This is a fiction thriller, with a Christian message. I enjoyed the fast pass and mystery of this book. It is an easy read, yet Dekker's style of writing doesn't quite flow to my taste, and seems to be overly forced at times.

ADAM is my first book by Ted Dekker. It is a great read! It keeps your attention throughout and the twist is great.

With ADAM, prolific author Ted Dekker spins another high-voltage web of intrigue. As is his norm, he weaves an intense emotional drama that has readers transfixed until the final page.

In this evocative story, Dekker's protagonist, FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark, finds himself a victim of sorts of his own anti-religion philosophy when he allows an obsession with a serial killer dubbed "Eve" to destroy his marriage and overtake his life. Though Daniel writes eloquently about the evils of "religion," it is ironic that, as this drama plays out, religion and its accompanying spiritual forces and foes that he adamantly professes don't exist become his greatest nemesis.

After multiple slayings of young women, Eve actually fires the shot that kills Daniel as he and another agent/medical doctor, Lori Ames, are trying to rescue a barely alive female victim. Some 20 minutes after the shooting, Daniel is resuscitated, but in the aftermath suffers extreme episodes of panic, fear...and obsession...possession? Daniel seeks the aid of Lori, and they go in the "dark" to try to piece together and anticipate Eve's next step.

As Daniel fights his body's losing battle to ever-escalating thoughts of terror-ridden darkness, his ex-wife, Heather, is similarly battling her own set of fears. A phone call to her changes everything, and the killer makes it clear that she is Daniel's hope for survival. Unable to break free from him, and abruptly positioned in the center of the hunt, Heather enters the fray with Daniel and Lori to solve the intricacies of a murderer's mind and motives.

One emotionally draining episode after another, and the three are not simply fighting against Eve --- they are arguing, debating with their own inner thoughts and each other's. Daniel, Lori and Heather fight against time, distance and locating the key to Eve's past. When they realize they are dealing with the victim of a childhood kidnapping culminating in years of wretched abuse, the trio better grasp the evil they are up against.

They catch a break when Eve's former mentor priest is discovered and Heather confers with him. What she learns sounds unreal and otherworldly...and it is. Summoning up every ounce of courage she has and going against every bit of reason, logic and good sense, Heather begs Father Seymour to accompany her in the rescue of Daniel. What transpires in Eve's former place of childhood torture can only be described as hell itself, and the forces of heaven and hell wage against each other. Every one of the major players must reckon with what he or she truly believes about life, death and the powers that rule the universe.

Producing spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat dialogue at its finest, Ted Dekker successfully brings closure to this life-altering clash between good and evil, and leaves readers with lingering reminders that there are two worlds at play around us each and every day.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

To say that this novel is a psychological thriller is an understatement. The human psyche is deeply explored, as well as more about spiritual forces than at first glance. It's also not just a serial killer book, though that is one aspect. Abuse, fear, evil, victimization, freedom of choice, religion, triumph over evil, truth over lies, courage, and love all have a part in the whole. But the whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

What might happen to someone who is severely abused as a child in the name of religion? Is it possible to escape that evil, or must you succumb to it at some point in your life? Can good triumph over evil? Will it always? How much can one person endure before they break? Are demons real? Can they really overtake someone who gives them access? Don't we all have the capacity for evil inside ourselves? Dekker explores answers to these questions.

I usually preface my Dekker reviews with the disclaimer that I may be a bit too passionate when it comes to his books. I'm a huge fan and he never ceases to flabbergast me. Adam is no exception. Dekker continues to up the ante and churn out gale-force plots with gargantuan spiritual oomph. Hence my admiration. Do I have anything negative to say about this story whatsoever? Not remotely. And that's a shock if you know me. Even with Ted, I'm still nitpicky. No doubt, thriller lovers like me will find merit in this newest offering.

Ted's track record for penning chest-heaving, mind-spinning works is nothing short of uncanny. His writing has always been spot on, but I have seen his growing maturity not only in his words, but in his themes. I definitely think this is his best to date, his Circle works coming a very close second.

Do not miss this one. It deserves recognition and discussion not just for its entertainment value, but on the merit that it has the potential power to change lives.

While I am an absolute and total fan of Ted Dekker, this book was a little too dark and disturbing for me. It was hard to read of the kidnapping and sadistic torture not to mention the horrible cult that two of the main characters suffered from as children. Though the writing is excellent, and the ending is intense, I was left disappointed. After coming through so much darkness, I thought it was lacking the beautiful salvation of these main characters, that many of his other characters in his other books are rewarded with. That wonderful love-story between the Creator and His creation. But if you are a lover of dark "cat & mouse" type stories, you will still probably enjoy this one.

