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Adam
Rendered famous for his anti-religion stance, FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has a near-death experience when a mysterious serial killer attempts to murder him, an event that forces Daniel to re-create his death and challenge his belief system in order to identify his would-be killer.
379 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
604 people are currently reading
7534 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
192 books9,955 followersTed Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,025 reviews
January 16, 2022
**RE-READ** 1-15-22
This was just as good this time as it was the first time I read it. It was definitely like reading it new since the last time I read it was back in 2012. This is classic good vs evil and I loved every minute of it.
I was informed of this book by a friend here on Good reads. And also was told that it was by Ted Dekker. I knew then that the book was going to be a the ride of my life. And I came up with a quote just from reading the first couple of pages. "I love a book, that when I open the cover, all the intensity and excitement rushes out to me drawing me into the pages." And the describes this book to a TEE!
Dekker also makes use of small interludes in between chapters to further mold his characters, Jessica and Alex. Its a nice addition to the novel because you can see the characters past unfold along with their present and future. I feel like it helps to understand Alex a lot more.
The use of twists in his novels you would think would become predictable and take away from his stories. But it is not even close to the truth. The sheer terror you feel coming from the pages is enough to draw its readers into the story so deep that you could possibly fear ever being able to come back out.
I know on a few instances I literally had to put the book down and breathe before I could go further. Dekker can spin a tale that the readers will never ever forget. If you like an intense story that makes you fear to put it down, or fear reading too much of at the same time, then this is the book for you. This book is very deserving of 5 stars.
This was just as good this time as it was the first time I read it. It was definitely like reading it new since the last time I read it was back in 2012. This is classic good vs evil and I loved every minute of it.
I was informed of this book by a friend here on Good reads. And also was told that it was by Ted Dekker. I knew then that the book was going to be a the ride of my life. And I came up with a quote just from reading the first couple of pages. "I love a book, that when I open the cover, all the intensity and excitement rushes out to me drawing me into the pages." And the describes this book to a TEE!
Dekker also makes use of small interludes in between chapters to further mold his characters, Jessica and Alex. Its a nice addition to the novel because you can see the characters past unfold along with their present and future. I feel like it helps to understand Alex a lot more.
The use of twists in his novels you would think would become predictable and take away from his stories. But it is not even close to the truth. The sheer terror you feel coming from the pages is enough to draw its readers into the story so deep that you could possibly fear ever being able to come back out.
I know on a few instances I literally had to put the book down and breathe before I could go further. Dekker can spin a tale that the readers will never ever forget. If you like an intense story that makes you fear to put it down, or fear reading too much of at the same time, then this is the book for you. This book is very deserving of 5 stars.
September 24, 2012
The first of nine article installments placed throughout Ted Dekker's Adam shouldn't have compelled me to the degree that it did. Having read his epic Circle series, I'd familiarized myself with his unique writing style, therefore I should have had a general idea of what to expect. I couldn't have been more wrong. Not only did it compel me to keep reading, the horrific childhood events of Alex and Jessica Price fascinated me. What's more, I empathized with them, which is impressive on its own, considering all this (and much more) takes place in the first eight pages.
From the start of Chapter 1, the reader is introduced to the novel's protagonist, the self-involved, workaholic FBI agent by the name of Daniel Clark. Alongside Clark's well-rounded character, Dekker expertly- almost seamlessly- fills you in on the ever evasive serial murderer known simply as "Eve," who continually haunts and terrorizes the young women of Los Angeles.
At he same time, we're introduced to Special Agent Clark's unofficial new partner, Lori Ames, a highly intelligent pathologist from Phoenix, AZ. She's also fairly well-developed, and I liked her character almost instantly.
Shortly thereafter, Dekker showcases yet another key player in the form of Heather Clark (Daniel's former wife.) It's very interesting to see the world through her perspective, for not only does the reader acclimate themselves to her, but we also learn a bit about their failed marriage... She's been keeping secrets of her own. Deadly secrets.
Another aspect that I found fascinating was the term Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. Through the text, I learned that it's a natural hallucinogenic drug, "excreted in massive doses from the pineal gland" oftentimes during traumatic NDE's (near-death experiences.) Hence, the the cause of seeing "the white light."
DMT is also believed to result in memory loss.
I see you, Daniel... Thus is the start of several creepy moments. I mean, just imagine awaking up to those cryptic words after a night of restless sleep. I see you, Daniel...
It's very rare for a book to creep me out the way Adam did. One scene, in particular, literally made me shiver.
Near the end, Dekker takes the story in a completely different direction. It is so OUT-THERE, you almost don't see it coming. Almost. Though in hindsight, the clues are sprinkled virtually everywhere.
In this nearly shocking culmination, he manages to instill additional information which doesn't seem forced at all. It's highly entertaining, but does not read like a history lesson.
As much as I've raved about the merits of Adam, there is one instance (also placed in the books' resolution) where a central character cries out the words: "Mitch bitch."
Now ordinarily, this wouldn't bother me. But this is coming from a well known Christian writer. It shouldn't be there. It only happens once, but by then, the damage is already done. Speaking of which, why would he say it just once? Why not forgo the vulgarity and "tell" instead of "show" ? I realize that Dekker was probably going for a sense of realism, but the word hardly seems necessary.
And by bringing up the gentleman's name, an infidelity is implied, but goes nowhere.
For this reason alone, I'm giving it 4.5 stars.
"As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the detail is stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-- in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It's all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can't help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we're not careful."
-David M. Kiely and Christina McKenna, authors of The Dark Sacrament
Said blurb is SPOT-ON!
