Title: Absolute Proof
Author: Peter James
Publisher: Macmillan
[Synopsis]
Investigative reporter Ross Hunter nearly didn’t answer the phone call that would change his life – and possibly the world – for ever.
“I’d just like to assure you I’m not a nutcase, Mr Hunter. My name is Dr Harry F. Cook. I know this is going to sound strange, but I’ve recently been given absolute proof of God’s existence – and I’ve been advised there is a writer, a respected journalist called Ross Hunter, who could help me to get taken seriously.”
What would it take to prove the existence of God? And what would be the consequences?
The false faith of a billionaire evangelist, the life’s work of a famous atheist, and the credibility of each of the world’s major religions are all under threat. If Ross Hunter can survive long enough to present the evidence…
[My Review]
Absolute Proof is a cleverly woven story combining religion and the idea of whether the book’s title – ‘absolute proof’ – actually exists, with plenty of action, suspense and conspiracy. This is a standalone story, so a change from the DS Roy Grace novels, centering around journalist Ross Hunter, who has worked on many high-profile cases. He’s contacted by someone claiming to have been given absolute proof of God’s existance – but the evidence won’t fall into his lap, he’s got to do some serious digging and take some serious risks to get what will be the biggest story of all time.
The novel has an interesting array of characters – I have to say, I don’t know if I really like Ross Hunter. He seems to put work before everything else, including the safety of his wife and unborn child, which is good for the plot but not so much for his family! Then again, his wife isn’t the most likable either, and some of the people Ross encounters on his ‘mission’ seem like absolute crackpots! It makes for interesting reading, and I loved thinking about how this proof could afect so many people, in so many ways. It’s fascinating to consider the implications on other religions, to science, to politics… everything, and this novel really makes you think about all that.
There’s plenty of action and points where you definitely have to suspend your disbelief, but it’s a really enjoyable read. It’s a fairly long novel so really settle in and lose yourself in this fun, really entertaining read.
[Rating: 4/5]
Many thanks to Macmillan for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.