I’ve always loved Frank Peretti’s books, and this one did NOT disappoint. It started a little slow to me but then became extremely intriguing. The last half of the book I only put down once—and I didn’t want to then. There were so many occasions that I felt anxious, excited, or nervous for the characters. What’s going to happen next? Will she survive? What are they about to find out? Great read- on the surface about a controversial topic but ultimately about Truth.

wow. Actually, quite good. Started out slow, but when you got in, you got in.
the reading process kind of reminded me of like... a hike ig.
Getting up to the "top" (the middle) was a hard climb, but when I did it was a great view, it was worth it.
Then going down (toward the end) was a nice downhill stroll.
At the end I was proud of myself for finishing it. And... yeh. I cried.
it was wonderful at the end.
"Humor your religious old man" got me. It got me hard. I legitimately started crying in public. Tried to make sure no one noticed...
But this book... it's quite a thing. Quite a thing.

Anyway yeah, but overall, this is probably the best pro-Christian book (other than the bible) I've ever read. I really loved the characters. So real. So relatable. I looooved Dennae Brewer, and Shannon. She was nice. The characters were amazing.

Sooo..... the writing. John Barret Jr. Somehow manages to be relatable, nice, and friendly even though he's a 40-year-old news anchor in 1991.Frank E. Peretti had me smiling a lot this book, and that's hard to do, especially when it's (once again) staring a middle-aged white man.

Frank (can I call you Frank?) You've out done yourself. Can't wait to read more from you. Poetic beautiful masterpiece. Love it!

Entertaining and educating - what does the media do with Truth? (4 stars)

TV newscaster John Barrett finds himself exposing a botched abortion cover-up, and together with his colleague Leslie Albright and his estranged son Carl, he comes to discover how dirty politics affect what is considered news. This is not Peretti's best novel, with the writing at times getting bogged down at times with some repetition, and lacking the urgency of some of his other page-turners. Theologically, there's also a charismatic influence, in that John Barrett has prophetic visions, although these don't play a huge role in the plot. But there are some valuable insights about how the media distorts the truth in how they cover stories, particularly as they relate to politics and abortion. This is a worthwhile read, which entertains as well as educates.

At its core, this is a great book. Sure, it reads a little dated now, but the principles are the same. I found myself becoming really defensive when reading all of the negative talk regarding TV and the pushing of an agenda--it was hitting a little too close to home with my own social media using self.

A missionary friend from the US to SA, named Stephen Woodall, gave me a copy of Prophet by Frank. Although a work of Christian fiction, it ministered to me and changed my life and the way I viewed the world and life in general. It taught me how there is so much more to life than meets the eye. It also influenced my own writings as an author. A highly recommended must read for any serious reader.

In the midst of a hotly contested election, news anchor John Barrett has more than his share of stresses; he increasingly feels like his role in the media is less journalism and more entertainment; he’s estranged from his ex-wife and his college-age son; his father is a crazy fundamentalist Christian that’s harassing one of the political candidates. And then . . . well, on top of all that, what to make of these strange voices, these strange hallucinations, these . . . visions? It’s a great premise; Peretti said he wanted to kind of transplant the idea of an Old Testament style prophet into modern times and it’s a great hook. And when the book plays around with ideas of superficiality in culture and news as entertainment, the book feels, well, prophetic. If this stuff was true in 1992, twenty-five years later, it’s almost painful to read. The book throws itself too heavily into a contrived political cover-up revolving around a dangerous abortion clinic and it’s in the abortion narrative that the book feels the most false. It’s a bit of a pet project for Peretti as we say from Tilly and it feels pretty out of place here. The “modern day Old Testament prophet” angle would have worked better had the story been about financial corruption or big business & poverty; these were things the actual OT prophets railed against. The book is pretty preachy and it paints its villains very one-dimensionally, men-hating feminists, promiscuous pro-choice activists, etc. and it doesn’t really acknowledge the negative sides of the pro-life side. Peretti does create two really great characters who are on the side of the truth of the cover-up being revealed that are pro-choice, however, so that’s something I suppose. They’re actually two of the most interesting characters in the book, a newsroom boss who finds himself caught between the corrupt big brass and the loose-cannon reporters, and a crusading female reporter who won’t be swayed in her convictions about being pro-choice. Also, on a small side note, kudos for having the two main reporter characters be a man & a woman and not shoehorning in a cheesy romance; they care about each other and respect each other and it feels like a real relationship. Does the good premise and good characterization of the main cast outweigh the cartoonish villains and the preachy tone of the forced plot? It’s a toss-up. The book would be helped immensely if it was tightened up; at almost five-hundred, very closely set pages, it’s simply too long.

