The Reluctant Jesus


Fiction - Humor/Comedy
264 Pages
Reviewed on 04/11/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Winner of the 2013 Reader's Favorite International Book Award and Gold Medalist.
Award Winning Author Duncan Whitehead was born in England in 1967. After a successful career in the Royal Navy where he served in British Embassies throughout South America and saw service in the Gulf War he joined the world of superyachts as a Purser on-board some of the world's largest private vessels, working for many high profile individuals, being fortunate enough to visit some of the world's most luxurious and exotic places.
Eventually retiring to Savannah, Georgia, he began to partake of his greatest passion, writing. Initially writing short stories he finally put pen to paper and wrote THE GORDONSTON LADIES WALKING CLUB, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness of his new environment. The book, a dark comedy mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists, is set in the leafy neighborhood where he lived.
His passion for comedy saw submissions to many online satire news sites and a stint performing as a stand- up comedian.
He is a former boxer, representing the Royal Navy and an English under 19 team as an amateur and is a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language as well as a former accomplished children's soccer coach.
In 2011 Duncan returned to South America, spending six months in Brazil and a few months in Paraguay before travelling to the Middle-East and Europe before returning to the United States to settle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and lists his hobbies and passions as cooking, the Israeli self-defense art of Krav Maga and the pressure point martial art Dim- Mak.
Duncan has written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for an assortment of web sites both in the US and UK.
As well as his other activities he performs volunteer work, as a hospice volunteer visitor and teaches English to refugees arriving in South Florida.
He has penned a further novel; a comedy set in Manhattan, THE RELUCTANT JESUS, which was published in April 2014 and is working on the script for a potential sit-com.
His acclaimed short story AN ACTOR'S LIFE is available for free for all Kindle users. He has also recently completed the two sequels to THE GORDONSTON LADIES DOG WALKING CLUB - which will hopefully be released later in 2014.Winner of the 2013 Reader's Favorite International Book Award and Gold Medalist.
Award Winning Author Duncan Whitehead was born in England in 1967. After a successful career in the Royal Navy where he served in British Embassies throughout South America and saw service in the Gulf War he joined the world of superyachts as a Purser on-board some of the world's largest private vessels, working for many high profile individuals, being fortunate enough to visit some of the world's most luxurious and exotic places.
Eventually retiring to Savannah, Georgia, he began to partake of his greatest passion, writing. Initially writing short stories he finally put pen to paper and wrote THE GORDONSTON LADIES WALKING CLUB, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness of his new environment. The book, a dark comedy mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists, is set in the leafy neighborhood where he lived.
His passion for comedy saw submissions to many online satire news sites and a stint performing as a stand- up comedian.
He is a former boxer, representing the Royal Navy and an English under 19 team as an amateur and is a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language as well as a former accomplished children's soccer coach.
In 2011 Duncan returned to South America, spending six months in Brazil and a few months in Paraguay before travelling to the Middle-East and Europe before returning to the United States to settle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and lists his hobbies and passions as cooking, the Israeli self-defense art of Krav Maga and the pressure point martial art Dim- Mak.
Duncan has written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for an assortment of web sites both in the US and UK.
As well as his other activities he performs volunteer work, as a hospice volunteer visitor and teaches English to refugees arriving in South Florida.
He has penned a further novel; a comedy set in Manhattan, THE RELUCTANT JESUS, which was published in April 2014 and is working on the script for a potential sit-com.
His acclaimed short story AN ACTOR'S LIFE is available for free for all Kindle users. He has also recently completed the two sequels to THE GORDONSTON LADIES DOG WALKING CLUB - which will hopefully be released later in 2014.Winner of the 2013 Reader's Favorite International Book Award and Gold Medalist.
Award Winning Author Duncan Whitehead was born in England in 1967. After a successful career in the Royal Navy where he served in British Embassies throughout South America and saw service in the Gulf War he joined the world of superyachts as a Purser on-board some of the world's largest private vessels, working for many high profile individuals, being fortunate enough to visit some of the world's most luxurious and exotic places.
Eventually retiring to Savannah, Georgia, he began to partake of his greatest passion, writing. Initially writing short stories he finally put pen to paper and wrote THE GORDONSTON LADIES WALKING CLUB, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness of his new environment. The book, a dark comedy mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists, is set in the leafy neighborhood where he lived.
His passion for comedy saw submissions to many online satire news sites and a stint performing as a stand- up comedian.
He is a former boxer, representing the Royal Navy and an English under 19 team as an amateur and is a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language as well as a former accomplished children's soccer coach.
In 2011 Duncan returned to South America, spending six months in Brazil and a few months in Paraguay before travelling to the Middle-East and Europe before returning to the United States to settle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and lists his hobbies and passions as cooking, the Israeli self-defense art of Krav Maga and the pressure point martial art Dim- Mak.
