This book was exciting, but I felt that it lacked character development. I liked the concept, and it kept me interested, but it was a little predictable.

Frank Peretti is definitly an author worth looking into. However, I don't think his works are horror fiction; like Steven King. I find his works similar to Micheal Crichton (the author of Jurassic Park). This is an epic thriller of a story. Some schenes might leave you in suspence, but thankfully, they won't give you nightmares. Best of all, Frank Peretti is not a heavy swearer and he doesn't gross you out by discribing bloody schenes in too much detail.

This is a story about a lonely town populated by Homesteaders (Homesteader's paradice "Ha Ha Ha"). However, this town in Hyde Valley is not a paradice. People have disappeared without a trace. The town's people live in constant fear. The town's master, Harold Bly, has struck fear into their hearts in a way nobody could figure out.

The story starts with Steve Benson (a biology professor). He's a devout evolutionist. He arrives in this town because his brother went on vacation to this quiet valley... and was killed. Rumor has it, a dragon romes the mountain side and eats people at random. As Steve Benson investagates, he slowly believes something like that could be happening.

Like other Frank Peretti stories, there is very little difference between the book's begining and the book's middle. The start of the book drags on for a while, but the details are important to the story. If you have to be instantly interested in the story after the first page, I wouldn't recommend this to you. You have to sit through the story's middle before the excitment starts. The ending was the best part, in my oppinion. That's when the story concludes, and the real action begins.

This is also a nice spiritual story for Christians and non-believers alike. For a Christian, the book might have lessons you already heard before. I think the book was aimed towards a non-Christian audience, because they might experience more from it.

To sum it up, its a great story. It's a little slow in the plot development department, but thrilling, non the less. It's a novel for older teenagers and adults. A definate worthwhile story. You won't be disapointed

This book was just amazing. I'm not someone who really enjoys fictional books, but this one I just couldn't put down. It keeps you on the edge throughout the entire book. Frank Peretti is an amazing author!

Peretti has a knack about being unpredictable in this book. Just as you think you know what is happening, you learn that you don't really understand. It's a lot like life. The life in this book is not the life you want to live but escape. That's what makes it intriguing and an opportunity to examine yourself while enjoying a thrilling story.

Ray Ruppert, Author of "The Sovereign Reigns, or Does He?" "The Sovereign's Last Battle" and "Revelation: A Layperson's Reflections"

After a camping trip gone wrong in Hyde River, Cliff Benson's body is found savagely mutilated. Cliff's wife, Evelyn, escapes but has no recollection of what killed her husband. It's declared a bear attack but Cliff's brother, Steve, feels there's more than what is being told. Steve sets out on his own expedition to find out what exactly killed his brother in Hyde River. But, as Steve ventures further into the town he meets the local characters, Harold Bly, Doug Ellis, Sheriff Collins and a cooky mechanic named Levi Cobb. Steve soon discovers that there is a dark Oath of secrecy protecting the town's deepest and darkest secret.

Sounding more like a Stephen King novel, then a piece of Christian fiction Frank Peretti keeps you on the edge of your seat with his wonderfully dark story of sin in it's truest form. The character's are all believable and everyone seems to play a role in the keeping the secret of the Oath. It's one of those books that you say that after one more page you'll stop reading but the suspense is so intriguing that you can't. Word of warning to anyone who is expecting a happy go-lucky story written by a Christian author: the story is VERY dark. Please don't start this book late at night either. You'll lose some sleep.