The Missionary [Paperback]

William Carmichael (Author), David Lambert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

David Eller is an American missionary in Venezuela, married to missionary nurse Christie. Together they rescue homeless children in Caracas. But for David, that isn’t enough. The supply of homeless children is endless because of massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government, led by the Hugo Chavez-like Armando Guzman.

In a moment of anger, David publicly rails against the government, unaware that someone dangerous might be listening—a revolutionary looking for recruits. David falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son, with all the resources of a corrupt dictatorship at their heels.

For more information, to see the video, or interact with the authors visit: www.missionarynovel.com.

Taut and gripping. You’ll be glad you made the investment.
 —Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times national bestselling author, including the 65,000,000-selling Left Behind series

David Lambert is a master of words—The Missionary is further proof.
—Karen Kingsbury, New York Times-bestselling author of the Above the Line series

The Missionary is a roller-coaster read that will keep your adrenaline rushing!
—Terri Blackstock, author of Double Minds and Last Light

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Carmichael is an accomplished bestselling author of marriage, family, and parenting books, and he and his wife, Nancie, are popular speakers across America and Canada. He is also the founder of Good Family Magazines, which published Virtue, Christian Parenting Today, and Parents of Teenagers magazines. The Missionary is Bill’s first novel.

 

David Lambert is senior fiction editor for Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.  He is the author of nine books, including the gold-medallion-award-winning Jumper Fables (Zondervan), co-authored with Ken Davis, and four novels for juvenile and YA readers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; 1 edition (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802455697
• ISBN-13: 978-0802455697
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,695,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars . . . Dangerous Dilemmas, April 12, 2009

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Missionary (Paperback)

When asked to read an advance copy of "The Missionary," I balked. Not only am I a fan of thrillers, but I've served on the mission field in a number of countries. What were the chances this story would satisfy my expectations on both levels? Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a read--and, boy, am I glad!

Carmichael and Lambert make a formidable team, introducing us quickly to missionary David Eller as he helps children on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela. What seems like an honorable but mostly tame existence changes when Eller agrees to a questionable scheme aimed at toppling a dictatorship. Against his wife's wishes, he becomes entangled to the point that he cannot get free. Even as commandos make a bold attempt on the dictator's life, Eller is framed as a co-conspirator, and he must go on the run. How can he save his family and his own skin, without further damaging his reputation in his wife's eyes and in God's?

The dilemmas in this story are believable and not always easy to answer. At what point does one take a stand against corruption? When should prayer turn into action? How should one respond when his or her spouse is less enthusiastic? The questions here range from small to large, personal to far-reaching. And best of all, they're all woven seamlessly into a fast-paced thriller.

I'm glad I gave "The Missionary" a chance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down, March 26, 2009

By 

James E. Bennett "Jim Bennett" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Missionary (Paperback)

This is the best novel I have read in years. Several times I had to remind myself that I was in fact reading a novel not a real life story. The writer captured my imagination completely. I have never been to the setting for this book, yet I could almost see the sites and even smell the smells.

The story line kept you thinking you knew what was about to happen, only to find yourself saying, I didn't see that coming, but it still all made so much since, you once again had to remind yourself that this was only a novel.

This is one you have to read. Great job and I hope there is more to come.

Jim Bennett - Portland, Oregon

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartpounding and Soul-Stirring Read, March 26, 2009

By 

Daniel Darling "Christian author and speaker" (Chicago area) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Missionary (Paperback)

This is probably one of the best novels I've read in a while. The missionary is soul-stirring, heart-pounding journey thru the messy mix of mission work, espionage, and third-world politics.

David Eller is a flawed missionary whose tireless work in Venezuela has him itching to do more to bring justice to the country's poor. His impulsive actions lead him into more trouble than he bargained for, jeaopardizing his marriage and his mission.

Will Carmichael and David Lambert really deliver with tight writing, believable plot lines, complex characters, and nonstop drama. They take you inside the sad and sorid world of Venezuela's politics and policies, bleeding out a concern for the forgotten poor in a troubled part of the world.