I admit that I’m more into literary fiction than the apocalyptic -thriller genre. Of the thrillers I’ve read, I prefer espionage or political ones over the spiritual-supernatural in some Christian fiction. I should also disclose that I received a free copy of Midnight is My Time and asked to give an objective review. With that out of the way, here I go.
Mike’s Style
Mike Delloso is a creative writing professor and speaker on writing. Having written 15 fiction and non-fiction books, he has no trouble crafting sentences and scenes and linking them into a story. He also uses appropriate descriptions that fit the tone and events of his scenes, like this one:
“The kid’s mouth hung open like the hinges had busted.”
Mike judiciously reveals his characters’ backstories and motivations and the storyline. There is conflict on almost every page. As with most stories in the supernatural genre, It’s also dark. You could expect this since his influences are Stephen King, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, among others.
The Rapture, called The Event or The Disappearance, has already happened. The world is emerging from the ensuing chaos. Here’s an excellent word picture Mike employs to describe this new world:
“Dirt, rocks, dust, and a few anemic trees clinging to life, stretching their scrawny branches skyward like captives begging for food.”
But this is not the world of Jerry Jenkins’ “Left Behind” series. It breaks from the traditional timeline of Eschatology some of us learned in church. Adam and Missy are drawn together by mysterious inner callings. Together, they face a supernaturally-orchestrated attempt to stop them from a mission that will impact the world.
Mike baits me on the first page with a tightly written, evocative paragraph about an off-road cafe being an oasis in a small town in a barren landscape. He hooks me by following up with a one-sentence paragraph:
“And Andy Mayer needed an oasis.”
Without revealing too much too soon, Mike proceeds to paint the contours of an apocalyptic world and fill in the details of the main character. The reader also learns that something otherworldly is haunting Andy.
Wanting to know what happens next kept me reading in spite of some snags along the way.
Snags
Several chapters of fight scenes, in the beginning, seemed repetitive and overly gruesome only because of the number of them.
The author’s voice also broke through several times as if to point out to the reader what he already perfectly illustrated, in case the reader wouldn’t get the point. Anyway, that is minor.
I also had difficulty building an attachment with the main characters. Mike does try to create sympathy, but I still felt outside watching the characters rather than being inside their skin. What carried me through the book was the short, quick-paced chapters. A thriller is supposed to do that, and Mike does it well.
One other difficulty was the story’s theological context. Not that I turn to fiction for theology or believe Mike was necessarily trying to make such a statement. However, he paints a very different post-Rapture world and the role he casts Andy and Missy to play in it. So, I reminded myself of the advice I learned in school to accept the fictional world the author creates and read it for that.
Regarding the ending, I felt the book should have ended at chapter 38. The last two chapters should be spun off into a sequel to give justice to the characters’ role in the post-apocalyptic world.
Finally, yes, there is growth in the characters. There is an attempt to show subtle changes as they discover their role in the story. However, their discovery comes late in the book and feels rushed.
Conclusion
Overall, the cover illustration is perfect for an apocalyptic story, the pacing appropriate, the concept intriguing, and some early events repetitive. Mike should show more than he tells to develop sympathetic characters. But if you like action, you’ll get it.
Click here to find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-My-Time-Mike-Dellosso/dp/1946016454
Mike’s website: https://www.mikedellossobooks.com/
