The First Born

Written By Conlan Brown 
Reviewed By Michelle Sutton 

Three supernatural gifts.  Two thousand years of division.  One moment of truth. 

Hannah's head hung long brown hair in her eyes.  Her face felt pasty with cold, fatigue, and pain.  Arms behind her back, she sat in a chair, wrists, and ankles tied to the wooden frame, chair legs bolted to the floor.  A cold car.  A gun.  Horror.  Pain.  Grief.  Screaming.  A windshield blistering with holes.  Darkness.

It all came over her like a flood.  A pouring out of pictures in her mind.  But then there was one more thing.  Not an image, but a feeling–that half a continent away someone else had felt it all happening too. 

The Firstborn, those gifted with Foresight, Hindsight, and Insight at the time of Christ's death are divided between themselves.  And when an Islamic holy man is murdered outside of his mosque it becomes apparent that one of the Firstborn was to blame.  Now, with the threat of a terrorist attack on an unspeakable target the Firstborn are spiraling out of control.  Leaders are dying, members are being kidnapped, and unity is being forced.  Three heroes, differently gifted and divided must work together to thwart those who would go too far.

Their breakneck race against time plunges them into a world of danger and through a gauntlet across the United States.  From the Riverwalk of San Antonio, where Devin Bathurst, John Temple, and Hannah Rice must protect one another from assassination, to the gritty streets of Washington DC, a paramilitary compound in Pennsylvania, and ultimately back to our nation's capital, the Firstborn must unite to prevent an impending atrocity from becoming reality.

My review: 

Conlan has crafted a compelling story along the lines of such talent as Bronleewe, Dekker, and Parrish.  I am truly impressed.  The creativity of this story combined with a believable plot that twists around world problems in existence today is profound.  This story breathes life and truth rather than destruction.  Seriously.  Don't let the creepy cover fool you. 

Yeah, there are dark people in this story, but there is also light and self-sacrifice.  Serving God rather than ourselves is a major theme, and showing just how misguided people can be when they think they know best rather than consulting God can be disastrous.  This novel really makes you think.  It's scary, bloody and a bit gross, but not without purpose.  It's a man's man book, yet this wuss enjoyed it, too.  Why?  Because I enjoy an intelligent book with symbolism and truth interspersed throughout the plot. 

I didn't see false doctrine or new age teaching, just a storyworld with clearly fabricated spiritual gifts (this is fiction) that conveyed a real life lesson Christians need to read about and hopefully allow into their hearts.  The end doesn't always justify the means, but following the God of Love is crucial.  Conlan did a great job showing these things without distorting the heart of the Scriptures.  Bravo!