March 5, 2008
This story is compelling, gripping, fascinating and amazing. It's clear to me that the author spent countless hours on research. I was at the hospital the other day and recommended it to a doctor who saw me reading it. I told him it had a gross autopsy scene with plenty of details and a mysterious illness they were trying to understand. I think he wrote the title down. Anyway, the natural realm and the supernatural converge in this impressive tale about good and evil. Who better to tell this frightening story than Ted Dekker?
Dekker has an impressive imagination, is incredibly intelligent, and writes in terrifying detail. I think this is the scariest Christian fiction story I've ever read. But it's not mere horror for entertainment's sake. There is a pretty profound message in this story that I believe is well worth reading. I don't recommend reading it at night, though. It would give you creepy dreams and you'd be digging in your drawer for duct tape. Trust me on that one. Read the book and you'll see why. However, if the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11) you have nothing to fear by reading this story. Some of the theology is "iffy," but hey, this is fiction! This page turner comes highly recommended. Enjoy!
Dekker has an impressive imagination, is incredibly intelligent, and writes in terrifying detail. I think this is the scariest Christian fiction story I've ever read. But it's not mere horror for entertainment's sake. There is a pretty profound message in this story that I believe is well worth reading. I don't recommend reading it at night, though. It would give you creepy dreams and you'd be digging in your drawer for duct tape. Trust me on that one. Read the book and you'll see why. However, if the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11) you have nothing to fear by reading this story. Some of the theology is "iffy," but hey, this is fiction! This page turner comes highly recommended. Enjoy!
January 17, 2020
Serial killer chase with a twist of the supernatural? Yipee! I Couldn't wait to read the book.
It was SOOOO bad.
It is completely contrived, totally unbelievable- and not the supernatural parts! The main characters are FBI agents, doctors and lawyers, but they all wander around like intellectually disabled 10 year olds. If you wouldn't encourage your second grader to get in the back of a stranger's van to play with their puppy, you will have a real hard time with most of this book. The author HAS a supernatural out- why also make the pro's retarded?
I'm going to generally describe some of the more ludicrous plot twists in the first 2/3 of the book to follow, it wont spoil the ending, but it will probably take some of the drama out of the incidents earlier in the story- so if you dont want any up-front data and still intend to waste your time on this book, consider carefully before you proceed.
The beginning of the book leads the reader to believe the killer was confined his entire childhood, he's 18 before he's ever heard of a train and is completely socially inept, terrified of women. But he's also a freaking genuis- and probably a ninja and lotto winner- the way he, on foot, faces down three FBI agents in a moving car. He manages to stop the car, shoots them all, before any of them get their guns out, then recaptures his victim from the back seat of their car, throws her over his shoulder and walks off into the woods... literally, with two swat teams right behind them, and the local cops all around. The people chasing him and everyone around them make the STUPIDEST DECISIONS EVER! An unemployed, socially inept orphan who grew up in a cave with a Bruce Wayne style billionaires tech gadget closet??
The killer goes out of his way to kidnap the EX wife of the behavioral shrink trying to catch him, then lets her go. A serial killer who involves his pursuers- nothing new here- but he captures her outside of all of his previous MO on every level, then lets her go without injury, seeming for no purpose except to scare the FBI guy into leaving him alone... By kidnappng his ex wife? Then letting her go unharmed? So where's the threat?
The FBI guy is so obsessed the wife spent YEARS demanding he stops, he wont, and THATS WHY she divorced him. Whats the point of the ex-wife kidnap? To make FBI guy stop chasing killer.. but wait, she tried to get him to stop- to the point she DIVORCED him over it... So the evil genius's thought process goes something like "how am I gonna get this FBI shrink- who already published my behavioral profile- to stop chasing me (what about the other 10,000 FBI agents who have the completed profile?) OH! I know, I'll capture his ex-wife in a violence free event, then I'll let her go. She'll run back and nag him about it!... more than she did BEFORE she divorced him over this exact same thing. BRILLIANT! Gotta work!" Huh?
He calls to taunt his hunters from a coal mine, where there is no cell signal, with a different number each time, so he must have "multiple untraceable satelite phones" (as per author). Sat phones only work in large open swaths of land and water, and they are extremely expensive, I dont know if an untraceable satellite phone exists, but if it does, a guy who works part time as a dishwasher holed up in a coal mine has a box full? Wonder why I cant get a direct TV sat signal in a drizzle if this guy makes calls from a coal mine?
He sends an FBI AGENT on this wild goose chase, and the FBI agent follows blindly, doesnt call any of his FBI friends, wont answer his cell phone and walks smack into the trap as fast as he can. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not answer your phone, do not tell your FBI friends what you are up to- sneak out of the hospital and run. Earlier, he got shot by the killer with two agents in the car with him and two swat teams in the rear, and now his best plan is to run off by himself? oh, and he's following instructions from the killer he got through a near death experience that he doesnt believe is anything but his own mind playing tricks on him? How am I supposed to believe any of this mess when the author makes such a good argument against it?
Want more? The lady lawyer ex wife divorces the FBI behavioral phsycologist becasue he is obsessed with the case. But we learn she has a super secret computer command center in her basement where SHE tracks the case too. No one knows she's doing this, but the SAIC in charge still includes his agent's defense lawyer Ex wife as one of only 3 people in the FBI task force strategy meeting to track and capture a nationwide serial killer who just kidnaped an agent on top of the 16 people he's murdered- where she plays a pivital role? Why is she in this meeting?
