Customer Reviews

Eyes of Elisha (Chelsea Adams Series #1)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Brandilyn Collins skillfully weaves a fast-paced story of psychic visions with engaging characters and interesting plot twists that keep the reader guessing until the end. A remarkable book that effective combines page-turner suspense with Christian context.

Heroine Chelsea Adams, a new Christian, relives the brutal attack of a stalker in a grisly vision and identifies the murderer as her husband's soon-to-be business associate.

From that point, her God-given visions fill Chelsea's world with uncertainty and danger. Her husband Paul, who barely accepts her newfound faith anyway, challenges the accuracy of her vision, but cannot deny the threat unleashed upon his wife and family.

The Bay Area law enforcement officers, with their own crises of belief, have difficulty producing the necessary proof and struggle to protect Chelsea and her family from the madman determined to end to her visions forever.

Collins has created multi-dimensional characters that add depth and poignancy to her plot. While ratcheting up the tension, she is still able to portray their spiritual struggles in an unobtrusive, believable way.

A great read that I guarantee will keep you engaged to the great climatic ending.

I participated recently in a discussion about Christian fiction. There was a criticism, comparing it to milksop, too sweet and without substance. Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I direct your attention to a piece of Christian fiction that is nowhere near milksop, definitely scary, and full of substance? Eyes of Elisha is full-fledged suspense at its best, yet doesn't back away from being centered in Christian principals and reality. The words not only flow, they take on an artistry, captivating and enticing the reader to keep going. I read until 3:30 in the morning, unable to put the book down. Well crafted, the plot packs a wallop, exploding with believable characters and intense excitement. Ms. Collins, who has earned her status among the top Christian suspense authors of our time, gives fair warning with her motto - "Don't forget to breathe..."

If you haven't been a fan of Christian fiction before, or are under the assumption that it holds nothing to interest or tantalize, I suggest you check out Eyes of Elisha. You can take it from me, it will be an eye-opening experience.

Eyes of Elisha is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. A young woman is murdered--horrifically. We see the event through the eyes of the murderer, and though we don't know his identity, we do know that he's going to kill again.

Next, we switch to the viewpoint of the protagonist, Chelsea Adams, a newbie sort of Christian who has a rare "intuitive gift." Okay, let's be blunt. She has visions. Real visions. Inconvenient visions. During a business meal at an upscale restaurant, she has a vision of a woman being murdered--from the viewpoint of the victim. Chelsea hears the words "I hate you," feels her own head being battered against the ground, and even sees through blurry eyes ... the face of the killer. Sort of.

This is all really weird, and Chelsea knows it. She's embarrassed by it. Hates it. Why does she have to deal with this? But she's also honest. Too honest to do nothing.

And so the roller-coaster ride begins. The author skillfully weaves a lightning-paced story involving a dozen-plus characters. I'm a novelist, and I'm very impressed with Ms. Collins' ability to take me inside a character's skin, to feel that character's pain, to know his or her internal logic. This is a tightly written, well crafted tale of suspense. As a bonus, Collins creates the world of Bay Area law enforcement with incredible realism--only to be expected, since her first book was a heavily researched true-crime story.

A gem of a thriller. Buy it!

This was an awesome book! It is the first I have read from this author, and I have to say it was excellent. The main character's visions were intriguing and gave the reader a lot to think about. I like the realism of the characters and the fact that she doesn't "sugar coat" the reality of violence. I would recommend this book and it's sequel Dread Champion.

Author Brandilyn Collins puts together a story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat! Follow Chelsea Adams as a new Christian and trying to handle the 'gift' that God has given her. The plot of a murder and the vision Chelsea has of it makes for a great twists and turns in this book. You won't be able to stop reading until the last page is turned!!!

Look for the release of the sequel,'Dread Champion' in the fall of 2002.

This is a powerful book that is definitely a page-turner. Even non-Christians will enjoy this book for the suspense and drama it creates. Brandilyn has the ability to make the scene and characters three-dimensional and you feel as if you are right there. It's a page-turner that offers the reader a lot of twists and surprises. I can't wait for Brandilyn's next book in this genre.

... and stimulating. It is a relief to know there are still a few great mystery writers out there. I am always a skeptic when it comes to mystery and suspense because I can usually pick apart the plot from the very beginning (darn my early love of crime television! *sigh*). Did I have a surprise coming to me! I was very impressed that ALL of my hunches were wrong. Collins has a wonderful way of weaving together the mysteries of our earthly world and the mysteries of God. The supernatural has always appealed to me, and her writing has allowed me explore it without fear of leaning too far over the line as a Christian. A wonderful illustration of how God has His hand in everything, yet letting us exercise our free-will-- and how those decisions, when based on our own fear and misunderstanding rather than faith and trust in Him, can create unnecessary "trouble." Worth every penny.

From the moment I read the first page, this book had me hooked. True-to-life characters in a roller-coaster ride of suspense, I couldn't put it down! I just can't wait to read the follow up! Thanks, Ms. Collins, for such an entertaining read! For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.robinmillerbooks.com

This is not your typical Christian suspense novel. The story follows a Christian with a "special sight". She sees a murder and must tell the police and hope they believe her before the murderer strikes again. Her husband is a non-believer and she struggles to keep her marriage from falling apart while a killer wonders if she can see what he has in store for her...

I loved this book and couldn't put it down until I finished it! I had just finished the Left Behind series published to date, and although I love that series, I was ready for a change.

This book was wonderfully written and suspenseful. It would be appeal to Christians and non-Christians alike although a new Christian would really relate to certain aspects of the storyline than others.