Zoe Johnson spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places. But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes. Now, against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who … doesn’t seem to have any past at all. The girl knows only one thing: she must reach a woman in Corpus Christi, Texas, hundreds of miles away, before the government agents who are searching for her catch up to them.Award-winning author Rachelle Dekker throws you into the middle of the action and keeps the pressure on in this page-turning story that, asks Are we who the world says we are–or can we change our story and be something more?
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“Nine” by Rachelle Dekker is an impressive, fast-paced novel. The action starts with the opening scene, and it doesn’t ever seem to let up. Even when characters are taking a break and just talking to each other, that never-ending sense of tension is still there. Some thrillers seem to be “all action, no real substance”, but that definitely is NOT the case here. Rachelle Dekker is very skilled at keeping the plot moving along while never easing off on the important personal details that make this story so much more than a typical action/adventure.
The three main characters (Zoe, a small-town waitress with a mysterious past; Lucy, a teenager with no memory of her own past; and Seeley, an agent with a complicated past) are all incredibly well drawn and detailed. I enjoyed learning more about each of them as the story progressed, and felt like I truly “knew” all three by the book’s end.
Once you finish enjoying all the action and see what happens to the characters at the end, you can take a deep breath and realize…..all that excitement wasn’t REALLY what the book was about at all. The riveting storyline was the backdrop for an exploration of the theme of how much your past does or does not influence your present. As each character moves through this adventure, he or she contemplates the past and thinks about its effects on who they are in the present. Each also considers, in his/her own way, whether or not there’s anything they can do about the past, and whether it’s possible to write a new narrative for the future.
This is a work of Christian fiction. God is definitely present throughout the story, but more in His “still, small voice” form than in more overt ways. Personally, I liked seeing how the characters responded to God speaking to them, even if they didn’t really know Him. As a Christian, I walked away with some important things to think after reading this book.
One note: While this is definitely a Christian book, some hard-core things take place. People get shot, people die, people are tortured. Nothing overly graphic in the descriptions, but if violence is a trigger for you, please be aware that you’ll find some in this novel. I thought everything was appropriate and important to the plot, not just thrown in gratuitously, and did not detract from the message.
All in all, I loved the story. Five out of five slices of perfectly-aged Provolone.
Nine by Rachelle Dekker is a fast paced futuristic Christian thriller that will have your heart racing as you read.
The novel is about choosing who you want to be. You need to discover your identity and whose you are and then you will know who you are. We are not destined to repeat the mistakes of our parents. Neither do we need to repeat our pasts. We are free to write our futures learning from the past.
There is the theme of trust. Sometimes our trust is misplaced as people deliberately set out to deceive us.
A name change signifies a character change. When we become a Christian, Jesus gives us a new name. He calls us His child, His beloved.
Life is a battle between the forces of good and evil. It is no coincidence that the evil one is called the deceiver and the father of lies. We need to de-tune his voice and tune into the life affirming voice of God.
There is a powerful force that is capable of changing hearts and minds – and that is the power of love. We see the effects of love on the characters within the novel. Love de-ices hearts of stone. Love changes lives for good. Love is what makes us fully human. We love because He first loved us.
Nine was a cleverly constructed thriller. It follows on from The Girl Behind The Red Rope as it mentions scenes, places and names from there. I would recommend reading that first to enable you to have a fully rounded experience of understanding of Nine but you do not have to. Nine can be read in isolation.
The action is fast paced. The reader twists this way and that as we try to decipher the action and predict the outcome.
Nine is an exciting read that fully engages the reader’s senses as we experience a roller coaster ride of emotional responses as we work our way through this book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
“The only thing that will ever limit you is the belief that you can be limited.”
Zoe Johnson is just trying to live her life without complications from her past. When a bedraggled teenage girl with no memory wanders into the diner where she works, Zoe feels like she has to help her. However, little does she know that helping Lucy could be the death of her.
Zoe and Lucy try to follow the mysterious instructions left by a woman named Olivia. Along the way, they encounter special government (maybe) agents who seem determined to take Lucy back or kill her. One agent, Tom Seely, has troubles of his own. Can Zoe trust him or is he just another in a long line of authority figures with a secret agenda?
