti is an incredibly successful author with over 12 million novels sold. He has been referred to as “America’s hottest Christian novelist.” His talent for storytelling began at a young age when he would gather the neighborhood children for storytelling sessions.
After finishing high school, he played banjo for a local bluegrass group. In 1972, he married his wife and started a Christian music ministry.
Later, he went to UCLA to study English, screenwriting, and film. He then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church.
In 1983, he left his pastoring position and took construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing his book, This Present Darkness.
Although he was rejected by many publishers and had slow sales at first, word-of-mouth enthusiasm eventually propelled the book onto Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list for over eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, sold more than 3.5 million copies combined.
His book, The Oath, won the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction. He also wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series, which has sold over 1 million copies and is a best-selling series for children.
Peretti released his first non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit, in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written due to his own painful childhood experiences.
Despite his sudden fame, Frank Peretti still enjoys a simple life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpting, biking, hiking, and flying planes. He lives with his wife, Barbara Jean, in the Western United States.
Editoral Review
Frank E. Perettis Prophet is a suspenseful Christian thriller that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
Peretti, who is best known for his supernatural Christian novels, uses his trademark style to deliver a story that combines religion, suspense, and action. The story is set in the small town of Ashton, Washington, where John Barrett, an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift, arrives to warn the people of an impending disaster.
Barretts prophetic messages are met with skepticism and disbelief, but as the towns leadership struggles to respond to his warnings, the tension and suspense build to a thrilling climax. Perettis writing is taut and precise, with an economy of words that serves the story well.
His characters are complex and nuanced, with believable motivations and behaviors. Peretti also offers a commentary on the role of religion in modern society, exploring the themes of faith, doubt, and the corrupting influence of power.
One weakness of the book is that the plot feels formulaic and predictable, with many of the twists and turns telegraphed well in advance. However, Perettis writing style and character development more than make up for any shortcomings in the plot.
Overall, Prophet is a well-written, engaging Christian novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not be groundbreaking or revolutionary, Perettis novel is a solid example of what the genre can accomplish.
Targeted towards readers of Christian fiction, Prophet is a recommended read for those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers with supernatural elements. While it may not appeal to those who prefer a more secular approach to literature, those who are open to Christian themes will find Prophet to be a satisfying and rewarding read.
Based on its merits, I give Prophet a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While it may not be a perfect novel, Perettis dedication to his craft, his engaging characters, and his commentary on modern society make Prophet a worthy addition to the canon of Christian fiction.
