The bio on the back flap of many of his books says “Ted Dekker is known for novels which combine adrenaline-laced stories packed with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil.” This is certainly true of THR3E.

          THR3E begins with a brief discourse on the nature of evil between seminary student Kevin Parson and his academic advisor. This conversation, which sounds boring, is actually quite interesting. Although brief, it sets the foundation for the entire story. “Can man remove himself beyond the reach of evil? Or is he condemned to live a life of evil?” From that first question, the author builds a picture of Kevin Parson, a young seminary student with what is referred to as a bizarre past. Throughout the story, we see him trying to ignore, forget and overcome his past, but events won’t let him.

          Within moments of leaving his advisor, he receives a phone call. The man on the other end demands that Kevin call the newspaper and confess his sin. If he doesn’t, his car will blow up in three minutes. He gives Kevin a riddle, meant to reveal and remind Kevin of the sin and hangs up. Kevin frantically ditches the car in a greenbelt near an almost empty parking lot. A moment later, the car explodes. The ensuing investigation takes 300 pages of non-stop action as Slater taunts and teases and detonates more bombs. With each new event, Kevin is forced to admit and confront another piece of his past.

          In the end, this entire story can be summed up in Dr. John Francis’ response to that initial conversation at the beginning of the book. Man is not condemned to a lifetime of evil, but rather “A lifetime struggle with evil.” Who knew a philosophical and theological question could be so gripping and compelling? No wonder it has been a public debate for millennia. And Ted Dekker’s “THE3E” just made it even more so.

          Thomas Hunter is a man caught between two worlds. Literally. In one world he is a 25 year old businessman being chased by people wanting to kill him. When he falls asleep (or is knocked unconscious), he enters another world, one where people living in harmony in low-tech villages shun the forest and the river that runs past it as Evil and Forbidden. There he meets talking birds and vicious bats. He almost dies several times. In both worlds. And, through the course of the story, comes to believe somehow, someway, both worlds are real. And both worlds are in danger.

          In the 21st century Denver world, he must stop a biological plague, a plague that seems to be the history of this other world. There’s no way to tell for sure, though, because all the written history is lost. That’s why it is called The Lost Books. Thomas is told hunting the Lost Books is a dangerous thing to do, but he needs that information to save his . . . one of his worlds. Will his actions save or doom a world? Or both?

          Ted Dekker is an amazing author. His stories are full of action and plot twists that keep you turning pages well into the night. The absolute thrill I experience in reading his stories is mirrored by a corresponding joy at recognizing a world view and truths so consistent with my own I feel a kinship. In Ted Dekker’s fictional worlds, God exists. He is actively and compassionately involved in our reality. When I see these truths illustrated and illuminated so expertly, I can’t help but be envious. I want to write like that!

          His stories are not the typical pabulum of Christian fiction. He is one of many authors who are breaking out of the mold that says a book either has to be secular, devoid of God and His Truth to be interesting or it has to conform to certain strictures that, in the end, strip it of interest. This is not a complaint against Christian fiction. It has its place. Rarely, though, do you find an action-packed adventure, full of the angst and evil expected in the thriller or suspense genre combined with a thoroughly Christian perspective. Ted Dekkar does that combination well.