'Adam' by Ted Dekker
Review by Shari Van Baale

Ted Dekker is a very accomplished and prolific author of approximately two dozen books., meticulously researching material for them whether medical, forensics, psychology, or etc.. Even so, his latest edition, 'Adam', is the first of his books that I've read. I discovered this book while perusing the internet, and decided to give this intriguing title a try. I was delighted to find a Christian author of the suspense/thriller genre who writes without using vulgar language (as many secular authors do), yet tantalizes the adrenaline to the maximum. 'Adam' offers up a complex storyline rich with intricately developed characters and background information down to the most minute detail. The story begins by vollying between 3 subplots, one of which seemingly not directly related to the other 2, whose relationship is quite apparent even at first. As the story progresses, though, I gradually realized that the author had been seamelessly weaving all 3 plots together, and at the end, all the pieces fit together in perfect order. This is epic good vs. evil presented in a very unconventional, incredibly creative and addictive storyline. Dekker succeeded magnificently in presenting a suspenseful thriller with many completely unexpected plot shifts throughout. This volume may well bave been velcroed to my hands, as I could hardly wait to find out where the story's path would lead me at the turn of each new page. Devotees of Ted Dekker, of this genre, or even the newcomer will find this an incredibly fascinating story. So boldy crack the cover, turn the first page, and hang on - this one will surprise and tantalize you. It is definitely worth the trip!

Ted Dekker is one of the freshest voices in Christian fiction today. His works could be characterized as psychological fiction with pulse-pounding action as well. The Circle Trilogy is one of the best series I have ever read. What I like best? Besides, the lack of foul language or sex, you can't really tell it's Christian fiction until the end. His works have just as much tension as any author today. He has taken on such topics as beauty, abuse, psychopathic killers, guilt, and good and evil. Most of the time his main characters are not Christian. Usually, they have mixed feelings about the church and are trying to escape painful pasts.

His latest work of fiction plays more like The Exorcist than anything else. Daniel Clark is obsessed with finding out the identity of the serial killer known only as Eve. He has given up everything for this quest, including his marriage to devoted Heather. When Eve's latest killing gets delayed, he shoots Daniel to reclaim the almost-dead body of his intended victim. Miraculously, Daniel is brought back to life by his new work partner.

The good thing is Daniel has now seen the face of Eve. The bad thing is that he has having night terrors and can't remember what the face looked like. Daniel tries drug-induced trips to make himself remember. But the only result is the nightmares are getting worse. Now, Eva is after the one person Daniel cares about.

The story is interspersed with newspaper articles about the story of how Eva becomes the killer he is. You won't find out all the facts until the very last page. This started out somewhat slow but it picked up. Towards the end of the book, the action escalates quickly, and I must admit skipping ahead because I couldn't wait any longer.

Readers be warned: There are some scary images in this book. One could easily get their own nightmares from it. If you have never really thought about the realities of demon possession, you could be in for a shock. But, that's Dekker's MO.

I was hoping this book would end better than it did. The ending was just a little too corny for the storyline. The premise sounded very intriguing, however, it got very dark that I couldn't read it much at night. Also, some of the writing was really, really, can I say really belabored with some of the description writing.....ok,ok, I got the idea! Characters were likable just not enough development for me.

Wow - just put the book down and what a beauty!

Fast-paced, rivetting, difficult to put down but most significantly a great story-line. Evil shown in it's most dramatic form - possession, and in someone who doesn't believe in evil.

Really good Ted. I'm a big fan but have been a little disappointed in the last couple of novels, "Saint" in particular.

Ted's back - "Adam" grabbed me like "Blink" did. Perhaps one could say "Adam" ended a little too suddenly, and there could have been a greater exploration of the post-mortem. Further, the character of Jessica/Lori doesn't really gel well in my mind.

Also, the interview at the end between Ted and John Eldredge, another writer I greatly admire is a real treat, but don't read it until you've read the novel first as it gives it away.

Ted - well done! Can't wait for "Sinner".

With Adam, Ted Dekker serves up another serving of his signature mystery style. This booktwists and turns until the end. As always, Dekker keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself as you try to decipher who will win and how in this battle of good vs. evil. Dekker presents evil and good in many forms, which adds depth and interest to this amazing novel. I don't know how, but Dekker has done it again!

I admit that I have read a couple other Dekker books, and did not like them, so I did not start this one off with high hopes. I quickly became engrossed in the story line and was really enjoying myself, when a thought came to me. I wonder if it ends badly. I continued reading until I could not ignore it any more, so I skipped to the back. The ending was worse than anything I dreamed possible. The writing was great, the premises was great, but the ending killed the book for me. Please, please, if you are a Christian writer, do not make the ending so corny. I love dark thrillers, unfortunately, there are not many out there that a Christian can read, but I can't seem to read most "Christian" authors, because they present such a cheap version of christianity, or feel they have to preach to you in some way. Do all "Christian" books have to have someone coverted in the end? When you read the great authors of the past, their worldview was shown in the book, they did not have to make a "Christian" ending.