Lucy starts to recover her memories with the “help” of a Doctor, but at what cost? As she relives the horrors of her past, will she be able to survive the torment or will it destroy her? Lucy learns that she was born in a lab, along with other children. She is Number Nine and the only survivor of cruel experimentation designed to create a killing machine.
Seely can’t seem to decide which side he is on, maybe because of his growing feelings for Zoe. “Love is an unfortunate characteristic of humanity that can’t be erased, even from the darkest of souls.”
The book is full of action and reading it is almost like watching a spy thriller. And reader beware: There are several graphic scenes of cruelty and torture that is not for the faint of heart.
This is a thought-provoking book that will make the reader examine their own life to see if things can change. Are we destined to repeat the same mistakes or do we have the freedom to make things different? Must we continue to fail or can we succeed? “You can always choose, so who do you want to be?”
“Revell provided a complimentary copy through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions are my own.”
I read this book in a day. I had no plans to do so, but once I got into this book I couldn’t stop. This book was amazing. A girl who was a government experiment running away. a women desperate to help her with her own past, and a FBI agent wanting to capture this girl and pretends to be her friend. I just loved every character in this book. Each one to you will feel emotionally attached to each character and you will want to know what will happen to each one of them. The twist and turns makes you begging to know what will next and each turn will have you gripping onto the edge of your! The ending is amazing. You will to see it coming. They left you wanting more. I hope they will make a sequel to this book because I have to know what will happen next to these wonderful characters. I have never read Rachelle Dekker before and now I want to read more of her! Nine will be on the top of my favorite thriller of 2020! I highly recommend this book, I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down!
Thank you Revell for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Nine
By: Rachelle Dekker
REVIEW
Rachelle Dekker’s Nine is a thriller of the sci-fi/paranormal/dystopian variety. Because of scenes of violence and torture, I would not classify this book as young adult. And, please note the potential triggers before reading.
“Stupid girl, who says you get to be free?”
Freedom. To choose your path. To be more than your past. To let it go. Freedom, on the flip side. To let the past dictate the future. To repeat the cycle of failure. To hold on to the past. The question of choice is important to this story. Each of the three main characters have painful traumatic histories. As they move through the events of the story, past experiences are revealed in bits and pieces, and the damage to their present selves becomes clear. Thus, the questions are presented. Are human beings irrevocably chained to the past, or are human beings free to choose freedom from the past? Are you the sum of your experiences with no control over your life? Is it possible to really change and break free? Through a thrilling, fast paced, dark world, readers see the characters struggle to survive and accept their circumstances.
“Did people get a say in their experiences, or were they just products of what they were born into, taught to be a certain way, and powerless to change?”
The plot requires a suspension of disbelief, but that is easy enough once you become captive to the story. From the first page, it is riveting and shocking. The action might slow down, but it never stops. Because each character is so well developed and distinct, you will become attached to them, needing to know what happens next. This book is a Christian novel, and the presence of God is lightly defined, rather than overwhelmingly present, and I personally prefer stories written this way. Because of the science fiction aspect, this book is not for everyone. The ideas are “out there”, creating a fascinating, thought provoking and deceptively simple story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Nine, and I recommend for anyone with an interest in paranormal/dystopian themes.
Lucy has lost her memory. All she knows is that Olivia has sent her west, to Corpus Christi, to find Summer Wallace and the robin. People are after her, to find the secret Olivia buried in her mind. Lucy meets Zoe, a waitress, in the first place she finds, and the two join up to get Lucy to Corpus Christi and hopefully figure out who Lucy is, who is chasing her, and why.
Nine is a fast-paced novel with lots of questions. The early questions are obvious: who is Lucy? Where has she come from? Why can’t she remember anything? The more challenging questions are those that appear as the novel progresses: who is Zoe? What secret is she hiding from her past? Who does Seely work for? Can Lucy and Zoe trust him?
The novel is set in our world and in our time, but has dystopian elements. (I hope.) It centres around the supersecret government department Olivia and Seely work for, and where Lucy aka Nine was born and raised. It’s one of those novels that gets you wondering about what the US government is up to in Area 51 or deep in the Colorado mountains … or other places. What is happening to people—children—in the name of research and politics?
