Illusion

By: Frank Peretti

Narrated by: Frank Peretti

Length: 18 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for 40 years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy’s life—or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the19-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a mental ward until she discovers a magical ability to pass invisibly through time and space to escape. Alone in a strange world, she uses her mysterious powers to eke out a living, performing magic on the streets and in a quaint coffee shop.

Hoping to discover an exciting new talent, Dane ventures into the coffee shop and is transfixed by the magic he sees, illusions that even he, a seasoned professional, cannot explain. But more than anything, he is emotionally devastated by this teenager who has never met him, doesn’t know him, is certainly not in love with him, but is in every respect identical to the young beauty he first met and married some 40 years earlier.

They begin a furtive relationship as mentor and protégée, but even as Dane tries to sort out who she really is, and she tries to understand why she is drawn to him, they are watched by secretive interests who not only possess the answers to Mandy’s powers and misplacement in time but also the roguish ability to decide what will become of her.

Frank Peretti has crafted a rich, rewarding story of love and life, loss and restoration, full of twists and mystery. Exceptionally well written, Illusion will soon prove another Peretti classic.

©2012 Frank Peretti (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic Reviews

“Frank Peretti is a master storyteller. His novels stay with you a lifetime, drawing you closer to God and the truth in His word.” (Karen Kingsbury, New York Times best-selling author)

"Frank Peretti kicked open the doors that all of us Christian novelists are passing through today. We owe him a huge debt." (Jerry B. Jenkins, author, The Left Behind Series)

"Frank Peretti may just be the master storyteller of our time - using modern metaphors and fresh images, this remarkable writer helps us visualize the unseen world in ways we never quite pictured before." (Joni Eareckson Tada)

Peretti is one of kind

I've loved Peretti's work for years, original ideas, engaging mysteries, with logic reasoned out to a strong finish. I recommend his work to anyone that loves to read and think beyond the storyline. He is a Christian author and one of the reasons I started reading his work but I strongly recommend this book for science fiction lovers! You won’t be pounded by his Faith but you will get a feel for his depth of character. The science this story takes a person on is a roller coaster for sure :)

This was the first time I listened to a book read by the author, it was such fun to feel the story and excitement knowing that it was truely the way he would have wanted it.

26 of 26 people found this review helpful

Peretti scores a hit with this one!!

What did you love best about Illusion?

The intriguing story line that kept twisting, turning and hinting at things. You really had to pay attention to the story because what seemed like little things at the moment became significant later in the story. I would sometimes rewind and listen to parts over again to make sure I heard everything. When your cell phone rings while you are listening ... answer it but make sure you stop playing the recording ... if you don't you will find you have to keep going back to hear what you missed.

What did you like best about this story?

The love that Dane had for Mandy and the love Mandy was desperately trying to remember.

Which scene was your favorite?

OMGosh .... I don't know if I can pick just one! I loved where they danced in his bedroom but also REALLY liked in the end when they were once again "Dane & Mandy" together as husband and wife.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not exactly an extreme reaction to this book but I didn't want to turn it off either. I would listen to this on my commute to and from work and sometimes I would sit in the car just a few more minutes just to listen to the book.

Any additional comments?

I hope Frank Peretti will be treating us to another book soon! I love his work! And I like it best when he reads the book rather than using another narrator. This was a very entertaining book for me. LOVED it!

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

He's Done it AGAIN

If you could sum up Illusion in three words, what would they be?

Spellbinding, Riveting, Fantastic!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mandy, she was so complex, Peretti made her completely believable, her character was totally real, and she behaved so naturally in each situation.

What about Frank Peretti???s performance did you like?

The ability to read the book like he was telling a story, he knew where to put the pauses, hesitations, whispers, etc.

Any additional comments?

I hope he writes more novels. He's a wonderful story teller.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Another Peretti Thriller

If you could sum up Illusion in three words, what would they be?

Mysterious, exciting, and tasteful

What did you like best about this story?

The subject is contemporary and development of the plot is intricate.

What does Frank Peretti bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Proper inflection and voice tone accomplished true interpretation as the writer intended.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Frank Peretti has a way of developing a story line that is fascinating and supernatural, but he always brings in spiritual truth!! Thank you Mr. Peretti for a book that is exciting, mysterious, and tastefully written without language that one is embarrassed to hear come out of the Kindle!!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT From Start to Finish...

This book was my introduction to this author (my doctor told me about Frank Peretti and called him the "Christian Steven King") and I was NOT disappointed... Wow, what a great book...

This is not one of his horror titles (look at some of his other works for that) but more of a Sci-Fi book that runs the gambit of human emotions... I was nervous, laughing, had tears in my eyes, and every feeling in-between by the time I finished this one..

If you just want an EXCELLENT read, you will not be disappointed..

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

FOR ME? FAIL! Girls will love it!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'm a HUGE Frank Peretti fan so when I heard this was out, first long trip this was getting listen to for sure. I was wildly disappointed and discouraged even. Has Frank spent too much time with Dekker? Me thinks so. I think girls will love this book as for me, it was painful to listen to, long and boring and the conclusion was disappointing. I thought at least if I made it to the end it would be good but he failed big time in accomplishing his "six sense" story, I had it figured out long before and the twisted craziness you can get all day long from Ted Dekker. I'm wondering where the Frank Peretti of This Present Darkness is? Where is the Christian writer writing with a mission to bring to life the Bible and Christian life with words? Where is the one that tells a great story but also leaves me hungry for God and desiring to be a bolder, more Christ like, prayer warrior...???

