"Deadline" by Randy Alcorn

About the book:  Deadline is Randy Alcorn’s first novel, which stayed on the bestseller’s list for thirty-six months. A thorough researcher, Randy spent time with Portland homicide detectives and columnists at the Oregonian, as well as observing editorial meetings at the Indianapolis Star so he could accurately create the novel’s murder-mystery storyline, setting, and characters. Randy also creatively portrays characters who have died and gone to heaven, where they view events happening on earth.

Heart-Pounding Murder Mystery - Involved in a tragic accident under suspicious circumstances, award-winning journalist Jake Woods teams with detective Ollie Chandler to uncover the truth. This alluring repackage of the Randy Alcorn bestseller finds Jake drawing upon all his resources in an ever-intensifying, dangerous murder investigation. Unaware of the imminent threat to his own life, Jake struggles for answers to the mystery at hand and is plunged into a deeper search for the meaning of his own existence. 

When tragedy strikes those closest to him, award-winning journalist Jake Woods must draw upon all his resources to uncover the truth about their suspicious accident. Soon he finds himself swept up in a murder investigation that is both complex and dangerous. Unaware of the threat to his own life, Jake is drawn in deeper and deeper as he desperately searches for the answers to the immediate mystery at hand and—ultimately—the deeper meaning of his own existence.

My thoughts: The primary character, Jake, works for a large city newspaper as a liberal columnist. Jake is involved in a automobile accident that takes the lives of his two best friends who have been his friends since childhood.  Soon after the accident when Jake awakens to realize he is the sole survivor, the mystery begins.  Being the journalist he is, he digs, probes, and leaves no stone unturned.  He soon realizes that there is more involved that a simple accident.
Moving into unchartered waters for himself, Jake soon finds himself facing moral dilemmas. His belief in life and its meaning in general are challenged. He meets up with police detective Ollie Chandler in the investigation who plays a definitive role.  (Note: Randy Acorn's next three books in this trilogy are "Ollie Chandler" mysteries.) Included in the story are actual events that are well-researched and interwoven into this fictional story.

A major part of the story involves verbal interchange of the deceased from the accident and others in heaven over how events are unfolding.  What they are seeing and feeling.  Frankly, "heaven" scenes are not my cup of tea and I could have enjoyed the book more without them. I see a purpose in Alcorn's utilizing this mode of story telling, but I would have enjoyed the book more without it.

There is plenty of mystery, suspense, and action in the book to entertain and capture one's attention.  Randy Acorn is a favorite author of mine and I look forward to more of his books.  Deadline is a re-release from a 1994 first publish.

About the author: Randy Acorn - A New York Times bestselling author, Randy has written more than forty books including Courageous, Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home. His books in print exceed seven million and have been translated into over thirty languages. Randy has written for many magazines including EPM’s quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives. He is active daily on Facebook and Twitter, has been a guest on more than 700 radio, television and online programs including Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, Revive Our Hearts, The Bible Answer Man, and The Resurgence.

 DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Deadline from Blogging for Books on behalf of the publisher, Multnomah and the author to facilitate this honest review. No requirement for a positive review was required.