Peretti & DekkerHardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: WestBow Press (April 10, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 1595541551
Reviewed by Vennessa Ng
Kill or be killed.
It was hardly the advice Jack and Stephanie Singleton were looking for to save their marriage. A road trip to a counselling session in Montgomery, Alabama goes drastically wrong and finds them lost in the backwoods. As night sets in, the “Wayside Inn” seems a godsend to the weary couple.
The Singletons’ enter the genteel Inn, hoping to find help for their desperate situation. Instead they meet Randy Messarue and Lesley Taylor, who are also road trip causalities.
With no host in sight, the couples follow the instruction note attached to the front door and sign themselves in. As the foursome contemplate the dining table lavishly set for four, the lights flicker and die, leaving the guests in the dark. When the lights mysteriously come back on, the Inn’s hosts also appear; Betty, Stewart, and Pete.
It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary Inn.
Welcome to White’s house.
Barsidious White has three simple rules for his house:
1) God came to my house and I killed him.
2) I will kill anyone who comes to my house as I killed God.
3) Give me one dead body and I might let rule two slide.
Jack, Stephanie, Randy, and Lesley are soon caught up in a cruel game in a house that seems to know their every move.
But this is not your average haunted house story. When you combine the minds of two of the masters in the supernatural thriller genre, you expect something beyond typical. Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker deliver an edge-of-your-seat plot encapsulating a theme that will leave you reflecting on its ramifications for a long time after.
Peretti and Dekker refuse to whitewash the true nature of evil or their villains. In HOUSE, Barsidious White is the embodiment of evil. As far as White is concerned, the guilty must die, and everyone is guilty.
In White’s house, evil is pitched against evil.
HOUSE sets out to epitomise the human heart. Nothing we do can clean our hearts of the evil that resides within. So if the wages of sin is death, and we have all sinned, then why should we be allowed to live? This is the question Peretti and Dekker tackle in this enthralling novel that touches the very heart of its readers.
As a reader more familiar with Dekker’s past work than Peretti’s, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed with this collaboration. The writing is flawless. The seamless continuity of this novel is testament to the two creative minds behind it and their commitment to a quality story.
Dekker fans will not be disappointed. HOUSE is tied into his current Project Showdown series by expanding on one of the characters from SHOWDOWN.
Readers concerned about the violence depicted in SHOWDOWN shouldn’t have a problem with HOUSE. The violence is still there, it’s no less evil, but I found it more toned down.
Peretti and Dekker invite you to enter HOUSE, where losing your life could be the only way to win.
Two authors, one exceptional story
To read an interview with Frank Peretti visit Novel Journey
(April 2006 archives).
Flawless writing? How 'bout BORING? Repetitive? A waste of money.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way to one describe House as either flawless or boring. There are some serious editing problems in the book (that's out of the author's hands).
ReplyDeleteI have read everything Dekker has written and didn't think this measured up to The Circle Triology or Showdown. It was still a wild ride into the darkness of man's heart.
Kudos to Peretti and Dekker for the effort
There is no way to one describe House as either flawless or boring. There are some serious editing problems in the book (that's out of the author's hands).
ReplyDeleteI have read everything Dekker has written and didn't think this measured up to The Circle Triology or Showdown. It was still a wild ride into the darkness of man's heart.
Kudos to Peretti and Dekker for the effort
i thought this book was very good; it reminded me of Saw without the gore in it. i love all of their books, this one included
ReplyDeleteI thought this book was really, really clever! I think Peretti and Dekker teamed up to write a book which is so profound it left me astounded! It was an idea which could potentially have been disastrous, but I really think they did a fantastic job... the characters were well done, the plot was not in any way predictable, and I was very surprised when the meaning of the story dawned on me - I gave three cheers for putting such a great theme into an interesting book which kept me on the edge of my seat! I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI loved house! It always kept you guessing:D I can't wait to see the movie!!
ReplyDeleteI have read every Peretti book out there, and this was my first taste of Dekker. I felt this was an amazing colaberation between the two of them. Not only was I completely enthralled in HOUSE, but it has taken me two days from the time I finished the book to slow my thinking down, and more importantly, visit into the darkness of my own heart to see where I may be going wrong. Once again, Peretti (along with Dekker) has spoken to my innermost heart.
ReplyDeleteI think House was awesome! It's one of the best books I've ever read. I love all of Frank Peretti's and Ted Dekker's other books, and I can't wait until they both come out with more Christian thrillers.
ReplyDeleteI loved it, but it some how felt more like it should be a movie. I'd love to see the movie when it's out.
ReplyDeleteI just read this at the insistence of my daughter--couldn't put it down and now can not stop thinking about it two days later. Not quite an allegory, not quite The Screwtape Letters. I did NOT think it was well written though and was annoyed with parts of the book as I was reading (ok, I admit I fast-tracked over certain sections), but the impact of certain spiritual truths was astounding. I will never look at the verse of the light coming into the world and the darkness not being able to comprehend it in the same way again as it was brought to such a personal level. This made Revelation 3:19-21 graphic. Left me thinking about my own locked doors, dark spaces, etc. that I try to bring my own light source in to. I am considering rereading it as I know I missed some things.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree on the editing--pretty sad, even typo errors.
It was my first Dekker. I have read several other Peretti-- although I find him a tedious almost boring writer there is such a level of truth shown by him that can not be proven but you just know is being brought to light and kept me reading.