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ISBN-10: 1-55022-830-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-55022-830-4
6 x 9 in, 240pp, hardback
$24.95 CAD
October 2008
Price: $24.95
In the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University there lies a 400-year-old document that no one has been able to decipher. Twenty years ago the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) secretly placed a guard to watch over the document.
The guard, Father Ronald McCallum, is overwhelmed when an autistic child visiting the library appears to read from the manuscript’s pages. Finally its secrets will be revealed! Father Benicio Valori, priest and clinical psychologist, is sent halfway around the world to verify the boy’s ability to read the manuscript.
When the manuscript is stolen, things begin to unravel. It becomes apparent the Vatican has sent others to investigate with orders to stop at nothing from keeping the document’s secrets from being exposed. Fearing for the child’s life, Benicio flees the country to Canada and trusted friend and psychologist, Dr. Jake Tunnel.
Despite being distraught by the diagnosis of a brain tumor in his five-year-old son, Jake reluctantly agrees to help his old friend. As events unfold, Jake is drawn into the mystery. Soon he and Benicio begin to unveil the biblical origins of the Voynich manuscript and why this autistic child can read it.
They realize that the Voynich Manuscript is the bible of the Nephilim – soulless beings created by the crossbreeding of angels and humans, and despised by God. The angels responsible for their creation were banished from heaven and the monstrous offspring were thought to be destroyed by the flood of Noah’s time. Having the ability to read the manuscript leads Benicio and Jake to believe that Matthew must be a descendent of the Nephilim. And that the Vatican wants him and the book destroyed to protect the Church’s followers from the truth of God’s mistake.
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I'd thought this would be a
I'd thought this would be a rehashed version of the tired "Da Vinci Code" type of story, and while it did share some similarities, I was happy to find that it had some charms that were fully its own. For starters, the two main villains are likable in their own weird way--not every author dares to "go there," instead drawing strict (and utterly predictable) lines between good and evil. The chapters are super-short and are delivered from widely different angles from one to the next, which lends a fast-paced feel to the story.
My only (slight) disappointment was the supernatural element. I think I would have preferred that it remain strictly an action story. I'm also a little tired of the "special little boy" character (why IS it always a little boy?), but at least it wasn't overdone in this novel.
Overall a very fun read.
Nigel
Many people have made the comparison between In the Tongues of the Dead and The Da Vinci Code, and it’s hard not to do so as well. It’s also difficult not to ponder which factors make one book a huge international bestseller and the other not. That is to say, I found Brad Kelln’s story very readable and fun, with good pacing and characters and thought that perhaps this could make a rollicking good movie as well with its action, adventure and a biblical scholarly mystery at its centre. (Just don’t expect the Catholic church to lend its support since it is here again painted as a secretive, and ruthless institution that will stop at nothing to protect its own interests – I’m no church supporter but even I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps this element could have been portrayed with a bit more complexity.) There were weaknesses in this novel, but one could say the same about The Da Vinci Code. Anyhow since the idea here is to comment on Kelln’s book: the downside was that there were some parts I found a bit predictable and which subsequently took me out of the reality he was creating. Many of the chase scenes where Father Benicio was escaping the various villains and how these bad guys kept showing up out of the blue was true to some action adventure movie conventions, but less convincing in a novel. I also found the “supernatural” elements stretched credibility, of course, and made it less fun since I couldn’t help but feel that with the powers they had the supernatural “bad guys” should have had an easier time accomplishing their goals. (Although that may be mostly due to the fact that the type of books I read don’t tend towards the fantastic.) Probably I’d like to have seen these elements introduced with more ambiguity earlier and not revealed as definitively “supernatural” until later so as to make it easier to suspend disbelief in what may be really going on. One of the big pluses of the novel for me was that I was intrigued to learn about the “nephilim”. I’d never heard about these controversial biblical beings before. The fact that there is some real life scholarly debate about the biblical reference to these beings was an added pleasure to the story.
I enjoyed it, but...
I enjoyed the story of In Tongues of the Dead, but the writing style didn’t entirely work for me.
In Tongues of the Dead is a book in the same vein as The Da Vinci Code, with action and chases and puzzles and high ranking officials in the Catholic Church that will do absolutely anything to protect their secrets. The adventure was well executed, and both the action and the puzzles kept me involved in the story.
The unique twist of this book was the addition of angels and Nephilim (the result of crossbreeding of angels and humans).
As an aside, I found it odd to read this book after reading Hush, Hush and Fallen, two recent YA books featuring fallen angels, which appears to be a trendy topic in the genre. In Tongues of the Dead is a very different style of book, but I did keep flashing back to the other two simply due to the shared mythology they pulled from.
