Status
Available
Call number
Publication
W Pub Group (1995), Edition: First Edition, 549 pages
Original publication date
1995-09
Description
An ancient sin. A long forgotten oath. A town with a deadly secret. Something evil is at work in Hyde River, an isolated mining town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Under the cover of darkness, a predator strikes without warning--taking life in the most chilling and savage fashion. The community of Hyde River watches in terror as residents suddenly vanish. Yet, the more locals are pressed for information, the more they close ranks, sworn to secrecy by their forefathers' hidden sins. Only when Hyde River's secrets are exposed is the true extent of the danger fully revealed. What the town discovers is something far more deadly than anything they'd imagined. Something that doesn't just stalk its victims, but has the power to turn hearts black with decay as it slowly fills their souls with darkness.… (more)
Awards
Christian Book Award (Winner — Fiction — 1996)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
549 p.; 9.25 inches
ISBN
0849911788 / 9780849911781
User reviews
LibraryThing member KCRivers
Frank Peretti is by far my all-time favorite author. He never ceases to push the boundaries, but his stories always have a moral to them. The Oath, though one of his earlier works, is perhaps my favorite of his thus far. It grabbed me immediately and I couldn't put it down despite it's size. Though
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not a "quick read," it is definately heart-pounding and will grip you until the very last sentence. Perfect. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShortyBond
I cannot speak highly enough about this book!! Peretti captures what evil truly is and the struggle between right and wrong in this powerful page turner. I couldn't put it down.
LibraryThing member tloeffler
I really hated this book. It started off well, and just as I started to get hooked, it was like someone else took over the writing and wanted to just get it done. The relationship didn't seem genuine, and although there was a moral to the story, I think he got there the wrong way.
LibraryThing member debs4jc
This creepy thriller requires the reader to accept the premise, that the realm of the Spiritual has spilled over to the realm of the physical. A strange attack and death of a man camping in the woods brings his brother and others to a secluded town to investigate. At first they think it is a bear
I found this an easier read that Peretti's classic, This Present Darkness, which seemed to get bogged down in details. The story flowed well in this one and while a lot of it was highly unbelievable it was an compelling yarn. If you like creepy stories, especially with a spiritual underpinning, than this will be just your cup of tea.
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attack, but strange rumors and odd behavior of the local residents keeps the brother puzzled enough to keep investigating. What he discovers is an evil with power over everyone who succombs to i's temptations.I found this an easier read that Peretti's classic, This Present Darkness, which seemed to get bogged down in details. The story flowed well in this one and while a lot of it was highly unbelievable it was an compelling yarn. If you like creepy stories, especially with a spiritual underpinning, than this will be just your cup of tea.
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LibraryThing member anneofia
This was a freaky, creepy, chilling story. If I hadn't known before I started it that Peretti was a writer of what's called Christian fiction, I'm not sure I would have finished it. But, it was a good, good story! This was my first Peretti book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.
LibraryThing member Venqat65
Wow--this book really took me by surprise! I was a bit confused at first how the black oozing marks on people's hearts would connect in with the dragon, but it all made sense by the end of the book.
I think that this book would be a bit over-the-top for the non-believer or for anyone who has not yet
I think Peretti's book did a great job of showing how sin can kill and yet how people come to love, defend, and even protect it. I can relate to that very much.
I was also struck by the part where the minister was professing today's "just be okay with yourself" religion...oh how that mindset is everywhere today! I thought that the timing of revealing the minister's ideas was perfect. Just when Steve finally realizes that he must turn to God and admit his own sinful nature, the minister starts to profess this new age idea of feeling good about yourself. What a stark contrast!
Great book.
I think that this book would be a bit over-the-top for the non-believer or for anyone who has not yet
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been overtaken by sin and then pulled out in time to live again, but for those of us who have experienced that type of a close call with the devil, it is very real. I think Peretti's book did a great job of showing how sin can kill and yet how people come to love, defend, and even protect it. I can relate to that very much.
I was also struck by the part where the minister was professing today's "just be okay with yourself" religion...oh how that mindset is everywhere today! I thought that the timing of revealing the minister's ideas was perfect. Just when Steve finally realizes that he must turn to God and admit his own sinful nature, the minister starts to profess this new age idea of feeling good about yourself. What a stark contrast!
Great book.