A FBI Dr. experienced something relevant to the case he cant remember becasue he was shot close to the time of the interaction, causing his death, and is later revived. He convinces another FBI MD (pathologist) to stop his heart to kill him again (oh, yeah, and make sure you can bring him back) so he can have another near death experience in order to remember the realavnat experience he had before. Huh? And the charaters go to lenghts to explain that a near death experience is your own subconcious mind acting under the effects of chemicals released by the brain perimortem- so how could it possibly be relevant? And He gets this pathologist to kill him TWICE- on PURPOSE, AFTER his very dramatic initial save. That's like someone trying to recover from a spinal cord injury by convincing his vet to shoot him in the back. Not to mention its murder. I think the FBI frowns on such things- and btw- these two met a week ago, yeah, sure, I'll risk my medical license and jail to perform a procedure to kill you and hope I can bring you back later so your subconscious brain can make up a story. C'mon! The autor goes to lengths to describe near death experiences and how a person's religeous beliefs come into play- but lets try it anyway. They dont try hypnosis to access the memory becasue its too suject to suggestion. but a near death experience is better?
Its just nonsensical. Maybe there is a great twist at the end, but after the other mess, who cares.
It was SOOOO bad.
It is completely contrived, totally unbelievable- and not the supernatural parts! The main characters are FBI agents, doctors and lawyers, but they all wander around like intellectually disabled 10 year olds. If you wouldn't encourage your second grader to get in the back of a stranger's van to play with their puppy, you will have a real hard time with most of this book. The author HAS a supernatural out- why also make the pro's retarded?
I'm going to generally describe some of the more ludicrous plot twists in the first 2/3 of the book to follow, it wont spoil the ending, but it will probably take some of the drama out of the incidents earlier in the story- so if you dont want any up-front data and still intend to waste your time on this book, consider carefully before you proceed.
The beginning of the book leads the reader to believe the killer was confined his entire childhood, he's 18 before he's ever heard of a train and is completely socially inept, terrified of women. But he's also a freaking genuis- and probably a ninja and lotto winner- the way he, on foot, faces down three FBI agents in a moving car. He manages to stop the car, shoots them all, before any of them get their guns out, then recaptures his victim from the back seat of their car, throws her over his shoulder and walks off into the woods... literally, with two swat teams right behind them, and the local cops all around. The people chasing him and everyone around them make the STUPIDEST DECISIONS EVER! An unemployed, socially inept orphan who grew up in a cave with a Bruce Wayne style billionaires tech gadget closet??
The killer goes out of his way to kidnap the EX wife of the behavioral shrink trying to catch him, then lets her go. A serial killer who involves his pursuers- nothing new here- but he captures her outside of all of his previous MO on every level, then lets her go without injury, seeming for no purpose except to scare the FBI guy into leaving him alone... By kidnappng his ex wife? Then letting her go unharmed? So where's the threat?
The FBI guy is so obsessed the wife spent YEARS demanding he stops, he wont, and THATS WHY she divorced him. Whats the point of the ex-wife kidnap? To make FBI guy stop chasing killer.. but wait, she tried to get him to stop- to the point she DIVORCED him over it... So the evil genius's thought process goes something like "how am I gonna get this FBI shrink- who already published my behavioral profile- to stop chasing me (what about the other 10,000 FBI agents who have the completed profile?) OH! I know, I'll capture his ex-wife in a violence free event, then I'll let her go. She'll run back and nag him about it!... more than she did BEFORE she divorced him over this exact same thing. BRILLIANT! Gotta work!" Huh?
He calls to taunt his hunters from a coal mine, where there is no cell signal, with a different number each time, so he must have "multiple untraceable satelite phones" (as per author). Sat phones only work in large open swaths of land and water, and they are extremely expensive, I dont know if an untraceable satellite phone exists, but if it does, a guy who works part time as a dishwasher holed up in a coal mine has a box full? Wonder why I cant get a direct TV sat signal in a drizzle if this guy makes calls from a coal mine?
He sends an FBI AGENT on this wild goose chase, and the FBI agent follows blindly, doesnt call any of his FBI friends, wont answer his cell phone and walks smack into the trap as fast as he can. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not answer your phone, do not tell your FBI friends what you are up to- sneak out of the hospital and run. Earlier, he got shot by the killer with two agents in the car with him and two swat teams in the rear, and now his best plan is to run off by himself? oh, and he's following instructions from the killer he got through a near death experience that he doesnt believe is anything but his own mind playing tricks on him? How am I supposed to believe any of this mess when the author makes such a good argument against it?
Want more? The lady lawyer ex wife divorces the FBI behavioral phsycologist becasue he is obsessed with the case. But we learn she has a super secret computer command center in her basement where SHE tracks the case too. No one knows she's doing this, but the SAIC in charge still includes his agent's defense lawyer Ex wife as one of only 3 people in the FBI task force strategy meeting to track and capture a nationwide serial killer who just kidnaped an agent on top of the 16 people he's murdered- where she plays a pivital role? Why is she in this meeting?
A FBI Dr. experienced something relevant to the case he cant remember becasue he was shot close to the time of the interaction, causing his death, and is later revived. He convinces another FBI MD (pathologist) to stop his heart to kill him again (oh, yeah, and make sure you can bring him back) so he can have another near death experience in order to remember the realavnat experience he had before. Huh? And the charaters go to lenghts to explain that a near death experience is your own subconcious mind acting under the effects of chemicals released by the brain perimortem- so how could it possibly be relevant? And He gets this pathologist to kill him TWICE- on PURPOSE, AFTER his very dramatic initial save. That's like someone trying to recover from a spinal cord injury by convincing his vet to shoot him in the back. Not to mention its murder. I think the FBI frowns on such things- and btw- these two met a week ago, yeah, sure, I'll risk my medical license and jail to perform a procedure to kill you and hope I can bring you back later so your subconscious brain can make up a story. C'mon! The autor goes to lengths to describe near death experiences and how a person's religeous beliefs come into play- but lets try it anyway. They dont try hypnosis to access the memory becasue its too suject to suggestion. but a near death experience is better?