Duncan has written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for an assortment of web sites both in the US and UK.
As well as his other activities he performs volunteer work, as a hospice volunteer visitor and teaches English to refugees arriving in South Florida.
He has penned a further novel; a comedy set in Manhattan, THE RELUCTANT JESUS, which was published in April 2014 and is working on the script for a potential sit-com.
His acclaimed short story AN ACTOR'S LIFE is available for free for all Kindle users. He has also recently completed the two sequels to THE GORDONSTON LADIES DOG WALKING CLUB - which will hopefully be released later in 2014.Winner of the 2013 Reader's Favorite International Book Award and Gold Medalist.
Award Winning Author Duncan Whitehead was born in England in 1967. After a successful career in the Royal Navy where he served in British Embassies throughout South America and saw service in the Gulf War he joined the world of superyachts as a Purser on-board some of the world's largest private vessels, working for many high profile individuals, being fortunate enough to visit some of the world's most luxurious and exotic places.
Eventually retiring to Savannah, Georgia, he began to partake of his greatest passion, writing. Initially writing short stories he finally put pen to paper and wrote THE GORDONSTON LADIES WALKING CLUB, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness of his new environment. The book, a dark comedy mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists, is set in the leafy neighborhood where he lived.
His passion for comedy saw submissions to many online satire news sites and a stint performing as a stand- up comedian.
He is a former boxer, representing the Royal Navy and an English under 19 team as an amateur and is a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language as well as a former accomplished children's soccer coach.
In 2011 Duncan returned to South America, spending six months in Brazil and a few months in Paraguay before travelling to the Middle-East and Europe before returning to the United States to settle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and lists his hobbies and passions as cooking, the Israeli self-defense art of Krav Maga and the pressure point martial art Dim- Mak.
Duncan has written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for an assortment of web sites both in the US and UK.
As well as his other activities he performs volunteer work, as a hospice volunteer visitor and teaches English to refugees arriving in South Florida.
He has penned a further novel; a comedy set in Manhattan, THE RELUCTANT JESUS, which was published in April 2014 and is working on the script for a potential sit-com.
His acclaimed short story AN ACTOR'S LIFE is available for free for all Kindle users. He has also recently completed the two sequels to THE GORDONSTON LADIES DOG WALKING CLUB - which will hopefully be released later in 2014.Winner of the 2013 Reader's Favorite International Book Award and Gold Medalist.
Award Winning Author Duncan Whitehead was born in England in 1967. After a successful career in the Royal Navy where he served in British Embassies throughout South America and saw service in the Gulf War he joined the world of superyachts as a Purser on-board some of the world's largest private vessels, working for many high profile individuals, being fortunate enough to visit some of the world's most luxurious and exotic places.
Eventually retiring to Savannah, Georgia, he began to partake of his greatest passion, writing. Initially writing short stories he finally put pen to paper and wrote THE GORDONSTON LADIES WALKING CLUB, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness of his new environment. The book, a dark comedy mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists, is set in the leafy neighborhood where he lived.
His passion for comedy saw submissions to many online satire news sites and a stint performing as a stand- up comedian.
He is a former boxer, representing the Royal Navy and an English under 19 team as an amateur and is a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language as well as a former accomplished children's soccer coach.
In 2011 Duncan returned to South America, spending six months in Brazil and a few months in Paraguay before travelling to the Middle-East and Europe before returning to the United States to settle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and lists his hobbies and passions as cooking, the Israeli self-defense art of Krav Maga and the pressure point martial art Dim- Mak.
Duncan has written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for an assortment of web sites both in the US and UK.
As well as his other activities he performs volunteer work, as a hospice volunteer visitor and teaches English to refugees arriving in South Florida.
He has penned a further novel; a comedy set in Manhattan, THE RELUCTANT JESUS, which was published in April 2014 and is working on the script for a potential sit-com.
His acclaimed short story AN ACTOR'S LIFE is available for free for all Kindle users. He has also recently completed the two sequels to THE GORDONSTON LADIES DOG WALKING CLUB - which will hopefully be released later in 2014.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Having missed out on all the fun while growing up due to his Jewish mother's smothering ways, Seth Miller finally got the independence he needed and escaped her constant presence and control. A confirmed bachelor, Seth was living the life and loving it, compensating for all the fun he had missed out on. That is until a call from his mother set in motions events that would bring an end to life as he knew it - apparently he was God's son. After the initial resistance and a phone call from his real father, Seth finally gave in to his new role. He enlisted the help of his disciples, who consisted of his best friend Bob and Maggie - a girl he had just met and was falling in love with - and sets out on a mission to fulfill his duties as the Messiah, a journey filled with confusion and challenges, including fresh doubts about his newly discovered paternity.