I liked the characters, and wished they’d been a little more fully realized, so that I could have gotten to know them better. I found the pieces I did have of them (past and present) to be teasers, making me want more.
The down side of this book for me was the writing. What I want from writing is for it to deliver the story and stay out of my way. I kept being distracted by the words themselves, which seemed a little stilted, and kept the story from flowing cleanly.
Overall, I still enjoyed In Tongues of the Dead, even while recognizing potential areas of improvement.
~~Fast, fun and smart~~
~~Fast, fun and smart~~
An awesome read! Kelln manages to have multiple characters with multiple storylines and move between them in a way which is seamless and not at all hard to follow. Once you get into this one you won't be able to put it down. Fast-paced, exciting, and highly recommended overall, especially for readers who like fiction rooted in reality.
Costa Rica SEO
I enjoyed the book very much. Working in a bookstore, living in the Maritimes, and having previously lived in Halifax for 30 years. I recommend this book without reservation.
The second half of the book
The second half of the book was a page-turner; however, I struggled through the first half. Maybe my problem was not spending enough time on the book (the holidays took up too much of my time), but I was determined to get through it. I usually don't like the "supernatural," "other world" type books, but this one proved to be an exception.
I really enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Once I was able to actually sit down and get into it I had a hard time walking away. The story was fantastic and it didn't get into too much detail where it was hard to follow. There were a couple parts of the plot that I was able to see coming but it didn't ruin anything. The book was very well written and it was not a hard read at all. I would definitely recommend this book!
Eric Starker
I was pleasantly surprised by this read. It was indeed a pageturner -- I was kept interested early on and throughout, and the mystery behind the Voynich manuscript was a fascinating topic. It definitely reminded me of Dan Brown, exploring the background behind ancient mysteries, and I enjoy that sort of historically-based fiction.
I won't say it's a book that will stay with me -- I felt like it became more of a stereotypical genre book near the end, adding in the supernatural elements, and being more about fast-paced action than really exploring the intrigue behind the church's interest in the book, and the various interests of the outside parties. But it's certainly a good, fun thriller that will keep you interested.
A good mystery
In Tongues of the Dead is a fast paced book, a quick and easy read. It covers every aspect you would expect in a mystery novel. An ancient secret, an organization that would like to keep this secret hidden and a good guy willing to risk his life in order to solve this mystery.
It's premise, the Catholic church willing to take any measure to keep the contents of an ancient text secret, is similar to that of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. However, there are enough differences and unique twists in this novel to keep the reader engrossed. The author also unveils characters from the church who represent both good and evil , a refreshing change.
My only gripe about this novel is that it does lack character development. At the end of the novel, it is still unclear as to the origins and the importance of several of the characters.
I would absolutely recommend this book to any mystery lover. This is a great book to get caught up in!
Desperado Penguin
In Tongues of the Dead concerns the ancient Voynich manuscript at the Yale Library, which no one has been able to decipher. The Vatican has been guarding it for years waiting for the moment when someone would come along who could read it - and so along comes Matthew, a 6-year-old autistic boy, who sets off the action. The manuscript is stolen, a chase ensues, mysterious characters pop in and out of the action.
The story moves quickly and the writing style is brisk, even clipped at times. Unfortunately, the writing is also a bit flat - some scenes that should be dramatic or moving are instead somewhat trite because there isn't much in the way of character development. The characters all speak in the same voice as the narrator, which deflates a great deal of the impact that could have been achieved in some scenes (notably, one that takes place in a hospital towards the end of the book).
I saw the end coming about a mile away but it didn't bother me - I still wanted to know how it was going to turn out and kept reading to the end. Brad Kelln is an excellent plotter, which carries you through In Tongues of the Dead in spite of the limitations of writing style and character development.
Kerry
It is impossible to read Brad Kelln's novel and not immediately begin to draw comparisons between it and The Da Vinci Code. Both center around a little-known (or little-understood, as is the case in Brown's work) aspect of Biblical history and the controversies and coverups caused by these supposed "myths."
In Tongues of the Dead, the story follows the myth of the Nephilim, children of angel and woman, who have been forsaken by God. Their secrets are supposedly recorded in the Voynich manuscript, written in a language that no one can decipher... except Matthew (annoying called "Little Matthew" throughout the story), an autistic elementary school foster kid.