Its just nonsensical. Maybe there is a great twist at the end, but after the other mess, who cares.
May 5, 2024
3.75
Ted Dekker seems to like writing about serial killers-although this one also focuses in on demon-posession.
Daniel is an FBI agent and his ex-wife, Heather, is an attorney. Daniel and Heather, though now divorced, still deeply care for each other, but with Daniel's obsessive tendancies when pursuing serial killers continually supercedes his marriage, Heather feels she has no choice but to leave.
years later, Daniel has been hunting a serial killer who is called 'Eve' and is consumed with the case, but little does he know, 'Eve' has called Heather and asked her if she would kill to get her husband back before he became an obsessive FBI agent.
During a certain break in the case, Daniel is murdered point blank by 'Eve' himself. Miraculously, after Daniel is dead for 20 minutes, he is resuscitated back to life and now doubly obsessed with trying to access the lost memory of 'Eve's face....how far will Daniel go to catch a killer?
*Side note-I think this book should be called 'Eve'
Ted Dekker seems to like writing about serial killers-although this one also focuses in on demon-posession.
Daniel is an FBI agent and his ex-wife, Heather, is an attorney. Daniel and Heather, though now divorced, still deeply care for each other, but with Daniel's obsessive tendancies when pursuing serial killers continually supercedes his marriage, Heather feels she has no choice but to leave.
years later, Daniel has been hunting a serial killer who is called 'Eve' and is consumed with the case, but little does he know, 'Eve' has called Heather and asked her if she would kill to get her husband back before he became an obsessive FBI agent.
During a certain break in the case, Daniel is murdered point blank by 'Eve' himself. Miraculously, after Daniel is dead for 20 minutes, he is resuscitated back to life and now doubly obsessed with trying to access the lost memory of 'Eve's face....how far will Daniel go to catch a killer?
*Side note-I think this book should be called 'Eve'
June 5, 2024
Good and Evil
Ted Dekker did a masterful job of showcasing the kind of evil that the FBI’s ViCAP the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program deals with every day, and mixing it with the supernatural. Stories about serial killers are not my cup of tea, but stepping out of my comfort zone to read Adam was a good choice.
Daniel Clark is a PhD who as an obsessive criminologist had written multiple books in his field, and has ended up in a divorce from his obsession with his latest case, the Eve serial killer. Daniel wants to be turned loose by the FBI to work as he sees fit on the case and is given free reign to do so only if he is accompanied by Lori Ames, a Senior Agent in Charge and a Pathologist. The book is off and running on the discovery of an area a likely scene of an Eve murder may be occurring and they hurry off hoping to save the victim.
I don’t want to give away any of the story, but I will tell you that Dekker did a great job of telling you what made this serial killer. The writing was good, but I confess to getting dizzy from some of the back and forth from one time period to another. That’s the only thing that kept me from giving it five stars. Four and a half stars for great writing and creativity, but if you don’t like satanic horror know that comes in at the end.
Ted Dekker did a masterful job of showcasing the kind of evil that the FBI’s ViCAP the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program deals with every day, and mixing it with the supernatural. Stories about serial killers are not my cup of tea, but stepping out of my comfort zone to read Adam was a good choice.
Daniel Clark is a PhD who as an obsessive criminologist had written multiple books in his field, and has ended up in a divorce from his obsession with his latest case, the Eve serial killer. Daniel wants to be turned loose by the FBI to work as he sees fit on the case and is given free reign to do so only if he is accompanied by Lori Ames, a Senior Agent in Charge and a Pathologist. The book is off and running on the discovery of an area a likely scene of an Eve murder may be occurring and they hurry off hoping to save the victim.
I don’t want to give away any of the story, but I will tell you that Dekker did a great job of telling you what made this serial killer. The writing was good, but I confess to getting dizzy from some of the back and forth from one time period to another. That’s the only thing that kept me from giving it five stars. Four and a half stars for great writing and creativity, but if you don’t like satanic horror know that comes in at the end.
August 8, 2021
Well wow. Just wow. An original serial killer story that kept getting better as things went along until BAM twist and then BAM even bigger twist. The last 30 pages were absolutely captivating.
Another cool aspect of this novel was the articles about Alex Price spread throughout. It was a really interesting way to build up character development and really draw you in to the story.
I'm honestly not sure why I'm not giving this 5 stars, there was just a little something missing and I think I'll need a bit of time to figure out what it is. Don't let the lack of star scare you away, this was a most excellent read... highly recommend!!
Another cool aspect of this novel was the articles about Alex Price spread throughout. It was a really interesting way to build up character development and really draw you in to the story.
I'm honestly not sure why I'm not giving this 5 stars, there was just a little something missing and I think I'll need a bit of time to figure out what it is. Don't let the lack of star scare you away, this was a most excellent read... highly recommend!!
July 21, 2013
4 Stars
What in the heck just happened?? I was reading about some crazed serial killer, and news accounts of his poor, pathetic childhood; then a huge twist happened and we start reciting the Lords Prayer! By the end of this book, we all needed it. What a journey, and the inclusion of a series of news reports, really made the story interesting and feel 'real.' Yes, there were creepy moments; it's a serial killer for pete's sake; but creepy in "The Exorcist" kind of way. This fascination of Adam and Eve; or maybe not fascination, but all encompassing horror of Good versus Evil.. Light against the Dark. God and the Devil. Do you believe? Sadly, many today do not. I don't think this book preaches that, just like The Exorcist, did not preach belief either....but.... they both show what happens when you are faithless. You leave the door wide open.... to what? I have no idea... and yet I do.
This book is tons better than Thr3e, and I really enjoyed that weird, little story, as well. This book was a look into the mind of a serial killer, per se. . A serial killer who calls himself Eve, who was the beginning of all sin.
