Title: Obsessed

Author Ted Dekker

Publisher: Westbow

ISBN: 0-8499-4373-6

Genre: Inspirational/Suspense

 

Have you ever wondered how far you'd be willing to go to achieve your ultimate dream? Two men are about to find out. Nearly thirty years old and almost a millionaire, realtor Stephen Friedman lives a good life. But all that changes in an instant when an old woman he didn't even know dies. Now, Stephen is on a mission to recover something left to him by his mother-something a vile man has, but won't relinquish.

 

Stephen is willing to sacrifice everything he has to achieve his goal. Obsessed with what is just out of his reach, his entire lifestyle changes. He turns his back on old friends, moves into a dilapidated building, and risks all his wealth for his obsession.

 

Roth Braun is out to correct the one mistake his father made-allowing a Jew and her children to live. He must recover the journal that the woman stole from his father, a Nazi officer who ran a concentration camp during World War II. A journal that recounts his father's evil deeds.

 

For years, he has searched for the old woman's son, and now he can smell victory. But first, he'll enjoy the game a bit longer-toy with his prey, and get Stephen to come to him. After all, he has the one thing Stephen desires. Just how far is the young man willing to go to get it? Roth will enjoy finding out-and then, he will kill the Jew.

 

Evil crosses generations in Ted Dekker's newest novel, Obsessed. Roth Braun is a truly wicked antagonist. He has no respect for human life and kills on a whim. His hatred for Jews originated when he visited his father at the concentration camps when Roth was a young boy. As an adult, he is obsessed with keeping Stephen from obtaining his goal. But only one of them can win.

 

I had a harder time getting into Obsessed than I have had with Dekker's other books. I think it may have been because just as I was getting caught up in Stephen's story, the author went back about twenty years in time to begin telling the story of a young pregnant woman in a concentration camp. Then I got engaged in Martha's story and the story switched back to Stephen's.

 

Once I got caught up in the flow of both story lines, things took off like a high-speed rocket. Obsessed is an emotional ride. Just like Roth Braun's father taunted those in his care by feeding them a little hope, only to yank it away, Ted Dekker does the same to his reader. You'll feel Martha's hope, only to have it dashed to pieces and see Stephen nearly reach his ultimate goal, only to have it snatched away, over and over.

 

Readers are sure to get caught up in the race between Roth and Stephen. They'll cheer for Martha and her babies, want to punch Roth, and cry for those who don't survive. An exciting twist at the end keeps readers guessing. Overall,  Obsessed is an excellent mind-bending thriller.