WOE 1

In this future-set Christian thriller, experts must decide if alarming global events are signs of an approaching apocalypse.

One day in 2038, barrages of fiery hailstones pummel countries around the world. This freak incident is over quickly, but its impact lasts much longer as the hailstones severely burned anyone and anything they hit. The president of the United States puts together a committee of scientists to try to provide an explanation for the damaging storms. Other terrifying global events follow, including ocean vortexes that take down ships; apparently contaminated water that causes hallucinations and violent episodes; and other natural disasters, including earthquakes. Mike Lathan, who’s studying pastoral ministry in Dallas, and a promising Seattle science student named Rina Adelstein join their respective mentors at experts’ meetings, where some are convinced that there’s a scientific explanation for all that’s happening. Spiritual advisors, however, note similarities between the ongoing events and familiar biblical stories. Mike and others believe that the phenomena are God’s punishment for an amoral world and part of a prophecy foretelling the End of Days. Scott deftly packs a world-spanning tale into a relatively compact novel. Along the way, he zeroes in on the absorbing romance between Mike and Rina; both characters are well-developed, as when Rina faces a personal tragedy back in her hometown of Tel Aviv. Secondary characters receive much less attention, but several brief scenes reveal the devastating events’ worldwide consequences, showcasing specific effects on such places as North Africa, Japan, and Italy: “As Francesco Vincenzo was locking up his private law office, he heard the noise and looked upward toward the gulf to see what appeared to be a black cloud, a very large one, moving rapidly toward the downtown area.” The author weaves an overt but never overwhelming Christian theme into the storyline, which proceeds as a deliberate pace as several rounds of discussions churn out proposals while passing years pile on catastrophes. The book covers just over a decade, and its ending hints at a sequel.

Well-sketched characters carry a slow-paced but effective start to a potential series.