The Messenger: A Novel [Hardcover]

Jan Burke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2008

Beneath the Caribbean sea, a salvage diver hears a voice calling to him from the wreckage of a nineteenth-century ship. He becomes enslaved to the voice, which promises him wealth and urges him to hunt for a man named Tyler Hawthorne. But who is this mysterious man? From where does this spine-tingling voice emerge, and should it be trusted? Packed with nail-biting action and suspense, The Messenger is sure to delight readers with its artful approach to capturing what captivates them about the supernatural.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In this outstanding supernatural thriller from bestseller Burke (Kidnapped), her first venture into paranormal territory, Tyler Hawthorne, a British officer wounded at Waterloo, receives a memento mori ring on the battlefield from Messenger Lucien Adrian deVille, Lord Varre. The ring grants the wearer immortality, but in exchange Tyler must forever comfort the dying. Tyler also gets Shade, a black cemetery dog, for protection. In the present, a salvage diver uncovers Adrian's remains in a ship sunk in the Caribbean in 1815. A resurrected Adrian uses the diver to help locate Tyler in Los Angeles, where Tyler is attending to a leukemia patient. Tyler, an ageless 24, has also fallen for wealthy Amanda Clarke, who's haunted by family members killed in an accident that she survived. Mutual attraction and a dedication to do good unite the pair against the evil Adrian. Shade lends a distinctive Dean Koontzian flavor to the action, while Charlaine Harris fans will appreciate Amanda's ghostly abilities. (Jan.)
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About the Author

National bestseller Jan Burke is the author of a dozen novels and a collection of short stories. Among the awards her work has garnered are Mystery Writers of America's Edgar® for Best Novel, Malice Domestic's Agatha Award, Mystery Readers International's Macavity, and the RT Book Club's Best Contemporary Mystery. She is the founder of the Crime Lab Project (www.crimelabproject.com) and is a member of the board of the California Forensic Science Institute. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two dogs. Learn more about her at www.janburke.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (December 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743273877
• ISBN-13: 978-0743273879
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,154,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of crime fiction novels and short stories. You can find out more about my writing on my Web site.

I'm also the founder of The Crime Lab Project, which works to increase awareness of the problems facing public forensic science labs in the U.S.

I live in Southern California with my husband, Tim, and our two dogs, Cappy (in the photo above) and Britches.

I want my epitaph to read, "Had a great time, thanks for inviting me." I hope not to be in need of that any time soon.

Oh yeah -- I'm a lifelong night owl. As another night owl once said, don't go to bed on the same day you've awakened.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Delight; New Ground for Burke, January 6, 2009

By 

Brian Baker (Santa Clarita, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Messenger: A Novel (Hardcover)

Having been a Burke fan since I discovered the Irene Kelly series, I always eagerly snap up her novels as soon as they're available.

When I read the product description for this work and saw that she was exploring a new genre - the paranormal - I couldn't wait to dig in.

I wasn't disappointed. Ghosts, a centuries-old vendetta, redemption and damnation, compelling characters... all the goodies one could ask for.

This novel moves along at breakneck speed, without a wasted page. Brisk, taut, lean, engaging.

So why not that fifth star? Somehow, I was left wanting just a bit more. It felt that in some way, this could have been a little bit... bigger.

But if this is a new arena for Burke, well... bring it on. She's easily entered ground Koontz used to explore in his heyday, and with great aptitude. If she expands her scope, she could give Stephen King a run for his money.

That would be GREAT, as I really love that genre when it's well done.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an extra ordinary treat, January 5, 2009

By 

Richard Cumming "dick" (the heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Messenger: A Novel (Hardcover)

Fans of Jan Burke's crime fiction are in for a treat. Burke has always taken great pains to be exact. Realistic. Logical.

This latest book has released her to imagine supernatural beings with powers unshackled by reality. What a brutally tasty read it is!

The Messenger of the title is an immortal. He has lived hundreds of years. Tyler Hawthorne is a good guy. Perpetually handsome. Young. Wealthy. He visits people who are dying to transmit their final messages to their loved ones.

Lord Adrian Varre is the villain. He's the creepiest, slimiest, nastiest villain you ever loathed. Good vs. evil. A little love interest for spice. The timeless battle between an immortal and a nasty who wants to be.

Delicious! This one screams SEQUEL!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 18, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Messenger: A Novel (Hardcover)

Gold Star Award Winner!

Tyler Hawthorne is a mystery. He is never sick and seems to heal from any injury at an alarming rate. He's suave, confident, and extremely wealthy.

But Amanda Clarke doesn't like him. In her opinion, bringing hope to her dying best friend, Ron, is just plain stupid. Ron has been sick for ages and will most likely die - how dare Tyler bring him hope of recovering?

Only Ron does recover. And as Amanda begins to learn more and more about this Mr. Hawthorne character, she becomes more intrigued and enamored with him.

But Tyler's past doesn't come free. Someone's out to get him, and will go to any means to get a hold of a precious lost item that Tyler now has. And that puts others in danger, such as Amanda, whom Tyler has grown very fond of. Sometimes even man's best friend - the enormous, black-as-night dog, Shade - can't help his master get out of every dangerous situation.

Jan Burke writes a thrilling tale of a mysterious man and a normal woman. Throughout the story, more is learned of Tyler and his "powers", which only intrigues the reader to keep going to the next chapter to find out the next puzzle piece of his life. Then there's the actual plot of who is after Tyler and why, which unfolds in such a way that the reader will never want to put the book down until the last page.

Burke's story is truly engrossing, and with its many mysteries and plot twists, it is sure to entertain all readers.

Reviewed by: Steph