Tribulation House (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This quirky apocalyptic gangster novel... wait a minute. Yes, you heard that right. Genre-breaking faith fiction writer Well continues his witty romps through the seamier side of Kansas City here, including characters Forgiving Solomon Long and Deliver Us From Evelyn. Rev. Daniel Glory has declared that the Rapture will take place on October 17 at 5:51 a.m., and evangelicals are happy to capitalize on his prediction. Enter "Kingdom Come," a re-creation of events in the biblical book of Revelation geared to bring the lost to conviction—and sell a few trinkets on the side. Church member Mark Hogan decides if the end of the world is near, why not buy a $22,428 luxury boat and borrow money from the mob to finance it? He won't be around to make the payments. Despite Reverend Glory's bestselling end-time book and talk show–circuit buzz, October 17 comes and goes, and Hogan must face the music. Well's hilarious gangsters are only outdone by the evangelicals he lovingly lampoons, and his clever dialogue will leave readers in stitches. Disappointingly, the book ends with the blatant "to be continued." But fans who laugh out loud at Well's delightful satire of the underworld and the evangelical world will be delighted there is more to come. (May)
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Product Description

IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD--WHICH COULD BE A PROBLEM...

Mark Hogan has it all. The job. The family. A position on the board at church. All he's missing is a boat. Not just any boat--a 2008 Bayliner 192.

When Reverend Daniel Glory announces that the Rapture is taking place on October 17 at 5:51 am, Hogan realizes his boat-buying days are numbered. So he does what any man in his situation would do--he borrows a load of money from the mob.

Not that there's any risk involved: After all, when the Rapture comes, Hogan will be long gone. The mob will never find him.

But when Jesus fails to come back on schedule, Mark Hogan finds the mob is in no mood to discuss the finer points of end-times theology...

Chris Well's laugh-out-loud Christian thrillers appeal to the millions of readers who gobble up the rollicking crime fiction of Janet Evanovich and Elmore Leonard.

Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736917411
• ISBN-13: 978-0736917414
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,322,930 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This One, June 16, 2007

By	Susan Sleeman "Host of The Christian Suspense... (www.thesuspensezone.com) - See all my reviews

News flash! Jesus returns on October 17th, at 5:51am, so says Reverend Daniel Glory of The Last Church of God's Imminent Will.
In an announcement to the planners of Tribulation House, a state of the art evangelistic outreach, the Reverend sets his church members on a path of no return speeding toward Jesus' return. Most notably, member Mark Hogan splits his focus in the last days between his Christian desire to reach out to others through Tribulation House and scheming to acquire a boat, the 2008 Bayliner 192. His justifies his worldly desire for the boat he's always wanted with the opportunity to minister to lost souls while cruising on the local lakes. Mark is certain that this is exactly what Jesus would do. That is, until Mark inadvertently kills Reverend Glory.

Through out the book, inept mob enforcers, Ross Cleaver and Bill Lamb, engage in nefarious activities aimed at separating The Last Church of God's Imminent Will from their land so their mobster boss can profit, while detectives Charlie Pasch and Tom Griggs close in on them. The paths of all these characters come together in a hilarious search for Reverend Glory's killer.

This is the first book by Chris Well that I have read and after reading I would definitely seek out his prior novels. His humor, satire at its best, fills the pages of Tribulation House. His characters are real, quirky, and often laugh out loud funny. I especially enjoyed the interaction between the gangsters, Ross Cleaver and Bill Lamb. They were so visual through Well's stellar dialogue, that I could easily visualize a hit movie with the pair in starring roles.

The story moved along at a fast clip, with short chapters and quick dialogue. The plot was very involved and at times, I had to slow down and put a few pieces together, but it was worth the time to do so.

Gilded in satire, Well takes a punch at religious misunderstandings and end times prophesies. He reveals Biblical truth in an entertaining and easy to read style. If you are fond of humor mixed with a fast paced story, you'll love Tribulation House.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 41/2 stars--entertaining irreverence, May 21, 2007

By	Karri Compton - See all my reviews

The title of this novel is a bit deceiving--it sounds like some sort of weird horror tale. How far from the truth! This screams comedy from page one. Tribulation House is just a name for the interactive end-times multimedia presentation/witnessing tool the main character's church is putting on. The show is secondary. Mark Hogan's problems (presented in tongue-in-cheek fashion) resulting from the lack of a timely rapture dominate the book.

It's risky taking such serious spiritual matter and turning it into almost a farce. But Well came out the victor after walking such a fine line. The humor makes his points easier to swallow.

I also like how Well uses first person POV for the main character but switches to third for the other POV characters. It was very effective. I've not read a lot of crime fiction (or however one would classify TH), but I love Well's borderline irreverent style and engaging storytelling. A good read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best in Show, May 10, 2007

By	Deena Peterson "The Deena" (Marysville, CA) - See all my reviews

I've read all three of Chris Well's novels, beginning with "Forgiving Solomon Long" and he just keeps getting better and better at his craft.

It's hard to categorize Well's writing. Right about the time you feel you're reading a hard-boiled detective novel...his character Charlie Pasch begins discussing the merits of comic books. And then, when you feel as if this is a comedy, the bodies begin piling up...kind of.

Between the easy rapport of the officers, both local and FBI, the hardened senior detective and the still kind of wet-behind-the-ears newbie...I really like these stories. "Tribulation House" is like a three in one story...humorous, but with a mystery to solve, and a lot of detective work to catch the criminals.

Mixed in with everything is Charlie's genuine and refreshing faith. The church scenes...well, they are a hoot and I just adore Charlie...even if he does drink his coffee weird. You just have to read it and find out for yourself.

I give "Tribulation House" 4 bookmarks and a bonus tassel for making me laugh, think, and fall in love with my Savior all over again...but I'm thinking of taking them all away because of THE ENDING....Chris, how could you do that to us??

Thank goodness we have more to look forward to from this gifted author!!

Happy Reading!

Deena