Avenger

by William Badke

Book Overview

Ben Sylvester is caught up in a dangerous mission that threatens him and his family. Filled with kidnappings, revolutionaries, and espionage, this book is a story of faith and international intrigue. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157673031X
• ISBN13: 9781576730317
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Vengance is mine says the Lord. Or is it?

If you have not read the first two books in the "Ben Sylvester Mystery Series" (I haven't), then you'll find that this third book of the series takes off a little too fast, and is rather confusing at first. Reference is made to characters and events of the first two books, and this left me as a newcomer to the series rather baffled at times. This is, however, probably not a weakness of the book - it just means that it was not intended to be read independently, but only in the context of the rest of the series.Even so, the cross currents of CIA, FBI, CSIS, Libertec, Juanita's government, Juanita's rebels (confused? - me too!), and numerous double crossers on various sides is difficult to keep track of at the best of times! The terse style keeps the action moving quickly, and I found that only by reading very slowly I could follow the intrigue. As such, this is not an easy book to read. Even though it primarily has entertainment value, you need to work hard to keep up with all the various characters, plots and sub-plots.That's not to say this is not a good book. It is, particularly when the above is taken into consideration. Lovers of adventure and mystery are sure to enjoy the constant action which rarely lets up. The main character, Ben Sylvester, finds himself rolling from one danger to the next, chapter to chapter, and in this way the author continues to sustain interest throughout. There is constant intrigue and suspense, as Ben meets with attempts on his life, kidnapping, government rebels, and more. At times Ben seems to be just as confused as the reader as to who the good and the bad guys are, and in this sense the reader shares in his frustration. What I especially enjoyed about this book is that it didn't just have a thin veneer of token Christian content. Unlike the shallowness that characterizes much contemporary Christian fiction, "Avenger" boasts sharp characterization, and thoughtful dialogue. Although the action surrounding Ben Sylvester is fast and furious, it is not so fast that we don't get the chance to understand his thoughts and feelings. On the contrary, these feelings are portrayed vividly, and I found myself partaking in his struggles. Ultimately, the real struggle in this novel is not a physical one, but a spiritual one: Can Ben be the "avenger" and execute justice on his enemy, or will he let God be the "Avenger" by leaving vengance to God? It is this underlying struggle with bitterness, anger, hate and revenge that makes this mystery a solidly Christian book. What the reader gains is more than a fast ride with thrills and spills, but a renewed understanding of a Biblical attitude toward revenge. By the time I had turned the last page, my initial frustration had vanished, and I was eager to get hold of the first two titles of the series.