cover image The Firstborn

The Firstborn

Conlan Brown, . . Strang Communications/Realms, $13.99 (311pp) ISBN 978-1-59979-607-9

Author prodigy Brown is one to watch after this roaring entrance into Christian suspense fiction. Three prophetic Christian orders called “The Firstborn” must set aside their differences to thwart a terrorist plot. The Firstborn are descendants of a great resurrection that happened after the resurrection of Jesus. Each of the three main characters has a different gift: one enjoys foresight, another has hindsight, and the third, insight. Dialogue and action drive the story in settings that leapfrog across the United States. The dialogue sermonizes but does so in a zingy way (“And yet your God hates all the same people as you,” John replied gravely. “How convenient”). Tension is generated by hostage situations, chases and shootouts intended to stop a terrorist bombing. The author gives readers a huge cast to sort out and religious and political world views to wrestle with throughout. Christian suspense thriller readers will cheer for the Firstborn and for this new voice on the scene. (May)