Title: The Coming
Author: A. Ben Bacon
Publisher: Explora Books
ISBN: 978-1-998394-84-5
Pages: 142
Genre: Christian / Thriller
Reviewer: Jason Lulos

Read Book Review

The Coming is a paradoxically charming yet thrilling tale that will be particularly engaging to Christian readers but will also appeal to those who like a familiar story with a nice modern twist.

Meet Joseph Everlasting, a humble carpenter, yet a preternaturally gifted individual, who lives alone, albeit with his faithful dogs on a small ranch in Colorado. One night, driving home in a blizzard, his good nature implores him to pick up an older, Navajo woman walking to Cortez. Given the extreme weather, he invites her (Red) to stay at his ranch to wait out the storm and thus begins one of many everlasting friendships that seem fated from the beginning.

Red and Joseph form an immediate platonic bond. Fate strikes again when Joseph happens upon an automobile accident. Meet Mareilene Johnson, sole survivor of the crash. Her pregnant sister, Dareilene, has died in the accident. Despite the urge to stay with her recently departed sister, Mareilene must flee, telling Joseph to “Drive like the Devil is on your heels because he is.” The supernaturally intuitive Joseph has faith in her immediately, believing this to be a spiritual mission of utmost importance. Mareilene, henceforth known as Mary, tells Joseph that her own unborn twins are to be the saviors of humanity: Christian and Hope. What transpires from here is a twofold mission: Mary and Joseph with the help of Red and others must protect the soon-to-be saviors so that they may someday protect and save the world.

Thematically, this is an interesting retelling or foretelling of a pre-Revelation scenario. This familiar Biblical prophecy becomes an engaging thriller, heightened at times by drama, terror, but always, in the end, hope. The Coming is replete with Christian allusions and nomenclature, somewhat like a Hawthorne short story. But it reads like a thriller which adds some real suspense to the Biblical themes. Author A. Ben Bacon gives us a classic story of good versus evil but not without some humor and the occasional shot of whiskey to alleviate the tension our heroes face in this tense tale. Taking place on a remote ranch in Colorado gives it a sense of olden times thus beckoning to the original birth of the savior in a manger. But it is set in the present day, thus giving it a modern twist, another interesting paradox, making it seem like a realistic version of the end of times and/or the coming of a savior. A cliffhanger continues the suspense, inspiring readers to look forward to the sequel to this novel.

The author has had a fascinating life. He served in the Navy, went to Vietnam, studied meteorology, and served in the Air Force as a typhoon chaser. Like the hero of the story, he is a consummate outdoorsman. Prior to writing this book, Bacon miraculously recovered from a traumatic brain injury, baffling his doctors. The resilience he’s shown in his own life must surely have informed this story, with hope showing up even in the darkest times.  Bacon delivers a novel that is as chilling as it is intellectually engaging.  The Coming  will appeal to readers interested in thought-provoking thrillers with spiritual and philosophical undertones.