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LibraryThing member LynndaEll
I am not a big fan of Frank Peretti's suspense novels. "The Oath," however, captured me from the first page and didn't release me until the last page. For once, Mr. Peretti did not over-dramatize the situation. The story - the way evil will destroy anyone willing to reject God - is told as if it
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were an Alfred Hitchcock movie. This is a Halloween story with the promise of hope. If the hope angle had been a little stronger, I would have rated it a five. Show Less
LibraryThing member marient7
Wildlife biologist goes to Hyde River to solve the mystery of his brother's violent death.while camping. He encounters the dragon, the beast who has long plagued the small town. He must confront the full force of evil and come to terms with God.
LibraryThing member polingspig
Very engaging and definitely a Peretti best. Hard to put down. Frank did a great job staying true to moral standard even if a character I liked had to die for it.
LibraryThing member Shelby_Kuzma
This book is the story of a town that is supposedly losing many citizens to a "dragon". Everyone living there is very superstitious. Obviously, the man investigating the disappearances is very skeptical of this theory. His job is made more difficult by the fact that the townspeople are very
As usual, Frank Peretti solves the mystery by incorporating religion. However, I felt that this story did so rather clumsily. It didn't fit well with the plot line. Also, the main character did not undergo any extreme change throughout the course of the story.
Additionally, the supposed "oath" from the title was not talked about very often at all.
Overall, the entire book was kind of awkward and clumsy. The plot did flow nicely, but changes occurred very suddenly and some important details were unclear. It didn't really have a happy ending either, which was upsetting.
I have read several other Frank Peretti books, which I have greatly enjoyed. However, this one was not my favorite.
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unwillingly to give him information. It is a supernatural/fantasy novel, with religious elements incorporated. If you liked other books by Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, you may find this book interesting.As usual, Frank Peretti solves the mystery by incorporating religion. However, I felt that this story did so rather clumsily. It didn't fit well with the plot line. Also, the main character did not undergo any extreme change throughout the course of the story.
Additionally, the supposed "oath" from the title was not talked about very often at all.
Overall, the entire book was kind of awkward and clumsy. The plot did flow nicely, but changes occurred very suddenly and some important details were unclear. It didn't really have a happy ending either, which was upsetting.
I have read several other Frank Peretti books, which I have greatly enjoyed. However, this one was not my favorite.
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LibraryThing member krista.rutherford
I have read a few of Peretti's and this one like others is very engaging and hard to put down.
LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
If this book were much shorter, it might have some chance of success. As is, though, the heavy-handed nature of the book, and the easy predictability of it all (from very early on), end up making it somewhat tedious, and far from frightening.
The plot of the work, and the downfalls/stereotypes of
In the end, I didn't find this scary, or particularly interested once I realized where everything was going (around page 50 or 75, perhaps, of a 550 page novel). I won't be reading anymore of Peretti's writing.
The plot of the work, and the downfalls/stereotypes of
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the respective characters, are so easily pinpointed and predicted early on that there's not much here to find compelling, aside from the short sections of narrative and the relatively fast-paced plot. Those things manage to drive the book forward for perhaps half of it, but at that point, it becomes obvious that the characters have little to no depth, and the book itself is written toward such a single and heavy-handed theme that there's just not much to be entertained by. In the end, I didn't find this scary, or particularly interested once I realized where everything was going (around page 50 or 75, perhaps, of a 550 page novel). I won't be reading anymore of Peretti's writing.
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LibraryThing member SesquipedalianSays
Hutch read this one first; then he enjoyed it so much he lent it to me. This is an amazing tale turning an average sinner's life into a horror story. It brings sin to your own back door, and you can feel it breathing fire down your neck. If you aren't a Christian before you read this book, you
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probably will be one afterwards. Rating - 5 stars due to amazing imagery, especially with the descriptions of the beast Show Less
LibraryThing member classyhomemaker
I just finished rereading this for the third or fourth time and I really did enjoy it. I read it a couple times when I was in my teens and a brand new Christian and I don't think I truly understood the message very well. It's got a great message but, more than that, it's not super cheesy. I've
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tried to reread several 90s Christian books lately that I loved years ago but can't finish because of the overwhelming cheese factor. This one held my attention and didn't make me embarrassed to read it. I have a few more Perettis on my TBR...I'll dive right in! Show Less