This was a thrill ride from beginning to end and as I said before, the news accounts really keep the pace going and give the reader insight into Eve/Alex (that is not a spoiler!). Not sure if this is a reread type of book, but it is definitely worth the initial read and recommend it to Dekker fans and those who have never read anything by him. Enjoy...
What in the heck just happened?? I was reading about some crazed serial killer, and news accounts of his poor, pathetic childhood; then a huge twist happened and we start reciting the Lords Prayer! By the end of this book, we all needed it. What a journey, and the inclusion of a series of news reports, really made the story interesting and feel 'real.' Yes, there were creepy moments; it's a serial killer for pete's sake; but creepy in "The Exorcist" kind of way. This fascination of Adam and Eve; or maybe not fascination, but all encompassing horror of Good versus Evil.. Light against the Dark. God and the Devil. Do you believe? Sadly, many today do not. I don't think this book preaches that, just like The Exorcist, did not preach belief either....but.... they both show what happens when you are faithless. You leave the door wide open.... to what? I have no idea... and yet I do.
This book is tons better than Thr3e, and I really enjoyed that weird, little story, as well. This book was a look into the mind of a serial killer, per se. . A serial killer who calls himself Eve, who was the beginning of all sin.
This was a thrill ride from beginning to end and as I said before, the news accounts really keep the pace going and give the reader insight into Eve/Alex (that is not a spoiler!). Not sure if this is a reread type of book, but it is definitely worth the initial read and recommend it to Dekker fans and those who have never read anything by him. Enjoy...
January 17, 2009
Adam is Ted Dekker's best and most compelling work to date, and also the most disturbing. If it were to be compared to a movie, 'The Exorcist' would be the closest. I quote Dekker when he says,
"This is one of the only books I've ever written, where, honestly, I was so disturbed by what I discovered that I had trouble going to sleep at night."
One of the editors who worked on 'Adam' commented,
"... by the way, I'm sleeping with the lights on as I'm reading this book. And when that doesn't work, I'm praying harder."
For this very reason many Christians heavily critise Dekker's work as being too dark, and unedifying. Indeed, Dekker's writing is dark, but for a very good reason I believe... To really understand how great the light is, one must understand how great the evil is. And ultimately, 'Adam' is a very powerful story about great hope.
I absolutely loved 'Adam', and have lost not a few hours sleep over the last couple of days as a result of not being able to put it down.
Dekker is an extremily gifted author, who writes intelligent, adrenaline-laced stories, which Christian message is loud and clear, and is not forgotten quickly. It comes as no surprise that he is my favourite author.
If you enjoy fast-paced physiological/supernatural thrillers (which border on horror), then buy "Adam' today.
"This is one of the only books I've ever written, where, honestly, I was so disturbed by what I discovered that I had trouble going to sleep at night."
One of the editors who worked on 'Adam' commented,
"... by the way, I'm sleeping with the lights on as I'm reading this book. And when that doesn't work, I'm praying harder."
For this very reason many Christians heavily critise Dekker's work as being too dark, and unedifying. Indeed, Dekker's writing is dark, but for a very good reason I believe... To really understand how great the light is, one must understand how great the evil is. And ultimately, 'Adam' is a very powerful story about great hope.
I absolutely loved 'Adam', and have lost not a few hours sleep over the last couple of days as a result of not being able to put it down.
Dekker is an extremily gifted author, who writes intelligent, adrenaline-laced stories, which Christian message is loud and clear, and is not forgotten quickly. It comes as no surprise that he is my favourite author.
If you enjoy fast-paced physiological/supernatural thrillers (which border on horror), then buy "Adam' today.
April 3, 2017
Ted Dekker does these stories that are all so similar in style and genre-- BUT THEY ARE ALL SO UNIQUE and carry these wonderful messages.
March 1, 2009
I overlooked so much about this book. The fact that it was a Christian novel, or at least I realized it later when I read other critiques didn't really bother me or turn me off. Writing is writing and we learn from everything we see and or read. Nor did I ever feel preached too or that Dekker was beating me over the head with some 'higher' message. In that regard, I thought he handled the book fine.
The book itself is about an obsessive FBI agent, a non-believing FBI agent, and as cliché as it sounds has only one goal in life, even after a failed marriage, to track down the elusive serial killer known only as Eve. The book picks up with the divorced Daniel Clark and his frustration as Eve's kills are up to 15 dead girls. He is partnered with an attractive and of course brilliant forensics doctor, Lorrie Ames.
Despite all that I kept reading. Daniel's ex-wife Heather, beautiful (of course), smart (of course), and now equally obsessed with the serial killer since it’s the only connection she has with her husband is another key character for Dekker.
Still, I kept on reading.
The initial idea, that a focused FBI super-hero agent chases down the super bad serial killer is very blasé by now, but what I will credit Dekker with is adding a supernatural twist to it and leveraging Near Death Experience (NDE). I did actually feel that at the start he had something fairly unique.
Although every character seemed to know everything there was to know about NDE phenomenon with just a Google search. So despite the fact that just about every character in this book was physically appealing, spouted off clichés left and right, and had no real depth (well except Daniel, well sort-of, his unflinching resolve not to believe is the classic undoing of a character is so blatant that after a while I just wanted to slap him nor did I care if he ever figured it out) I still read on, because it was just good fiction, nice suspense, and fine pacing. The incorporation of using an "In Cold Blood" style of "non-fiction" articles blended in between each chapter worked very well. It was like reading two stories in one and never once crowded the plot line.
But when Dekker basically pulled a deux ex machina with his character Lorrie Ames, I about lost my head. I let so much go and then to use this failed attempt at plot twist just didn't hold up at all and honestly is unforgivable. The logic error was just too huge to ignore or really get any satisfaction out of the anti-climatic end.
