Dread Champion [Paperback]

The quality of Collins's writing slips in this evangelical Christian thriller follow-up to Eyes of Elisha, but she still spins an interesting tale with plenty of suspense. Californian Chelsea Adams has the supernatural gift of visions that show her events others are unable to perceive. She's dismayed to be selected as a juror at the murder trial of Darren Welk, whose wife, Shawna, has disappeared. Chelsea's visiting niece Kerra Fraye attends the trial and strikes up a romance with a man whose innocence is increasingly under scrutiny. Chelsea and Kerra's lives are about to intersect with that of 20-year-old Rogelio Sanchez, the birth father of a baby girl whom he signed away for adoption-a decision he now regrets. The story is compelling, but the prose is not up to Collins's usual standards. She overdetails physical movements ("air puffed from Erika's offended mouth"); characters repeatedly blink and their throats, stomachs, guts and mouths do peculiar things ("Rogelio's stomach gelled"). There are odd, lengthy descriptions ("The jury pulled at his eyes, but he focused on the judge as she positioned her computer keyboard just so and generally settled herself like a hen over eggs"). Collins inserts plenty of intrigue and false trails, although the novel's ending fails to take into account one character who is notable by her omission. Evangelical Christian readers will applaud the character of Chelsea as an example of how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways to accomplish his objectives, but Collins fans may be wondering why her strong writing skills are not showcased here.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Fans of Collins's Eyes of Elisha will cheer the return of psychic Chelsea Adams, although this time out, she's not the one in danger. A juror on a sensational murder trial, Chelsea has promised the judge and attorneys to be guided only by the evidence and not by her supernatural visions. The circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Darren Walk killed his wife in the dark waters off a California beach, but Chelsea senses that there may be other possibilities. When Chelsea becomes the holdout during deliberations, her fellow jurors belittle her faith. "But the Lord is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail." These words, taken from Jeremiah 20:11, support her against their anger and assuage the horrific visions she's having of her niece, whose attraction to Walk's son puts her in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. A riveting mystery and courtroom drama will engage the attention of readers who hope to see more of Chelsea's visions. Recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Chelsea Adams finds herself on the jury of a murder trial of a man accused of murdering his wife—a woman several people could have wanted dead—and as in Eyes of Elisha, Chelsea finds herself seeing startling visions.

Chelsea Adams has visions. But they have no place in a courtroom.

As a juror for a murder trial, Chelsea must rely only on the evidence. And this circumstantial evidence is strong—Darren Welk killed his wife.

Or did he?

The trial is a nightmare for Chelsea. The other jurors belittle her Christian faith. As testimony unfolds, truth and secrets blur. Chelsea’s visiting niece stumbles into peril surrounding the case, and Chelsea cannot protect her. God sends visions—frightening, vivid. But what do they mean? Even as Chelsea finds out, what can she do? She is helpless, and danger is closing in. . . .

Masterfully crafted, Dread Champion is a novel in which appearances can deceive and the unknown can transform the meaning of known facts. One man’s guilt or innocence is just a single link in a chain of hidden evil . . . and God uses the unlikeliest of people to accomplish his purposes.

Brandilyn Collins is the bestselling author of Brink of Death, Stain of Guilt, Dead of Night, Web of Lies, Eyes of Elisha, and other novels.She and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.Visit her website at brandilyncollins.com.