An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion
Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands.
The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they know that they are about to become part of Haydon's next act.
Time is running out and already the killer has spotted his next victim. Who will escape alive?
“Fatal Illusions is an engaging, fast-paced read with a captivating storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Highly recommended!”-Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman
“An awesome ride!”-Rosey Dow, Christy Award winning author of Reaping the Whirlwind
“Adam Blumer tells a fast-paced story that weaves together a serial killer, a physically wounded pastor and his spiritually wounded wife. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing.”-Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers
Adam Blumer graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in a print journalism. Since childhood he has been writing stories and has since been published in a variety of periodicals. He lives in Michigan with his wife and their two daughters.
NanceeMarchinowski
Posted March 17, 2013
Extreme Thriller!
Law enforcement authorities in the Cincinnati area are investigating the deaths of four young females murdered by strangulation with a magician's trick rope. A young man with delusions of grandeur fantasizes, practicing and honing his skills in magic, his aspiration to become the next great illusionist. In Chicago, a crazed woman is obsessed with her former pastoral counselor. False accusations and an ensuing scandal require the counselor's family to be placed on sabbatical in the North Woods of Michigan's upper peninsula until the scandal subsides. Caretaker of the grounds at a lighthouse and mansion, the counselor's family experience more than just a sabbatical.
Adam Blumer has unmistakably researched his topics and geographic locations down to the most careful details. His presentation is descriptive and dramatic, yet without gory scenes or obscenities, proof that great novels can be penned without sordid, graphic description. Numerous heightened emotions are encountered throughout this fast-paced novel, and overcome through prayer and faith, forgiveness and grace, harmoniously intertwined, creating a calming spiritual quality in the midst of adversity.
Fatal Illusions is an impressive, masterfully written suspense story containing multiple plots interwoven into an impressive, heart pounding, and unpredictable experience! This is suspense at its best, thrilling and volatile, undeniably the optimum in suspense in religious fiction. Shocking and unforeseen events come to light throughout this novel, creating a roller coaster ride to the very end.
"Fatal Illusions" is as good as it gets! Drama unfolds with an ever-increasing pace. I highly recommend this thriller of a suspense novel.
Disclaimer: For the purposes of FTC compliance, I hereby state that I have no vested financial interest in this book, and I have received no monetary compensation from the author or publisher. I received a PDF copy of this book from the author.
onedesertrose
Posted December 12, 2011
Haydon Owens, a wanna-be-Houdini, had made four young teenage girls, each with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wire-rimmed glasses, disappear. Wanting to change his life around and avoid police capture, he spirits himself off to a small cabin in Newberry, Michigan, where no one knows anything about him. Little did he know that he¿d find another blonde, blue-eyed girl with wire-rim glasses that would enrage him.
Pastor Marc Thayer has been shot by a woman, Stacey James, who is obsessed with unrealistic romantic interludes with him, who screams that he tried to rape her. To put the media to rest and salvage the church¿s ministry over an alleged sex scandal, he, along with his wife, Gillian, and daughter, Crystal, is put on sabbatical up in Newberry, Michigan. Little does the Thayer family know who is out there ¿ watching them.
Adam Blumer starts his book, Fatal Illusions, with the murder of a young teenage girl, who feels like someone is always watching her, but she can¿t see anyone is the wings.
He fast forwards us four years into the midst of media frenzy over an alleged rape/possible affair that involves Pastor Marc Thayer and Stacey James. The dialogue between Pastor Marc and his church staff, as well as his wife¿s questioning conversations are real and relevant for the circumstances. You can feel the anguish of Gillian¿s mistrust of her husband¿s possible infidelity. The reality of a mandated sabbatical leaves all three family members in consternation, yet they are forced to move on.
From the moment that the Thayer family strikes out on their way to Newberry, the author ups the ante with fast-paced twists and turns amongst a serial killer, a rejected woman, and an unsuspecting family. Of course, most of the intense activity is set in the evening, which inflates your level of fear, as nighttime always makes the suspense more eerie and frightful, something the author plays on throughout the story line.
Tucked in between the suspense and danger, Adam throws in some romance to lower the intensity of the scenes, while keeping your mind on the killings at the edges of your mind. It¿s a fine-line approach that intertwines superbly.
The character that I loved the most is Crystal. Her innocence and love of music endears her to my heart. She doesn¿t like the upheavals in her life, but she doesn¿t make a scene about it.
The constant prayers of newly-involved retired FBI agent Chuck Riley, as well as the Thayers and their friends, is interspersed throughout the episodes naturally. They are constantly giving thanks and glory to the Lord in every circumstance. Yes, they definitely have doubts and anger, but they encourage one another to trust that the Lord is in control of everything that happens.
This book was provided by the author, Adam Blumer, through Susan Sleeman of The Suspense Zone, in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
I really liked the book. A good suspence thriller. It kept my interest. I read it in two days. I just couldn't put it down.
It had a good gospel message and a clear plan of salvation. I especially liked that.
When I read suspense, I like to be surprised. Adam Blumer's first novel is chock-full of surprising twists. I second-guessed myself many times as he unfolded the complicated world of Gillian Thayer, her husband Marc, and their daughter Crystal.
I've been anticipating this book since I watched the trailer--you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJHDmK-2Osc . After watching the preview, I thought I knew how the book would play out, but turns out it's all an illusion.
The cast of characters is large. Another pleasant surprise--they're all fully developed, even the minor players. Some of my favorites were Stacey James and Clara Henderson. The killer is all too believable as someone who doesn't stand out at first glance.
