Hangman's Curse (The Veritas Project) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Frank Peretti (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: The Veritas Project

This fast-paced mystery suspense series features the Springfield family, an independent investigative team consisting of Nate, his wife Sarah, and their twin teenagers Elijah and Elisha. Veritas, the Latin word for "truth," has been selected to code name their effort "The Veritas Project." Their mission is to investigate and solve strange mysteries, crimes, and occurrences, seeking not only the facts, but also the truth behind the facts. In Hangman's Curse, the family goes undercover in a small town high school where it appears that a mysterious curse is spreading throughout the school, attacking popular athletes and immobilizing the student body with fear. As the Springfields uncover the truth, they see first hand the devastating effects of peer-abuse.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Trouble is brewing in Baker, Washington. Three popular athletes have been stricken with a mysterious ailment--or phenomenon--that leaves them ranting incoherently, paranoid, and eventually comatose. Ever ready to seek truth and justice, teen twins Elisha and Elijah and their parents hop in their van, the Holy Roller, and head to Washington. As members of a top-secret presidential investigative team, the Veritas Project, the family must be prepared to go undercover at any moment. Soon they are deeply embroiled in a deadly mystery that involves witchcraft, bullying, the ghost of a boy who hanged himself long ago, and a most diabolical weapon.

Frank Peretti, well known for his Christian thrillers (This Present Darkness/Piercing the Darkness, The Visitation, etc.) draws from his own experiences of not fitting in as a child to create this alarming tale of vengeance. The twins and their parents occasionally turn to their faith for guidance, but the crux of the story lies in the danger that comes from treating less cool kids like second-class citizens. References to the tragedy at Columbine remind readers just how painfully real the problem is. Peretti seems to use the twins' father as a voice for his own viewpoint: "Metal detectors may keep weapons out of the schools, and security officers can maintain at least a surface tranquility, but these will not keep out the pain, anger, and loneliness that cause a child to bring a weapon to school in the first place." (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Peretti, long praised for his popular Christian fiction for adults and his strong storytelling style, here turns his talent to young adult fiction with a quick-paced thriller about the evils brought by bullying and intolerance. When the star athletes of a Washington state high school are struck down by debilitating hallucinations, the Springfield family (Nate; his wife, Sarah; and teen twins Elisha and Elijah) go undercover to investigate the mystery. The Springfields operate independently, as the Veritas Project, guided by their Judeo-Christian faith to seek the truth behind strange occurrences. They even have a mobile home nicknamed the Holy Roller. But this setup never seems overly corny in Peretti's hands. As the slightly chilling story unfolds, readers learn about the ghost of Baker High a boy named Abel Frye, who supposedly hung himself in one of the old hallways in the 1930s. Throughout, Peretti paints a realistic picture of the clique-y world of high school that will be familiar to just about anyone. His comfortably paced, compelling performance consistently draws readers along. Peretti has an obvious knack sure to appeal to his intended tween and teen audience for emphasizing his beliefs without preaching. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Audio CD
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Abridged edition (December 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400303362
• ISBN-13: 978-1400303366
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,425,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Books on CD > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Peretti, Frank

More About the Author

Frank E. Peretti is one of American Christianity's best-known authors. His novels have sold over 10 million copies, and he is widely credited with reinventing Christian fiction. He and his wife, Barbara, live in the Pacific Northwest. www.frankperetti.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hangman's Curse, October 20, 2001

By 

Phyllis Nisle (La Mirada, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hangman's Curse (The Veritas Project Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

The Hangman's Curse is Frank Peretti's first installment in a new series, The Veritas Project, aimed at young teens. The story unfolds just as if it is a story right out of today's headlines and deals with the issue of bullying on the high school campus. The Springfield family, consisting of twins Elisha and Elijah and their parents, make up the investigation team working on The Veritas Project. The program's mission is to investigate and solve strange mysteries, crimes, and occurrences, seeking not only the facts, but the truth behind the facts. In Hangman's Curse, the Springfield family's assignment is to discover the truth behind the mysterious form of madness that is inflicting Baker High School's athletes. What is causing this madness? Is it tied to the superstition of a curse left by the ghost of a student who has haunted the school since he hanged himself at the school in the 1930's? Who is the ghostly figure with a hawk on his shoulder that is seen by those tormented by the mysterious madness? Is he Abel Frye and is Abel Frye the student who hung himself? What is the meaning of the crude etching of a hangman figure on the lockers of each victim? It seems that it is the bullies that have been targeted and are the ones contracting the mysterious illness. Are they suffering a form of revenge from a group of students that is meeting secretly practicing witchcraft? What is the truth? The answers are uncovered as you follow the Springfield family's quest for the truth behind the mystery. The Hangman's Curse is a fast-paced and riveting page turner. The truth behind the mysterious madness will surprise the reader. Teens as well as adult fans of Peretti will enjoy this book. When finished, the reader will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frank lives up to his reputation, May 7, 2001

By 

"tabbychick" (Sunny FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hangman's Curse (The Veritas Project Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

If you love Christian suspense, or even if you don't, you will after you read this. Twins Elijah and Elisha and their parents make up a highly secret investigative team. The family goes all over the country to find "not only the Facts, but the Truth behind the Facts." In a small Washington town, a highschool's star athletes are coming down with a mysterious illness that leaves them insane. The Springfield family is sent to investigate, finding a mysterious ghost, a second class system, and witchcraft surrounding them. They soon realizes that there is the Baker High that everyone chooses to see, and the second Baker High where people are harrassed, abused, bullied, stolen from, and made fun of every day. What measures will people go to to stop it? Enough to murder? I loved this eerie book! Not one section was boring, I was hooked to every page! The only problem is that I have to wait till the next book comes out...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hangman's Curse : The Veritas Project, March 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Hangman's Curse (The Veritas Project Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

Frank has come full-circle and delivered a book that is compelling. This book can be read by young people and adults alike. Many young people will see themselves in the characters and champion the side of truth. Adults will be awakened from a sense that all is well within the system. This is one that you will not want to put down. I hope Frank keeps on track with sequels to The Veritas Project.