DUST TO DUST

Author: Heather Graham ISBN: 9780778326540 7/2009 SUSPENSE Publisher: MIRA

When the Apocalypse threatens, the chosen warriors must be ready to fight Not long ago, Scott Bryant would have described himself as an ordinary guy. But one act of herolsrn has changed his life forever—or at least until the apocalypse occurs. Because the end of the world is on its way. Suddenly and inexplicably possessed of superhuman strength, Scott finds himself allied with the enigmatic and alluring Melanie Regan in a quest to find the mysrterious Oracle in hopes of averting the absolute destruction that threatens. Melanie herself has been falling into trances, sketching terrifying visions of future events—and she wants answers. She knows better than Scott where to look for help, but even she cannot fathom the powers that have thrust them together in an epic battle of good against evil. The earth itself will soon turn against its inhabitants, and now niortal and irnmortal must join forces if any are to survive.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Heather Graham has outdone herself with the first novel in The Prophecy series, DUST TO DUST. It is an amazing story, starting out this new series on an incredibly high note.

The Doomsday Prophecy comes alive on the page when the ordinary becomes extraordinary and is teamed up with those who already serve tirelessly, and endlessly, to keep the world safe. A secret group called the Alliance, along with three who have been chosen to do battle against a horrific evil that has been unleashed from the bowels of the earth, scramble to keep that evil from turning good to bad and neighbor against neighbor. While free will and faith bolster those who are called, the rest of the world is turned upside down.

At a Roman church the trio of earth signs meet the Oracle, the one who has chosen and called them to the crack where evil seeps out. She explains that from time immemorial, there's a belief that the end of the world will arrive, and with it the evil buried deep beneath their feet will once again call on those whose will or faithlessness make them easy prey. Scott, Melanie, and the mysterious Rainier wield various implements, and by cracking one skull at a time, attempt to restore equilibrium to a world gone awry.

I loved DUST TO DUST! It is written with the seamless, compelling and complex style that fans of Ms. Graham have come to know and love. The characters are vivid and believable, even though they are far from ordinary. The historical aspects of this tale made me hunger to know more about the times and places discussed. I could see the Piazza Navona and the Colosseum, as well as the catacombs beneath the city. This is an extraordinary book, well written and just frightening enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats while frantically turning the pages!

The second in The Prophecy series, FROM THE ASHES, releases next summer. I, for one, cannot wait to see where this chilling tale takes me!

Kay James