Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind or Messiah? is a work of fiction in the suspense and psychological drama subgenres, and was penned by author Bob Goodwin. The work is suited for the mature adult reading audience due to explicit scenes of violence and gore as well as references to abuse, trauma, and mental health themes. As the title suggests, we find ourselves with central figure Ezekiel Jeremiah Kaufman, who has caused concern everywhere he goes since childhood. Claiming to hear the word of God and see prophetic visions lands him in a mental institution, and we follow Ezekiel’s journey as he tries to seek out the ultimate evil that grips him with fear, to destroy it before it’s too late.

Author Bob Goodwin chills readers to the bone in this skillfully crafted suspense novel with extreme action and psychological tension. One of the most impressive features of this work is the fact that you always feel in safe hands with Goodwin, from the word pictures painted to heighten every setting with atmospheric detail to the inner workings of the protagonist’s tortured mind. There are plenty of duplicitous questions about who is really the madman here, which keep the suspense bubbling as new twists occur and crank the action up yet another gear. It’s one of those novels where the intensity reaches fever pitch just at the right moment for it all to be revealed. Overall, I would certainly recommend Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind or Messiah? to readers seeking dark fiction with realistic psychological themes, an unpredictable plot, and a confident author to take you on a wild ride.

Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind or Messiah? by Bob Goodwin is a brilliant work of suspense fiction crossed with the paranormal. Welcome to the world of Ezekiel Jeremiah Kaufman, a child who seems ordinary on the outside, but has a secret that would make you believe he is God’s anointed. God has given him a special gift—a gift that he didn’t exactly ask for. Ezekiel’s strong spiritual connection with God allows him the ability of foresight. Sadly, some people close to him are not very encouraging and see him as suffering from a mental condition. Other than Ezekiel’s very early signs of hair loss, his own family has no real concerns about his mental condition, but his teachers advise that Ezekiel should see a psychiatrist. The passing of years has allowed Ezekiel to understand his gift better, but it is also when his gift will be tested when the son of a drug baron wreaks murder and mayhem.

I like the way Bob Goodwin gives a spin on the idea of a special gift coming from God, which is very different from superpowers that are products of genetic mutation or freak accidents. There are elements of bitter reality and poignancy in Goodwin’s storytelling. He provides enough exposition to flesh out his characters, but at the same time, it has that taut pacing that will keep you turning pages. Another thing I like about Goodwin’s writing is that he manages to hook your attention from start to finish, that you become 100% invested in reading it. I find myself feeling sympathy for Ezekiel, particularly for dealing with the people who don’t understand him. This story is the real deal; it is keenly observed, solidly plotted, and features a sympathetic protagonist. These elements give Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind, or Messiah? its weight and makes it convincing and gives it a kind of sneaky confidence that makes you enjoy reading it.

Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind or Messiah? by Bob Goodwin is a suspense novel filled with plenty of action to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. Ezekiel knew from an early age that he was different. He had a special gift that gave him prophetic abilities. He had visions on regular days, and on bad days, he could feel the presence of evil lurking just at the corner of his eye where he could not see what it was. Over the years, Ezekiel developed his abilities and started helping people in need. However, he had no idea that the evil one was also getting more powerful. Before Ezekiel knew it, evil was picking out everyone he helped and even knew. They were being killed most horribly, and there was nothing Ezekiel could do. Or was there? Could Ezekiel stop the Evil One from destroying lives? Or was Ezekiel going to be its next victim?

The author did a remarkable job of keeping the suspense alive until the very end. Bob Goodwin created an atmosphere for readers to immerse themselves in. The world-building was incredibly well-written and well-developed. Ezekiel was a smart character, he understood his condition and worked according to the situation. He adapted to his abilities well and worked hard to master them. The mystery behind the Evil One was very interesting and had me reading on. The descriptions were on point, and the imagery was fantastic. Reading Ezekiel: Madman, Mastermind or Messiah? felt like watching a movie, which is all thanks to the author’s ability to fully draw readers into the story. The narrative was in tune with Ezekiel’s growth, the pace of the story was fast without being too much, and the plot was well-thought-out. A complete package!

EZEKIEL. The author makes this a hard to put down book. Each chapter is alive with some good descriptive writing and there is always a good reason to compel the reader to turn the pages to find out more. There seems to be an underlying threat of either evil or madness as the characters’ true nature unfolds. You can count the normal people on half a hand. The story has a strong sense of place, a wide range of people you quickly get to know, some you may even identify with and the ending doesn’t disappoint. Never know, there could easily be an Ezekiel living in your suburb. I enjoyed this fast-paced novel and it ticks all the boxes.
Ian Laver author of CRUCIAL STEP