There were a few things about the writing that bugged me. Some scenes were violent and showed the torture of children or teenagers. Was that necessary for the story? I don’t think we needed to see Nine almost drown while the “leader of the free world” watched (in case you’re wondering, he wore a blue suit and red tie). Zoe also had trauma in her background, but that was from a certified religious extremist, not from a government in “the land of the free”.
The evildoers worked for an unnamed organisation they refer to as Xerox, just not the Xerox we know (although I suppose Lucy and her compatriots were copies of sorts). And I wasn’t convinced by Seely’s character—it was never clear whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. Some readers might appreciate this ambiguity, but I like to know. I also found the ending somewhat abrupt—maybe there will be a sequel to answer the remaining questions.
The story isn’t overtly Christian fiction, but the overall message has definite echoes of John 15:13. The writing is excellent, and there are solid themes about identity and sacrifice. Recommended for fans of speculative and dystopian young adult fiction.
Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Title: Nine
Author: Rachelle Dekker
Pages: 352
Year: 2020
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.
Zoe Johnson is a young woman who works as a waitress in a small dingy diner. She keeps herself at a distance, sharing very little of her past and herself. Her world is turned upside down when a young teenage female walks into the diner out of the pouring rain. Lucy is on the run from “bad” men and knows only that she has to find a woman in Corpus Christi, Texas who will know what she needs to do next. She can’t remember much else. Zoe feels protective of Lucy and decides to take her home to help her figure out her next move. They are there for only a little while before they are discovered. Now, they are both on the run with little money and not much of a plan.
Agent Tom Seely has one task and that is to find Lucy and bring her back to headquarters. He has turned off his feelings years ago and remains numb to those around him. If he lets go of the darkness in him, he will be vulnerable to feeling and that way leads to disaster in his mind. He will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, including manipulation of anyone and any circumstance. When he catches up with Lucy and Zoe, he knows what he has to do. However, his interactions with Zoe give him pause. Will he follow orders?
This was my first Rachelle Dekker book, and I really wanted to like it, but I felt like the plot has been done several times before in movies/TV/books. There was no reference to God or faith in the entire book, so I was wondering why it is listed as a Christian book. I did not read the previous novel, The Girl Behind the Red Rope, so maybe I missed some of the background to what was going on. I felt like I was missing something with Zoe’s character. There was no resolution with regards to her brother(s), and her history was not covered in much detail. There was torture and violence in the book that might not be something some readers want to read, so just a note on that. The relationship between Zoe and Lucy, however, was a redeeming quality of the story. It tugged at my heart. Zoe loved Lucy unconditionally for who she was not what she brought to the table so to speak. I will give this author another try.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
Thank you in advance to Revell (a division of Baker Books) for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
Very seldom does a book shake me to the core and make me wonder – “what did I just read?” – this was one of those books. It’s meant in both a bad way and good way. That’s a first for me though.
Admittedly, I am new to Rachelle Dekker’s books, but … WOW!
As a fan of romance; romantic-suspense; and even suspense – the premise on this book just drew me in. The haunting and mesmerizing cover made it that much more appealing. The plot? I definitely wanted this book!
Lost memories, on-the-run from federal agents, and super secret mission plots are ones that I am timid on. But, there was something about this book that I just had to read it!
After reading it, I was particularly mixed on this book despite the high rating I’m giving it. I will state that I was also drawn in by the location where this first starts – Sherman, Texas. As a child I lived there and in/around the DFW Metroplex (born in Grand Prairie), so it was interesting to read the city in a book.
The main characters are Zoe and Lucy who are being chased by Agent Tom Seeley. Though the why mostly eludes the reader until about halfway in. There is little to no effort in the beginning to disguise Seeley and his mission. The reader is left trying to figure it all out. I spent most of the book wondering if he was good or bad. Or even if any of the FBI agents in this are good or bad. Are they even real or merely posers?
Although this is designed as a standalone read, I found some of Zoe’s past is connected to the book “The Girl Behind the Red Rope” by the author and her father Ted Dekker. While it isn’t mandatory that book is read first, it might help the reader gain some insight as to why Zoe is the way she is. But, by chapter seven (7), the reader will learn the truth about her past or her real identity.
This started off with a literal bang and held my attention after the first chapter. The short chapters made the story progress though there were times I fought between putting it down and rushing right through this.