Ted Dekker delivers yet again with ADAM. You won't want to leave it once you've started reading it.
ADAM surprised me. I expected something more along the lines of his other books, but this one was different. Read it before it gets too dark and quiet outside...otherwise it'll scare you so much you won't be able to sleep for a long time. It gives the spiritual message at the end that I've come to expect from Dekker's books, but as I said before, it's not quite like his other novels. This one deals with demon possession and makes the point that there is more to this world than what we see. (Yes, that's what SKIN was all about, but this is a completely different animal than SKIN. It doesn't leave you wondering like SKIN did.)

Reading this I could not help thinking about the old radio program opening line: "Who knows what evil lurks in the mind of man? The Shadow does." And Ted Dekker does too, as he again shows his creative, Koontz-like talent at striping the polite covering off Evil and exposing it's true horror. All Dekker's books have an embedded Christian message, but in this book, if one did not know him, they would not suspect that a strong witness for Christ was coming up at the very end. As a Christian, I applaud him for his witness, and as an appreciator of weird, twisted, creative thrillers, I think he is well worthy of a read by Dean Koontz fanciers. This book, which starts out as a serial killer investigation and ends up in a full blown and very scary exorcism, is one of his best.

I only made it to page 110, before I closed this book and began wondering how anyone could actually make a living writing novels this bad. I skimmed through the rest of it as I couldn't bear to subject myself to such a literary nightmare. This book is critically flawed. The dialogue is boring and the scenes are trite and unrealistic. Mr. Dekker did some very awful research and attempts to pass himself off as an expert in subjects about which he is utterly clueless. He spend much of the book butchering medical procedure and terminology. Luckily the vast majority of his readers are clueless in these areas as well, so he is able to pass his book of as realistic. Also, there are characters and elements of this story which are too similar to his other books, leaving me wonder if the author lacking is in originality.
I speak from a medical background, and my major contentions lie with the medical elements of the book such as the resuscitation scene, the "kill and resuscitate again" scenes and the speculative nonsense about memory and the chemical compound dimethyltryptamine. I'll not go too in depth about them, again because most readers are ignorant of medicine, and those who aren't will readily recognize Mr. Dekker's severe errors. I found myself laughing aloud at the absurdity of the book as I read. Mr. Dekker if you happen across this review, consider educating yourself thoroughly on the medical topics on which you intend to write so as not to appear an idiot. A simple conversation with a medical professional, or merely cracking open a medical text would have shown you your multitude of errors.
On a technical note, there's a typo or two in the early pages of the book, poor editing from such a reputable publishing house.
For those of you who long for solid writing, this is absolutely not for you. Further, I agree with other reviewers that this book is scary; its scary that a work this abysmal can be so well received.

I only made it to page 110, before I closed this book and put in back on the shelf as began wondering how anyone could actually make a living writing novels this bad. This book is critically flawed. The dialogue is boring and the scenes are trite and unrealistic. Mr. Dekker did some very awful research and attempts to pass himself off as an expert in subjects about which he is utterly clueless. Luckily the vast majority of his readers are clueless in these areas as well, so he is able to pass his book of as realistic. Also, there are characters and elements of this story which are too similiar to his other books, leaving me wonder if the author lacking is in originality.
I speak from a medical background, and my contentions lie with the medical elements of the book such as the resuscitation scene and the speculative nonsense about memory and the chemical compound dimethyltryptamine. I'll not go too in depth about them, again because most readers are ignorant of medicine, and those who aren't will readily recognize Mr. Dekker's severe errors. I found myself laughing aloud at the absurdity of the book as I read. Mr. Dekker if you happen across this review, consider educating yourself thoroughly on the medical topics on which you intend to write. A simple conversation with a medical professional would have shown you your multitude of errors.
On a technical note, there's a typo or two in the early pages of the book, poor editing from such a reputable publishing house.
For those of you who long for solid writing, this is absolutely not for you.

This book nearly tempted me to stay up all night reading it! I was completely enthralled with the way this book lured me in. Ted Dekker has done it again with his masterful thriller style. While I preferred The Trilogy, this was an excellent page turner and a good read!

i always hear the phrase, on the edge of your seat, well this book brought that phrase to life, i read this book so quick i stayed up so late, this book just kept me wanting more, it was very exciting and a thriller, total out of the box christian fiction, I have read EVERYTHING Ted Dekker has written, and it is a tie between Three and Adam for #1 WOW!!!

Ted Dekker has done it yet again. Adam is such a great read. The way Mr. Dekker grabs a hold of the reader and doesn't let go until the very last page. Daniel Clark is an FBI profiler and is obsessed with finding 'Eve'. He gets so close to finding Eve that he gets shot and is literally dead for over 18 minutes. He's resusitated and has an image of Eve and who he is along with these panic and fear attacks. The plot takes so many twists and turns that you can't put the book down until finished. The ending will blow you away. It did me! Ted Dekker has been my favorite author for about 6 years now. Thank you Jason (my Pastor's son) for introducing me to this fantastic Christian author. Read any Ted Dekker book and you'll be hooked for life.