The Reluctant Jesus by Duncan Whitehead is a hilarious story and a definite page-turner. Imagine a world with a rambling God who answers to some sort of a committee and his worries include staff turnover in heaven and budget approvals, oh, and he makes phone calls to humans and forgets things. Now add in the fact that he had a son conceived through the Virgin Mary kind of situation, who he forgot about for over thirty years, but now needs that son to be the new messiah. Duncan Whitehead pulled off a brilliantly compelling plot and an amazing cast of characters to produce a comical tale that is full of humor, intrigue, and incredible twists and turns. The Reluctant Jesus is the work of a humorous genius.

Anne Boling

In The Reluctant Jesus by Duncan Whitehead, the reader meets Seth Miller, the son of God. The year was 1999; Seth Miller was finally living on his own and he liked it that way. Then the unexpected happened: he received a phone call from his mother demanding he come to dinner, where he is informed that both of his parents are virgins and he is the second son of God. The world is on the verge of Armageddon. Seth is the second coming and must face Satan’s son, the Antichrist. No way does Seth want any part of this plan. But reluctantly he does accept the role. What ensues will keep the reader laughing out loud.

The Reluctant Jesus was written by author Duncan Whitehead. Mr Whitehead set the bar high with his previous award-winning book, The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club. However, The Reluctant Jesus, in my humble opinion, not only makes the bar but surpasses it. The Reluctant Jesus is hilarious. It is not meant to be a religious book, but does tinker with some religious thoughts in an unoffensive way. Brilliantly the author feeds the reader humor and sneaks in a pill of words to ponder. How would you react if you were in Seth’s shoes? The characters are likable, especially Seth and Bill. The talking cat was amusing. The author’s writing is the three E’s: exquisite, entertaining, and engaging. The author’s sense of humor shines through in this tale. The Reluctant Jesus is a fast paced read and one you will not want to lay down.

