Fearless, by Mike Dellosso, is a Christian mystery/thriller in the vein of Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. It starts of a little bit slow, allowing the reader some time to get to know the characters, and it follows three primary story lines. The book is 286 pages long, and it took me quite a few of them to feel like I had a firm handle on those plot lines. The action takes place in plot #1, which follows the movements and rationalizations of a serial killer, while the emotional and developmental part of the book occurs in plot #2, where a mysterious little girl appears in a burning house and continues to surprise everyone from then until the end of the book. Plot #3 follows a woman with an abusive live-in boyfriend. These stories seem entirely unconnected, but Dellosso’s talent shows in the skill with which he manages to weave them all together.
Dellosso’s writing is engaging and easy to read, making this a great book for someone who doesn’t have a large chunk of time to sit and read but instead reads in spurts in the doctor’s office or on the bus. The story is a bit slow, however, until about halfway through, and picks up considerably towards the end. The characters are believable and round; due to the nature of the genre they each harbor specific emotional and/or spiritual wounds. Sometimes the way these wounds or the characters’ thoughts about them are described feels repetitive. All in all, this isn’t great literature – but it doesn’t claim to be! It is a good, fun book that is great for summer reading. It’s worth putting on your list!
Mike Dellosso’s newest book, Fearless, was published this year by Realms, a division of Charisma Media. To purchase your own copy, click on the book cover above.
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