The Oath

Title: The Oath
Author: Frank Peretti
Pages: 550

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars (Maybe 1 1/2 stars....)

(Non-Spoiler Info)
When Steve Benson's brother Cliff is killed in Hyde Valley by a bear, Steve who is a wildlife biologist knows he has to investigate. When Steve arrives at the scene of Cliff's death with Deputy Tracy Ellis, he knows something isn't right. Steve knows bears and he knows a bear couldn't have killed his brother. But when Steve and Tracy team up to investigate they stumble across an evil that has been around since the founding of the town in 1882 but an evil no one will talk about. But Steve is determined to solve Cliff's murder.


(SPOILER INFO)
I found this book and picked it up because the cover was interesting and the story sounded cool. Little did I know what kind of crap I was in for. Turns out the killer in the book, is a DRAGON! Yes, you read that right, a dragon. Now I'm all for the suspension of disbelief and have read books about wizards, talking animals, man-eating spiders, shape-shifters, vampires, werewolves, etc. But I just don't buy it in this book. I can't really place my finger on why but when the dragon was first introduced, my first thought is that it couldn't be real, the author had to have some kind of trick or twist up his sleeve. But nope, it was a dragon. And it only gets worse. The dragon is sin. If you have sinned than the dragon will be coming for you. And the only way to save yourself is to right yourself with the Lord and have Jesus in your heart. And no, I didn't make that up. That's what really happens. The story kept me interested because the author has created a story filled with tension and suspense and I kept waiting for a big pay off. But the big pay off never came. Do you know what I got instead? Nothing. The dragon did it. Deputy Tracy Ellis and Levi Cobb (the only decent characters in the book besides Steve) both die at the end. And Steve, our hero, saves the day by putting Jesus in his heart.

So, my vote, SKIP this one!