After reading “This Present Darkness” and “Piercing The Darkness” in the series of three, I was expecting something similar, but Frank Peretti fooled me. This was a pleasant way to find out how well this author rolls out a story. I loved reading this novel about a news anchor man whose life was changed because of his father’s death and reunion with his own son in the “Prophet”.

Most amazing author!

I have read all of Frank Peretti's books as I can find. I can always be assured of a great read. It would be very hard to pick a favorite, as which ever one I am reading,, at the time, seems to be my favorite. I love the passion he shines through the Lord. The most important thing is the Faith and the Promise of knowing our Savior.

This was a good story that is definitely showing its age; but that's the problem nowadays with writing about technology---things become outdated fast. Written in 1992 and full of lots of "technical terms", this one was a very slow starter for me. However, the mood the author is trying to create by describing the fast-paced atmosphere of a newsroom/studio is an important theme that I realized once I got into the story a little bit.

This isn't my favorite Peretti work, for sure, but it was still fun to read and be reminded of all the "vintage stuff". The description of the email mailbox icon, what it means, how it doesn't mean one has actual, physical, paper mail, etc. cracked me right up, but I didn't really embrace email myself until about 2003 so I guess this would have been uncommon knowledge a decade earlier. In this story, "email" wasn't even a term yet and the mail system was only the local computers within the news agency.

The entire storyline of this book would fall apart if it were written as is with today's laws in place. Most of everyone's arguments and evidence were based on access to medical records, doctors who shared lots and lots of personal info on their patients, and a public that would be outraged at the idea that abortion could actually kill the mother too. In short, there were no HIPAA laws in 1992.

Other elements that seem crazy but were really a thing in those days are things like recording people's phone calls without permission, schools giving out dorm room phone numbers, buying phone cards to make a long distance call (that was SOO techy!!!), use of the word "retarded" as a joke. I do remember these things but being so far away from that time, it made the story seem contrived and weird. It did have a good ending, even if it was a little too 1990s-Christian-Fictiony.

One thing I came away with: I definitely want to be "a prophet who can't help but speak."

I have no idea where this book came from, but I needed something to read at work so...I read it. It actually wasn't awful, outside of the weird prophesies and religious stuff. If it would've just been a normal book about the cover-ups and the way the news media works, it would've been better.

Anyway, it's not a book I would spend money on or recommend to a friend, but it was ok to pass some time.

Discovered this book in an old box from a teacher that gave them away, never expected to find such a treasure.
I thought that this thriller will be just a lame and boring one with a so-called "plot" that should shock everyone and so on, but the way this book gets you and how it changes your way of thinking about many things is impeccable!
We follow the story of Jhon Barrett, a horrible father and well known celebrity who's father... let's say he gets in big trouble because he needs to tell the truth no matter what, having almost nobody on his side. Because I don't want to give spoilers I'm just gonna say that in this book Jhon tries his best to reveal the truth about himself and other people, such as the governor Hiram Slander and I must mention how sincere and straightforward everything is narrated (especially some of John's speeches that just make you want to close the book and stare at a wall whit your mind completely blank), I am still thinking about everything that this book said and everything is just so true....
The language, character development and the plot are just unbelievable...
5 stars out of 5!!

Murder, corruption, cover-ups, and a search for the truth. Frank Peretti never disappoints! This book was given to me by my daughter who knew I would enjoy it after reading Peretti's The Oath. This book engaged me so much, I finished it in 4 days even though it won't let me put that below.