Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2) [Paperback]

Brandilyn Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Chelsea Adams has visions. But they have no place in a courtroom. As a juror for a murder trial, Chelsea must rely only on the evidence. And this circumstantial evidence is strong---Darren Welk killed his wife. Or did he? The trial is a nightmare for Chelsea. The other jurors belittle her Christian faith. As testimony unfolds, truth and secrets blur. Chelsea's visiting niece stumbles into peril surrounding the case, and Chelsea cannot protect her. God sends visions---frightening, vivid. But what do they mean? Even as Chelsea finds out, what can she do? She is helpless, and danger is closing in. . . . Masterfully crafted, Dread Champion is a novel in which appearances can deceive and the unknown can transform the meaning of known facts. One man's guilt or innocence is just a single link in a chain of hidden evil . . . and God uses the unlikeliest of people to accomplish his purposes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The quality of Collins's writing slips in this evangelical Christian thriller follow-up to Eyes of Elisha, but she still spins an interesting tale with plenty of suspense. Californian Chelsea Adams has the supernatural gift of visions that show her events others are unable to perceive. She's dismayed to be selected as a juror at the murder trial of Darren Welk, whose wife, Shawna, has disappeared. Chelsea's visiting niece Kerra Fraye attends the trial and strikes up a romance with a man whose innocence is increasingly under scrutiny. Chelsea and Kerra's lives are about to intersect with that of 20-year-old Rogelio Sanchez, the birth father of a baby girl whom he signed away for adoption-a decision he now regrets. The story is compelling, but the prose is not up to Collins's usual standards. She overdetails physical movements ("air puffed from Erika's offended mouth"); characters repeatedly blink and their throats, stomachs, guts and mouths do peculiar things ("Rogelio's stomach gelled"). There are odd, lengthy descriptions ("The jury pulled at his eyes, but he focused on the judge as she positioned her computer keyboard just so and generally settled herself like a hen over eggs"). Collins inserts plenty of intrigue and false trails, although the novel's ending fails to take into account one character who is notable by her omission. Evangelical Christian readers will applaud the character of Chelsea as an example of how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways to accomplish his objectives, but Collins fans may be wondering why her strong writing skills are not showcased here.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Fans of Collins's Eyes of Elisha will cheer the return of psychic Chelsea Adams, although this time out, she's not the one in danger. A juror on a sensational murder trial, Chelsea has promised the judge and attorneys to be guided only by the evidence and not by her supernatural visions. The circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Darren Walk killed his wife in the dark waters off a California beach, but Chelsea senses that there may be other possibilities. When Chelsea becomes the holdout during deliberations, her fellow jurors belittle her faith. "But the Lord is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail." These words, taken from Jeremiah 20:11, support her against their anger and assuage the horrific visions she's having of her niece, whose attraction to Walk's son puts her in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. A riveting mystery and courtroom drama will engage the attention of readers who hope to see more of Chelsea's visions. Recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Reprinted edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310238277
• ISBN-13: 978-0310238270
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist, writing her trademarked Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith. She also has written the distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons).

You can read excerpts from all her books at her Web site: www.brandilyncollins.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down, February 26, 2006

By 

Sheryl Root (Pompano Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2) (Paperback)

Dread Champion is the sequel to Brandilyn Collins' book, Eyes of Elisha. While I enjoyed Eyes of Elisha, the plot didn't hold as many surprises as I would have liked. I'm very glad I kept reading. Dread Champion far exceeded my greatest expectations. The many threads of plot were tied together flawlessly and kept me guessing until the very end.

The heroine of the series is Chelsea Adams; wife, mother, and visionary--literally. Chelsea is a woman who sees visions from God. In Dread Champion, Chelsea is chosen to be on the jury of a well-publicized murder trial. Darren Welk, the "Salad King" of Salinas County, has been charged with the murder of his wife. Chelsea is sure she will be excused from the jury pool. After all, what lawyers in their right minds would pick her to be a part of a jury? Her visions of a young girl's murder in Trent Park had put her in the headlines just a year before. So she is stunned when she is accepted to be the second alternate juror. But, as the title Dread Champion (taken from Jeremiah 20:11) implies, God will accomplish His own purposes and choose to use whomever He will.

As fellow jurors give her the cold shoulder because of their knowledge of her visions; her visiting niece Kerra becomes involved with the son of the defendant; and God gives her a new, terrifying vision; Chelsea fights to pray and trust that God has placed her where He has for a reason.

God's work in each character's life in this story is as unique as the fingerprints He gives us. That, along with a tightly woven storyline, made this a book that was very hard to put down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL read!, April 29, 2004

By 

Robin C. Miller "Author of Southern Stories o... (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2) (Paperback)

Once again, Brandilyn Collins has the perfect mix of suspense, drama, romance, and spirituality without preaching! I loved the characters, the believable storyline and was sitting on the edge of my seat at the end! Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great read! I couldn't put it down! For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.robinmillerbooks.com

5.0 out of 5 stars dread champion, November 6, 2010

By 

BRENDA BENLINE - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2) (Paperback)

she rivals collen coble with her christian suspense writing. I quickly became a fan of hers and in the recent weeks since becoming one have read nearly every book she has written. I wish she could write books more quickly so I would always have something to read. Excellent