No matter who took you, no matter how far away, I will find you . . . and that’s my promise.
Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson
Dark Intercept
Format:
Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
When dark forces rise, are faith and firepower enough?
On the eve of his medical retirement, Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson receives a frantic call from his estranged childhood best friend David Yarnell. David’s daughter has been kidnapped off the streets of Nashville in broad daylight. The police have no suspects and no leads. The only clue: the body of a dead priest left behind at the scene. With the clock ticking, David is growing desperate, as is his wife, Rachel . . . Jed’s first love.
Despite his painful history with David and Rachel, Jed agrees to help. But he’s spent his career as a door-kicking Navy SEAL, not an investigator. His presence immediately draws unwanted attention, creates friction with the local police, and triggers a mysterious attempt on his life. Just when he thinks things can’t get worse, it starts to happen again–the voices in his head, the nightmares, the visions. Dark memories and strange abilities, things he believed he’d left behind when he fled Nashville for the Navy at eighteen, begin to resurface.
Jed realizes that to save the missing girl, he must take a leap of faith and embrace the gifts he’s denied for all these years. To foil this dark intercept, he’ll need more than just his years as a SEAL operator, because he has no choice now but to take up arms and join the battle in the unseen spiritual warfare raging all around him. And there is far more at stake than just a missing girl: the world is not the place he thought it was–and he is not alone.
Follow the military heroes of The Shepherds series as they bring the power of light into the dark mystery of Sara Beth’s abduction.
Note: While the blurb/summary spells Sarah Beth without an “h”, it’s present throughout the actual text of the novel, so that’s what I’m using.
Point of view:
3rd person. Mostly from Jed & Sarah Beth’s perspective, but a few sections from other POVs.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
I consider myself a follower of Christ’s values and teachings. However, I don’t consume much Christian/faith-based media anymore – because they are too often contrived and mawkish.
Being a big fan of Andrews & Wilson’s other works, I felt cautiously optimistic about listening to Dark Intercept. While some characters were unabashedly overt in their Christian faith – I loved that the central character Jed was a former believer. While the newly retired SEAL was a disciple in his youth, a pivotal event in his teens destroyed his devotion.
I loved the mix of paranormal, action, thriller, suspense, and faith. Jed’s search for his friend’s missing child uncovers as much about him as it does about what happened to Sarah Beth. I enjoyed that this was told from multiple perspectives – the juxtaposition of Jed, an experienced operator, and Sarah Beth, a young child, lead an incredibly dynamic cast of characters. All are strong and weak in their own ways.
The paranormal aspect is beyond the often trite, “I had a feeling” or “because the Holy Spirit spoke to me”. There are powers, visions, and possessions – both Good & Evil. I did feel like these aspects were well thought out and while they led to surprising events, it was cohesive with the other themes.
This is a complete story and doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but the authors are definitely launching a series with this foundational book. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Narration:
I enjoyed MacLeod Andrews narration. He used a different affect depending on whether the section was from Jed or Sarah Beth’s perspective which really helped immerse me in the story. He also has a wide range of speaking voices & emotions that are a great fit for Andrews & Wilson’s writing.
Content Warning (contains spoilers):
Attempted rape, possession, & psychological torture.
About the authors:
Brian Andrews is a US Navy veteran, Park Leadership Fellow, and former submarine officer with a psychology degree from Vanderbilt and a masters in business from Cornell University. He is the author of three critically acclaimed high-tech thrillers: Reset, The Infiltration Game, and The Calypso Directive.
Jeffrey Wilson has worked as an actor, firefighter, paramedic, jet pilot, and diving instructor, as well as a vascular and trauma surgeon. He served in the US Navy for fourteen years and made multiple deployments as a combat surgeon with an East Coast–based SEAL Team. The author of three award-winning supernatural thrillers, The Traiteur’s Ring, The Donors, and Fade to Black, and the acclaimed faith-based thriller War Torn. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Southwest Florida with their four children.
About the narrator:
MacLeod Andrews is an Actor. Narrator of many books. Wyatt in They Look Like People. Currently the TV Whole Foods VO. Producer of a couple films. Chocolate chip cookie aficionado.
You can connect with MacLeod Andrews here:
My Favorite Quotes
I don’t need your blessing, David. And I’m not doing this for you or for your God. I’m doing it for the girl. – Dark Intercept by @LexicalForge @JWilsonWarTorn @bAndrewsJWilson #Audiobook narrated by @MacLeodAndrews @TyndaleHouse #ShepherdsSeries #Paranormal #Christian #Thriller #Suspense
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No matter who took you, no matter how far away, I will find you . . . and that’s my promise. – Dark Intercept by @LexicalForge @JWilsonWarTorn @bAndrewsJWilson #Audiobook narrated by @MacLeodAndrews @TyndaleHouse #ShepherdsSeries #Paranormal #Christian #Thriller #Suspense
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She suspected that in this place, the “gift” she never wanted might, ironically, be her salvation. – Dark Intercept by @LexicalForge @JWilsonWarTorn @bAndrewsJWilson #Audiobook narrated by @MacLeodAndrews @TyndaleHouse #ShepherdsSeries #Paranormal #Christian #Thriller #Suspense
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The beacon that was Sarah Beth was hitting a fevered pitch, but he still couldn’t see her. This girl was hiding like a SEAL. – Dark Intercept by @LexicalForge @JWilsonWarTorn @bAndrewsJWilson #Audiobook narrated by @MacLeodAndrews @TyndaleHouse #ShepherdsSeries #Paranormal #Christian #Thriller #Suspense
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Rellim Reads 