Customer Reviews

The Divine Appointment: A Novel

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This fast-paced legal thriller offers a riveting account of how Christians involved in politics can impact the world.

When Supreme Court Justice Martha Robinson dies of pancreatic cancer, conservative President Wallace is presented with an opportunity to impact the future of the highest law in the land. He believes God has put him in his leadership position for this Divine Appointment.

Yet not everyone is pleased with his choice, and some will do anything to stop him - including murder.

The plot unfolds in three cities: a suburb of Nashville, Washington DC, and New York City. As the pieces begin to fit together, the layers of suspense will keep readers riveted, wishing for more.

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz

I loved The Election, but The Divine Appointment is even better IMHO. Once I started the book, I could not put it down. I love to read suspenseful fiction, and there is none more suspenseful than the tale woven in The Divine Appointment. How refreshing to see someone in a high
political office take a moral stand on such a critical issue regardless
of the cost!

When a liberal Supreme Court justice dies, the sitting president sees an opportunity to leave his mark on future generations. His nominee is conservative. The senate is not. Of course, there will be a fight.

In Tennesse, a couple of lawyers stumble upon a case with ties to the goings-on in Washington.

When these two separate situations converge, fur flies.

In Jerome Teel's second novel, you'll find all the makings of a great thriller. You'll also find growth as a writer from his first effort, The Election, to this one. Fans of such household names as Tom Clancy and John Grisham are strongly encouraged to pick up a copy of this work and Jerome's debut novel, The Election. I can assure you there will be no disappointment.

I look forward to the next in what I hope with become a large bibliography of works by this rising author.

A young woman is talking to her married lover about the impending birth of their unplanned child. Neither one of them is happy, to say the least. The ripples from the single instance of indiscretion that led to her situation threaten to deluge the entire country with problems that could erode the very foundation of our Constitution. When the young woman, attorney Jessica Caldwell, is found murdered, it appears that her killer is Dr. Todd Grissom, and he is quickly arrested. However, his wife Anne cannot accept the notion that her husband is a murderer and hires Elijah Faulkner to defend him against the charges he faces.

As the investigation to prove Grissom's innocence proceeds, details of the deals and deceits that are going on behind the scenes prior to the selection of a new Justice for the Supreme Court begin to be revealed. Opposing President Wallace's nominee is Senator Lance Proctor. As Senate majority leader, he wants to retain his powerful position at any cost. Proctor enjoys his position of leadership, in which he is a master of maneuvers, negotiations and outright blackmail. Yet, just has he has "the goods" on many of his colleagues, there are those unelected power brokers who have the goods on him.

Written in the same pithy style as Robert B. Parker's successful Spencer series, with short chapters and economical phrasing, Jerome Teel has created a novel as timely as Fox News with themes that raise moral and ethical questions as old as time. And all but the most severely addicted mystery fans will be kept guessing until the author reveals the outcomes.

Teel's well-defined characters include Simon, the mysterious mercenary who keeps his shadow troops at the ready to help the cause of freedom when reason and justice are rendered ineffectual by the deceit and manipulation of those entrusted with great power, and Holland Fletcher, an investigative reporter for the Washington Post who has yet to uncover a story big enough to propel him into the elite circle of journalists and media imagemakers. There are also those like Anne Grissom, who are willing to put everything on the line for their beliefs. THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT is a story with many heroes, each with his or her own particular role to play in the sundry mysteries of this multifaceted thriller.

It's always a pleasure to discover a new author who jumps right into the ranks of favorites like Craig Parshall and James Scott Bell --- men of faith who are not afraid to share their faith in a unique and effective manner, creating stories that are both engrossing and inspiring.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding

It was an interesting story but kind of confusing, as Teel went into detail about the inner workings of the Presidency: his assistant and the security team that handles different things for the President. Teel also went through the whole election process of a Judge and the detailed workings of that process.

I found myself checking back to see who was the assistant to the President and who was the Assistant to the Majority speaker. It has many characters and a couple of court room dramas, playing out at the same time along with a couple people getting killed in their investigations. It has a good ending and in parts it was suspenseful.

But you don't leave the book thinking, "Wow - that was good." He has some really good points to make in the book about politics and religion; one being a lawyer who is faced with getting real with Jesus in all areas of his life.

Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent

I thought he couldn't write a better book than The Election, but The Divine Appointment is awesome. A political thriller with complex relationships, exciting twists, and acts of faith. I can't wait for the next one from Jerome Teel.

The Divine Appointment
By Jerome Teel
Review by Roseanna White






In Tennessee, a young lawyer is murdered, and the main suspect is Dr. Tag Grissom. Eli Faulkner is hired to defend the arrogant cardiologist, but the deeper he gets into the case, the more questions arise--and the fewer answers he's sure about. He agreed to defend Tag mainly because Anna Grissom pled her husband's case so genuinely. But even her story seems to have holes. So who really murdered Jessica Caldwell and her unborn baby?

A Supreme Court Judge has passed away, and President Wallace has a rare opportunity to appoint a replacement. He knows God has put him in his position for this very reason, but getting his Christian candidate approved requires some major game playing. Senate Majority Leader Lance Proctor would shoot down his candidate in a heartbeat rather than risk appointing a judge who might vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Unless perhaps a deal can be struck.

The Divine Appointment is a legal and political thriller that takes the readers from the crime scene in Tennessee to the White House and many places in between. We get to see from the eyes of many different characters as this intricate web of intrigue, politics, and murder plays out. It took me a while to be able to keep all those characters straight, and even longer to figure out what the two plots had to do with one another. The action was fast-paced, though, and the situation compelling. The latter half of the book especially was difficult to put down.

Tackling the debate of the constitutional right to an abortion as well as the more basic need to share the Gospel with everyone in your life--even those who may not hear you--Jerome Teel writes an involved and engrossing story. If you love legal thrillers or political stories, this will be right up your alley. The mystery is also interesting; though I had figured out whodunit not very far into the book, there were still a few surprises along the way that added more depth and motivation.

One of the best books I have read in a long time. The writer has a great insight and talent. I did not want to lay the book down.

I have felt that Christian Fiction's past efforts in the political thriller genre have been underwhelming. That has changed, however, with Jerome Teel's "The Election" and now "The Divine Appointment". The characters are cerdible and the story fast paced. Murder and the Supreme Court...this one has it all!

President Richard Wallace believes that God has placed him in the United States Presidency for a reason. When a Supreme Court Justice passes away, President Wallace realizes that reason just might be to appoint a new Justice who is a God-fearing man like himself. Trail Lawyer Eli Faulkner has just agreed to represent a man accused of murdering a former Supreme Court law clerk. As the case develops, Eli fears he may be in over his head. Washington Post reporter Holland Fletcher begins receiving anonymous tips about conspiracy that not only has implications for Eli Faulkner's case, but also the future of the Supreme Court.

In this sophomore effort, Jerome Teel masterfully pulls these storylines together to form a riveting political thriller. Teel tackles themes of abortion and constitutional interpretation effectively against a backdrop of faith. The story's strengths are found in its interesting characters and within Teel's impressive grasp of politics and government. Several twists and turns effectively carry the story, including a startling revelation that readers won't see coming.

Teel doesn't hold back from incorporating Christian themes in his writing. In fact, these themes provide a solid foundation for his novels. Rather than force Christianity upon readers, Teel encourages us to think seriously about our faith as we witness his characters contemplate their own.

With two great novels under his belt, Jerome Teel is quickly becoming an author to look out for.

Armchair Interviews says: This one is highly recommended for fans of legal and political thrillers.