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vkemp's review
5.0
Adam and Kent Austin have barely spoken since their parents died of broken hearts after their sister, Marie, was killed in high school. Adam was a football stand-out in tiny Chambers, Ohio and now Kent coaches the team. The Chambers Cardinals are facing the play-offs when Rachel Bond, another beautiful high school girl is murdered. Adam makes his living as a bail bondsman and he makes it his life's work to track down and kill the scumbag who killed Rachel. Adam feels as responsible for her murder as he does for Marie's; he was supposed to drive Marie home after school, but blew off his responsibility and she disappeared. Now, Rachel is trying to track down her father, supposedly recently released from prison and Adam sends her to the address where the man is supposed to be living. The guilt and horror borne by both Adam and Kent is massive. Wonderful character development and red herrings abound! Highly recommended.
clambook's review
3.0
Not bad rendition of psychopath-stalks-small-town theme, if you like that sort of thing. Motives of the villain more than a little implausible, and the local high school team is playing the longest playoff schedule since the Stanley Cup.
kellyhager's review
5.0
Adam and Kent are brothers, but couldn't be more different. They haven't been close in years, probably ever since their sister Marie was murdered. Kent is a high school football coach and Adam is a bail bondsman and occasional private detective.
One of Kent's players' girlfriends goes to Adam to help find her father. He tracks him down and gives her the address. When the girl is later found murdered, Adam vows to find him and kill him. In his mind, it's all wrapped up with his sister's death...to the point that he calls the suspect "Gideon" while he works to find out who it is. (Gideon is the first name of the man who murdered Marie.)
This is a hard book to classify. It's obviously got some mystery aspects, but it's more of a thriller, I think. Even more than that, though, it's a story of brothers, people who should be close but aren't. And it's about what you do for family, even if you aren't close. Possibly, in this case, especially if you aren't close.
I've loved Michael Koryta's novels since I read So Cold The River. Every new novel I've read has replaced the one before it as my favorite of his. This one is my new favorite.
And while I've said this literally every time, I cannot imagine how his next book will improve upon this one. (If it gets better, it may actually kill me somehow.)
This book reminded me a lot of early Dennis Lehane novels. It's gritty and unsettling and practically dripping with unease. You know? It's like, I would read this book and I would literally get goosebumps.
I hope you've already been reading Michael Koryta. If not, this is definitely the best time to start. This is an incredible, incredible book, one that I won't soon forget.
Highly recommended.
One of Kent's players' girlfriends goes to Adam to help find her father. He tracks him down and gives her the address. When the girl is later found murdered, Adam vows to find him and kill him. In his mind, it's all wrapped up with his sister's death...to the point that he calls the suspect "Gideon" while he works to find out who it is. (Gideon is the first name of the man who murdered Marie.)
This is a hard book to classify. It's obviously got some mystery aspects, but it's more of a thriller, I think. Even more than that, though, it's a story of brothers, people who should be close but aren't. And it's about what you do for family, even if you aren't close. Possibly, in this case, especially if you aren't close.
I've loved Michael Koryta's novels since I read So Cold The River. Every new novel I've read has replaced the one before it as my favorite of his. This one is my new favorite.
And while I've said this literally every time, I cannot imagine how his next book will improve upon this one. (If it gets better, it may actually kill me somehow.)
This book reminded me a lot of early Dennis Lehane novels. It's gritty and unsettling and practically dripping with unease. You know? It's like, I would read this book and I would literally get goosebumps.
I hope you've already been reading Michael Koryta. If not, this is definitely the best time to start. This is an incredible, incredible book, one that I won't soon forget.
Highly recommended.
scknitter's review
4.0
I am glad to see that Michael Koryta has quit the paranormal genre. I loved his first books but could not finish the first of his paranormal trilogy.
I really enjoyed The Prophet, and while there was a mystery about who the killer was that was not what the book was really about. It was really the story of two brothers and how differently they handled a tragic family event many years previously. It was also a book about Ohio football. Lots and lots of football stories and a great look at what it really means to be a coach of high school students.
If you are just looking for a suspense/thriller this probably isn't the book for you. But, if you enjoy exceptional character development and an in depth look at how events can effect people so differently, and you love football, you will love The Prophet.
I really enjoyed The Prophet, and while there was a mystery about who the killer was that was not what the book was really about. It was really the story of two brothers and how differently they handled a tragic family event many years previously. It was also a book about Ohio football. Lots and lots of football stories and a great look at what it really means to be a coach of high school students.
If you are just looking for a suspense/thriller this probably isn't the book for you. But, if you enjoy exceptional character development and an in depth look at how events can effect people so differently, and you love football, you will love The Prophet.
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