Monster

Ever since I was a kid, I had a thing for cryptids, so imagine my surprise when I saw that Frank Peretti had written a book dealing with Bigfoot.I had my first exposure to Peretti years ago when I read The Oath, which, if memory serves me correctly, I enjoyed. At the time, I made it a point to check out more of the author's work but just never got around to it. Between life and other books, he just got lost in the shuffle. Part of the reason he got lost is because I heard he was "Christian author," which turned narrow-minded me off to his books; however, he wrote a book about Bigfoot. Bigfoot! Despite the mixed reviews, I HAD to check it out.Monster gets off to a mysterious start with a hunter covering up an obvious murder, staging the scene so that it looks like the man died in an accident. Why? Well, it's obvious he's tracking something, and he doesn't want people to know what actually killed the man. One can assume it's a bear, but is there something else loose in the woods, something more vicious than a bear?The scene then jumps to two couples who are planning to meet up for a survivalist weekend. Reed and his wife, Beck, arrive at the rendez vous point ahead of their friends, only to find the cabin they had been planning on staying in destroyed and the hired guide nowhere to be found. They investigate the cabin and the area surrounding it and come to the conclusion that it was a bear. Because it's so late in the day, they are left with no recourse but to camp out for the night, as there isn't enough daylight left for them to make it safely back to civilization. They set up camp away from the cabin take the necessary precautions so as not to attract the bear to their campsite, but as soon as the sun goes down, the surrounding forest comes alive with grunts, howls, and what they swear is a woman sending out a a mournful wail into the darkness. They become aware of a presence in the woods, and they realize it isn't a bear, but something with intelligence, as it's keeping just far enough within the shadows of the trees so it can't be detected. They try to stay calm, but fear takes over, and soon they are running through the woods. In the process of trying to evade whatever is pursuing them, they stumble across the body of their guide, hidden in a tree and practically decapitated. Needless to say, the chase ends with Reed witnessing some creature carrying his wife off into the woods. This sets the stage for the rest of the book: a search for and rescue of Beck from the creature that took her.Despite the mounting evidence that the creature in the woods is definitely a biped, there is a resistance group among the rescuers who continue to insist it's a bear and try to convince the others that there's no such thing as Bigfoot and that what carried off Reed's wife was indeed a bear, and they shouldn't expect to find her alive -- if they find her at all. Meanwhile, we find out Beck is alive. Injured, but alive, and being held "captive" by a family of Sasquatches: an adult male, two adult females, and a juvenile male. It become obvious that the one adult female view Beck as her child and is determined to take care of her and protect her from the other members of her family (?), who make it clear they do not want Beck among them. Will Beck survive long enough to be rescued by her husband? Will her husband give up the search in light of evidence that points to Beck no longer being among the living? And what of the mysterious hunter from the beginning?With Monster, Peretti has created a thrilling novel that is so much more than just a tale of survival. It's also a tale of intrigue because yes, there is a cover up, and there's also a twist that you won't see coming. His characters are fully realized, and you come to care what happens to them. As far as his creatures are concerned, you gain an insight into them that you wouldn't expect, so yes, you even care about what happens to them, more so as the truth is revealed.The thing I can't understand are some of the reviewers' comments, saying that the religion is laid on rather thick. I didn't find that to be the case at all. I've found Koontz's later work to be rather heavy handed and preachy when it comes to religious beliefs, but within the context of the book, the characters praying and asking God to deliver/return them safely is quite believable. Even the most un-religious person will sometimes throw up a prayer to the Man upstairs asking them for a little help, so this aspect didn't bother me nearly much as it seems to bother other readers. And it certainly hasn't turned me off to the author. I know I said this once before, but I definitely will be seeking out more works by this author, and this time I fully intend on following through.Would I recommend Monsters? Absolutely! I think it's one of the best Bigfoot novels I've read to date.

Frank Peretti doesn't need me to verify his greatness or prowess as a writer. He ranks among the best there is. Anything his Midas quill touches turns to gold as he masterfully dips his pen into the bottomless inkwell of his creative genius.Using the warp and weft of science and nature he weaves exquisite tapestries of mystery, eerie thrills, and the ever twisting and turning of his plot lines. Peretti is a widely accepted creative genius who provides a limitless number of surprises and analytical challenges. No discriminating reader can leave one of his books unrewarded and not be waiting for his next work of Christian fiction.Monster grabbed me by its title and drew me immediately in by the sense of familiarity with something out there somewhere that remained to be defined and disclosed until just the right time -when I thought I knew what was going to happen. Oh what an exciting ride through a wilderness backdrop as the reader's rollercoaster of expectation allowed early glimpses of characters, creatures, cads, criminals, and cops -not to mention game wardens, scientists, experiments, and innocent bystanders.Just when I thought I had something figured out, Peretti threw in a twist that made the unthinkable believable, the impossible acceptable, the obvious oblivious, and the controllable uncontrollable and violently reactive.If animal instinct could be modified with a spattering of uneducated human intellect and emotion, and by some Frankensteinian experimentation produce a creature..... I won't continue in respect to not wanting to spoil the wonderment and satisfaction of the read.Peretti has always been a master wordsmith within literary circles, a creative craftsman and story teller; a man of deep Christian principles, and a purveyor of parables not unlike what the Bible contains that teach difficult and otherwise incomprehensive truths.To see with a reader's eye, the Stockholm syndrome fleshed out in anew way; to watch an impossible relationship develop in an unlikely setting; to feel and sense unnatural emotions and to allow one's self to be psychologically manipulated into rooting for a bad and violent creature and taking sides against one's own race would normally be unthinkable. That is until one reads Monster.Peretti obviously understands the deep woods and Mother Nature, wildlife, human nature, science and technology and expertly applies all of them to his exciting, fast paced, ever changing novel that is guaranteed to satisfy and educate the reader. It is a fascinating book filled with educational tidbits of myriad interesting disciplines.The synergy of the author's extensive homework and well-developed knowledge of subjects worn by lore and legend form a fictional journey into pleasure, adventure, intellectual challenges, and pits the best efforts of the author against the sleuthing and analytical abilities of the reader. Good luck in staying ahead of Peretti's efforts in holding the best for last.This is among the best of my recent reads and ranks among the most rewarding works of one of my most admired writers.

The book Was a good read, not great, but good. It was Easy to follow and had good character development. I would recommend.

Loved this book, was sitting on the edge of my chair. Love this author's books.

Excellent book for excellent price! Very fast shipping!

I purchased this book, and found it rather good. I know I couldn't put down once I started reading it, because I wanted to see what happened. That's me. It keeps you hooked, in more ways than one.

Product was as good as new. Delivery was on time...Overall it was a fantastic purchase.A thrilling and interesting story perfectly written by Frank Peretti. It will keep you on your toes and you will be so intrigued by the book. I highly recommend as a good book to read

Very good reading!