Comes A Horseman by Robert Liparulo

If CSI is one of your favorite TV shows and you enjoy a Ted Dekker novel, my guess is you'll become a fan of Robert Liparulo and his debut book, Comes A Horseman. The film rights have already been sold to Mace Neufeld, producer of Clear and Present Danger and The Hunt for Red October. Liparulo doesn't devote as much creative imagination to spirit realm exploration like Dekker, but he writes with equally intriguing plot twists, emotional turns and persuasive intellectual strength.

In his first novel, Robert Liparulo creates a fascinating adventure into the investigation of a brutal killing spree that uncovers a secret society and its "end times" conspiracy. FBI agents Brady Moore and Alicia Wagner are trailing a serial killer whose bizarre methods eventually lead to a thousand-year-old prophecy linking the victims. As they pursue the evidence, the assassin turns on them, threatening to make them the next victims. Pulling the strings of world governments and the Vatican's mysterious L'Archivio Segreto is Luco Scaramuzzi -- the powerful Italian ambassador to Israel.

This intelligent novel reveals a terrifying look into the spiritual realm of good versus evil. As readers glimpse the underworld of the antichrist, few will be able to resist the urge to seriously consider the validity of biblical prophecy. I liked that Liparulo is not afraid to explore some of the more controversial Christian doctrines.

The plot examines the dark side of the spirit world through the encounters of people who have had near death experiences including remarkably similar hellish glimpses into the demonic realm. Frank Peretti said Comes A Horseman is not for the faint of heart, and I would tend to agree. If you're squeamish about blood and intense violence, and you don't care for fear inducing suspense, you might want to steer clear of this novel. Otherwise, turn on your night light, set your security alarm and prepare for a spiritually challenging thrill ride.