I must say I'm so glad to see Dekker back to his original storytelling form. Saint started out great then seemed to lose its way at the end. Adam reminds me of Thr3e, because it's a strong, tightly written thriller that will not disappoint you, right to the end. I'm picky about satisfying endings, and this book does not disappoint. A great read and worth every one of the five stars I'm giving it.

I am an avid reader of Ted Dekker books. The books seem to interest me so much that I must buy them so that I can read them over and over. I was completely satisfied with the total price of this book. I never doubted that I would love the book, but loving the price was something surprising!

Basically, all of you Ted DeKker fans are in for a treat. This has become one of my favorites of his books. I literally read it in about 4 hours. I honestly couldn't stop. DEFINITELY buy this if you're thinking about it. Dekker doesn't stop at just writing an amazing story, like usual, but the amount of FBI and medical research that has gone into this piece is AMAZING. Don't hesitate to buy this. Honestly.

This book will keep you guessing till the end. It is a great thriller with a message that we need to take seriously. Love the interview at the end. This book will definitely ruffle some feathers. Great read!!

Ted Dekker has done it again. With masterful writing skills, and unthinkable plot twists, Dekker takes the reader on a wild ride, which will stagger your imagination. Ted's writing is fantastic as always in this new novel, and brings out his creativeness.

There are two versions of this book availiable, the regular version, and the "special edition" version, which apparently clears up the ending a little more, and adds more Christian themes.

This is a must read for ANY fiction fan!

Talk about a great beach read! This is the perfect book for summer vacation, a shocking thriller with lots of twists and turns, fun characters, and a really unexpected ending.

I had never read Dekker before, but I will pick up his books from now on.
There are other good thriller writers out there, but few deal with good and evil the way Dekker does. I won't give away anything else--just get it!

With the disappointment of the lost books series(which are still good compared to alot of the crap out there) I was afraid this book would just as much of a let down. But after reading all the positive reviews I decided this one may be better. And yes it is better than the lost books, but not better than many of Ted Dekker's previous works (namely the Circle Trilogy, Showdown, Thr3e, Skin). While this is still a good book and worthy of a read, Ted Dekker is losing a bit of his magic. I can't quite seem to pinpoint what it is. Maybe the formula of having a psycho killer that no one can catch is getting old. Or maybe the fact half of the killers seems to have been abused at childhood is getting old too.

Another complaint is sometimes using words like "pig" and "sow" instead of cuss words sometimes just does not fit the tenseness of the situation. Like I saw someone comment before, he needs to let his characters act like real people. Especially when you have a serial killer talking, do you think that he is worried if offensive language is coming out of his mouth? So sometimes this takes away from the seriousness of the situation. Though I do see why Dekker chooses this as he is marketing toward a Christian audience.

The complaints aside though, this is still a good book (though not a masterpiece), even it is a little of the same. Its still Dekker, it still has some twists, and it still keeps you turning the pages. Though maybe Dekker should begin to branch out and try something new next time?

Ted Dekker is my favorite author, and once again he has given me a book that has given me ours of entertainment and some things to think about in life and faith.

In this book, you follow the latest and most career intensive case of an FBI criminal profiler who also, through his studies has come to view religion as one of the driving forces of evil in society (and his serial killers motive), as opposed to an "evil force" itself existing.

Dekker provides us with his normal fast-paced, suspensful story, some excellent research and a plot with some good twists but not so surprising turns and anyone who loves a good mystery or story will read this book quickly and eagerly.

However, having said this, and understand I am one of Dekker's greatest fans, my applauding of the book ends here. Large, crucial and incredibly interesting themes of good/evil, especially evil's reality and the supernatural are addressed in this modern-day thriller. However, Dekker says in an interview about the book that his hope through painting a more real picture of the darkness is to draw people to the light. My biggest disappointment with this book is that in the end, little time or attention or detail for that matter is given to how the Light overcomes the very real darkness. So much time is spent exploring the possibility and then reality of the evil side of the supernatural that you are left to wonder how the light defeated the darkness. Sure you hear the name "Jesus", and Dekker is phenomenal at not being preachy, but when I read the last word of the last chapter, my biggest question was "What? How the...that's it?"

A fast-paced mystery where the conclusion is still a step beyond predictability, but I'm afraid that in my opinion, even though the Light is the victor in the end, the book leaves you wondering, "if the Dark is really so real and powerful, how in the world did the Light overcome it in this story? And if Lights victory is so unplausible at the end of this work of fiction, why would I ever hope in its power in reality?"

Evil is real and powerful, but the Light shatters darkness! However, in this book, you'll find that the light really just kind of wears it down and chases it away to fight another day...

Keep writing Dekker! You are amazing as are your works...but I must responsibly rate this book lower than your others...may your fans forgive me, and remember too that I am a fan.

