Madman: A Novel (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Groot's well-paced, beautifully written historical novel begins in the tombs of Kursi in Palestine on the Sea of Galilee. The story focuses on Tallis, an Athenian servant and scholar who has come to Hippos to learn about the fate of a Socratic academy his master has assembled and bankrolled. As he pieces together cryptic, horrifying details of the academy's dissolution, Tallis finds himself drawn to the owners and staff of the inn where he is a guest. Groot reveals the secrets of the lost academy as well as those of the innkeepers gradually and with virtually no contrivance. Important moments, such as the attempted rescue of a little boy, unfold with understated suspense, which is a delightful departure from the typically tedious, telegraphed and overplayed plot turns in the bulk of contemporary faith-based thrillers. Perhaps most gratifying about the novel is its subtle Christian message; all but the last few pages take place during Jesus' ministry but before the characters have encountered him. Groot depicts these characters as good souls hungering for a greater good with which they might fight the almost overpowering evil forces sucking the life out of their community. Jesus' miraculous entry into their lives provides a satisfying and believable conclusion to this entertaining and compelling book. (Apr.)
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Product Description

If there is a way into madness, logic says there is a way out. Logic says. Tallis, a philosopher’s servant, is sent to a Greek academy in Palestine only to discover that it has silently, ominously, disappeared. No one will tell him what happened, but he learns what has become of four of its scholars. One was murdered. One committed suicide. One worships in the temple of Dionysus. And one … one is a madman. From the author of The Brother’s Keeper comes a tale of mystery, horror, and hope in the midst of unimaginable darkness, the story behind the Geresene demoniac of the gospels of Mark and Luke.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802463622
• ISBN-13: 978-0802463623
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,232 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue set in Bible times, April 3, 2006

By	Christian Book Previews.com "Christian Book P... - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Based on the story of Legion, the demon possessed man in Mark 5:1-20, Madman is the picture of true torture and rape of the mind painted with the literary brushes of Tracy Groot. Whereas the descriptions of her characters are very well done, her descriptions of madness are absolutely excellent. She draws the reader into the story and makes everything, even things the characters in the novel suspect to be fantasy, seem real.

The main character Tallis, a philosopher's servant from Athens, travels to Palestine to uncover the truth about a school of Socrates' that silently disappeared without warning. At first no one seems to know what he's talking about, even though the school was supposed to have existed for the past eight years. After finally managing to pry information from one of many locked mouths, he discovers that the school's teachers are the source of the vanishing-one was murdered, one committed suicide, six are missing or in hiding, one is a high priestess in the temple of Dionysus, and one is completely and violently mad. Tallis struggles throughout the book as he fights for the truth no one wants to hear. But his weakness of mind makes it more difficult when he realizes that the only way to find the truth and to set things right is to somehow take the chaos out of the madman...which might put it into himself.

Madman is a well-written book. It captures the intrigue of the reader as he tries to put the pieces of the mystery together and holds in rapt attention. Groot succeeds at telling a Bible story from a non-believer's point of view without ending the novel on a cheesy note, which she should be praised for. She creates poignant descriptions of her characters and settings, especially in her descriptions of evil. It is also quite clear that Groot did her homework before she wrote about the worship of Dionysus, the everyday acts of the people living in Palestine, and the afflictions of madness, among other things.

However, this attention to detail can also be viewed as a weakness, when too much research is included in the novel. At times it is essential, either to get the story's facts correct or to help the reader understand something he or she has never heard of before, but there are several times it's distracting. It also makes the novel a heavy tome for the average reader, rather than one to read for entertainment or escape.

The only other faults, which seem minor in light of her otherwise talented writing, are that she flips back and forth between different characters' points of view with very little warning, and that occasionally the speech of the characters sounds a bit too modern.

Madman is highly recommended to those who have a keen interest in Greek mythology, philosophy, psychology, historical fiction from about 30 A.D. in Greece and Palestine, or spiritual warfare. The book is recommended in general to those in upper high school and older, who are avid readers, who won't be scared away by slightly heavier material, and who also enjoy mysteries. - April Selander, Christian Book Previews.com

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Madman-A story of hope and redemption, April 20, 2006

By	Cheryl Russell "Book reviewer, writer" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Tallis arrives in ancient Palestine, a "scorched puck of a province" to find out what has happened to the Academy of Socrates, a school funded by his employer, the Greek philosopher Callimachus. What he finds is. . . nothing. No school, no teachers and no pupils. The school disbanded three years ago and the pupils are scattered. Out of a faculty of ten, six teachers have vanished. Of the remaining four, one was murdered, one committed suicide, a female teacher has become a priestess for the ancient god Dionysus and the last is a madman, living in the Gerasene tombs.

As Tallis digs deeper for answers he is drawn into a nightmare from his childhood. The horrors he witnessed at the hands of the Maenads will be repeated in the near future unless he finds a way to stop the madness. And stop it he must, or someone close to him will die.

Tracy Groot does an excellent job entering the mind of the demonic and showing the reader his torment. Her extensive research is also evident and does a good job at drawing the reader into the world of ancient Palestine. At times, this world is jarred by the use of modern jargon. The reader may also stumble over some of the ancient terminology used. The context in which such words are used isn't always clear.

But those are only slight bumps in a book that does an excellent job weaving a story of evil and love, repression and redemption.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars vivid, January 14, 2008

By	Anita L. Kruse "rare reviewer" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an excellent read. There are two reasons I gave it 4 stars instead of 5: first, because (as other reviewers have noted) her language gets too modern at times. This is a bit distracting from the historical accuracy of the writing. Secondly, she wraps two main themes up a bit too quickly for my liking. Apart from this, this book is quite well done. Her characters are VIVID. The writing is vivid. Groot is a very colorful author, whose language many times strikes almost more of poetry than of prose, but in a way that draws you in rather than feeling melodramatic. At times the writing was vivid enough to draw a physical reaction from me. Not a common occurence with me. I would highly recommend this book if you like deep subject matter, and anything having to do with the mind. There is a bit of very sweet romance in it too, which I liked. If the book intrigues you, check it out! You won't be disappointed.