Melinda Hills

The Apocalypse. The ultimate show-down between good and evil – God and Satan. The Bible foretells the ‘second coming’ of a Messiah but when that person turns out to be a 32-year-old Jewish man from Brooklyn, things get a bit crazy. Seth Miller is ‘The Reluctant Jesus’ and Duncan Whitehead tells his story with a great deal of humor. Beginning with a phone call from his mother, Seth discovers that he is actually the Son of God and is expected to save mankind in an up-coming battle with the Anti-Christ. This is the last thing Seth wants to do, but he comes to realize, with the help of his talking cat, Walter, that he has no choice. With the help of an old friend and a new girlfriend, Seth sets out on the path of proving himself but runs into the skepticism of the modern age. One unlikely situation after another brings Seth to the edge of spending eternity in The Pit, a place worse than hell. Can he learn in a few short weeks what he needs to be able to defeat the forces of evil and establish heaven on earth?

The Reluctant Jesus by Duncan Whitehead is not a religious story at all. It is an irreverent look at how the ‘Messiah’ could be received in this day and age. With a cast of odd-ball characters, Whitehead explores the reaction of typical New Yorkers (and all other everyday people) to the appearance of miracles and how an unsuspecting Messiah looks at his role as the savior of mankind. Tremendously funny as well as thought provoking, The Reluctant Jesus offers a great look at the human condition.

Maria Beltran

As the title suggests, The Reluctant Jesus by Duncan Whitehead tells the story of Seth Miller, the unwilling Messiah, second son of God, and brother of Jesus. Seth grows up believing that he is the only son of an upper middle class Jewish couple. Under the watchful eyes of his overbearing mother, he finishes architecture studies in Yale top of his class, albeit his social life is lacking. Finally out of his mother’s clutches, he leads the life of a contented stereotypical confirmed bachelor, but in 1999 he receives a telephone call from his mother and his life will never be the same again. Informed by his parents that he is actually the son of God, and receiving a telephone call from God himself, Seth’s world turns upside down. What follows is a series of hilarious events as Seth reluctantly fulfills his pivotal role in the Armageddon - Christ’s Second Coming.

The Reluctant Jesus is a funny, witty, and absolutely entertaining novel written by Duncan Whitehead, bestselling and award winning author of The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club. The story is a funny take on the Catholic belief that sometime in the future the son of God will come down to earth and fulfill the prophecy of Armageddon - the apocalypse, the end of the world as we know it, and the battle for souls between good and evil. And Seth Miller, an outwardly ordinary human being, finds himself from one day to the next as the son of God. Author Duncan Whitehead obviously has a healthy dose of humor running in his veins and he does not disappoint when it comes to originality of concept. He also comes up with a parade of ordinary but interestingly quirky characters that are sympathetic and quite believable. Dialogue driven and comically creative, reading The Reluctant Jesus will surely make a cloudy day shine a lot brighter.

Lisa Jones

The Reluctant Jesus by Duncan Whitehead tells the story of a man who discovers he is actually the son of God. When his parents first informed him who he was he thought it was a joke and he laughed hard. His laughter, however, subsided when God rang him up to confirm what his parents had told him to be the truth. Seth thought the world had indeed gone mad and it was only when his pet cat began talking in God's voice that he slowly come to realise he was in fact the new 'Messiah.' He is to prove himself to the world by performing miracles so people could witness for themselves that God's Messiah walks upon the Earth once again. Yes, that was the plan, but things go from bad to worse for Seth as his miracles turn out to be disastrous. With Armageddon fast approaching, Seth is told he will have to face the ultimate battle and face the anti-Christ. This turns out to be Satan's son, Bill, who is a computer nerd and the pair quickly form a bond. As things unfold, the fate of the world hangs in their hands and between them they come up with a plan.

Duncan Whitehead delivers a superb comedy in the form of The Reluctant Jesus. It is well written, quirky, and funny without being offensive to any religion. It will captivate you and make you smile. As a reader, I was immediately drawn to the main character as the story was told through his eyes. Time and again I found myself laughing out loud at this hilarious book. The puns and the way in which disaster follows Seth around was superb. My favourite moment, though, had to be the chapter about the wrath of God as I found it very amusing. This book is therefore recommended to anyone wanting to lighten the mood and have a few giggles in the process.