Waking Lazarus

"The Hunter moved quickly, putting away the chloroform-soaked cloth while lifting the child's limp body and rolling it into the black Dodge's trunk." Sigh.

Tony Hines has hit the ground running with WAKING LAZARUS. If you like page-turning thrillers, then get this book. I plunged into this story with the first sentence, "The first time Jude Allman died, he was eight years old." This story is well-constructed and the characters come to life in this title. It's a clean, thoughtful well-told story and a departure for this publisher (Bethany House) since there is no overt spiritual theme (an implied spiritual theme is there but it's not spelled out like in many of this publisher's books)--which is OK--but something readers should know about for this story. It's a great read and something I highly recommend. I'll be watching for more books from T.L. Hines.

This book was so good I read it in several days. I was enthraled from page one. I could not put it down. I hope Hines writes more. Enjoy.

I'm an aspiring suspense/thriller novelist. If you ask those who are published novelists, they'll tell you there are 2 ways to learn to write. 1) Read. 2) Write. So, I do a lot of both. I first heard of T. L. Hines from a friend who's also an aspiring novelist. My friend is using a similar marketing strategy developed by Hines. I clicked over to Hines' website and found that I could read the first chapter of his, at that time, yet to be released novel, Waking Lazarus. I was hooked from the first sentence and by the time I reached the last sentence I wanted more. Finally, got a chance to purchase a copy and read it in three days. It's the story of Jude Allman, a tortured soul who's died three times and lived to tell. As you'd expect from such a series of events, Jude becomes a celebrity. After much hoopla about him, Jude becomes a recluse, choosing to move away from his Nebraska hometown to an small town in Montana. He changes his name and takes a job as a school janitor. He's paranoid and denying memories of his past and he blames God for the death of his mother. Six years off the grid and Jude thinks things are ok. He has a child with a woman he cares about, likes his job, has a home. But all is not well. Children are missing all over the area. It's only a matter of time before abductions happen even closer to home. Meanwhile, the jig is up. A woman named Kristina shows up at Jude's door and knows who he really is. She tells him he has a gift and he needs to use it. How does all this tie together? I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. You'll have to read it yourself. Hines' prose is flowing, natural and easy. Some of his imagery is just amazing. I've actually read passages to people! The three deaths of Jude Allman are told after the fact and yet, it doesn't feel like flashbacks (something that can be dicey to pull off for many novelists). The characters are believable. The dialogue is good. I never had to read something twice because I didn't get it. I especially enjoyed the sections from the child abductor's POV. That character was warped! Since I enjoyed those sections so much, I'm not certain what this says for me. :-) The twists and turns were better than any rollercoaster this thrill ride enthusiast has ever been on. There were so many possibilities for whodunnit. And when the truth is reveals, I was shocked. In conclusion, read this novel! You'll love it. Check out T. L. Hines website, too. There's a lot of goodies there. Break on through to the Other Side!

Jude Allman has died three times. With each death and resurrection, his notoriety increased. To flee a spotlight he never asked for nor wanted, he vanishes from sight. He takes on the new name Ron Gress and moves to Red Lodge Montana. He takes a job as a janitor in the local school system and strives to maintain his anonymity. Life in Red Lodge isn't easy; he has problems with paranoia and struggles in social situations most people breeze through, but it's better than his life as Jude. Then a woman named Kristina shows up at his doorstep. She knows his real identity and his carefully constructed world begins to rattle down around him. Long-suppressed memories bubble to the surface and begin to torment him. He develops a new *gift*-when he touches a dying stranger, their life is played back within his mind, in full color. Visions and blackouts become more common, further complicating his world. Kristina insists they are signs, while Rachel, mother of his son Nathan, is convinced they are symptoms of a physical or mental condition. Then an elusive child stalker strikes Red Lodge. When local law enforcement and the FBI are stymied, Jude's gifts may be the only chance the missing children have. But now, when Jude needs his gifts the most, they may very well fail him. T.L. Hines does a great job at getting inside the heads of his characters. His child molester scenes, written from the molester's point of view, are some of the strongest in the book. Some scenes, while not gory or graphic, may seem over the top to some readers. He doesn't soften the pure evil of this particular character. Jude is another well-rounded character. Here is a man longing for a normal life, but he struggles with the simplest things, like giving his son a hug. It's the smaller struggles in the life of this unusual man that bring him to life. Waking Lazarus is one of the few books that have given me the creeps. It is also a book that kept me guessing until the end the identity of the kidnapper and it was a revelation that was surprising, but plausible. I recommend this book; it's one that goes on my keeper shelf.