The book itself is about an obsessive FBI agent, a non-believing FBI agent, and as cliché as it sounds has only one goal in life, even after a failed marriage, to track down the elusive serial killer known only as Eve. The book picks up with the divorced Daniel Clark and his frustration as Eve's kills are up to 15 dead girls. He is partnered with an attractive and of course brilliant forensics doctor, Lorrie Ames.
Despite all that I kept reading. Daniel's ex-wife Heather, beautiful (of course), smart (of course), and now equally obsessed with the serial killer since it’s the only connection she has with her husband is another key character for Dekker.
Still, I kept on reading.
The initial idea, that a focused FBI super-hero agent chases down the super bad serial killer is very blasé by now, but what I will credit Dekker with is adding a supernatural twist to it and leveraging Near Death Experience (NDE). I did actually feel that at the start he had something fairly unique.
Although every character seemed to know everything there was to know about NDE phenomenon with just a Google search. So despite the fact that just about every character in this book was physically appealing, spouted off clichés left and right, and had no real depth (well except Daniel, well sort-of, his unflinching resolve not to believe is the classic undoing of a character is so blatant that after a while I just wanted to slap him nor did I care if he ever figured it out) I still read on, because it was just good fiction, nice suspense, and fine pacing. The incorporation of using an "In Cold Blood" style of "non-fiction" articles blended in between each chapter worked very well. It was like reading two stories in one and never once crowded the plot line.
But when Dekker basically pulled a deux ex machina with his character Lorrie Ames, I about lost my head. I let so much go and then to use this failed attempt at plot twist just didn't hold up at all and honestly is unforgivable. The logic error was just too huge to ignore or really get any satisfaction out of the anti-climatic end.
February 14, 2011
Reading this thriller during my husband's family reunion, I was constantly caught hiding underneath the bed trying to read another paragraph...was it due to my fascination with the book? or my distaste for large gatherings? You be the judge.
From the first page, the reader is thrown headlong into a mystery:
"New York Times best-selling author Ted Dekker unleashes his most riveting novel yet . . . an elusive serial killer whose victims die of unknown causes and the psychologist obsessed with catching him.
FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has been made famous by his arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” will end in his own death at Eve’s hand. Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by those twenty missing minutes of life.
It soon becomes painfully clear that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes by dying . . . again. What isn’t nearly as clear is just how many times he will have to die to discover the truth, not only about Eve, but about himself. Daniel will have to face haunting realities about demon possession in the modern world-and reevaluate his prejudice against religion-to stop Eve.
“As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the detail is stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It’s all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can’t help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we’re not careful.”
From the first page, the reader is thrown headlong into a mystery:
"New York Times best-selling author Ted Dekker unleashes his most riveting novel yet . . . an elusive serial killer whose victims die of unknown causes and the psychologist obsessed with catching him.
FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has been made famous by his arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” will end in his own death at Eve’s hand. Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by those twenty missing minutes of life.
It soon becomes painfully clear that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes by dying . . . again. What isn’t nearly as clear is just how many times he will have to die to discover the truth, not only about Eve, but about himself. Daniel will have to face haunting realities about demon possession in the modern world-and reevaluate his prejudice against religion-to stop Eve.
“As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the detail is stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It’s all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can’t help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we’re not careful.”
February 24, 2009
Looks like a lot of people like this book. The person that forced me to read this REALLY LOVED this book, but I pretty much hated it throughout. Characters were terrible and one-dimensional; plot was stupid and unbelievable (besides the tantalizing newspaper articles that were every other chapter); the end set up really made me hate it--mainly b/c the idea was very interesting but was like 1/100 of the actual book. The author obviously cribbed a great deal of the plot from Hostage to the Devil, going so far as to make one of the lead characters read the book before the priest will talk to her any more (and in closing mentions how all should read this book).
I've read Hostage to the Devil before, and it was leaps and bounds the MOST frightening book I've ever read or will ever read. So I guess I take issue with some hack job done with the themes of that book (which was non-fiction--shudder). During the sleepless nightmare wracked period of days that I read Hostage to the Devil, I had similar thoughts that the author did I guess--which is mainly "Huh. I wonder how many serial killers or people in jail currently are really possessed by demons."
I just wasn't inspired to go out and write a crappy book about it.
I've read Hostage to the Devil before, and it was leaps and bounds the MOST frightening book I've ever read or will ever read. So I guess I take issue with some hack job done with the themes of that book (which was non-fiction--shudder). During the sleepless nightmare wracked period of days that I read Hostage to the Devil, I had similar thoughts that the author did I guess--which is mainly "Huh. I wonder how many serial killers or people in jail currently are really possessed by demons."
I just wasn't inspired to go out and write a crappy book about it.
August 14, 2012
Korkuyorum korkuyorum korkuyorum :S
Kitaba polisiye diye başladım sonuna kadar da öyle gitti ama son 80 sayfa da ne oluyor dedim :S Kitap Exorcist filmine döndü :S Tamam öyle inanmıyorum bize de ters ama bizde de onun adı cin çarpması benziyo yani :S Çok ürkünçtü beee :S
Ben sevdim kitabı konuyu pek anlatmak istemiyorum arka kapak yazısında var zaten ama dediğim gibi polisiye değil.. Yüreğiniz dayanamazsa gerilime okumayın yani ben uyarayım :D Az önce bitirdim zaten hala etkisindeyim :P Ted Dekker artık favori yazarlarımdan sıra da oyun var ama ne ara okurum bilemeyeceğim şimdi :P
January 7, 2017
This is the first book I've read by Ted and I really enjoyed it. I slowly worked my way through it when I wasn't writing to kind of give my brain a break. Pure joy reading.