This story is compelling, gripping, fascinating and amazing. It's clear to me that the author spent countless hours on research. I was at the hospital the other day and recommended it to a doctor who saw me reading it. I told him it had a gross autopsy scene with plenty of details and a mysterious illness they were trying to understand. I think he wrote the title down. Anyway, the natural realm and the supernatural converge in this impressive tale about good and evil. Who better to tell this frightening story than Ted Dekker?

Dekker has an impressive imagination, is incredibly intelligent, and writes in terrifying detail. I think this is the scariest Christian fiction story I've ever read. But it's not mere horror for entertainment's sake. There is a pretty profound message in this story that I believe is well worth reading. I don't recommend reading it at night, though. It would give you creepy dreams and you'd be digging in your drawer for duct tape. Trust me on that one. Read the book and you'll see why. However, if the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11) you have nothing to fear by reading this story. Some of the theology is "iffy," but hey, this is fiction! This page turner comes highly recommended. Enjoy!

Ted Dekker is known for writing riveting, suspenseful novels and Adam is perhaps his best yet. Dekker as of late, has been on a streak of serial killers and Adam is no different.
Daniel Clark is a FBI behavioral psychologist who has been tracking the serial killer known as Eve. When he finally sees Eve face to face, Daniel is shot and dies. But then 20 minutes later is resuscitated. Daniel knows he's seen the killer's face, but the trauma of dying has obscured the memory and left him with panic attacks. Daniel becomes obsessed with finding Eve.
Adam is not really about Daniel, although most of it is told from his perspective and he is a likable character, Adam is all about the battle between good and evil, the light and the darkness. Dekker portrays that battle in such a realistic way that he had one of his editors sleeping with the lights on(words straight from Dekker).
Throughout the book there are about nine magazine articles that tell us of Eve's back story and how he became a serial killer. These articles were crucial to the plot development. With the help of these Eve has become yet another great villain created by Dekker.
Adam is an exciting ride from the beginning to the chaotic climax. It's a ride that you'll want to take again and again.

Okay.. I have read every single Ted Dekker novel written. And I have to say that this is one of his very best. It's a break from all of the Circle/Showdown things he's been writing for awhile now, and he is still in great form for the thriller. I wanted to know what was going to happen throughout the whole book. The book is about a serial killer, the man chasing him, and the women that are also obsessed with the case. It has everything you need-- death, twists, character development... basically, I'm saying... read this!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It doesn't have the 'Ted Dekker' twists like "thRee" but it's really good. I love how he makes all things in his books a 'God thing'. I look forward to reading his stories. READ IT!

This is an awesome book, my new Dekker favorite. Read it, you won't be sorry! lp

I've made it no secret my opinions of Ted Dekker's latest works (read my reviews for Skin, Saint, and the first two Lost Books). Over the last year Dekker's writing has taken a turn for the worse and for a long time I wondered if I'd ever see the great and wonderful writing which graced the pages of master works like Thr3e, The Circle, and Showdown, again. Fortunately, Ted Dekker has finally broken out of his funk and delivered the goods.

Special Agent Denial Clark is obsessed. A killer known simply as Eve is loose in the country, and it is his job to bring him to justice. But Eve is an elusive killer, with a meticulous attention to detail that puts villains like Hannibal Lector to shame. His victims; young women chosen seemingly at random to feed some sort of sick perversion. His method; a mysterious virus which attacks the mind. His favorite food; candy bars and cherry coke. Mmmm, yummy. Not too healthy, but hey, he's a killer, what does he care about health?

The case takes a dramatic turn for the worse, however, after Denial, following a lead on Eve, is shot dead by the killer only to be revived twenty minutes later by his partner. But now, every twenty minutes or so, his mind forces him to relive the fear of death, crippling him with blinding terror which lasts about five to ten seconds. Although this may seem like an insignificant amount of time, the constant panic attacks grow worse as time goes by, driving him almost to the point of suicide.

This is more Dekker formula, so if you're familiar with his previous works you'll be right at home with Adam. The crazy villain, the worldly characters, the supernatural elements, the all too familiar nail biting suspense, it's all there. Everything you loved about Dekker's older works is here in this new book, so for all those Forest Guard people out there this book will not disappoint. But he brings something to this novel which was absent in his previous works, and that is attention to detail. Ted Dekker clearly did his homework because his attention to the details of autopsies, medical practices, FBI procedures, etc, could not have been better if they had been written by experts in all these fields (okay, maybe they could be, but you get the point). This is something that was noticeably absent in Dekkers other works. Although he's written about the FBI before (Thr3e) he never got into the details about how it worked.

A nice touch Dekker through in is to have news articles, dated after the timeline in the novel, scattered throughout every three or four chapters. These news articles tell the story of two siblings, Jessica and Alex Train, who were abducted from their home in Arkansas when they were little and lived out their childhood with a family of deranged psychopaths. This story within the story compliments the main storyline very well (even though it is rather short overall) and fits in nicely at the end. If not for these news articles the ending for the novel would have made absolutely no sense at all.

