The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2) [Paperback]

Bill Myers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2005

The first subjects exposed to The Presence went insane. Now a far more terrifying experiment is about to begin... A diverse group of unusual characters is airlifted to a remote mountain lodge. Here they hope to participate in a seance connecting them to the spirit world. David Kauffman and his teenage son have joined them to debunk a world-class psychic and expose her as a hoax. But not even David is prepared for what greets them. Still shaken by his daughter's death and his visits to heaven and hell, he's swept into a fantastic journey exposing the supernatural souls of men, where unseen thoughts become unimaginable reality. As the power of The Presence increases, the group must overcome their innermost passions or be destroyed by them. All this as they struggle to break free of their captor---the head of experiment and the murderer of David's daughter. Bestselling novelist Bill Myers weaves a supernatural thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night---and thinking days after you've finished.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The first subjects exposed to The Presence went insane. Now, a far more terrifying experiment is about to begin. . . A diverse group of unusual characters are airlifted to a remote mountain lodge. Here they hope to participate in a séance connecting them to the spirit world. David Kauffman and his teenage son have joined them to debunk a world-class psychic and expose her as a hoax. But not even David is prepared for what greets them. Still shaken by his daughter’s death and his visits to heaven and hell, he’s swept into a fantastic journey where the supernatural souls of people are exposed, and unseen thoughts become unimaginable reality. As the power of The Presence increases, the group must overcome their innermost passions or be destroyed by them. All this as they struggle to break free of their captor—the head of the experiment and murderer of David’s daughter. Bestselling novelist Bill Myers weaves a supernatural thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night—and thinking about it days after you’ve finished.

About the Author

Bill Myers (www.Billmyers.com) is a bestselling author and award-winning writer/director whose work has won forty national and international awards. His books and videos have sold eight million copies and include The Seeing, Eli, The Voice, My Life as, Forbidden Doors, and McGee and Me. SPANISH BIO: Bill Myers trabaja con los jovenes y es un escritor/director cuyos libros y peliculas han ganado cuarenta galardones nacionales e internacionales. Es el cocreador de McGee and Me, y autor de la serie Forbidden Doors, la serie My Life as..., The Seeing. Cuando no le esta hablando a personas que han experimentado lo sobrenatural, esta entrevistando a grupos de jovenes de todo el mundo o haciendo un par de peliculas. Su sitio Web es www.BillMyers.com.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; First Edition edition (August 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310242363
• ISBN-13: 978-0310242369
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi.
Thanks for checking up on me. Probably best to go over to my web site: www.Billmyers.com for biography information. And if you're really bored, there's my fan site over on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Myers/44983396181 Oh, and one last thing. If you're a student and your class reads one of my books, I'll do a 'meet the author' 30 min question and answer session by speakerphone with your class from my office here in California. If you're a reader's group, the same thing goes...in which case I'd recommend ELI to really get the discussion juices flowing - at least until THE GOD HATER comes out in 2010. Thanks for stopping by!
bill
www.Billmyers.com
and
www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Myers/44983396181

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the original, but still interesting, December 1, 2005

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2) (Paperback)

Last year, Bill Myers released a novel with one of the most unique premises to come along in a while. In Soul Tracker, David Kauffman was able to get a unique insight into life after death, thanks to an unconventional program called "Life After Life" from The Orbolitz Group. The program took the last 12 minutes of brain activity from over a thousand patients who died and was able to translate it into a virtual reality program so anyone could experience those first few minutes after life has ceased. In The Presence, the "Life after Life" program has returned, but this time David finds himself in a worse position than worrying about dying.

Myers takes a remarkable concept and builds on it: how does God see us when He looks at us? David-along with his son Luke and a couple of other characters from the first book-agrees to help Savannah (a character introduced at the end of Soul Tracker) monitor a psychic who claims to talk to the dead...specifically, Savannah's dead husband. During the first séance, things get nasty, and soon it becomes apparent they aren't dealing with a quiet spirit from beyond the grave. The Orbolitz Group is conducting a new experiment, and David is trapped among the subjects. They've taken the research from the dying patients and created a computer portrait of the Presence of God. Now they're going to subject the group to the Presence and see how they handle it.

Myers does an admirable job of keeping things interesting with an array of characters who react differently to the Presence. Each has their own shortcomings and find things about themselves they never knew (or had tried to hide). His descriptions of the auras their bodies give off exposing their inner selves are all powerful and believable. The plot moves along nicely too, with very little down time at any point once the story kicks off. The message of God's love and forgiveness is strong throughout the whole story.

The most unsatisfying thing about the novel is the lack of any real suspense. The story is straightforward, with no plot twists at all. While you may not know every step the characters are going to take, there are no "gotcha" moments to catch you unaware either. Myers takes you from point A to point B with little deviance in between. It feels more like a cheap steak dinner than filet mignon most of the time. This may not bother most readers, but those used to deeper stories may find the story lacking somewhat.

There aren't many rough spots in this book. If you're wanting a deep story with interweaved plot lines that come together at the end in a surprising way, you won't find it here. But if you want a good story and some great fodder to discuss the love of God with someone, this works.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW - gotta read this one, October 12, 2005

By 

Tammy K. Colvin (Nicholson, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2) (Paperback)

I just finished reading "The Presence" and it was the most amazing book. In the words of Nubee "Cuul". The way Mr. Myers is able to write brings the characters so alive you feel like you are right there with them/one of them. I was unable to put the book down. The book has also made me stop and think about my own glow and what it would be like if we could truly see. I have found things that would show up if visible. Some I knew where there, some I did not realize. If you're looking for a book to read to put you to sleep - DO NOT get this one - it's a "just one more chapter then I'll go to bed" type of book. You may want to read Soul Tracker first to get the full story line but it really isn't necessary to enjoy The Presence on its own. And get the Blood of Heaven trilogy too!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and unique storyline, September 27, 2005

By 

John Thornton (Midwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2) (Paperback)

What if there was a technology that could allow you to actually see the spiritual world? Would you want to see it? What is there? How would your soul look to earthly eyes? How would someone else's soul appear? Well, that is the basic premise behind "The Presence." Now add the fact that that new technology is in the hands of a madman who has lured unsuspecting people to a "mountain retreat" center.

"The Presence" is a great novel. It is not so much a sequel as it is another story in the life of Luke, David and Nubee and other characters first encountered in "Soul Tracker." Each novel can easily stand on its own.

The action is intense at times and as usual Bill Myers' characters are very well developed. The story unfolds in very unpredictable fashion. Without adding any spoilers to this review, be advised that you will ponder this book for a long while after reading it. Just consider, what would God do about that new technology which peers into the spiritual rhelm?

If you have enjoyed any of Bill Myers' previous books you will not be disappointed. If you are new to Bill Myers books you are in for a great treat! Be sure to read Eli!