The story was told masterfully; really great writing style, painting haunting and sometimes gruesome images (especially near the end). I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of this type of fiction, but the story drew me in, and where the author took the plot at the end really fit. Even though I knew it was coming, the culmination of an FBI manhunt of a serial killer really surprised me.
There is a sub read throughout the book that paints an underlying story that gets resolved about three quarters of the way through, right at the point where the big twist occurs. At that point, I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a matter of days.
I highly recommend the novel. It takes a while to really get going, but is well worth the investment.
The story was told masterfully; really great writing style, painting haunting and sometimes gruesome images (especially near the end). I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of this type of fiction, but the story drew me in, and where the author took the plot at the end really fit. Even though I knew it was coming, the culmination of an FBI manhunt of a serial killer really surprised me.
There is a sub read throughout the book that paints an underlying story that gets resolved about three quarters of the way through, right at the point where the big twist occurs. At that point, I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a matter of days.
I highly recommend the novel. It takes a while to really get going, but is well worth the investment.
April 6, 2013
This book was recommended to me by a great friend and I'd like to say thank you (you know who you are! ;-))
This book was fantastic. The story grips you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the end. My heart was pounding the entire time; a non-stop thrill ride.
This was my first book by Ted Dekker and I'm happy to say that I'm now hooked. I can't wait to read his other work.
This book was fantastic. The story grips you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the end. My heart was pounding the entire time; a non-stop thrill ride.
This was my first book by Ted Dekker and I'm happy to say that I'm now hooked. I can't wait to read his other work.
November 15, 2017
Esperando encontrar un libro de Novela negra, terminé por encontrar algo que no esperaba, un libro de terror tan bien escrito que me parece que es la primera vez que leo algo que me da miedo, buenísimo. Excelente si es que te gusta el género del terror.
January 9, 2020
Eh. RTC.
November 14, 2019
This book was recommended to me by a friend in a book club. This is my first time reading this author but not the first time hearing about this author.
This book was a little crazy ..... it went from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS to FLATLINERS and ended with the EXORCIST!!! It was all over the place for me. I know the book was fiction but damn this was on the verge of fantasy it was a little stretch for even me. It kept me interested enough to not put it down and that’s saying a lot.
This book was a little crazy ..... it went from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS to FLATLINERS and ended with the EXORCIST!!! It was all over the place for me. I know the book was fiction but damn this was on the verge of fantasy it was a little stretch for even me. It kept me interested enough to not put it down and that’s saying a lot.
June 14, 2018
Adam by Ted Dekker was a good book, but lacked the usual thrill I enjoy like some of his other books have.
Now, there were thrilling moments, but it wasn’t nonstop throughout the book. I’ve heard this is one of his creepiest novels, but honestly, for me, it wasn’t.
The newspaper article sections were really neat and I enjoyed that added flair within the story. It gave a good inside look at how Adam became who he was.
I love Ted Dekker and I love his nonstop thrill rides and his keep-me-guessing style, but this one was a little short of that mark. I did enjoy the story though. Beautiful tale of the dangers of evil and the grace and mercy of Christ’s love to save us from all of that.
Now, there were thrilling moments, but it wasn’t nonstop throughout the book. I’ve heard this is one of his creepiest novels, but honestly, for me, it wasn’t.
The newspaper article sections were really neat and I enjoyed that added flair within the story. It gave a good inside look at how Adam became who he was.
I love Ted Dekker and I love his nonstop thrill rides and his keep-me-guessing style, but this one was a little short of that mark. I did enjoy the story though. Beautiful tale of the dangers of evil and the grace and mercy of Christ’s love to save us from all of that.
December 10, 2013
Absolutely fuck this book. At first it was just so much Koontzian twaddle, which is okay. I listened to it, and insufferable writing has the edge taken off a little that way. But it started dragging in the middle like a fat dog's belly, and the what a tweest at the end was the deal-breaker. And then Dekker spends the coda straight up proselytizing about the dangers of being an atheist. It puts me in mind of the Filter lyric: "...it makes me want to stick my dick in your face."
March 13, 2013
This was a great, great book. Not only is Dekker's writing far and above most others, the plot twists and turns were layered so well I didn't see them coming, including the big reveal at the end. Very well done and highly recommended!
May 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book and found the authors connection between religion and supernatural rather interesting. I liked the twist in the end.
August 24, 2023
Titulo: Adan (2008)
Autor: Ted Dekker
Motivo de lectura: #PopSugarReadingChallenge2023
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
El thriller es probablemente el genero que mas disfruto leer, esta es la primera ve que leo a Ted Dekker y me gusto bastante.
La historia esta entremezclada entre la trama en si y una cronica de eventos escrita por un personaje llamado "Anne Rudolph". Sinceramente el autor entrelaza estas dos cosas de manera excelente, en ningun momento se sienten saltos en la historia, al contrario, los aportes de Anne Rudolph complementan la historia de manera fantastica. Recuerdo hace un tiempo haber leido "Una cabeza llena de fantasmas" y en ese libro usan la misma tecnica, pero de manera espantosa. En "Adan" la historia fluye de manera natural.
Los personajes en general estan bien escritos, no ahondan demasiado, pero esto se debe a que el autor se apoya mas en la trama y la dinamica grupal que en los personajes.
Si encontre en la trama un recurso que el autor uso demasiado, y esto es el metodo que usa el protagonista (policia) para conectarse con el asesino. No voy a entrar en detalles para evitar spoilers, el metodo en un principio me parecio novedoso, pero luego Ted Dekker lo utiliza tanto que senti cierto cansancio (mas que nada porque me parece tan irreal que no haya consecuencias/secuelas fisicas para el personaje policia).
