|
|
|
|
As Nick Hines arose at 5 a.m. on March 28, 2005, other than the fact that it was his thirtieth birthday, the day ahead held no promise of being anything more than ordinary. He was up, as usual, before the rest of his family, and after a quick breakfast he would head out the door and make his way down Route 47 to Montrose. It was just a typical Monday in every way, except that this Monday was to end with cake and ice cream after supper. Long before the birthday party though, Nick’s ordered life would begin a spiraling downslide into chaos.
|
|
|
The changes in his life were about to begin, as he sat at the only traffic signal in Montrose, watching the red glow of the light, and wondering how he managed to get caught by a traffic light that never turned red. But, today it had, and as he sat awaiting the green, he looked left up High Street, and his life began changing immediately. The beginning was innocent enough, to all outward appearances, but what lay beneath the surface–was horrific. Nick Hines, for whatever reason, and totally unbeknownst to him, had become the subject of - The Wager.
|
The Wager
By C.H. Foertmeyer
ISBN 978-1-4001-1323-9
160 pages at 12.95 paperback
iUniverse
1663 Liberty Dr.
Bloomington IN 47403
I look forward to each new Foertmeyer book because I never know what his fertile mind will create next. But after reading 13 of his books, I know to expect that the mysterious and surreal will seep into the lives of ordinary folks. His literary style is unusual, and addicting!
In this latest book, specters from a good and decent man's past shatter his world. Nick Hines is the well-respected owner of a hardware store in Montrose, Tennessee. He's a reliable and kindly friend, a devoted family man and dedicated Christian active in his local church. On his 30th birthday, he sees a high school friend limping down the street and can barely believe his eyes. The friend has not changed from High School days, still a teenager in appearance. Nick is frightened to discover the old friend died before his spectral appearance on the quiet streets of Montrose. That day begins Nick Hines' unraveling.
Over the next 315 days, Nick loses everything. His wife, the sheriff, the townsfolk are convinced he's crazy when he continues to see his dead friend around town, and also begins to see his brother who died as a child. Each ghostly vision precedes the horrible discovery of a dead, missing child. He's investigated as a child killer, diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, loses everything and everyone dear to him, and imprisoned for murder. An evil, invisible force is at work in Nick's life, driving him to the brink of madness and beyond. Will his faith in God be enough to save him from the final disaster? You'll have to read the book to find out.
The Wager is a parable with Nick Hines as a modern-day Job. If you aren't familiar with the story of Job, I suggest you read it as a comparison to this book. As with all Foertmeyer's books, this one is imaginative, mysterious, and entertaining.
Review by Laurel Johnson
I sat up late last night finishing Chuck's book!!! Just couldn't put it down once I started it! So intriging and kept me guessing the whole way through it. He does have a clever imagination! It was especially fun knowing that you, Nick, Emily and Adam were the main characters in the book!!
Doris Batch
|
|