Beckon by Tom Pawlik - A Book Review

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     If you enjoyed Ted Dekker’s books that take place in the little town of Paradise, you will enjoy Beckon, another small town where evil lurks. Anthropologist Jack Kendrick stumbles across the town of Beckon while following up on notes his father left behind before his disappearance. Along with his friend, Rudy, a research scientist, and their guide from the Caieche tribe, Jack descends into a world below the Wyoming town, to encounter terrors beyond his imagination.

     Police officer Elina Gutierrez, also in search for a missing family member, follows a white van from California to Wyoming, a van that unknowingly led her to Beckon. If only she’d told someone of her plans. Elina knew that prayer was her only hope of escaping Beckon’s terrors.

     George Wilcox had intentionally come to Beckon, responding to an invitation, to the promise of a miracle. Miriam Wilcox may not have realized why she’d been brought to Beckon, but she knew that citizenship in heaven was preferred to the life Thomas Vale, leader of Beckon, was offering.

     The people of Beckon had long ago learned to justify their actions. After all wasn’t the world better off without some of its citizens? Didn’t the country’s economy work on the theory of supply and demand? Weren’t they protecting a native culture from the prying eyes of outsiders?

     How different were these people from Jack, Elina and George? How different from them are we? Where do we draw the line? If it is drawn in the sand, what happens when the sand shifts? Where, or in whom, can a firm foundation be found?

     Tom Pawlik uses story to tackle some big questions. He keeps his reader through an engrossing story line, painting vivid mental images, developed characters, and concise language. If you enjoy thrillers, but prefer a sound message over terror just for terror’s sake, Beckon is for you. If you appreciate a story teller who develops suspense and makes you want to leave the lights on without vulgarity, Beckon is for you.