Customer Reviews

Predator: A Novel

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Predator is a story that could be ripped from today's headlines. I'm so glad that I received a review copy of this informative, chilling tale. Terri Blackstock talks about today's technology and how it's quickly changing our world. We need wisdom in navigating through the world-wide web and what we tell our peeps.

It's a shocker to realize teens are up-dating their status many times a day, giving people detailed information. For example, posting from their phones up-dating their status in every class period, texting what teachers say, what their friends are doing, where they were going after school, what stores they are in, where they are sitting at a ball game and what time they go to bed. All of these things are helpful information for predators. After reading this book I sat down with my kids and talked to them again about being safe on the web.

Terri has a scene in her story that gave me chills. A young woman has just gotten off a plane and is try's to get a cab. She is texting on her blackberry as she waits. A man in a town car tells her he is just as expensive as a cab and his car is nicer to ride in. So, the girl gets in the car, not paying attention to much because she's texting her current activities to her peeps. When the car takes a wrong turn, the girl realizes she's in trouble and tells the man to let her out, she knows karate and has let everyone know what he looks like via her blackberry.

The predator says to her, "Car's not registered in my name. You didn't tell them what I look like. I'm one of your followers, Megan; I get all of your Thought Bubbles. I saw what you posted; right here on my own phone. You're not into Karate. I'd know if you were. I know when you wake up in the morning, what you got for Christmas, ...I've been tracking you for the last six weeks."

My heart raced and I fully experienced this chilling story as Terri Blackstock made me completely conscious of how giving out too much information, all in the name of fun, is dangerous. The Web can be a wonderful place but just like anything else there are dangers you need to be aware of to be safe. I just couldn't stop reading this nail-biting suspenseful story that took me through a full range of emotions. This story is oh so real and so are Terri's characters. This is a stand alone story that will definitely pull at your heart strings and make you look at social networking in a whole new light.

Nora St. Laurent
ACFW Book Club Coordinator

I just received my copy early from Amazon and i started reading immediately. All I can say is that this book is a great suspense novel. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. With all the books and movies that are out now that have language and sex, it is nice to read a Christian book with Christian principles and morals. If you have read other books by Terri Blackstock, or even if you haven't you should definitely read this book.

Terri Blackstock's PREDATOR, a Christy and Carol Award nominee, is an exciting novel that captures the fear and thrill of hunting down a killer while also warning readers about the dangers of revealing too much of your personal life over the internet.

Ella Carmichael is missing, and when she is found murdered, it devastates her sister Christa and father, David. Christa discovers that Ella posted everything she did on the social networking site GrapeVyne (think Facebook) and that the killer tracked her down using these posts. Ryan Adkins is the CEO of GrapeVyne and, when he learns of the murder, wants to do something to warn the users of his site about the dangers of posting personal info.

When another girl is kidnapped because of her internet posts, Ryan and Christa work together to stop the killer. I thought Ryan and Christa's relationship developed nicely. For being a CEO of a big corporation, Ryan was portrayed sympathetically. The grief faced by David, Ella's father, seemed powerful and realistic.

This message of this book is hard to ignore. Blackstock obviously wants to communicate the dangers of revealing too much of yourself online. Thankfully, this message flows seamlessly with the novel, and Blackstock writes about the technical aspects of social networking with ease.

Blackstock is a bestselling author for a reason. PREDATOR is a good novel, a novel that fans of Christian thrillers will enjoy.

A suspenseful thriller that would make a great movie. Predator tackles a dark subject but is at the same time an inspirational read. The well-drawn characters are engaging and make you concerned about their fate and desperate for a happy ending.

The idea of using 'GrapeVyne' (an online social networking site) in the story was a great one, as it's something familiar to so many and brings the possible dangers to the fore. I'd recommend reading Terri Blackstock's other books as well as 'Godstone - The Kairos Boxes' and 'The Screwtape Letters' which are also really good Christian books.


Godstone - The Kairos Boxes

The Screwtape Letters: With Screwtape Proposes a Toast

I really, really enjoyed reading PREDATOR. Written by a wonderfully talented Christian suspense author, the message in this book is one that is great for both adults and teenagers alike, in understanding online social sites and predators amongst them. Definitely a must know subject in today's society.