Though Kelln's book is a page-turner, no doubt, it falls short of its goal with flat writing and characters. The characters do not develop as the story unfolds; what is more, they are introduced and then left to disappear for chapters on end, making a miraculous re-appearance later on in the story. Even worse than flat characters, though, is that all of the characters-even the children-speak in the same voice.
Sadly, what could have been an excellent story is seemingly lost in the author's mind: the story is inconsistent, often confusing and there are several bits left unexplained or forgotten about. My best guess is that this made sense in the imagination of the creator, but was "lost in translation" when recorded, as it were.
Overall, if you are a fan of Church-cult fiction such as The Da Vinci Code, In Tongues of the Dead is an entertaining read and is sure to entertain for an evening or two (it's not a long book). But if you're looking for believable characters or something a bit more substantial, I'd take a pass.
Desire'
In Tongues of the Dead offers a quick read with just enough mystery and implications of the taboo to hold readers' interest. I would have enjoyed the story more if there had been a more expansive imagining of the Nephilim--and how they'd been occupying themselves for 70 generations. Kelln's main characters captured my interest; I wish that the story had offered the opportunity to get to know them better. It would have given this well plotted story more texture and depth.
Inevitably, I found myself comparing the book's concept and plot to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. In comparison, In Tongues of the Dead is a better work. I thought that the presentation of the Church seemed more balanced. Villains and heroes emerged from the Vatican; the mystery presented by the Vonyich manuscript as described in the embraces a faith based or spiritual life rather than attempting to debunk it. Kelln manages to do this, and address questions that the faithful and the faithless encounter on their journey.
I recommend the book--a good read for a cool autumn night.
Adrienne
This is definitely a page-turner. I gave myself book hangover by staying up til 1:00 last night finishing it.
Comparisons to The Da Vinci Code are unavoidable, but I think it compares favorably. It's just that much smarter.
There are some inconsistencies and unanswered questions, most of which have been asked in the other reviews on this page. For example, why does Matthew scream every time someone touches him, except when Benicio grabs him to run away? Then he just kicks and struggles. There was an inconsistency at the end, which I won't go into to avoid spoilers. It was just a little confusing.
I liked the tone of the novel. I liked that the chapters were short. The chapters were told from varying perspectives, but it was never difficult to tell who was speaking.
All in all, recommended for those who like suspense/mysteries.
Exciting new book!
'In Tongues of the Dead' is an exciting adventure that is both fast-paced and engrossing. The shortness of each chapter gives pieces of the story in bursts, adding to the frantic nature of the chase. The pacing felt closer to that of a movie rather than a book.
I really enjoy that in this novel Brad Kelln has taken a real-world mystery and build an intriguing fiction around it. The depth of research that the author has done is immediately apparent, and the spiritual elements are both fantastic and plausible. I laughed near the end when Jake said "I can't do this fantasy Bible crap" because I had been wondering the same and found the self-referential moment entertaining.
The only thing that I felt that was lacking was the role of God as a character in this book. In the Bible, God's involvement is direct and overt. It is stated in 'In Tongues of the Dead' that the account of the flood was a true event meant to wipe out the Nephilim. I wondered that if this were the case, then why didn't God finish what he began when it became known that Nephilim had survived. I also wondered how the Nephilim survived the flood in the first place. It is possible that Kelln has answers in his mind, but meant to keep them hidden purely for the reader's speculation. I have my guesses, but I could be wrong.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
Ready, set, read
In Tongues of the Dead is a good mystery. Brad Kelln has written a story that plays with elements of fantasy while keeping itself rooted in fact. The story is well served by setting and theme, but the characters tend to be flat. The pace sets out at a good clip and picks up as you read along. If you like a page turner, you’ll enjoy this book, but it went too quickly for me. More often than not, I found myself looking back and asking ‘what just happened there’ instead of looking forward and wondering what will happen next. Either way, the plot unfolds in this story whether you are ready for it or not.
The theme of the existence of angels on earth is intriguing to me, in particular the transformation in and out of human form. Fantasy readers might enjoy this aspect of the book which might not be the case for many mysteries. For those who have rigid beliefs about angels, this book will start some interesting conversations. It certainly had me thinking about the possibilities.
Setting provides an extra layer to this fast moving story. I have never been to Yale or to a diner in New Brunswick, but Kelln did a good job of bringing me to these real places. It was also the opportunity for me as the reader to catch my breath from the sprint of the story.
I was disappointed at the one dimensional characters, particularly Benicio Valeri. He’s a priest, which serves to connect him to the Vatican and the story couldn’t work without that, but he seems to be nonchalant in a role that I presume would take a good deal of commitment. He also has a love interest, introduced in the first pages of the book and referenced later on. Kelln missed an opportunity to develop this character. Doing so would have provided a level of complexity and taken nothing away from the pace of the story.