Speaking of endings, Ted Dekker has been known for his endings, but lately these endings have come in one of two forms.
1) He saves a mediocre book with a killer ending (Skin).
2) He ruins a pretty darn good book with a mediocre ending (Saint).
Adam, unfortunately, falls into category two. Although yes, it does have a big shocker (which I won't' spoil for you), that shocker is negated by the simple absurdity of the closing chapters. All the build up to the ending and no satisfaction. Where the book for the most part resembled Thr3e, the ending resembled Saint more than anything else, a book I consider to be Dekkers worst.

Although this book has its share of problems, it is still a very worthy novel which I am glad Dekker took the time and effort to write. It may not be as good as Showdown or Thr3e, but it at least matches Obsessed and Blink while surpassing Saint and Skin.

Re-read value; moderate.

I think this is one of Dekker's best efforts. While, I like the trilogys and series books. It's nice to see him get back to a stand alone book. It also, gets back to the everyday struggle we face of good and evil. Not just fantasy struggles. I am a big fan of all Dekker's works but I like it when he writes mind numbing things that do apply to everyday life.

back to the old dekker. no more bats and magic books :) page turner, great development and description of true evil and darkness.

Ted Dekker has released a book which has nothing to do with The Circle world. It's been quite some time since we've seen anything like it (ala Obsessed or Blink of an Eye) but Adam comes like a breath of fresh air.

Adam follows a profiler named Daniel who is obsessed with finding a serial killer known as Eve. Eve kills young girls each month when the moon is new. Daniel's obsession has led to his divorce which is a tad cliche but we can forgive Dekker that bit.

Throughout the novel, there are excerpts from a crime magazine that records the story of two children who were kidnapped and how they were raised. Using the articles helped as backstory and building a suspense for the overall story.

I enjoyed reading Adam. However, I won't jump into the camp of people who said it was so scary they had to sleep with the lights on. (As one of the editors for the book said) I didn't find it scary. Perhaps I'm used to the Dekker thrills. But having said that, it didn't cause me to enjoy the story any less.

What did lessen the book's quality was the word repetition. Words that had to have been substituted for swear words to lessen the objection of Christian readers. Dekker had his characters say "whore" and "sow" and "pig" over and over when I thought it just made the characters seem, I don't know, lame.

However I don't have a compelling solution. I don't know how Ted can get around it. I just didn't think repeating those words worked.(any kind of repetition of words has the tendency to get old)

Every new moon for 16 months, serial killer Eve, has claimed another victim. His method appears to be an undiscovered strain of meningitis. He's calculated, clever, and highly elusive. During this time, FBI behavioral psychologist and stanch atheist, Daniel Clark, has been aggressively pursuing Eve. However, aside from a psychological profile, he has no real leads. When Daniel sees the killer while trying to rescue Eve's sixteenth victim, they should have the information they need to catch him. The only problem is, Daniel dies and once resuscitated, he can't remember what Eve looks like.

I was impressed. Very impressed. Themes that have been ignored for so long were brought to the surface in the way only Ted can. Evil doesn't like the light and it hides, but it's always there. Satan is real, the demons are real, and they are actively and aggressively pursuing God's creation. As Christians, we have power over this evil, if we choose to use it. I am amazed at how beautifully these themes are brought to light. I've read several books on spiritual warfare. Some were good and others just typical Christian fiction. This is one of the best. I might put the Screwtape letters above it, but most likely on the same level. With Adam, Ted did what he does best. He takes the metaphors of Christianity and turns them into physical stories. He takes a theme that needs exploring and turns it into a thriller. While I don't usually consider Ted's characters especially deep, I do think Alex and Eve were two of his best.

As with most of Ted's books I feel sure there will be a number of people who find it too violent or too something. Personally, I wish more authors would follow his lead and create books that are realistic and push the Christian comfort zone. Evil is real, violence is real, and it would like to destroy Christians. What's wrong with putting that little fact on display? The only way to defeat evil it to admit it exists and go after it. If a book is violent and makes you a little uncomfortable, that's probably not a bad thing.

I am really impressed that he continues to put out good books so fast. Just wait till you get in to this one!

I admit to being a Dekker junkie. If he's written I've read it. This book is no let down! It keeps you hanging until the very end. Not for the faint of heart but truly a book everyone SHOULD read. More realistic than most of us would want to admit. GO TED!!!

It's good to read a Ted Dekker book that isn't following the series he's been writing for so long. This stand-alone book is fast paced and quite hard core. Not for the week hearted. Although free of foul language and such, the topic is for adults only. The characters were well developed and the story is sharp and free of any loopholes. I would have liked to see a better wrap-up of the story at the end. The magazine article explained some of it but not on a personal note. The story ended too abruptly, especially after such a climactic ending.

I'm not pleased that an extra chapter has been added to books that are released in Christian bookstores and websites. What am I missing and what would be in that version that couldn't be released in the standard version?

