Tom Pawlik Reviews

Added June 12, 2009

Valley of the Shadow

Sequel to Vanish

Author: Tom Pawlik
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: July 2009
Genre: Fiction/Christian/Suspense
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 978-1-4143-2679-5
Author Email/Website: http://www.tompawlik.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

As the sequel to Vanish, Valley of the Shadow takes readers a little deeper into the supernatural dimension between life and death. While Vanish introduced this spiritual realm, Pawlik's latest book explains the idea of interaction among the people passing through the shadow of death and their physical bodies left in real time.

Conner Hayden's near-death experience gave him a personal tour of this between-world, or Valley of the Shadow. He realized that his life was returned to him for a reason. He began to research the people he 'met' in this realm and discovered that Mitch Kent was on life support. In the valley of shadow, Conner knew that Mitch's spirit was trapped by a force of evil. But how could Conner influence events in the spirit dimension while in his physical body? These pages explore this exciting possibility and gives readers something to think about.

The cast of characters from the first book returns, bringing with them knowledge gleaned from their initial encounter in the shadow valley, as well as a heightened sense of urgency. Although time doesn't exist in the spirit realm, a soul's passage through this dimension varies and this aspect cranks up the suspense level. The story line smoothly shifts from the physical world to the spirit dimension, gradually merging the two for a shocking conclusion.

Pawlik tosses out some possibilities and probabilities that should excite Christians. The power of influencing the spirit world through prayer is seen in a new light. The nebulous 'valley of the shadow' is given a form that, although fictional, is consistent with the teachings of the Bible.

Valley of the Shadow offers a powerful perspective of a place many may travel.

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Added June 6, 2008

Vanish

Author: Tom Pawlik
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: July 2008
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Suspense/Contemporary
Format: Trade paper
Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 978-1-4143-1893-6
Author Email/Website: http://www.tompawlik.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

The creativity of debut author Tom Pawlik knows no bounds! Vanish suspends reality over a solidly scriptural base for a story that will topple readers into a dazzling truth. Once that first page is turned, a dimension with Divine significance is opened-and there's no place to go but forward.

Three complete strangers experience a storm that leaves them stranded on earth. Everyone else has vanished. Or have they? These pages are an amazing ride through a reality that stretches the imagination while highlighting the invisible, but immeasurable, scope of eternity.

From the very first sentence, readers will know that this book is no ordinary novel. Initially, the author drops subtle hints about what is to occur, but uses the opening chapters to introduce the main characters and give a peek into their personalities. Yet, when the "storm" hits, it's a no-holds-barred adventure into the unknown. Everything is shifted upside down as these three people struggle to find a foothold in a world gone crazy. Their individual stories intertwine as they each go in search of other survivors from the storm. When they all meet, they decide they have a better chance to succeed as a group. But when nameless, formless and fearful creatures seek to attack them, they experience vivid hallucinations about the past, leaving them changed in both mind and body.

It might be best to read this book with the lights on, because there is a thrilling element of suspense in these pages. The author is to be applauded for creating a story with mystery and meaning. As characters Conner Hayden, Helen Krause and Mitch Kent seek a method to this madness, they discover a spiritual dimension in their travels. The final pages open their eyes and those of the reader to a remarkable vision that is far from fleeting.

Vanish introduces a new author that I hope will be around for a long time.

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This page was last updated on June 12, 2009

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