Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #231428 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780310238270
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
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.

From Library Journal
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.

Review
Finely crafted. . .crime scene so vivid you can practically smell and taste [it]. Another masterpiece that keeps readers utterly engrossed. -- Romantic Times, October 2002 TOP PICK

Realistic characters find themselves in surreal events, yet the occurrences remain believable and intriguing. Expect plenty of twists and turns. -- Romance Readers Connection, October 2002

Customer Reviews

Hard to put down
Dread Champion is the sequel to Brandilyn Collins' book, Eyes of Elisha. While I enjoyed Eyes of Elisha, the plot didn't hold as many surprises as I would have liked. I'm very glad I kept reading. Dread Champion far exceeded my greatest expectations. The many threads of plot were tied together flawlessly and kept me guessing until the very end.

The heroine of the series is Chelsea Adams; wife, mother, and visionary--literally. Chelsea is a woman who sees visions from God. In Dread Champion, Chelsea is chosen to be on the jury of a well-publicized murder trial. Darren Welk, the "Salad King" of Salinas County, has been charged with the murder of his wife. Chelsea is sure she will be excused from the jury pool. After all, what lawyers in their right minds would pick her to be a part of a jury? Her visions of a young girl's murder in Trent Park had put her in the headlines just a year before. So she is stunned when she is accepted to be the second alternate juror. But, as the title Dread Champion (taken from Jeremiah 20:11) implies, God will accomplish His own purposes and choose to use whomever He will.

As fellow jurors give her the cold shoulder because of their knowledge of her visions; her visiting niece Kerra becomes involved with the son of the defendant; and God gives her a new, terrifying vision; Chelsea fights to pray and trust that God has placed her where He has for a reason.

God's work in each character's life in this story is as unique as the fingerprints He gives us. That, along with a tightly woven storyline, made this a book that was very hard to put down.

WONDERFUL read!
Once again, Brandilyn Collins has the perfect mix of suspense, drama, romance, and spirituality without preaching! I loved the characters, the believable storyline and was sitting on the edge of my seat at the end! Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great read! I couldn't put it down! For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.robinmillerbooks.com