SUPER SPOILER: It was obvious Lori was Jessica. Not for any reason more then there was only a few characters in the book and you knew Jessica was not out of the picture. Lori was the right age, attractive, intelligent and with a couple of hints in the dialog it was obvious. Good but obvious.

SPOILER: The book was written for the movies. It's obvious. The Catholic priest and his semi-biblical understanding of demon possession has been used in countless movies. Why not use someone who knows the Word of God and doesn't need candles, holy water, crosses and little prayer books? And whatever happened to the Holy Spirit? Doesn't he play a role in casting out demons? How about in Jesus name? Seemed to work in the New Testament without much drama and all the wasted time. The points in the book are still obvious but to the unbeliever they may not be. Here are some scriptures to see what real casting out of demons is like (or not like).

Mark 1:21-28 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

Acts 19:13-16 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

1 Star = I've been robbed!
2 Stars = Why'd I finish it?
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

Adam is a must read. If you only read one book this year, make it this one. This book will take you beyond what you are capable of believing and will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. Ted Dekker really out did himself with this book. Once you start to read, you are immediately drawn into the storyline like you are part of it. The realistic articles inserted every few chapters make the story come to life like no other book could. I recommend this book to everyone I meet.

WOW! I found myself calling on the name of the Lord at times, especially while reading it just bedtime. If you've read Three, you'll enjoy Adam. I HIGHLY recommend.

Dekker's strongest novel in the past couple of years. While he always has a message, in many cases from his past works, he is content to let the reader find his message through different threads of the novel they are reading. However in "Adam's" case, Dekker hits you over the head with it!

Well written and fast paced as always, "Adam" brings tension and suspense to the reader in a way few novels can. Put it this way, once you get to the last 100 pages, you would be best suited to finish the book during daylight hours!

I have long been a Ted Dekker fan and he definitely does not disappoint with his latest offering. He enters a world that most Christian authors steer clear of. A few might touch on spiritual warfare, but precious few tackle demonic possession. I know that demonic possession is a fact. Although I am not Catholic, I have seen demonic possession and it is very real. Dekker tackles it head on and boy, is it a tough case of possession. It's scary, actually, at time, because I do know how real this can be. I saw the Exorcist in the seventies against my mother's wishes and it scared me to death! All because I know this is a real realm in the world. Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy and he will do it by any means he can latch onto to achieve his goal.
This novel also shows how dangerous it can be when you don't believe or discount the existence of Satan. When your mind is not covered by the blood of Jesus, the enemy can and will slip in and torture and torment. I loved in the end of the book when Daniel was being tormented by the evil spirit so much and a little glimmer of light came in and he suddenly realized he wasn't meant to live in the darkness and the One he had rejected for so long was the only One who could give him any hope. Wow. What a wake up call and how sad that it had to take this experience to wake Daniel up to the light of Jesus Christ. The book that Dekker references in his novel, 'Hostage to the Devil' is a real book if you want to know more about demonic possession.
I think Dekker wants to point out that this is a real world out there and there are forces that can entangle the human race if we turn a blind eye to Christ and His saving grace.
If you want to read more about the aspect of spiritual warfare and how these things happen without our knowledge, read Frank Peretti's novels, 'This Present Darkness' and 'Piercing the Darkness'. It, too, is an eye opener.
In either case, do not hesitate to purchase this book. It is a powerful novel and one that you will not soon forget.
Dekker is in top form with this one!

Does evil exsist? If so, what about the exsistence of true goodness? What if you don't believe in either, but are confronted with both? What if you life depends on how and what you believe?

Like most of Dekker's books, Adam is hard to put down. The story draws you into the lives of even the mostly unlikable characters. Both you and those Dekker writes about are dying for resolution--and you both know it's not going to come easy.

Adam ranks right up there with Thr3e and Blink. Very much worth the read.

Ted Dekker does it again with the novel "Adam." I don't think that Ted Dekker can write a bad book. The main story is the search of a Serial killer who has killed 16 women. Daniel Clark a FBI investegator has spent years searching for the serial killer called Eve. When Daniel Clark gets to close to Eve a near death experience occurs for Daniel and draws him even further into the mind of the serial killer. What happens next is a whirlwind page turning ride that will make you see the real light of God. A very powerful and intense story that keeps you wanting more. I love the way the book switches between the story and magazine articles. Im not sure if this ties into the rest of Teds book or stand alone but who know with the mind of Dekker.

Thr3e was by far my favorite book out of Dekker's collection (Skin came in close second), and Adam has a similar feel to it, which makes this book a must-read by my standards. The power of Dekker's messages in his books is extraordinary, and he is able to present it in a way that everyone, regardless of their religion, can enjoy. I love Dekker's books, and I look forward to many more to come.


Also, I'd like to take this time to recommend that you all read United We Stand by Jeremy Barandela. It's a great read!

From the time I finished "When Heaven Weeps" (Dekker's second novel), I knew we were witnessing a new direction in the world of fiction with a faith-based message. While never hiding his Christian roots and their influence on his writing, Dekker has carved out his own niche in the marketplace with big concepts, fast-paced stories, and prolific output.

