Really enjoyed this book. It is interesting to see that much of what was going on even 10 years ago when this book was written is still hot trigger topics today. I think it also sheds light on the relevancy of the bible and how we really need to listen to the warnings and pay attention to the lies we believe and the truths we cover up. It is easy to get swept away into a world that is lost without realizing it. Glad to have read this at this time.

Well. In my humble opinion, no Peretti book will top Illusion, his 2012 novel about magicians. That's one of my favorite books of all-time, and it's not really fair to compare his other stuff to it, haha.

That being said, it's obvious that Prophet was one of his early books. Peretti has definitely improved (vastly) over the years, and it shows in his early stuff. The spiritual moral is way too on-the-nose. It's good, and relevant; abortion continues to be a hot-button issue and Peretti lays out a good fictional plot. But his later books weave biblical themes in much better.

The writing itself was pretty monotone, with some glimpses of the writer Peretti will become. It wasn't a bad book--maybe a 2-star rating is too harsh. But overall I wasn't as impressed as I have been with Peretti's newer stuff.

Peretti has written a story that's more than fiction. News reporter/anchor John Barrett lives in a make-believe world until his father is murdered, but not before Dad passes on his spiritual mantle to John. He then sees the faces and hears the voices behind the physical features of persons and resolves to help the suffering.

Pretty good! Dated by now (1992) in reference to tapes and other technology, but overall pretty good! Can't say I was on board for the Pentecostal vs. non-christian vibe (there's a middle ground y'all) or the dig against the Catholics (hey the hospital did hire the man, didn't he?), but all in all, another good spring read from Mr. Peretti.

I wish they'd gone more into character development of Carl, John's son. There was so much there that could have been expanded, especially his relationship with his parents since they were divorced? separated? (it wasn't even mentioned).

4.25/5

SO GOOD. It gave a "hot take" on the topic of abortion. It was a little heavy and very emotional and intense. There were some gruesome details here and there, but I thought it was great!

A phenomenal inside look at out media and politics warp the Truth to suite their own agendas. Though fictional, you can tell Frank Peretti did his research, and he makes it feel and sound as though you were actually there. This was a ride I'd be willing to take again. Awesome book!

I liked the premise of this book and was drawn to it because of the title and content but it is so much more. It has a Christian viewpoint but also has insight into the tv news business and how scripted it is and how you see what they want you to see. I don’t agree with the way the prophecy is presented but looked at as a work of fiction it works. Great story line and although it started a bit slowly it was a fantastic finish.

Murder, the news media, an overcoat, abortion, prophesy, and family reunions are just some of the intriguing parts of this book by Frank Peretti. The story captivated me immediately, and kept me going to the end.

I love when I find Christian authors that manage not to be cheesy. So often the authors feel so strongly about their message that the story and characters suffer in service to it. Peretti's stories definitely do not have that problem, or at least not the two I've read recently.

The story follows John Barrett, top news anchor in his city. In terms of career, he's on top of his world. He was once a Christian, but walked away from his faith long ago. His father, is what John considers a religious zealot: he's one of those guys who shows up at political rallies and preaches against abortion. John is embarrassed when this very thing is captured on film, and it turns into a riot. He confronts his father, who tearfully tries to tell him that he must say what God gives him to say, even if nobody listens. Then, suddenly, he dies--ostensibly in an accident at the warehouse he owns. At his funeral, John reconnects with his own estranged teenage son, who is searching for meaning. They have very little to say to each other, partly because John is polished and news-perfect all the time, while Carl has little patience with anyone who isn't real.

What John doesn't tell Carl then, and tries not to tell anyone, is that he's started having visions himself. He writes them off as flashbacks from old drug trips, but his father's visions seemed eerily similar. John knows things about people that he shouldn't know. On a lark, he tells his son to follow up on one of them with a waitress, and learns about Annie Brewer, a teenage girl who had recently died of a botched abortion--only, no one will follow up and investigate the clinic for malpractice or hold them responsible. John learns that Annie's father was a friend of his father, and also appeared at the riot/rally just before Barrett Sr's death. He and Annie's mother have been fighting for justice and for someone to investigate. One thing leads to another, and with the help of another reporter from News 6, John learns that the story goes straight to the governor's doorstep: his daughter, too, died of a septic abortion, from the very same clinic, and the governor knew it. But he covered it up for political reasons and publicized a false story. John, Carl, and everybody involved get stonewalled everywhere they turn as they try to uncover the story, and John faces censorship and "spin" at work for pursuing a story that is politically incorrect.

As this unfolds, despite John's periodic flashes of insight into deeper reality--spiritual visions, minus the angels and demons--John is forced to question what really matters to him. He has a lot to lose, and he's not even sure he believes in God. He certainly had very little respect for his religious zealot father. Is it worth it to him to pursue the truth just because it's the right thing to do--regardless of what it costs him, or whether it even makes a difference?

I found John's character arc to be mostly very believable (one scene was an exception and felt pretty rushed to me). His visions were fascinating and insightful. Spiritual implications aside, the story itself was also a good thriller with a satisfying conclusion. I'll read more by Peretti for sure!

I enjoyed this book so much that I had to force myself to slow down and take it in little by little so that I could fully visualize the story being told and the lesson being taught. This book was thought-provoking and emotional from the first page to the last. Frank Peretti did a phenomenal job.

Trigger warnings:
-Abortion
-Death by medical malpractice stemming from abortion
-Murder
-One mention of an attempted rape

With all that, this book is not what you'd expect. It isn't aggressive in preaching pro-life. It isn't judgemental to those who have had an abortion. It isn't "preachy." But it does an excellent job of painting the picture of the consequences that everyone involved faces while also showing the corruption in government offices and our media. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone.

I'm glad that I read this one after finishing This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness because I found myself thinking about the spiritual warfare each character was facing as they made each choice in their lives and where the Angels and Demons could fit into this story as well. I would recommend other reading in this order as well!

Thought provoking and powerful

Peretti has the ability to rock your world and entertain you at the same time. A gripping, modern day parable told in classic Peretti style - I couldn’t stop until I turned the last page, challenged and uplifted by the experience.

My first Peretti read and it did not disappoint. I liked it for the journalist twist. Of course the theological part was well forged too. It made me contemplate the choices we make as a species and how our morals, or lack of them, may impact the rest of our societies. I shall be reading more of this guy.