Showdown

Title: Showdown
Author: Ted Dekker
Genre: Fiction/Suspense

Marsuvees Black suddenly makes an appearance in the quaint mountain town of Paradise, Colorado. He walks on the scene just like that- claims he left his car by the side of the road a few miles down the mountain. He claims to have a message of hope and love, but 13 year old Johnny Drake seems to think Black is up no good. For some unexplainable reason Marsuvees Black seems to know every dark secret that every towns person has while he himself holds the greatest secret of them all.

As Mr. Black extends his stay in Paradise, the town becomes enveloped in dark clouds and sandstorms. Many people don't even notice the darkness settling in around them, except for Johnny. As the townspeople become bent on destruction, immorality, and even death, Johnny's eyes remain wide open as he tries to protect his mother, his friends and himself. Everything he has ever known falls prey to the workings of Marsuvees Black. For some reason, Paradise seems to be isolated, and Johnny Drake is desperate for answers.

Further up the mountain is the Monastery where 37 children reside. They are "Project Showdown". It is here that these children who have been orphaned from all over the world are now isolated. They will be taught what love is and will have to take the ultimate test...to see if love can conquer all evil. These children have stumbled onto the key that will orchestrate all that goes on down the mountain in Paradise.

Finally, in a finale of classic good verses evil, the isolated world of the Monastery collide with the people of Paradise in a true Showdown. Can the devastated town of Paradise survive such a collision? Can true love really break through the darkness that has shrouded this small town for weeks?

You will probably have a difficult time putting down the adrenaline laced thriller. There are so many twists and turns to this story as the plot just gets thicker with every single chapter. You will also find some neat parallels between story of the monastery and paradise and the world in you and I live in today. Ted Dekker has truly outdone himself with this book. He also seems to be having a busy year as his book House also came out this past April (a combined effort with author Frank Peretti), and his next book, The Saint, is scheduled to come out late 2006. There is a link to his website on the left side of this blog.

Oh yeah, one last thought...there is a little bit of violence that is in this book. Although it works with the plot and is not at all overboard, if you're the Janet Oake type- you might not enjoy this book as much as I did!