Customer Reviews

Dead Heat

5 star:		(145)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

All I can say is WOW!!!! Well I will say a little more. This is the fifth and final book in the Last Jihad series and it both brought much to an end, but also leaves one feeling there will be a tribulation based series to follow. Joel C. Rosenberg has had an uncanny knack to predict feature events (such as Terrorists using Airplanes to attack ground targets-buildings etc, the death of specific leaders and much more), he does this using Scripture based prophecy's and also uses extrapolation from world events (in the news everyday). Let's HOPE TO GOD that most of not all of Dead Heat does not come true (terrible terrorists attacks on the USA etc.,), but I feel that much of what he has written is inevitable. Joel's books have many subtexts, with the most important one, being, to bring the reader to make a choice to follow the LORD Jesus Christ, and that is very very worthwhile; be that as it may, Joel's book's are very fast paced, action filled, with a love story included as well (John and Erin); all in all Dead Heat, is very entertaining, and though provoking read for the believer and unbeliever alike.

The Jon and Erin Bennett series has been not only an excellent story, but has made us aware of Biblical prophecies and our part in them.

Rosenberg's previous books have also seemed 'prophetic' - in that many of the actions of his book, have happened - some months before his books have come out, but in the publishing process - so it is with a deep breath you should start reading Dead Heat.

I read about half of it in one night - finished it the next.

Is it a happy read? No. Well, maybe for some, but it is one of the most frightening and graphic reads of the violence that has been written of what will occur before The Rapture and afterwards. I think Rosenberg must have been channeling John - because it is Revelations in present day situations.

The situations in the world are turbulent - if you have studied the past years of this world's history, and read these books, you will be scratching your head and saying - No - couldn't happen...

But Rosenberg is making us think - and we better start thinking really hard how we want our world to be, and how it will be when our children's children are on the earth.

Really makes us want to make some major changes - and in every aspects - religion, politics, the whole package.

I will miss the Bennetts, as I have missed Mordechai, who was so instrumental in the previous books.

I cannot imagine what Rosenberg will do next.

I know he is involved in Joshuafund, but certainly hope he keeps writing.

This offering is red hot and intense and will keep you up at night thinking about how did we get in this mess?

It's a WOW

Dead Heat (2008) is the fifth evangelical thriller in The Endtimes series, following The Copper Scroll. In the previous volume, Jon and Erin Bennett found the Temple treasures, including the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelis started construction of the new Temple. Indira Rajiv was given a new assignment: kill the President of the United States.

In this novel, Jon Bennettt has a very sick wife. Erin had been vomiting until she was having dry heaves. Then she collapsed and became nonresponsive. Now she is breathing shallowly and her pulse is weak. Jon holds her and calls for a doctor over and over again. Finally, he picks her up her limp body and takes her to the medical clinic.

They have been working for seven months is a crowded, disease-infested refugee camp in northern Jordan, tending survivors of the War of Gog and Magog and the Day of Devastation. He has been unloading supplies and helping in the kitchens. She had been working in the kitchen and passing out toys to the children. They have been working twelve to fourteen hours every day.

At the medical clinic, he burst in and asks for help, but the nurse doesn't speak English. He calls for help and an English speaking nurse comes. She has the others take Erin to the examining room. After hours of waiting, an English speaking doctor comes and tells him the bad news that Erin has a severe case of bacterial meningitis. The good news is that she is pregnant.

While he is waiting, Jon receives a strange message on his phone. The caller asks if he is Jonathan Bennett and then says that something terrible is going to happen. The voice insists that he had nothing to do with it and cannot stop it. The voice says that much worse is coming and states that he will call back in twenty-four hours. Then the connection is dropped.

Meanwhile, a Delta Force team has discovered evidence of a terrorist plot to assassinate the President of the United States. A warning is relayed to the Secret Service detail guarding the President. They hustle him into an emergency bunker in the basement of the arena where he was to speak. Minutes later, a guided missile drops on the site and a nuclear weapon destroys much of Los Angeles.

Other missiles fall on Seattle, New York, and the District of Columbia. Another lands squarely on CIA headquarters in Langley. Four USA cities have been wiped from the map and none knows who has ordered the attack.

In this story, Jon is contacted by the newly sworn President of the United States. He is asked to return to the States to work with the surviving members of the government. Jon agrees and arranges for an ambulance to take Erin and himself to Amman. Then the mysterious voice calls back and asks John and Erin to come to Bangkok. Of course, Jon refuses.

On the way to Amman, the ambulance is ambushed and rams the railing by a steep slope. Then a concrete truck comes barreling into the ambulance. Jon goes out the shattered windshield before the truck hits, but the others are still inside the ambulance when it is pushed through the railing and falls down the slope. The concrete truck then falls directly onto the ambulance.

Armed men take Jon and whisk him away. Jon barely notices them in his shock and sorrow. Erin is dead! How can he live without her?

This tale is unlike the previous novels. The relevant text is mostly from the New Testament. The Day of Judgment has arrived. Followers of Christ will be lifted up and the unbelieving will be left behind for another thousand years.

This concluding work in the Endtimes series is filled with action and meaning. It portrays a world with a reduced population who have stark reasons to believe in the scriptures. Some begin to pass on the Word to the uninformed.