What could Frank Peretti have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He needs to go back to his first 3 books and wounded spirit speech and ask why they were so huge, why they moved people so much... back to stories that reach the soul of men and women and cause them to want to rise up, want to be closer to God, stronger in their faith

What does Frank Peretti bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nothing

Did Illusion inspire you to do anything?

NO

Any additional comments?

Please Mr Peretti, please come back to us, get back in the Word, find whatever it was and draw close to God that you might through fiction lead us through a great story but also one that speaks to our soul, to what we know will come or is there. That causes us to want to remember who we are as Christ followers. Please!

24 of 29 people found this review helpful

Great Story. Hate for it to be over.

If you could sum up Illusion in three words, what would they be?

Suspensful, magical, addictive

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mandy definately.

Have you listened to any of Frank Peretti’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This present darkness. Im listening to piercing the darkness now. Both of those books are Very Spititual, which is great. Illusion is definately a Christian novel, but it's not in Your face Spirituality. Great love Story.

Any additional comments?

Simply a wonderful book that I would recomend to anyone!!!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Always good to see another Peretti novel

What did you love best about Illusion?

Pros:Faith based drama/thriller/mystery. We can't have too many of those!Another book by my favorite author.Cons:The characters, particularly Mandy, seemed too family friendly. They had a naivete and innocence that seemed alien and otherwordly. The edginess/grittiness you see in 99% of fiction novels out there isn't existent. As a Christian, it is refreshing when the strongest language used in an insult is in the same class as "jerk" but yet it was distracting. Thus, many of the characters, especially Mandy, seemed too perfect. Also, I felt the story took too long for Dane to share with Mandy the similarities she shared with his wife. I kept shouting for Dane to "ask her more questions" and "just tell her what's the matter." With that said, if I were in his shoes, the last thing I would suspect is what actually happened in the story.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I felt it dragged on for too long, wasn't riveting enough, and I quickly lost interest. I fell asleep multiple times during this part and will have to look up the details of what happened. I stopped caring.

Which scene was your favorite?

The tv show where contestants showed off their magic tricks to stump the 'expert'.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An interdimensional love story.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Not a Christian novel - Disappointed

How could the performance have been better?

Frank you are a good writer but not a good reader. While the words flowed the story was hard to follow because it sounded like the reader had a hard time enunciating the words. His attempt at a teenage girl's sarcasm sounded like Dopey from Snow White. I was constantly distracted and this is the first time in all of my Audible experience that I had this kind of a struggle with a book.

Any additional comments?

I have to be very clear at the beginning of this - I bought this book expecting it to be a Christian novel, so I was disappointed. I have loved Frank's other books, "This Present Darkness" , "The Prophet "and "Piercing the Darkness". I am a fan and this book was totally different. It was a Science Fiction novel so I was disappointed from the beginnin. If you like Stephen King you would probably enjoy this book. But if you are looking for a novel about God, I suggest you pass. Having said that it was not a bad story and God got an honorable mention at the end just not at all what I thought I signed up for.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

it is a sci fi love story

this is not what i expected though there were spiritual implicaions its not like his other works it is slow moving in the beginning but show stopping suspence from the middle on but if you dont follow the set up in the beginning it probably wouldnt flow rite at the end if you like frank peretti you will want to listen and he reads it himself hes a good verbal story teller too i dont think you will be dissapointed

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

I loved this book so much?

I couldn't stop listening! It gripped me from beginning to end. I loved that the author was reading it himself. I'm off to find more of your work, Frank Peretti!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The llusionsionary story kept me racking my brains till the very last "page" . Good Stuff!

a well written and told story

the story was captivating right from the start. the middle kept up the suspense and the end delivered right royalè!
initially I was skeptical but was hooked from the start

Amazing

I loved this book. The characters were so relatable and story so moving and I love how God was recognised within the course of the journey xx

Wonderful story

Normally I dislike authors reading their own books as there are so many excellent narrators available but Frank Peretti is an exception. He is a really good narrator and this is an unusual and entertaining novel.

Entertaining

For the first few chapters, I had no idea what was going on. From around chapter 20, I started to follow the plot. I expected thrilling suspense, but got none.
Towards the end, as the story unwound, I expected to follow what was happening, especially now that I knew approximately what was really going on, but nothing.
I think this story would have been easier to take in should it have been in E-book format.

I have read many of Frank's books and they were all excellent. This was my first audio book.

The author does however have a very good imagination and where he gets the complexeties of such a creative plot, is beyond me. The story was so mixed and mangled, following it was difficult. But I'm sure I'm the only one who struggled. Had I have been able to follow along, I'm sure I would have enjoyed the story.

Absoutley Fantastic!!!

Great story line
Addictive listening
Real life lessons to learn
Highly recommended
Very well Written; has the listener on the edge of each word

Gripping thought provoking and entertaining

another epic book from a great author, had me hooked from start to finish. Frank's writing is spell binding a love story but with a meaning.

held my attention from start to finish.

Any additional comments?

I don't usually buy books read by the author but I really enjoyed this book and frank peretti reading it.
half way through I wondered where the story was taking me. gripping to the end.
well written with good characterisation and plot I couldn't put it down. loved it.

Kept my interest

Would you consider the audio edition of Illusion to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the printed version but I would certainly recommend this Audible version. Peretti's narration gives the listener an idea of what was in his mind when writing. Finally it was a nice touch the explanation at the end of the book.

What other book might you compare Illusion to, and why?

It has a feel of Dr Who about it. It feels a bit like a multi dimensional jigsaw.

Have you listened to any of Frank Peretti’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have listened to "This Present Darkness" & "Piercing the Darkness" though I prefer those two books I feel this could have greater mass appeal.