Beyond Eden

Someone gave me CHASING EDEN saying I "had" to read it, and now the Eden Thrillers have become one of my favorite series. BEYOND EDEN had me hooked from the prologue--what could be more terrifying than a boy vanishing from a sledding party or a baby from its crib? While CHASING EDEN follows Chaplain Jaime Richards through many places in the book of Genesis, much of BEYOND is set on the Greek island of Patmos where Revelation was written. While it's a page turner, you can also tell that the authors had a good time taking all the current thriller ingredients--newly discovered ancient manuscripts, spooky labrynths under monastaries, monks who may or may not be up to no good--and turning them on their ear. One thing I love about the Eden books is that they look at fascinating philosophical and theological questions that motivate the various characters in their quests. I also enjoy that the answers aren't cut and dried--even Jaime has to wrestle with what she believes about death, for example, and coming to terms with the loss of her parents when she was young. But while there is a psychopathic assassin (a twist on that character, too), and the book definately played into my primal aversion of needles-- it's unusual for a thriller that you kind of see the bad guys' point. Would it be a good thing if we could live forever, here on earth, in these mortal bodies? Not to mention that the sexual tension between Jaime and Yani really heats up in this one. Thank goodness TREASURE OF EDEN is almost out! BEYOND EDEN is one of those books that seriously interferes with one's ability to put it down and do what you're supposed to be doing.

The second installment in the Jaime Richards thrillers, `Beyond Eden,' surpasses S.L. Linnea's first effort, `Chasing Eden,' both in terms of the quality of the story and character development. While `Chasing Eden' is an exciting, well-conceived story itself, `Beyond Eden' is not burdened with much of the background information necessary to build the world within which Jaime and her mysterious friend, Yani, operate. As such, `Beyond Eden' hits the ground running and does not end until the reader lies panting, exhausted and exhilarated at the finish line. `Beyond Eden' opens reminding readers of Jaime's disappearance earlier with a letter from the Department of the Army to Jaime's brother. However, when the children of former Eden residents begin to disappear, Jaime reappears. (Obviously, Jaime has some explaining to do.) Then, Jaime joins Yani on a mission to find the children and to understand the reason the children were kidnapped. On a journey that takes the two from Iraq to Greece to the Island of Patmos to Sweden, Jaime and Yani learn more about one another as they learn of a sinister plan of a wealthy industrialist, Nestor Allende. Allende has invested time and capital to isolate the DNA of Eden Operatives in an effort to extend the natural human lifespan for his own, selfish benefit. Unless Jaime and Yani decipher Allende's web of treachery, he just may succeed at the expense of the kidnapped children. There is a lot to like about `Beyond Eden.' The pace of the story is reminiscent of a Jason Bourne movie, and there is a love story that begins to grow between Jaime and Yani. The emotions between the primary and secondary protagonists are not quite satisfied, which leaves the reader wondering...and wanting more. Nestor Allende is a reasonably effective antagonist, but Allende has a few qualities that leave the reader with a slightly ambiguous attitude toward him. That hint of uncertainty about Allende leaves the reader with an unfamiliar perspective, not quite sure if it would be a good or a bad thing that he succeeds in his mission. Finally (and without spoiling the plot), the writer does not take the easy way out in the resolution of the conflict. Just like in real life, sometimes there is not a happy ending. Leaving the relationship between Jaime and Yani unresolved, providing Allende with some moderating qualities, and ending the story with both failure and success, S.L. Linnea creates a depth in the story not often found in mass-market paperbacks. There will be a third book in the Jaime Richard franchise, but do not expect to have the questions left in `Beyond Eden' resolved. The third book in terms of release date is actually the second book in the chronology of Jaime's world. The second book will look into the world where Jaime lived between the time she disappeared through the door to Eden and the time when she reemerged. I suppose that Jaime's adherents will just have to wait until the fourth book...and a new b

This one is as thrilling as Chasing Eden and leaves plenty of suspense for the sequel to come. A great read!

My review is not about the story. You can read the summary above. This is about the book's impact on me. So here I was yesterday at San Diego airport, waiting to get back home to NJ after the fires cancelled my training course. That voice inside said 'get something to read' for the 5 hour flight home. Usually I never take a book on a plane. I scanned the magazines...nothing. Scanned the books -- lots of chop 'em up horror stories, the standard 'lovers making love' books, and then this one. I read the back, got interested, and bought it. I read it all flight. Got home at 130 AM and read to 330 AM. Slept in, got up and finished it before I went to work. What is the message? I was in a very down place on my flight...work and personal events taking a hold of me from the Dark side. This book, the way it addressed life and death and higher powers, was just what I needed to hear. 'Be slow to anger'. One person's death can have a positive effect on many lives. Jaime's issues in her teen years over her parent's death and her plane ride with her local pastor. Our purpose here it to live. This book brought me back into the Light.

While serving in Iraq in 2003, Army Chaplain (Major) Jamie Richards learns that the Sword of Life was stolen from the Baghdad Museum and must be reclaimed as that biblical artifact leads to the location of the Garden of Eden (see CHASING EDEN). She remains at Eden for the next two and a half years, but must leave paradise as an "Agent of Eden" on a mission in the "Terris" world beyond. Four abductions seemingly unconnected over ten weeks around the globe occurred from London to New York State to China and finally Virginia. To the law enforcement types of the respective areas there is no thought of a link. However each of the four and another kidnapping consist of Edenite offspring working in the world at large. Jaime is assigned to rescuing the children and uncovering who is the culprit. Yani, who enlisted her help in recovering the Sword of Life, joins her on her mission that takes them BEYOND EDEN. This exciting sequel packs plenty of global action in a short time frame yet contains an interesting societal issue on the ethical boundaries of science that are mindful of Ayn Rand and the debate on stem cell research. The story line is fast-paced while the heroine is a likable protagonist who struggles with the questions of her faith when she returns to the mortal realm of pain and suffering while immortality is a Garden away. S.L. Linnea provides a deep thought provoking thriller. Harriet Klausner