Dekker’s vivid and descriptive writing puts the reader in the center of the action and brings the book to life. More so in certain scenes.
There are hints to a government plot involving the president and secretary of defense. And, I honestly would’ve liked to see that angle concluded. There were mentions of conspiracy theories and to some readers; it could feel like there are/were some political overtones. I would certainly be interested in another novel where this is brought to light or sufficiently concluded.
There were also times I felt it was far too violent for this particular genre, and that the author could’ve excluded some of the graphic descriptions of certain killings as well as torture. And, there are a lot of people killed in this novel. For those readers who are sensitive to those matters, you might want to re-think this book. Anyone not comfortable with teenagers being depicted as agents of violence might want to skip this book as well.
It was hard to tell if any plot holes existed due to the writing as well as the action taking place. I know there were certain questions I had regarding the plot – what was the purpose of the project, was it necessary to use kids, and when was the project going to be “unleashed”. Some of the way this story was plotted out could be confusing for some readers.
Told in two parts, the first part is told in third person. When it shifts to the second part, it is told in first person from Lucy’s POV and all other POVs are in third person. Part two is where the drama comes to a head and plays out with many deviations, twists, and turns that are head-spinning.
Dekker’s writing is definitely vivid and descriptive so much so that I felt this could’ve easily been a Lifetime Movie or a Sci-Fi channel movie.
The title “Nine” refers to someone’s past/current identity. It really isn’t clear, until about the end of part one as to what the Grantham project is. Although, the purpose for the project is never truly revealed.
This book left me with so many emotions and questions that I still can’t even wrap my head around this plot.
Not sure after a major betrayal between Lucy, Zoe, and Seeley that I would be able to ever trust the other party again. So, I did find that part a bit questionable.
This story will make some of us question the choices we make, the things we do, have done, and the motivation for doing them.
I alternately loved and loathed this book. And, as of this review, I am still trying to decide where I lean more towards. Though, it is worth the 4/5 stars I am giving it.
While distributed by Revell, which is a Christian publishing group, there were hardly any references to God or religion. There are no bible quotes or any real religious talks. There does seem, at one point, to be an anti-religious comment in the book. This book has dark overtones, and at times was almost terrifying. It seemed more like it was a psychological thriller than suspense. And, thrilling it was. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting though.
Fans of the author and those who’ve read “The Girl Behind the Red Rope” will no doubt enjoy this book. I will give it up for the author – this is definitely a smart, complex, twisted, intense, riveting, and unpredictable read.
Nine by Rachelle Dekker is a contemporary thriller about a girl with special abilities who is on the run from the government and who fights internal battles about what it means to be human and whether she can choose to be different than she was “programmed.”
There are three major characters in this story — the teen, Lucy, who was trained by the government but who is on the run, initially with no memories. Zoe is the one who found the memory-less Lucy and, against her better judgment, decided to help. And Seeley, the government agent chasing them down.
Much of the story is told as a thriller generally is, with characters getting chased, fighting, getting caught, escaping, lying and double crossing, meeting shady characters, and much more. It was a very well-done thriller.
But the real story is the one each character experienced internally. Each one of them had battles to face, and it all came back to these questions — what does it mean to be human? Can we change the way we were programmed to think?
Seeley thinks he lost his humanity when he chose his job and lost his family. He picked the dark side and doesn’t think he can return. And as for the second question, all three of the character recognize that they were trained by their experiences. Zoe was “trained” not to trust or love anyone because so many people broke her trust. But what if re-training is possible? Or is it?
It was a very insightful story, and I appreciated the thought the author put into writing it. The only thing I think would make it better would be to talk about God. (It’s written by a Christian and published by a Christian author, and yet there’s barely a mention of God at all.) He is the one who is truly, fully capable of changing our programming, better than we ever could, if we would but ask. His power, love, and life are what we should truly be seeking in order to change.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
“This time she would break the rules. Even the ones she’d set for herself.”