"Adam" is as fast-paced and riveting as anything Dekker's written. While unfolding the antagonist's background through cleverly inserted magazine bits, Dekker spends even more time letting us follow an FBI investigation through the eyes of Daniel Clark. Daniel has given years of his life to capturing Eve, a serial killer with unknown motives and a knack for avoiding detection. While Eve's motives become more personal, drawing in Daniel and his ex-wife, Daniel is threatened by the disorienting effects of a bullet wound suffered in an earlier showdown with Eve.

In the past, Dekker has sometimes passed over certain details to focus on the heart of a story, but he bolsters this latest thriller with research that adds to the story's realism and sense of danger. Not only does this lift it above many other books out there, it becomes essential to the ending--where fact and fiction, faith and doubt, and good and evil collide.

This is one of Dekker's best books overall, and may be his best thriller yet. Combining character and plot development with spiritual ideas, he proves that he has many more stories for us. Although the climax is reached in a somewhat expected exorcism scene, God's truth and light are on full display, pinpointing mankind's fall and the hope of redemption. Good storytelling need never be preachy, and Dekker proves that once again with "Adam."

ADAM - Ted Dekker


Pray. Pray again. Turn on all the lights and sit with your back against the wall. DO NOT let your feet dangle over the bed. And don't even think about sleeping.

When Frank Peretti endorsed Ted Dekker's debut novel, "Heaven's Wager," he knew it was something special. Fans of Frank Peretti, including me, figured Dekker was something special. Ted Dekker has repeatedly impressed time and time again. At least I've been impressed! I really love his work, and would immediately recommend it to anybody. So when "Adam" was released into the "New Release" category, I immediately wondered, almost figured that it might be an addition that goes along with "The Circle." Nope. Not this time. Dekker came out with something that would make the likes of Frank Peretti and Randy Alcorn wince, and author John Eldredge would personally endorse this.

Evil. It is all around us. Evil is what "Adam" is all about. Or rather Eve. And Daniel Clark is set, more like obsessed, with finding what Eve is all about. Eve is an abductor, and a killer, and Eve will play with your head. It all begins with the kidnapping of two children, and will certainly end in death. And Eve has clearly told Daniel to back off! Daniel himself has been driven to the brink, and it scares the living hell out of him. And when he's been scared, he goes deeper than he thought he could ever go. And now he's got nothing to lose. Right?

Ted Dekker is once again brilliant. He holds nothing back, and he refuses to apologize for it. And his aim this time is to show the defeat of Satan through Jesus Christ. He takes evil on and clamps down hard! He refuses to let go until the time is right. He tackles spiritual warfare through an outstanding thriller! That's Ted Dekker, the one Frank Peretti endorsed some time ago. I still endorse him to this day! Great work!!

FBI agent Daniel Clark is obsessed with stopping Eve, a serial killer that has taken the lives of fifteen victims. His training in behavioral psychology has helped him get close to the killer numerous times, but despite his hard work he is always one step behind. His relentless pursuit of Eve has cost him his marriage and will now cost him his life.

As Daniel follows a new break in the case he comes face to face with his nemesis and dies as a result. His partner, Lori, fights to resuscitate him as Eve vanishes into thin air. When Daniel is brought back to life twenty minutes later he realizes that he is the only eyewitness that has ever seen Eve. The only problem is that the image is burned into Daniel's subconscious and try as he might he can't retrieve it. Daniel's mind and body are now all out of whack and he is plagued with a perpetual nightmare about what he saw while he was dead. Soon Daniel and Lori are convinced that the only way to identify Eve is for Daniel to die again in an effort to reclaim those lost moments.

As Daniel gets closer to the truth he uncovers shocking revelations about Eve that will challenge his own personal faith to the core. To make matters worse, Eve has now made the game personal and Daniel will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves.

Ted Dekker brings suspense and terror to a whole new level with Adam. We always expect "outside of the box" fiction from Dekker, but this one pushes the boundaries more than any of his previous works. And that's a good thing! Not only do we get another well crafted plot and more intriguing characters, but this time around Dekker shows us a darker side of spirituality that is ultimately frightening and real. Much of the plot deals with demon possession, and Dekker effectively sheds light on a diverse subject that is often overlooked or ignored. As always Dekker uses the darkness to show us the light, and it doesn't get any darker than this. We are reminded how real evil is and if nothing else this novel will help us to wake up and pay attention to the dark forces that are unseen in our world.

Adam is bound to be considered controversial, but I must admit I loved every moment. I read that Dekker researched more for Adam than any of his previous works and if so it really pays off. The glimpses into near death experiences are especially eye opening and delightfully creepy bringing the chill factor to new heights. This is not a typical Dekker story with alternate universes and mind blowing plot twists around every corner. Instead we see a new side to Dekker's writing that is just as enjoyable and even more thought-proving and challenging. Everyone will be talking abut this one!