Absolute Proof is the latest offering from best-selling author Peter James and it’s a total whopper, containing over 550 pages. I raced through it though (the fact that my internet was down all week probably helped, admittedly!), intrigued by the story and eager to find out what would happen in the end.
The book kicks off with newspaper journalist Ross Hunter receiving a visit from a total stranger, informing him that he has been chosen to receive and reveal proof of the existence of God. Ross is unconvinced, but, figuring that he might get a big story out of it for his newspaper, he goes along with it to see where it leads. When his mysterious contact is killed, and his own life is put in danger when following the first of three clues, his interest is piqued.
In between the chapters following Ross’s adventures on three different continents, trying to recover the three mysterious objects, there are numerous chapters following various religious groups. It all gets quite complicated trying to follow who is doing what or even who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. The basic story is simple however : Ross is putting his life in serious danger trying to get his hands on the clues.
To make things even more complicated, Ross’s love life is very hectic. While his wife is currently expecting their first child, things are far from simple. She feels very uneasy – unsurprisingly when their house is vandalized and Ross is repeatedly attacked – but the way she goes about trying to sort things out seems very underhand and improper. On the other hand, Ross’s constant flirting with a radio DJ seems completely out of order when he is in a relationship too. The way things end up seemed slightly too simple and unrealistic, but this is a work of literature after all !
The book offers several "coincidences" such as random attacks, which help move the plot along and give a possible explanation for various things. At the end of the novel, I couldn’t help but ask myself some pretty big questions. The appearance of a reversed rainbow across the whole world is given as a final act of proof, but various scientists have different logical explanations behind it. This is basically the whole basis of the story – are things religious or is there some other explanation out there?
It’s an ambitious and fascinating concept, translated into an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. What makes it even more intriguing is when you discover that the book is inspired by an unforgettable, real-life phone call received by the author nearly thirty years ago, from a similarly mysterious but credible source.
It’s a fast-paced, exciting read that will make you think, without providing all the answers. It could make a great Christmas present for any keen readers of either sex (and it's actually half price on amazon right now, which is a great deal).
Star rating : 4.5/5
RRP : £20 (currently £10 on amazon)
- Hardcover: 576 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan; Main Market edition (4 Oct. 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0230772188
- ISBN-13: 978-0230772182
- Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 5.3 x 24.4 cm
Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book.
Good bargain
ReplyDelete