By turns dark and intriguing, “Nine” by Rachelle Dekker explores what makes us human and how much choice, if any, we have in what we become. Through a trio of main characters, Dekker presents a narrative that is as timely as it is terrifying, given the current direction of science and military weaponry. Lucy, a young amnesiac, bursts into Zoe Johnson’s carefully-constructed and reclusive life, and the metaphorical house of cards comes crashing down. Part one contains third-person narration, but in part two some of the chapters are narrated in the first person by Lucy, a shift that adds depth and insight. Each girl’s backstory is revealed slowly as the story progresses, and their similarities are essential to the plot. Both have been brainwashed, in a manner of speaking, and their trauma draws them together: Lucy from scientific studies and Zoe from her mother’s cult. Agent Tom Seeley seemingly walks the fine line of double agent, but in this story trust is a quality that gets you killed.
While there is a discernible interplay between goodness and darkness (evil), manifested through a myriad of topics, I am conflicted as to whether I would classify this as a Christian novel. It is marketed as such, and while I can extrapolate a general Christian message from the overall content, I still do not feel quite comfortable labeling it as such. I personally don’t think that if a non-Christian were to pick up this book and read it, they would consider it a Christian work without being told so. There is no profanity, just allusions to people cursing, and none of the characters demonstrate any kind of faith in God that I could see. The bits and pieces of the former cult are the only religion demonstrated in the narrative, and naturally Zoe has a bitter and negative view of such, which was reinforced after leaving the cult. I think that with the storyline, Dekker could have really turned this into a fantastic Christian inspirational novel by the last third of the book, and I’m disappointed that it didn’t happen.
Delving into the shadowy realms of military experimentation, neuroscience, and ethics, “Nine” is not for the faint of heart. There are scenes of and descriptions of torture that I could definitely have done without; while I am not naïve enough to believe that such things don’t happen, a sentence or allusion to the events without details would suffice, for me at least. The topic of abuse in the story is handled better in this regard, and I think that the questions Dekker raises about ethics are important and need to be considered, especially as we are rapidly entering into a new era of digital dependency and artificial intelligence. As we move forward, we, like the characters in “Nine”, have to determine who we are and wherein our identity lies. Otherwise, we open ourselves up to being controlled by whomever our community—be it small or large—says we should. From a Christian perspective, we have two choices: follow Jesus or follow Satan: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Nine
By Rachelle Dekker
Someone feels that Lucy needs to escape. There is just one problem Lucy doesn’t know anything about the world out there. And the world is dangerous enough when you aren’t being hunted by the very people you are trying to escape from.
Zoe Johnson knows she shouldn’t get involved, but there is something about Lucy that is just drawing her in. She can’t leave someone so innocent, so naive to figure it all out on her own. Though Lucy’s few details about herself seem a tad far-fetched.
But all too soon Lucy’s claims have seemingly become reality and now Zoe is on the run. But who is after them, after Lucy and why?
But Lucy is more than she appears and what she doesn’t know or remember could get all of them killed.
Nine is a story about choice versus programming. What makes a person a person? When does one’s humanity end and all that is left is a living, breathing tool? These are the questions that, to my mind, define this book.
I really enjoyed this new offering from Rachelle Dekker. The genre is considered suspense but this is such an inadequate classification as there is so much more to this book. Yes, it most definitely has moments of suspense but there is a depth to it as the various characters are faced with a decision. Can a person programmed to obey any and all orders change? Can a person disconnected from their humanity overcome everything they have ever known to make a choice of their own? Can love restore what should have been?
Something about this book, while totally different reminds me of Jill Williamson’s Replication: The Jason Experiment. Can someone, programmed for a single purpose, be something more? In my opinion, this book delves into this question, examines it, and answers it in an interesting and entertaining manner. Would I recommend it? Yes, I would. Though not considered science fiction or fantasy I feel fairly certain that those who enjoy these genres might enjoy this title as well.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.
This book is a thrilling ride! It is a truly enjoyable read from start to finish. The plot is carefully laid out so that you discover tidbits of the backstories for each character at certain times, contributing to a suspenseful plot. I liked Zoe a lot and enjoyed her character as she grows and changes in the book. I thought I had the ending figured out but then there were surprising twists and turns that kept me guessing. There are some scenes of torture and violence that may be better suited for more adult audiences. Nonetheless, I would consider this a clean novel. There isn’t a strong faith element in the story but there is definitely triumph of good over evil. Overall, I enjoyed this story and recommend it to those who like contemporary suspense. I look forward to more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Against her better judgement, Zoe who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who does not seem to have any past at all. With little warning, they must follow the only sure thing they know.
