The Strange Man, Coming Evil Trilogy Series #1
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The bogeyman is coming
Dras Weldon, 22 years old and unemployed, might have grown up the son of a preacher, but you would hardly know it from his behavior and the bar he frequents. Jeff Weldon, his brother, followed in his fatherâÂÂs footsteps and became a preacher. He is serving as pastor of the Good Church of the Faithful, the same church his father, Jack Weldon, pastored.
The bogeyman has taken up residence in Greensboro. The town of Greensboro has an evil secret. âÂÂThe Strange Manâ by Greg Mitchell is the first installment of âÂÂThe Coming Evil TrilogyâÂÂ, and is about a man who discovers a secret so evil even his brother or his best friend, Rosalyn, wonâÂÂt believe him. As the Strange Man gets closer to Rosalyn, Dras must fight to save her. He reaches out to his friends and family, but ultimately he is left to face the evil alone. Will he survive? Or will evil win in this suspense-filled tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat?
If you enjoy Christian suspense/horror stories, you will love Greg Mitchell. I fell in love with the characters as if they were real. I loved how he made the town of Greensboro as much of a character in the story as Dras, Jeff, Rosalyn and Isabella. I was glad to know I would get to meet them again soon in Book Two, âÂÂEnemies of the CrossâÂÂ.
October 7, 2012
I have never read this author before, but I found that I really enjoyed the book. It was creepy and suspenseful and I found myself caring about the characters and their fates. The only complaint I have, is that in a couple of places the plot description was not clear and that annoyed me. But it was minor plot stuff, nothing that threw the story off. Worth the read.
May 15, 2012
The Sinister Reality of Spiritual Warfare
The Strange Man
Greg MitchellâÂÂs novel âÂÂThe Strange Manâ alerts the reader to the insidious impact and influence of evil powers roaming the earth today. This is the first novel in an upcoming trilogy âÂÂThe Coming Evilâ which combines a action suspense plot centered around a theme of evil, demons, ghoulish globs, and the reality of spiritual warfare encountered by Christians.
Other reviewers and the publisher description provide an excellent synopsis of the plot line. The protagonist, Dras Weldon, an immature, 22year old drop out, exhibits resentment and rebellion against his Christian upbringing. Dras is targeted to be used by the âÂÂstrange manâ to frighten the townspeople. The devil, with his demonic forces, is determined to take over the community of Greensboro. Dras is faced with the reality of the coming evil. He renounces the devilâÂÂs demands to save the eternal soul of his friend Rosalyn.
I found MitchellâÂÂs writing compelling, strong, suspenseful, and dramatic. His word pictures produce visual images that drew me into the narrative. Although he provided a background prologue to relate the story telling power of childhood stories of the âÂÂbogeymanâ designed to scare the daylights out of children, and although I heard my share of these stories as a child, I found the recurring use of this as a reference to the strange man distracting. This is personal. I may have missed the humor or the target audience. For me it did not strengthen the otherwise strong spiritual message of included throughout the narrative. Otherwise an excellent read.
As reviewed for Midwest Book Review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines.
August 7, 2011
spiritual warfare fiction at a new level
The faith of the forebears of Old Greenesboro had bound the Strange Man to the North Woods for over a century. But now the faith of that bygone era has faded. The people have stopped believing in demons and God. The Strange Man is free to roam.
A terrifying storm approaches the town. The turbulent clouds darken the sky as approaching evil darkens the community. There is a creature from the North Woods stalking - a spiritual being with only evil intent. As the terrible storm passes over the town some can sense a feeling of spiritual darkness settling upon them.
Many of the inhabitants remember their parents telling them of the bogeyman. For generations the tales were told to the children. The bogeyman was said to live in the North Woods. Has the evilness of the bogeyman been released from the North Woods to haunt the town?
People begin to feel and see a being that causes pure terror. Could the taloned creature be the devil come to claim those he thinks are his? Is this the bogeyman?
The novel centers around Dras, a twenty-two year old unemployed man who drinks too much and scorns the faith of his brother and parents. When the evil creature says he is after Dras' friend Rosalyn, the prodigal Dras knows he has to protect his friend. But how? Even his preacher brother refuses to help. Is there any way Dras can keep the evil away from Rosalyn?
This book is not for the weak at heart. I usually read fiction right before bed but I had to read this earlier in the day. Frank Peretti step aside. This novel brings spiritual warfare to a new level of visualization and excitement. And the story does not resolve at the end of this book. "...[T]he battle is just beginning..." (266)
There is also a short story at the end of the book, a sort of prequel to the novel. (The action takes place ten years before the novel.) I would have placed it at the beginning and suggest you might read it before the novel.
I am not so patiently waiting for the sequel.
This book was provided for review by Realms, A Strang Company.
February 20, 2011