Book Summary
Water turns to blood. Flies and gnats
attack the innocent. Marc and Gillian Thayer’s vacation resort becomes a grisly
murder scene, with a killer using the ten plagues of Egypt as his playbook for
revenge.
When their friend turns
up dead, Marc and Gillian put their vacation on hold, enlist the help of a
retired homicide detective, and take a closer look at the bizarre plagues as
they escalate in intensity. Meanwhile, a stranger is after the Thayers’ newly adopted
baby. Will they uncover the truth behind the bitter agenda before the tenth
plague, the death of the firstborn son?
About the AuthorHere's an interview with Adam.
1.
What
was your inspiration behind The Tenth Plague?
One day I was reading the book of Revelation and came across
22:18–19. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if
anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will
take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are
described in this book” (ESV). My mind began playing the “what if” game. Would
God really bring a biblical plague on someone who tampered with His Word? I
chatted with a few theologian friends, and the plot emerged from there.
2.
How
does this novel compare with your first novel, Fatal
Illusions?
Though the plot, of course, is different, the two novels
share a number of similarities. Both are set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,
where I live. I like to write about average folks like Marc and Gillian Thayer,
a pastor and his wife who face unexpected, even threatening, events. Of course,
there’s another really bad killer who wants to do them harm, and their retired
homicide detective friend, Chuck Riley, once again comes out of retirement to
help them. I also like to weave in a historical event that somehow relates to
the present day. In Fatal Illusions, it
was the killer’s obsession with Houdini; in The
Tenth Plague, an old mine disaster plays an important role. The past always
plays an important role in the present—a running theme in my novels. Overall, I
like to write about redemption: how biblical truth offers the answers to the
complicated issues of life. Stories, like parables, present some of the best
ways to illustrate biblical truths.
3.
What was one of the most
important lessons you learned during the writing of this novel?
The
power of the collaborative process. I had a fairly strong first draft, but I
was stuck. A novel editor provided a creative springboard and helped me see
where my true story lay. Without her help, I doubt this story would have seen
the light of day.
4.
What part of writing
this novel took the most work?
This
novel required a ton of research. From an old mining tragedy to autism, from
adoption law to anthrax, from pheromones to the Oklahoma City bombing, the
research for this one required much more than I ever expected. I’m so thankful
for technology and ease of access, thanks to the Internet. Without Google and
so many resources at my fingertips, I’d probably still be researching this
story.
5.
So far, what has been
your favorite work experience in life?
During
one summer between years in high school, I worked at a library, a book lover’s
paradise. Granted, a lot of the work involved stocking shelves, but being
surrounded by so many fascinating books and interesting authors was pure
heaven. I was born a die-hard book lover, and I’ll probably die one too.
6. Consider the
qualities that make you unique. How do these qualities come out in your
writing?
I
love suspense fiction and history, so a blending of the two always seems to
come out in my writing. In high school, I won awards in calligraphy; Gillian
Thayer, my female lead, is into calligraphy in a big way (it’s her job). I’ve
always been intrigued with how one’s past impacts his or her present and
future. This is a recurring theme in my novels because it’s part of who I am.
Now that I think about it, what I write is inseparable to some degree from who
I am.
7. Introduce your plot
summary and main characters. What is your favorite part of the story?
Water turns to blood. Flies and gnats attack the innocent. Marc and Gillian Thayer’s vacation resort becomes a grisly murder scene, with a killer using the ten plagues of Egypt as his playbook for revenge.
When their friend turns up dead, Marc and Gillian put their vacation on hold, enlist the help of a retired homicide detective, and take a closer look at the bizarre plagues as they escalate in intensity. Meanwhile, a stranger is after the Thayers’ newly adopted baby. Will they uncover the truth behind the bitter agenda before the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn son?
My
favorite part is when the firstborn son is revealed and the novel culminates in
the tenth plague. This is the most suspenseful and action-packed part of the
story, with several key characters in jeopardy. I had a blast writing it.
8. One of the
main themes of The Tenth Plague is
confronting and dealing with your past. What can readers take away from this
theme, especially in a novel that deals with religion and death?
Both the villain and my heroine, Gillian Thayer, grapple with
heartbreaking real-life issues from their past. But how they respond shows two
very different paths. My hope is that readers will see the stark contrast in
the context of biblical truth presented in the story. The bottom line is that
God is enough, and He offers the solution to every problem of life. This is
another repeated theme in my stories. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my
latest project.
What are two things about you people
might find surprising?
I took lessons to play the accordion in junior
high and high school (wanna hear a polka?). When I was a tween, I was a
ventriloquist and had a dummy named Andy. I used to entertain the younger kids
in children’s church with routines I made up.
How did you meet your wife? I
understand it’s an amazing story.
In the spring of 1995, still single and
disillusioned with dating, I gave up on the idea of dating anyone ever again. I
decided to go on a trip to the Holy Land as sort of a spiritual pilgrimage; I
wanted to meditate on God and see what He wanted to show me about Himself.
Wouldn’t you know it? What I least expected happened. At the Boston airport, I
met Kim, a gorgeous brunette (her church group met mine) who’d brought the same
novel to read on the airplane, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. No
kidding. Then at London’s Heathrow Airport, the ticket person thought she and I
were a couple and put us together on the all-night flight to Tel Aviv. Kim
didn’t care for her sardines, so I ate them. The relationship appeared to be
promising. To cut to the chase, we chatted in Jericho, conversed in Nazareth,
and talked nonstop in Jerusalem. On the way home I sat beside her on the plane.
A few weeks later, I visited her in Milwaukee and met her parents. By New
Year’s, we were engaged. Pretty amazing, huh? I now tell singles not to look
for a marriage partner. Seek God, and He’ll put you on a collision course if
marriage is His plan for you
Some content used by permission of Kirkdale Press
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