With so many story lines, there are layers to Fatal Illusions. The stalker storyline will have you watching your back. Solid Christian values shine, too, as characters face crushing challenges--suspected infidelity, stillborn twins, and moving to another high school, to name a few. Yet those values don't overshadow the creepy suspense that Blumer has crafted. He maintains a delicate balance of every element a reader craves in a mainstream novel, and then some.
If you are facing pain or loss in your life (aren't we all?), don't miss this one. Looking for a breakneck, suspenseful book? I highly recommend Fatal Illusions, and I challenge you to predict the twists before Blumer ropes you in and it's too late.
Marc and Gillian were a couple in crisis - though at first they did not seem to realize this. Marc was an assistant pastor and one of his duties was Christian counseling. Stacey, on of his parishioners, had been coming to counseling as she said she was trying to reconcile with her husband. Marc felt that she was developing a crush on him, so had a female staffer take over her counseling. Stacey continued to call him and send him e-mails, which Marc tried to ignore.
Gillian had given birth to stillborn twins six months ago. She was still grieving, visiting their graves and writing them letters. Neither confided in the other the obstacles they were up against.
On the day that Stacey's feelings got out of hand, Gillian finds a love letter that she had written to Marc, hinting at an affair. Before Gillian can confront him about it, Stacey shows up at their house and shoots Marc in the chest, accusing him of attempted rape as she runs from his home. Fortunately, he survives, but he and Gill are further apart than ever.
Together, accompanied by their 16-year-old daughter Crystal, they take a sabbatical to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in hopes that the media circle will die down in their absence. Little do they know that they are moving to the same remote area as the Magician Murderer, a serial killer who has killed 4 girls in Cincinnati. Girls that all resemble their daughter Crystal.
This book was hard for me to put down. You are instantly immersed in the murders and through them begin to know Detective Riley. A veteran cop and a Christian who is on the brink of retirement. But he can't seem to let go of this case.
Between the loss of the babies, Marc's shooting and Stacey, Marc and Gillian have lost faith in each other and where is their faith in God? You cheer them on that they will somehow be able to see how the other is hurting and open up to the love they once had for each other and the love that God still has for them.
There are a lot of twists in this book, but the way it came together in the end was very believable! As everyone begins to close in on the killer, I found myself urging them on - trying to tell them how close they were. I also loved the way it brought everything around to believing and trusting in God. I highly recommend this book!
Mystery and suspense, murder, attempted murder and a serial killer. This book is packed with an excellent storyline that kept me on edge as I flipped the pages. Though I figured out who-dun-it early on (to a certain extent I think I was supposed to) the writing style was so well done that I held my breath to the end. The past wraps around to the present as we realize that nothing should be overlooked. There is a lot going on in this book - a pastor and his wife that aren't as close as they used to be, pastor is accused of rape and his wife is in mourning over her still born babies... wedges are driven between them and they are asked to take a sabbatical from the church til everything blows over. In the meantime in another state, a detective is getting ready to retire, but he hasn't been able to retire the case that has been under his skin for years - a serial killer who murders thin blonds with wire rimmed glasses. When things converge at a lighthouse in Michigan all heck breaks lose... pastor is accused of murder, his daughter is being hunted by the killer, mom is trying to hold it all together. Well written and suspenseful - I enjoyed every moment of this book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ChristysBookBlog
Posted April 17, 2009
Fatal Illusions by Adam Blumer is a creepy-crawly thrill ride you don't want to read alone in the house! Gillian Thayer, husband Mark, and daughter Crystal have been through more than enough drama for any family. Gillian is still mourning the stillbirth of twins just six months ago when a female parishioner of Mark's fixates on him. When he rejects her, she vandalizes their home, shoots him, leaving him for dead, and then shouts an accusation of rape to a passer-by. The resulting turmoil forces Mark to take a sabbatical in northern Michigan on the coast of Lake Superior. Unfortunately for the family, a serial killer from Cincinnati has come to the same area on the lam. Blumer is familiar with Lake Superior, so he captures its beauty so perfectly, the tourism rates should skyrocket. Each character is completely wrapped up in their own concerns; Gillian her grief and calligraphy, Mark his frustration and preaching, and Crystal, her anger and singing. Blumer uses the tragedy to shatter the shells around each of them and reunite them as a family. Haydon Owens, the murderer, is a top notch scary villain. The reader never knows when he's going to pop up or escape. The author does a great job of juggling the multiple story lines and keeping the pages turning. One small complaint: at the end of the story, I had a difficult time understand some of Gillian's decisions; they seemed to be counterintuitive to the character and made just to propel the story. I hope that Blumer continues to visit the town of Whistler's Point, he's created a great deal of intriguing history along with some fascinating characters.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.rom the first page to the last, I loved this Christian suspense novel. I had a doctor's appointment and took the book with me, knowing that I'd have time to read. Picture this: in a waiting room full of patients, with the inevitable television in the background, I gasp aloud! It's that good.
The plot weaves two stories into one fascinating tapestry thriller. One of a pastor in a megachurch, counseling an obsessive woman, who misunderstands Christian love and won't back off from pursuing him. The second story is of an amateur magician who stalks and kills young, blonde, blue-eyed girls who wear wire-rimmed glasses. The talent of the author has the divergent stories neatly converge.
Characters are well rounded and quite believable. At various times, I wanted to shake one and hug another. There is a theme of trust and forgiveness that point the characters (and the reader) toward God.
This is one fabulous book that I highly recommend. Reader's Group Guide included.
budbitboo_mom
Posted April 13, 2009
Fatal Illusions is very well written, and grabs your attention. The story line is excellent and it is hard to put this book down. An excellent read for a rainy day, or any other day!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 23, 2009
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Anonymous
Posted October 5, 2009
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Overview
An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion
Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands.
The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they ...