Obsessed

Stephen Friedman, a Jewish orphan and successful realtor, discovers his birth mother was a Holocaust survivor who died leaving behind valuable property and a sacred artifact - one of David's five stones used to defeat Goliath. The search for his mother's legacy leads Stephen to her former house, now owned by Roth Braun, son of a Nazi concentration camp commandant. Both men pursue the stones for different reasons, creating a high-stakes conflict over possession of these historical treasures. The narrative alternates between Stephen's present-day quest and World War II scenes featuring two pregnant women in a concentration camp, where they face the cruel manipulations of Braun's father, the camp commandant. This thriller explores themes of identity, inheritance, and the lingering impact of historical trauma, weaving together personal discovery with questions about the true nature of obsession and redemption.

Readers consistently note the fast pace and psychological suspense elements of Obsessed. Many draw comparisons to Dekker's earlier works while noting this one has more historical elements. Positive reviews highlight: - The dual timeline structure between 1973 and WWII - Complex exploration of good vs evil - Strong character development of Stephen and Ruth - Biblical symbolism and themes Common criticisms: - Plot becomes convoluted in final third - Some found the supernatural elements jarring - Holocaust sections felt heavy-handed to some readers - Romance subplot didn't resonate with all readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (280+ reviews) ChristianBooks.com: 4.5/5 (90+ reviews) "Combines historical depth with present-day tension" - Goodreads reviewer "The final act lost me with too many plot twists" - Amazon reviewer "More violent than his usual work but serves the story" - ChristianBooks.com reviewer

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🔹 The five stones of David mentioned in the book are based on the biblical account in 1 Samuel 17:40, where David selects five smooth stones from a brook before his battle with Goliath. 🔹 Ted Dekker, born to missionary parents in Indonesia, draws from his unique multicultural background to create intricate stories that often blend spiritual themes with suspense. 🔹 The concentration camp scenes in the book were extensively researched, with Dekker consulting survivor accounts and historical documents to ensure authenticity. 🔹 Obsessed was published in 2005 and marked a significant departure from Dekker's previous works, being one of his first novels to incorporate historical fiction elements. 🔹 The book's parallel timeline structure was inspired by similar storytelling techniques used in films like "The Hours" and "Memento," which were popular in the early 2000s.