Fatal Illusions: A Novel (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: trick rope, Stacey James, Whistler's Point, Eric White (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An obsessive woman, a serial killer on the loose, and a sudden winter storm turn a sabbatical in the North Woods into a nightmare that the Thayer family may not escape alive.

From the Back Cover

An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands. The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they know that they are about to become part of Haydon's next act. Time is running out and already the killer has spotted his next victim. Who will escape alive? "Fatal Illusions is an engaging, fast-paced read with a captivating storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Highly recommended!"-Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman "An awesome ride!"-Rosey Dow, Christy Award winning author of Reaping the Whirlwind "Adam Blumer tells a fast-paced story that weaves together a serial killer, a physically wounded pastor and his spiritually wounded wife. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing."-Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers Adam Blumer graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in a print journalism. Since childhood he has been writing stories and has since been published in a variety of periodicals. He lives in Michigan with his wife and their two daughters.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (March 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825420989
• ISBN-13: 978-0825420986
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #242,714 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Do Not Read Within 3 Hours of Bedtime", April 22, 2009

By	Glynn Young - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read the last 80 pages of Adam Blumer's "Fatal Illusions" before turning in for the night. Big mistake. There should be a warning label on this great suspense novel: "Do not read within three hours of bedtime."

Pastor Marc Thayer and his wife Gillian are on sabbatical in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Marc is trying to recover from an attack by an unbalanced woman he'd been counseling, an attack that nearly killed him. Gillian is trying, and not very successfully, to deal with the deaths of her stillborn twins some months before. With them is their teenaged daughter Crystal. Stalking them is the woman who shot Marc AND Waydon Owens, a serial killer mesmerized by Harry Houdini. The serial killer believes that teenaged girls who look like Crystal have to be killed.

With all of the plot elements, this story could have easily lost its way. But Blumer adroitly keeps all of it on track and moving forward, like a locomotive that picks up steam and then takes you on a roaring ride. (And I should have known that when a serial killer is also an amateur magician, he's going to keep disappearing and reappearing. Watch the author pull a rabbit out of a hat and scare you in the process!)

On a different level, the novel is about relationships -- and especially the relationship of a husband and wife growing apart. How Marc and Gillian deal with their pain and distance from each other is as much a part of the book as the suspense.

"Fatal Illusions" is a great story, with well drawn characters and enough tension and suspense to keep you awake for several nights.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Christian Suspense Novel That Tops The Charts, April 8, 2009

By	Danette Derickson (AZ) - See all my reviews

Riveting! I finished the book in two days because I could not put it down. Incredible writing style and especially appreciated the correct use of Scripture. Excellent balance in that the author is never preachy but he does not portray a "feel the love" kind of faith either. Loved it and look forward to his next book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps your interest until the last page!, April 6, 2009

By	Richard Dobrowolski "rickdob" (Saylorsburg, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Spellbinding story that supplies colorful characters and an interesting plot. You will find yourself caught up in the book and unable to put it down until you reach the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.