Nine, by Rachelle Dekker was the second book that I have read, the cover caught my eye, however I could not finish the book and lost interest.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my opinion. All opinions are my own.
An intense beginning greeted me when I opened the cover of Nine by Rachelle Dekker and the action and danger persisted almost constantly until the very end. Evil forces behind a clandestine government project would stop at nothing to protect their secrets and that included killing everyone who posed a threat to them. Little did Zoe realize exactly what she was getting herself into when she decided to help Lucy, a young, seemingly innocent girl who had very little recall of her past.
Once again Rachelle Dekker has proven that she inherited her storyteller genes from her now famous dad. Nine is a tale that holds the reader captive and often wondering exactly which characters are to be trusted. A few surprises along the way prove that nothing is always as it seems.
It has been awhile since I read The Girl Behind the Red Rope and it took me awhile to grasp the connection between it and Nine. One thing I took away from this story is that no matter your past and who you think you are because of it, ultimately it is your choice to be who you want to be.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Whew, this was nothing like I expected! I figured it would be suspenseful, but I was so much more. Have you seen the Amazon series Hannah or seen the big screen movie Lucy? Nine is a combination of both of those in my estimation. Kind of funny since one of the main characters name is Lucy.
Since this was my first foray into Rachelle’s writing I was a bit nervous. HA! I can see she received the gift of writing from her dad as it comes through in this book! By chapter 9 I had chewed 2 fingernails down to nubbins.
From the first sentence the reader is off with Lucy in a race against time and the government! Let’s just say people drop left and right through this story. It’s action packed from the get-go. When Lucy shows up at the restaurant Zoe’s waitresses at, their lives become entwined and neither of them knows what they’re up against.
I really loved the writing because I was gripped to each word from the start. I was up until almost 1am finishing the last couple of chapters. Along the way I kept trying to predict who would live and who would die. Don’t say you don’t do the very same thing. “Is Zoe or Lucy going to get it in the end?” “Maybe both of them will make it and they’ll end up on a sandy beach building sand castles.”
Rachelle Dekker did a fantastic job of creating people readers will absolutely despise. Director Hamman is a piece of work. He was easy to dislike. Dr. Loveless… let’s just say the name is absolutely fitting. Talk about hoping someone gets it in the end. hahahaha
I was a little confused about the role of someone in Zoe’s past. It was someone who caused a lot of pain for her and her family, but I never quite understood what the person actually did. They said a lot of things that they thought were for the best, but I was still confused about her extended family.
There isn’t a faith element in the story, but there’s definitely a humanity element. What are we willing to do to protect our country, our world? Are we willing to forgo our own humanity to be on top? And are we willing to love sacrificially? How far will we go to protect another person?
*I received this book from Revell for review. This is my opinion.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. These days, it’s kind of difficult, since there are so many beautiful book covers out there. Nine by Rachelle Dekker qualifies as one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a very long time. The internet does it no favors. Sure, you can see the moody mist on the mountains, but the sparkle on the physical book’s cover makes that mist nearly tangible, and to practically feel the mist makes a woodsy scent tickle the nose as the pages turn.
What I didn’t know is that this one is set practically in my backyard, which gave me an instant familiarity with the rugged terrain. That’s where the familiarity ends, unless you consider that Lucy and Zoe are girls and I’m a girl. Familiarity may have ended, but the action and thrills didn’t. They cruised right on to the very end of a story that kept the pages flying until I ran out of pages to turn.
The question of, “Does my past define who I am,” is a common theme. Rachelle Dekker handles it in an interesting way, examining the lives of Lucy, Zoe, Seeley and others. Am I created and predestined to be one thing or can I choose to set aside those preconceived notions and become more? Can you?
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All the opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.
The choice is theirs to make… Fear or Love…
Like father, like daughter. I can tell you that Nine is going to take me awhile to digest just like it would with one of Rachelle Dekker’s father, Ted Dekker’s books. There’s a lot within those 340+ pages.
At face value it’s a humdinger of a suspense novel with a touch of almost sci-fic technology. And it’s got a delightfully spooky cover. But those are only surface things. They are not the deeper questions that Rachelle Dekker asks through fiction. What does it mean to be human? Are we simply products of our past? Can we change our programming. Can we choose our own story? Is there redemption for those who have chosen the darkness?
