It took me a week to get through about forty pages. I can't point to precisely why this one didn't do a damn thing for me, I only know that it didn't. There was a bunch of somewhat interesting characters, and some interesting set ups, but I just didn't care about any of them.

40-odd pages in, and gave up. DNF, so no rating.

**Originally posted on www.bunnycates.com **


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dosXsgO5mdk
I discuss this at 10:59 in the video above

My Thoughts:
I read this book in about a day. And I have to tell ya, according to my reading updates on goodreads… I may have liked this book. Just a little.

Being October, I was really in the mood for something to freak me out, and THE TELLING did just that. The story has a strong religious base with that age old battle the we all love – Good vs Evil. Will someone be able to stop it before the 9th Gate bursts open and all Hell breaks loose? Literally.

The book has rich characters, I totally loved Zeph. He is the main protagonist in our story and perfect in that flawed, reluctant hero, sort of way. You know that one guy, who everyone knows will save us but he doubts himself so much that he thinks everyone is CRAZY for putting their faith in him. Yeah, that guy. I loved him. He is like that little puppy thats been kicked so many times that it knows better than to trust a person but still for some reason – with those big puppy eyes – he trusts just one more time. The question is, will he get kicked in the face again or will he save the day?! haha..

I don’t want to go into a lot of the plot for you, because I don’t want to spoil ANY of the book! What I will tell you is, in my mind, this story reminded me of several of my favorite Hollywood films: The Ninth Gate, End Of Days, Constantine, Invasion of the Body Snatchers… All of my favorite things from these movies, were woven into this book. The action of it, the idea of it, all of it . It was awesome.

In Conclusion:
Loved this one. It was my favorite read from October. I say pick it up if you’re looking for something that is paranormal scary!

Mom Notes:
Contains violence and strong religious components. Ages 13

In this spiritually infused “X-Files” styled suspense, author Mike Duran touches on the simple theme of finding one’s way when all seems lost while delivering a moderately paced and, for the most part, satisfying “body snatchers” tale of conspiracy, intrigue, and faith. The Telling is a mystery of sorts, a cozy thriller with a touch of creepiness reminiscent of the days of classic horror. It’s far from cheese, but there are a few cut-out characters that don’t quite outgrow their stereotype – including a pair of inept detectives, a nosy grandmother on the prowl to solve the retirement home body-double mystery, and an odd Native American shaman who is a central figure in the narrative yet who’s purpose and origin remains obscure (which is probably Duran’s intent; still I wanted to know more about Little Weaver).

The actual story centers on Zeph Walker (although Grandma Annie gets POV billing as well) and his journey back to faith. As a child, he was touted as the Prophet of the Plains and received words from God (Tellings, he called them), but through a series of tragic circumstances eventually lost his way – and gained a hideous facial scar. The flashback scenes are compelling and the novel could have simply been about his coming of age, loss of faith, and struggle with his inner demons. But as it stands, the setting of an old Death Valley mining town, and the plot featuring a spiritual rift in the columns that separate heaven-from-earth-from-hell serves the story well – and provides a platform for those inner demons to materialize (literally) into some hapless standbys.

Overall, The Telling is well told. Duran is a good writer, a competent story teller, and taps his creative muse when it comes to plot, crisis, and resolution. A parallel story line introduced early in the book did add to the tension and kept me reading those first hundred pages of set up. But when the action truly kicked it, I felt this second plotline dangled a bit. The two stories did come together, however, and the ending was nicely drawn (if a bit pat), but the climax’s final showdown between Zeph and those aforementioned demons was a bit of a letdown. Still, this sophomore project has all the hallmarks that make for an entertaining (non-proselytizing) spiritual thriller. Recommended for speculative fiction fans of all stripes and rated a solid B .
( )

This is my first novel by Mike Duran and I wasn't disappointed. Well written and fast-paced, I took this book with me everywhere so I could read it on stolen time. (Like breaks between innings of our son's baseball games and when my husband was driving.) The characters were well-rounded and believable, and the only two things I wish there would have been more written about was one death (minor character) and a little more romance. Perhaps there could be a Kindle single to complement? ;) If you enjoy Ted Dekker's books, you'll probably like this one. I will be purchasing more of Mr. Duran's novels as even our teenagers liked this book. ( )

Take a good long look at the cover of "The Telling" because that cover is perfect for what the pages between it holds. This novel is not for the faint of heart. It's dark, edgy, mysterious as well as a bit disturbing and guaranteed to make your heart pound. It's everything a good captivating page-turner should be, and then some!

Listed as Christian fiction, "The Telling" is far from an "in-your-face" Christian type of book. It is subtle and can be enjoyed by anyone who just loves a good and at times scary story. Mike Duran is a fantastic storyteller that captivates the reader from the beginning. As the story unfolds, you won't want to put this book down because you won't be able to wait find out what happens next. With short chapters, it's easy to do this, as you keep telling yourself that you'll only read one more chapter...

Anyone who enjoys such authors as Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti will certainly enjoy Mike Duran's "The Telling". Make sure to add it to your MUST read list!!

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review. ( )