Charade [Paperback]

Gilbert Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2005

A beautiful woman. A savage betrayal. The perfect payback. But is revenge enough? Ollie Benson's computer program, Moviemaker.com, explodes onto the market, thrusting him into a world of glamour, fame, and fortune. He's extravagantly rich. But he's still obese and desperately miserable---until he meets a woman who loves him for who he is. Or so it seems. When the two people Ollie trusts the most betray him in brutal fashion, he constructs an elaborate plan for revenge. It's brilliant. It's perfect. There's just one glitch: Ollie is about to come face-to-face with the power of true, unconditional love. It could change his life. Or end it.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A beautiful woman. A savage betrayal. The perfect payback. But is revenge enough?

Ollie Benson’s computer program, Moviemaker.com, explodes onto the market, thrusting him into a world of glamour, fame, and fortune. He’s extravagantly rich. But he’s still obese and desperately miserable—until he meets a woman who loves him for who he is. Or so it seems.

When the two people Ollie trusts the most betray him in brutal fashion, he constructs an elaborate plan for revenge. It’s brilliant. It’s perfect. There’s just one glitch: Ollie is about to come face-to-face with the power of true, unconditional love.

It could change his life.

Or end it.

About the Author

Gilbert Morris is one of today's best-known Christian novelists, specializing in historical fiction. His best-selling works include Edge of Honor (winner of a Christy Award in 2001), Jacob's Way, The Spider Catcher, the House of Winslow series, the Appomattox series, and The Wakefield Saga. He lives in Gulf Shores, Alabama with his wife, Johnnie.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310247020
• ISBN-13: 978-0310247029
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,424,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gilbert Morris is among today's most popular Christian writers; his books having sold nearly six million copies worldwide. He specializes in historical fiction and won a 2001 Christy Award for the Civil War drama Edge of Honor. Once a pastor and English professor who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, Morris lives with his wife in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Revenge...with a Twist!!!, May 5, 2005

By 

Edgar Alan Poe "Fiction idolizer" (Out there, somewhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charade (Paperback)

If you ever felt betrayed this book will captivate you. And revenge? Yes it's in here...but you won't believe how it unravels. Gilbert Morris is dynamite when he puts his mind to the pen and paper. What a classic, unique twist from all the other fiction books I have read out there. It was a page turner let me tell you, another book you won't be able to put down.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun Christian novel, October 24, 2005

By 

Bill Garrison (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Charade (Paperback)

Ollie Benson is an extremely overweight man who spends his days fixing computers in the back of a repair shop. He has no luck with women, and one blind date he goes on ends in an embarrassing manner. Ollie has no self esteem and no proper social skills. Ollie is also very smart and hits it big with a computer program that overnight makes him a millionaire. Dane Fetterman contacts Ollie with hopes of representing him in the fast paced software industry. While Ollie is rich he is still lonely. Then he meets Marlene, a beautiful woman who loves him for who he is. Soon tragedy strikes and Ollie is destroyed. Will Ollie choose the worldy way and seek vengeance on those who wronged him, or will God intervene with Ollie's soul and allow him to forgive those who wronged him?

Charade is the fast paced new novel from Gilbert Morris. It is told in a quick, first-person point of view. The plot moves fast and never bogs down. It seems Morris knew the scenario he wanted to set up for the ending of his novel, so some of the plot devices he uses as part of Ollie's downfall seem a little farfetched, but it doesn't really detract from the story. Morris creates a world of people who have tons of money but lack in what really matters, God and morals. These people have everything but are always searching for more. I enjoyed his realist portrayal of sexuality in a Christian novel. Its nice to see an author acknowledge that sexual attract can exist in moral people.

Morris' religious message is simple and isn't forced and the conclusion is quite predictable. I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end, in spite of Morris's implication the the Sierra Club is a worthwhile charity for Christians. In my opinion, while the Sierra Club might have lofty goals, they are in reality a left wing political organization that does more harm than good. Morris should leave politics out of future novels.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, enjoyable thriller, March 6, 2008

By 

Ellen E. Kennedy "Miss Prentice" (Cary, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charade (Paperback)

I enjoyed Morris' 3-mystery "Cat" series and decided to try another book by him.
I quickly became involved with Ollie, the main character and his troubles as a fat man in a world that values thinness. The pivotal event in his life was poignant and horrifying. The clear parallels with "The Count of Monte Cristo" made the story even more intriguing and it was fun to watch the transformation of Ollie from a sweet introvert into a vengeful charmer. An exciting and satisfying conclusion ended this enjoyable book.
Apparently, Gilbert Morris is a prolific author in many, many genres. I'd like to read more of this kind from him.