Terri Blackstock has written lots of great suspense novels over the years, but I totally enjoyed this one the most. Not knowing what was happening from page to page and trying to help figure out the who-dun-it, was thrilling! Krista and Megan really tugged at my heart the most. I wanted to reach out and hug them so many times and tell them it would be okay. I felt like I had known them both for years. I enjoyed Ryan's character as well. He really added depth to the story. And I don't want to forget David! My heart, as a parent, went out to him more often than not. I can't imagine being in his shoes!!!

Blackstock really blends page-turning twists with gripping characters to create an incredible story with an ending sure to shock you (it did me!). Please don't delay in reading PREDATOR, especially if you have a teen. The message in this story is one that is so important in the world today. A perfect 5 star combination of riveting suspense, true-to-life events, God's love and spiritual struggles. PREDATOR leaves you hungry for more unforgettable suspense!

Captivating book! This author has quickly become my favorite of all time. I couldn't put this book down once I started. I still miss the characters, she made them that real. It was yet another amazing book!! I will continue to order and read all her books. Loved the story line. If you like a good mystery mixed with some good Christian writing, this book is a MUST! Thanks, Terri!

"Riding my bike to Sinbad's. Dying for a soda, and Dad won't keep them in the house." That was 14-year-old Ella Carmichael's last Thought Bubble posted to the social network Grapevyne. But someone was watching - someone with sinister intentions - and took the opportunity to abduct, rape, and brutally murder the unsuspecting teen. Now her older sister Krista is taking on GrapeVyne and laying a trap for the killer, determined that no other young girls become his next victim. Despite the horrible pain of losing the baby sister she practically raised after her mother's death, Krista turns the tragedy into an opportunity to educate teens and young women about the dangers of posting personal information and current locations on social networking sites. In the process, she ends up working alongside the site's creator and CEO, both of them fighting for their lives as they seek to uncover a potential conspiracy or criminal activity originating with GrapeVyne's parent company and stay a step ahead of a killer.

Not only does Blackstock achieve another suspenseful story with a great surprise ending, but she really makes you stop to consider how our innocent comments on social networking sites can be used for malicious purposes by the wrong person. I want every young woman I care about to read this book and take to heart that particular message. This book will give you nightmares, which is the hallmark of a great thriller, and it will certainly leave you contemplating your own online activities. But it's also a story about using personal adversity to reach out to others, about healing in the midst of tragedy, and about the power of our faith and God's grace to carry us through our darkest trial.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This is another outstanding drama/mystery by Ms.Blackstock. It shows how predators track victims through information that should NOT be published on accounts of users of "Facebook', 'My Space', and the like. By divulging facts that should not be published people are inviting predators. By 'accepting' friends that one does not know, they are inviting trouble! This book should be required reading for any teen, young adult, and even some adults that live on these social networking pages.

There is a lesson to be learned from this novel by Blackstock. It is one that we must be sure our children understand. In addition, the novel is full of mystery and suspense with a touch of romance as well. Read it and heed it.

If you're a member of any networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or MySpace I urge you to listen to this audio book. If you've not been too concerned about the amount of information that you're giving out when participating online, or if you're putting yourself at risk this story will make you think twice.



Are you being friends to people that are complete strangers? This story is a perfect example of how technology can be used for good and evil. It was an eye opener and made me think long and hard about my own sites and I am a great-grandmother.

The storyline revolves around an online predator who is stalking people through the GrapeVyne network. As the predator makes friends with strangers online, they are able to gather information to target their victims and to murder them. In every case, the victim brings the predator right to them by sharing details of their locations and their activities.

When Krista Carmichael's young teenage sister is kidnapped and then brutally beaten, raped and murdered, Krista goes on a mission to find the predator. Krista discovers that her sister has over a thousand friends in the network, and that the killer used online information to target her sister. Krista begins to investigate and discovers how the slope of internet networking can be, when used incorrectly. She tries to prevent others from making the same mistakes that her sister made and begins talking to young teenage girls about their online activities. In an effort to find her sisters killer, Krista sets up a bogus online identity in an attempt to lure the killer to her doorstep. Krista also implores the help of Ryan Adkins, the CEO of GrapeVyne, much to the chagrin of his board members.

If you enjoy a good mystery then you will enjoy this story, but beware that you may want to watch what you list on you internet pages.


This audio book was sent to me by Zondervan publishing for review.