Library Journal: …well-written, intelligent follow-up to Dickson’s Christy Award-winning River Rising. An involving, suspenseful take on God’s transforming grace, it tackles a serious issue while providing an absorbing story. Recommended for all collections; especially relevant for readers struggling with their own addictions.
Crosswalk: …unpredictable and surprising, even though clues are sprinkled throughout the book. The final twist was chilling and, unfortunately, not unrealistic in today’s world. …the author does a wonderful job weaving in the deceit and the actions of those unrestrained by ethics and driven by the bottom line—a common scene in today’s headlines. …a powerful book, one that will remain on my bookshelf for a long time to come.
Publisher’s Weekly: Rich with local dialect and scenery…. Dickson’s approach is thought-provoking, and his prose beautifully evokes the taciturn spirit of the Mainers who people this novel….full of interesting ideas and well-developed characters.
Cindy Crosby, FaithfulReader.com: Athol Dickson is one of Christian suspense’s best writers, and his latest spooky thriller, The Cure, continues his tradition of excellence…. Dickson adeptly handles his Maine setting, capturing the idioms and idiosyncrasies of its inhabitants. His characters are original and multifaceted, and sometimes perplexing….The plot is intriguing and fresh, and as he did in River Rising and They Shall See God, Dickson creates a series of twists and turns that continue surprising readers through the very last pages. What is more difficult to quantify is Dickson’s amazing ability to create a chilling atmosphere. Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca comes to mind; readers will feel the tension through the final paragraph. If Alfred Hitchcock was still alive, he’d be banging down Dickson’s door to make movies of his novels. (Think of what Hitchcock could do with the scenes of homeless people gradually moving in on the small Maine town!) This is a must-read novel for anyone interested in inspirational fiction. And even those who don’t usually read the genre will want to give it a look.
Christian Fiction Review:Athol Dickson presents us with another beautiful literary novel. His works stand out among all Christian fiction, powerful and moving on so many levels.
Christian Library Journal Review: The Cure deserves its Christy Award for suspense, as Dickson weaves a story that leaves the reader
hanging on every word.
BlogCritics Magazine: Dickson’s skill in plotting was a highlight for me. In that department he demands the reader’s attention…. It makes for a satisfyingly complex tale with its fair share of surprises. Dickson’s writing was another of the book’s treats. He cuts straight to the action in efficient prose that never gets in the way of making the reader feel part of the scene. …a thoughtful, sometimes philosophical commentary on a range of themes from addiction to the human condition…. For a gripping, thoughtful, and worthwhile read, Athol Dickson’s The Cure is not to be missed.
Curled Up With a Good Book: …a five-star book….not an easy book to read, but once the reader connects with the characters, it will be a story that one will remember for a long time. If I had to choose my favorite book read so far this year, it would have to be The Cure.
Heather Hunt, absolutewrite.com: The Cure is a fascinating human interest tale in which the interconnectedness of the human race and our universal needs are revealed through the specific life stories of Riley, Hope, and Willa. Mysteries are set up and paid off with surprising yet satisfying revelations. Brutal violence is mixed with tender moments, and existential musings are offset by intense action sequences. I recommend The Cure for readers who love great writing that makes them think “what if”– and then rethink it again.
Bookshelf Review: The Cure is a fascinating tale fueled by hope and redemption. Here Dickson proves once again that he is not just a true wordsmith, but a master storyteller. The cleverly crafted narrative is laced with elements of suspense, mystery, and drama that effortlessly guide the reader along. …a beautiful story that grants encouragement and inspiration. Riley’s journey of discovery as he seeks the true cure for his life is breathtaking to say the least. This is redemptive storytelling at its best.
ENDORSEMENTS:
“I just finished reading Athol Dickson’s The Cure, and I’m fairly certain that he has blown me — and just about anybody else writing general fiction and suspense — completely out of the water…. The true test of a book, I think, is the resonance of its ending; two weeks after finishing The Cure, its ending is still sending ripples
through my every thought. –Tom Morrisey, author of In High Places
“With skill and heart, Athol Dickson plumbs the depths of a man’s soul…. Not to be missed! –Angela Hunt, author of The Elevator
“Athol is a writer whose work I will read again and again for inspiration.” – Hannah Alexander, author of Grave Risk and Death Benefits