The ending was successful in that I didn’t see it coming; however it came in an unnecessarily tidy package. For example, a minor character is beaten ruthlessly early on in the book. He shows up just before the end on someone’s doorstep with no apparent purpose except to show us that he’s okay. This could have been managed more naturally – Benicio could have overheard this on a newscast during his long drive to Canada. It would have been closer to the actual incident and not interfered with what is otherwise a dramatic end to the story.
This is a fast read with interesting elements. I will pass it along to a friend who enjoyed Dan Brown’s books.
This book has a good premise
This book has a good premise according to the synopsis, but unfortunately I thought the author did not do a good job executing it. The characters were underdeveloped--lacking back stories and substance. I found it difficult to identify with any of them. The writing was mediocre, at best. Unfortunately, there were several gaps in the plot line. I kept reading in hopes that the author would address them, but he did not. Mr. Kelln did a decent job moving along what plot there was by using short chapters. Overall, I think the author had a great idea for "an action oriented thriller", but failed to deliver it.
In Tongues of the Dead
Ok, so my first impression was that I really liked the premise of the book. The Voynich Manuscript actually exists, and the Nephilim are in the bible. I did feel that it falls into that whole Dan Brown 'the catholic church is inherently evil and corrupt' kind of deal. Frankly, that has been a little overdone lately.
The book is described as fast-paced and filled with action, which it is. There are many scenes when I was caught up, reading quickly along with the action, and it did hold my interest during those parts.
I feel that the characters could have been a bit more real. Benicio Valori, who is the protagonist of the book, emigrated to Canada from Italy with his parents, when he was a teenager. Throughout the book, he would toss in phrases in Italian, which i felt was a bit affected. It just didn't ring true, to me. Jake is well described, he's a psychologist, and the descriptions of his interactions with, and his feelings about his patients are well done. He and his family are dealing with the illness of his son, and the scenes involving that conflict are well written.
There was a scene in which Benicio is taking the autistic boy, Matthew, across the border. Benicio knew this would be a problem, the boy was not related to him, Matthew did not speak, it was just an all around problem. He thinks through the problem, as they sit at the side of the road near the border. "Then Benicio noticed a lane dedicated to truckers, extra-wide and almost hidden by a parade of semitrailers. It gave him an idea." He gets Matthew out of the car, they have an interaction with one of the other drivers, and then Benicio decides to call his friend Jake Tunnel for help. The next scene that we read about it is with Jake's family, and then all of a sudden "Benicio turned and looked down the road to New Brunswick." What?? How'd they get across the border? It almost feels like the author stepped away from that scene for a bit to figure it out, then never went back to solve that problem. Maybe its just one scene in an otherwise well written book, but it bothered me. It felt unfinished.
It is well written. The author, Brad Kelln is a forensic psychologist in Halifax, he's a special consultant on hostage negotiation to the Halifax Regional Police and the RCMP. He's an intelligent man, that comes across in his writing. If you are a fan of Dan Brown, and that genre, you'll enjoy this book.
Jackie
I enjoyed the book. An easy read,quick pace and a great story line. A topic I had never heard of before, but found intriguing. Would recommend to others who like mysteries.
Susan
Fun, fast-paced and a light read...one night! The priest character, Father Benicio Valori, is a champion worth cheering.
Nice videos
very nice videos thanks!
Terry
I enjoyed the book very much. Working in a bookstore, living in the Maritimes, and having previously lived in Halifax for 30 years, it was quite unique to read this great novel. My feet have trod down many of the streets he mentions, and into the buildings also. I would recommend it to fans of Dan Brown and James Rollins. Matter of fact I do just that.
Margaret
In Tongues of the Dead is a tightly written, fast paced book with clergy, thugs, and just plain regular folks all trying to solve the mystery of an autistic boy who, never having spoken before, can suddenly read an ancient, unreadable manuscript. Here we find angels (apparently fallen) and the Church are in combat, each wanting to capture the book and destroy or contain the boy. The angels, for the most part, aren't very angelic, and I hope I never meet a cardinal like the old monster in this story!
We are led on a wild ride as a good priest rescues the boy and flees, the bad guys always very close behind. This is a lot of fun if you enjoy wonderful conspiracy theories, ancient manuscripts, plots going back 70 generations, and any book that mentions the word necronomicon. As a longtime fan of H.P. Lovecraft, I always enjoy a reference to his work.
I recommend this book without reservation.