Disfrute muchisimo el desenlace de este libro, un thriller que mezcla fuerzas del mas alla, el poder del mal, clerigos, psiquis, todo esto intercalado con lo policial/forense/perfil criminologico.
Le hubiera dado 4 estrellas a este libro, pero el autor intento hacer un plot twist con la identidad de uno de los personajes, pero realmente no fue una sorpresa para mi, lo supe practicamente desde que el personaje es presentado (llevo decadas leyendo thrillers, es dificil sorprenderme, jaja).
Autor: Ted Dekker
Motivo de lectura: #PopSugarReadingChallenge2023
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
El thriller es probablemente el genero que mas disfruto leer, esta es la primera ve que leo a Ted Dekker y me gusto bastante.
La historia esta entremezclada entre la trama en si y una cronica de eventos escrita por un personaje llamado "Anne Rudolph". Sinceramente el autor entrelaza estas dos cosas de manera excelente, en ningun momento se sienten saltos en la historia, al contrario, los aportes de Anne Rudolph complementan la historia de manera fantastica. Recuerdo hace un tiempo haber leido "Una cabeza llena de fantasmas" y en ese libro usan la misma tecnica, pero de manera espantosa. En "Adan" la historia fluye de manera natural.
Los personajes en general estan bien escritos, no ahondan demasiado, pero esto se debe a que el autor se apoya mas en la trama y la dinamica grupal que en los personajes.
Si encontre en la trama un recurso que el autor uso demasiado, y esto es el metodo que usa el protagonista (policia) para conectarse con el asesino. No voy a entrar en detalles para evitar spoilers, el metodo en un principio me parecio novedoso, pero luego Ted Dekker lo utiliza tanto que senti cierto cansancio (mas que nada porque me parece tan irreal que no haya consecuencias/secuelas fisicas para el personaje policia).
Disfrute muchisimo el desenlace de este libro, un thriller que mezcla fuerzas del mas alla, el poder del mal, clerigos, psiquis, todo esto intercalado con lo policial/forense/perfil criminologico.
Le hubiera dado 4 estrellas a este libro, pero el autor intento hacer un plot twist con la identidad de uno de los personajes, pero realmente no fue una sorpresa para mi, lo supe practicamente desde que el personaje es presentado (llevo decadas leyendo thrillers, es dificil sorprenderme, jaja).
August 22, 2012
This book grabbed me and didn't let me go till the end. This is the first book I have read by this author, and wow! I will definitely be reading more of his stuff. Apparently he is known for his battle between good and evil in his books and it is definitely evident here. What suprised me most was that it was in the Christian section of the book store, and up until the end, I did not feel that shoved that in our face. He beautifully crafted his Christian views without making us feel like heathons! The book I also bought had an added chapter to tie in those Christian values, IF we wanted them. I did and am glad I read it.
I loved his writing style and how he brought us in and made us invest in the characters, even the killer. At the end, we even felt sorry for him. I would definitely recommend this book and the only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because the ending kind of freaked me out!
I loved his writing style and how he brought us in and made us invest in the characters, even the killer. At the end, we even felt sorry for him. I would definitely recommend this book and the only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because the ending kind of freaked me out!
March 8, 2014
Parts of this book were actually somewhat interesting. However, they were all eclipsed by the several ridiculously stupid plot "twists" throughout the entire novel.
From bringing a man back to life after being dead for twenty minutes and having that same man being able to not only wake up the next day without any brain damage, but to also walk out of the hospital. Or perhaps killing that SAME man- twice more with a big dose of epinephrine for the sake of maaaaybe recalling a face that he saw once. Or maybe the super crazy twist of the serial killer that has been tracked throughout the whole novel being boiled down to a sad, unfortunate man who is actually being possessed by some demon that is overpowered by his sister's love?
Still not convinced of this novel's total wothlessness?
Oh yeah... the main crime pathologist ends up being the serial killers estranged sister. Yep.
Everything about this book was an eye-roller. Don't bother folks!
From bringing a man back to life after being dead for twenty minutes and having that same man being able to not only wake up the next day without any brain damage, but to also walk out of the hospital. Or perhaps killing that SAME man- twice more with a big dose of epinephrine for the sake of maaaaybe recalling a face that he saw once. Or maybe the super crazy twist of the serial killer that has been tracked throughout the whole novel being boiled down to a sad, unfortunate man who is actually being possessed by some demon that is overpowered by his sister's love?
Still not convinced of this novel's total wothlessness?
Oh yeah... the main crime pathologist ends up being the serial killers estranged sister. Yep.
Everything about this book was an eye-roller. Don't bother folks!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2012
This moved along well and was an enjoyable read but I didn't find it particularly gripping or particularly profound. There was s slight surprise at the end but not momentous enough to thrill or chill. In the end I felt like I was reading an evangelical tract warning people about the dangers of demon possession. Whether these are real or not, I felt like the descriptions were technical rather than personal and I can't imagine being motivated to adopt a different view as a result. Part of my issue may be from the way I've heard some of Dekkers other books talked up - perhaps this one did not do justice to the others ( which the library did not have on the shelf).
January 6, 2021
My son has been trying to get me to read this book for years, and he actually ordered it himself so that I would read it. I finally did and it was very enjoyable. If you like the show criminal minds then you’ll definitely like this book. I honestly really liked the whole book up until the very end which I thought it was a little bit campy. However I do recommend this author and this book.
February 3, 2022
A great read! It got interesting around the third chapter and kept me interested after that. Highly recommend it.
March 28, 2023
This is definitely a “read during daylight hours” kind of book, but also a real page-turner! I definitely recommend finding a copy that says it’s an “exclusive Christian Retail Edition” in order to read the extra chapter included at the end of the book and especially for the author conversation with John Eldredge that follows the novel.
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