Recommended for Rosenberg fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of biblical prophecy, fanatical violence, and true love.

-Bill Jordin

Ambivalent

I am ambivalent towards Joel Rosenberg's new novel Dead Heat. I enjoyed the story, interesting action, excellent portrayal of possible nuclear attack scenarios, and resulting worldwide political fragmentation, BUT, I found the never-ending peachiness to be over the top and distracting to an otherwise excellent thesis of worldwide Armageddon. At times I felt I was reading part of the Left Behind series. I understand Mr. Rosenberg's "end of the world" thesis but I just thought he was a little excessive in pounding home the Rapture angle. His main premise of nuclear Armageddon was very well done and believable. His actual description of possible nuclear war events against America and the U.S. governmental aftermath were very interesting and enlightening in light of his own professional resume and background.

The action was fast and furious throughout this timely end of the world novel. The graphic description of a nuclear holocaust against America leaves one to pause and consider the possibilities that Mr. Rosenberg postulates. His hypothesis concerning nuclear attack, counterattack, and the resulting governmental, military, and political fallout (no pun intended) was very interesting. Also the global dynamics and repercussions of such an attack was eye opening. What do the global political leaders do when faced with such an all encompassing nuclear war scenario? Who do the remaining American leaders believe? Who is left to run the U.S. government? Mr. Rosenberg does an excellent job of answering these thorny questions, BUT, again goes overboard interjecting the biblical End of Days philosophy. All in all I enjoyed the book but felt a little less preaching and a little more techo-writing would have enhanced this exciting story even more. At times the book read like Clancy's Red Storm Rising, with fast action and thrilling political scenarios, then it tailed off into biblical philosophy which watered down the excitement.

Mediocre character development. Although I have read all of Mr. Rosenberg's books and understood the characters and their backgrounds, if this is the readers first foray with Mr. Rosenberg you will be confused as to what the heck is going on. Who are these people and what is he talking about in reference to the Days of Devastation? Recommend you read at least one or more of his earlier books.

Absolutely NO gratuitous sex, language or violence. Lots of action and none of it over-the-top. Solid.

Recommended. But be warned of the preachy aspects. Very interesting scenarios and extremely fast paced action. Timely in reference to today's socio-economic and political global environment.

This is one of those books that makes you hope and pray that fact doesn't follow fiction again... Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg. Rosenberg's previous novels have been remarkably accurate in terms of terror acts occurring in ways very similar to what he wrote in a storyline. If that trend follows again, then 9/11 will look like child's play by comparison...

The main action line involves the discovery of a potential plot to kill the president at a political convention where he's giving a speech. There are few details to go on, but security is convinced they've done as much as they could do to protect him. That is, until the nuclear missiles are launched from container ships right off our own shores. And it's not just directed at the president, but at a number of major cities such as Washington DC, Seattle, Manhattan, as well as Los Angeles. Based on saber-rattling that went on right before the attack, the new president is convinced that China is to blame and wants to launch a full-scale retaliation. But if that assessment is wrong, then the world will be plunged into a nuclear nightmare. Obviously every nation in the world has a vested interest in making sure this situation doesn't get out of hand, but there are a few murky players in the background who are all watching this unfold according to a larger plan.

Rosenberg writes novels that examine current day events in light of Biblical prophecy. I personally find them very well written, and he has a frightfully high track record on plots and stories that end up becoming fact all too quickly after the book is published. There are a series of books that use the characters found in Dead Heat, and you'll get more color and flavor if you can start back at the beginning of the series before you read this one. There is a strong evangelical message woven into the story, much like the Left Behind series. But in contract to Left Behind, Rosenberg isn't milking the story for every last drop. This is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, and I look forward to the next (final?) installment from him.

Great ending to the series. Very hard to put down. Fast paced and readable. Chilling and realistic. Tough, and at times, almost heartbreaking, to see so many "good guys/gals" we have come to know and pull for get taken out, as well as the attack on the four United States cities killing millions, and the almost impossible task of rebuilding a chain of command. Good job, Mr. Rosenberg. I hope you continue the story line with a post rapture sequel.

The last and the best in the series. It will put the fear of God in you. Pray for our nation!

WOW.......what a frightening novel . . .I hope it never comes true! ir was a book I couldn't put down once I started reading...now I'm reading the first of the series, and have ordered the other three.

Make sure you have a good block of time before you start reading this book because you will have a hard time putting it down. From the first pages you are swept into an electrifying story of a possible terrorist attack on the U.S. that will keep you riveted page after page. The scenarios that unfold in this book are very plausible and yet at the same time horrifying. Sadly, these events could happen to us.

I've read all of Joel Rosenberg's books and in my opinion this is one of his best so far. If you are a fan of end times fiction as I am, this is a must for you.

I just finished reading "Dead Heat" today and short of saying "WOW" I am at something of a loss for words. I have followed Joel Rosenberg from "The Last Jihad" until now and I have enjoyed all of the books in the series, but "Dead Heat" blows them all away. Out of five stars, this one deserves a seven. I would place this book in the top two or three fiction books I have ever read and in the top 10 of all books I have read.

I will not give any of the story away for those who have yet to read it, but some of the plot twists in this book really shocked me and to be honest I didn't see them coming.

This book was so good I hated to finish it and hate even more that it is the last in the series. In a word, WOW!