Book Review: Robert Liparulo's, Comes A Horseman by Gina Holmes

Comes A Best Seller. . .

From the cover,

Two FBI agents pursuing a killer from a centuries-old cult realize they have
become prey. To survive, they must ignore their own
fear, their own hearts pounding in their ears...pounding like death, riding a
pale horse.

Robert Liparulo's debut novel is a big book, literally at close to 500 pages, and figuratively with world-wide stakes. What made me first notice this novel is the cover. Now, I know this isn't a cover art review, but in my opinion, Bob owes a steak dinner to the artist. This is the freakiest cover I've ever seen. Coming from a thriller lover, that's a compliment.

The story opens up with a serial killer hiding in a bathroom ceiling waiting for his prey. I kept thinking, this is CBA?

Westbow, Comes A Horseman's publisher, is really aiming at a cross-over market. There is gore in this book, (just a severed head and a few wolf-dogs lapping up a murder victims spilled blood), but I don't think its gratuitously done. There is no overt sermonizing, though a underlying faith element is present.

The goal for penning a thriller, is to write your protagonist up the biggest tree you can find and hurl boulders at him with a pack of hungry wolves under him and no possibility for escape. Mr. Liparulo does just that.

I think fans of Peretti, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Dekker, Alton Gansky and Kathryn Mackel will enjoy this book. I also think Mr. Liparulo will draw a very loyal fan base of his own. He writes like no one else I've read. If I compare him to Stephen King, I'd say, Bob has equal ability to draw out suspense and write an over-the-top story line that is completely believable, but his articulation is not quite as down to earth as King's, appealing possibly to an audience that enjoys a bit more intellectual stimulation along with their entertainment.

A sample of Liparulo's prose:

"He pulled the ax toward him, its blade scraping on rock, like a violin
playing a harsh sul ponticell note. The overture to his performance. He slid his
hand down the smooth wooden handle. Inches from the blade his grip tightenend,
and he rose. His eyes traced the route he'd take once he emerged from the wild
into the park.

Boy on his mind, ax in hand, he spun and darted toward the trail that would
unite the two."

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely! One of the best novels I've ever read. I added it to my top ten list.

Comes A Horseman is being made into a major motion picture and I'm looking forward to that along with Robert Liparulo's next novel.

If you're looking to change minds about CBA fiction, this is the novel to give for Christmas to horror/thriller fans.