One thing I will mention about Nine is that there are some familiar faces from Rachelle Dekker’s previous book, The Girl Behind The Red Rope, that she co-authored with her father. Parts of this story make more sense if you’ve already read that book. I found myself referring back to some sections as sort of a refresher. Don’t worry, if you haven’t read it you can still read Nine as a standalone.
Riveting. Gripping. Thought-provoking. Intense. They are all words that could easily be used to describe Nine. As such, I finished it in record time, less than a day. Rachelle Dekker’s storytelling skill is vivid and undeniable. Some aspects of the story are frighteningly plausible in light of man’s attempts to play God, instead of the conspiracy theories they first appear to be.
I enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to more from this talented young author.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I read the companion book to this one, and was interested to see how it tied together. The short answer is trauma, but I won’t give any more away since so much of this story is how characters overcame their past and present for a chance at perhaps a future.
This book focuses mostly on a third of the title number in characters. There is a mysterious young girl we first see fleeing for her life, though she has no memory as to exactly why. Then we meet Zoe, a kindly waitress who decides to help the girl. And finally, there is the FBI agent whose mission is that girl.
It was fascinating to go on the run with this unlikely trio as they try to figure out what exactly is going on and how to fix it, both in the bigger picture and in their own lives. And the question is, which would they rather sacrifice- what they hold close to or that bigger picture.
If you like action, intrigue, psychological suspense, and/or books with Christian elements, then this one is for you. It was so interesting to read a book that seemed to belong in a completely different genre than its companion, but that is how this world is- so many different things all connected together. Like the trio.
P.S. My favorite character was the FBI agent. I’m just throwing that out there.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
“I am not looking to escape my darkness. I am learning to love myself there.”
Dekker took thriller, mystery, suspense and sci-fi and wrapped it up in this neat little book of action that I had a hard time putting down. When the universe places a lost girl with no memory in Zoe’s life a fight for survival ensues.
This is another novel that I highly recommend readers go into blind. The less you know the more exciting the ride will be and the revelations will be more climatic. The characters are easy to enjoy and I loved Zoe’s protective nature that shines despite her past. What I found intriguing was the ability of Dekker to take this suspenseful read and weave in the message that you are not bound by your past. The past does not define who you are and your limits are only what you allow to limit you.
My one drawback was the desire to know more about Zoe’s past experiences. Even though I know this was focused on the amnesic child the hints of Zoe’s cult-like childhood intrigued me. There isn’t a lot on it though in comparison to the main plot.
This was a fast paced and highly addictive read for me. The violence is graphic and there are incidents of torture. My favorite aspect was the science fiction element that blended throughout. I could see this as a series on Netflix or a movie. No spoilers though so I won’t tell you which movie this reminds me of most.
Thank you Revell Books for the opportunity to read this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion. All thoughts are solely my own.
Nine by Rachelle Dekker should be on the to-be-read pile of every devoted suspense reader! I am increasingly picky about suspense novels, and Nine contains everything I look for in a thrilling novel! Bravo!
Seriously, that suspense! Okay, I promise there will be no plot spoilers — I wouldn’t want to take the thrill of this journey away from any reader. I loved the balance of pace and character development. Additionally, Nine contains an intensity that I’ve found in only a handful of authors. It’s an intensity that pulls you into the story world, glues you to whatever seat you can find, and burns your eyeballs because you don’t dare blink!
When the suspense and mystery ends on that final page, the truths exposed in the story will stay with its readers for a lifetime! The spiritual message revolves around identity, a message the author has a gift for unveiling, restoring, and edifying within her novels. Nine explores choosing a new identity, no matter how dark, broken, or manipulated your past may be. Rewriting your program. Choosing freedom. Choosing love. Through the intense moments of testing that each character faced, readers will be strengthened for the identity battles we face every day!
Five Stars ~ Nine by Rachelle Dekker is an edge-of-your-seat suspense! Nine is standalone with ties into The Girl behind the Red Rope, but it is not necessary to read The Girl behind the Red Rope before reading Nine.
Possible triggers ~ violence, death, abuse, abduction, torture.
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.