Near Death (Book 1 of the Near Death Series) [Kindle Edition]

Richard C Hale (Author)

Book Description

Praise for Amazon best-selling author Richard C Hale and his debut novel Near Death:


** "NEAR DEATH is a fast-paced, romance-laced, thought-provoking, and highly entertaining novel with an intriguing premise." ~ Author Lisette Brodey

** "This is not a read you want to miss. Prepare to be enchanted and enthralled as Mr. Hale takes you on the thrill ride of your life."  ~ Chuck Barrett, Award Winning Author of The Savannah Project and The Toymaker


For Jake Townsend, the loss was shattering. And every night for the past two years, he has relived the horror of what happened. The moonless night. The piercing screams. The horrific crash. The night his wife was taken from him. The last time he saw her alive.

Everyone tells him to move on. But for Jake, there can be no closure. A message appears in his dreams--a warning he is reluctant to heed.

The omens ignored, Jake finds himself caught between the desire to see his beloved wife again and disrupting the delicate balance of life and death. The technology he developed has shown him the path, and others will do anything to use it, but at what price?

He must choose, and the consequences may ultimately shatter his world.


** "Blew me away! An approach that I never saw coming. Well Done!!! I Can't wait to read your next book!" ~ Fred Paxton

** "As I read the book, I couldn't help but think about a movie and who would play each part. I envisioned Matt Damon as Jake and Paul Giamatti as Bodey. What a fantastic read. I highly recommend it." ~ Ryan Krohn-Author of "Our Beloved Red"

~~ Be sure to read FROZEN PAST, Richard's next thriller that will have you afraid to read alone at night. Luke is only fourteen. Eliana is his whole world and for a fourteen year old, the burden is immense. You see, Eliana is being stalked. Stalked by a madman who wants nothing more than to see her dead. The madman knows things that no one should know and sees things that no one should see. He tells them if they say a word to anyone, they will both die. And Luke can't let that happen.

Eliana's past is catching up with her and Luke must do anything to save her. Anything.

~~~ Follow Richard on Twitter (@Richard_C_Hale)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard C Hale has worn many hats in his lifetime including Greens Keeper, Bartender, Musician, Respiratory Therapist, and Veteran Air Traffic Controller. You can usually find him controlling Air Traffic over the skies of the Southeastern U.S. where he lives with his wife and children.

Product Details

• File Size: 475 KB
• Print Length: 316 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 098477890X
• Publisher: Three Thirty A.M. Publishing (October 24, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005ZHBTK8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,248 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazed. I loved it November 13, 2011

By George Angus

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book through the author who is in my Twitter feed. I saw a tweet of his and went to Amazon and downloaded the book for my Kindle.

I'm glad I downloaded it over the weekend because I needed every spare moment to read this book. I found its premise compelling and the pace dared me to stop reading. I read until I went to sleep, and it was with me as I had my first cup of coffee the next morning.

The story develops rapidly and went in directions I had not anticipated. It had elements that a good story needs to have. The characters are believable and likable. The mix of dialogue and narrative is just right and kept me entertained while moving the story right along.

I have a medical background and one of the things that impressed me is how the medical aspects were accurate and rang true.

There are a lot of things in this book that I really liked: science, medicine, spirituality, romance. All melded together in a thriller that makes you think while it keeps you fascinated and on the edge of your seat.

I look forward to another great read from the author.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT STORY THAT MAKES YOU THINK . . . December 29, 2011

By Lisette Brodey

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It is always a pleasure to review a novel that kept me absorbed from the first page to the last -- which is exactly the case with Richard C. Hale's, NEAR DEATH. After the tragic loss of his wife in a car crash, Jake Townsend is inconsolable. His beloved wife Beth appears in recurring dreams and is trying to send him a message he cannot quite decipher. Meanwhile, Jake has developed technology that might bring him closer to Beth, but at what cost?

We live in a day and age where new technology does things that not too long ago we may have thought to be science fiction. That is exactly why Hale's book was so gripping. Jake's new technology, a machine that can produce video from the minds of those who have had near death experiences and come back to tell the tale, is riveting science fiction. Or is it a brilliant precursor of what is to come? Probably the former, but as a reader, I couldn't help but explore the possibilities and to weigh the endless ethical/moral questions that go hand in hand with the use of new technology.

NEAR DEATH is a fast-paced, romance-laced, thought-provoking, and highly entertaining novel with an intriguing premise. Hale doesn't shortchange his readers on character development, either. The characters were well-defined, realistic, and had me simultaneously rooting for and against them. Terrific read!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thriller, drama, romance and suspense all in one book! December 11, 2011

By Anonymous

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I read the summary of the book on amazon i immediately thought to myself well this sounds very interesting and different from what I'm normally use to. But I was looking for a change and not only did I find one, I found a new favorite author as well!I'm your typical Nora Roberts and Nicholas Sparks reader and when I read Near Death I was taken by surprise. This fictional novel was unbelievably well written. Not only did it have suspense it had a little romance as well which was an awesome and unexpected twist! This book takes you on an action packed journey with several characters that you can actually relate to. Ive never read anything so detailed and interesting before. The characters were perfect and the different scenes are so detailed you can envision every place like you were actually there. I would recommend this book to anyone, you will not be disappointed! But make sure your schedule is free because you won't want to set this book down!! I look forward to reading Mr. Hale's next spectacular novel! Thank you for a phenomenal read!!

More About the Author

Richard C Hale has worn many hats in his lifetime including Greens Keeper, Bartender, Musician, Respiratory Therapist, and Veteran Air Traffic Controller. You can usually find him controlling Air Traffic over the skies of the Southeastern U.S. where he lives with his wife and children.