Rating: 
Summary: An interesting idea
Review:
Reviewing a book like Three (or Thr3e, as the cover proclaims) is rather difficult: at its heart lies a rather unusual premise. I say "unusual" rather than "unique," though, as I have read another book with a similar premise (naming that book would give away the secrets of this one, so I'll only say that it was published by a well-known author in 1991).
The premise works well, here, although there are a couple of scenes where, in reflection, you have to wonder exactly what is going on (for example, how, exactly, would the events of the first chapter take place?).
I will give credit to Dekker for creating a truly twisted villain-like figure in Kevin Parson's adopted mother. While I had a bit of trouble believing that a household like the one "Princess" runs could last for thirty years, I nevertheless found it plausible and disturbing, which I think was exactly what Dekker wanted.
Finally, I should add that this is not so much a Christian novel as a novel about religion and faith; I am glad about that, as I am not a fan of novels that read too much like sermons. This wasn't the first Dekker book I've read, and as long as he keeps writing like this, I'm sure it won't be the last.
Rating: 
Summary: It's got a little something, but not much.
Review: After seeing the book in the local Christian bookstore, I was eager to get a chance to read Thr3e and had that chance when my wife picked it up for me for Christmas. I must say I was fairly disappointed at first. The writing sometimes seems too rudimentary. While Dekker does a decent job at giving the reader enough information to help create a visual representation about the story, he fails to capture excitement and intensity during the moments where excitement and intensity are needed most. While I won't complain about the lack of cussing from the main nemesis, the dialogue is fairly week for much of the book. Characters using phrases such as "shut up, you Puke" and "shut your pie hole" often gave me the feeling that i was reading teen fiction.The storyline is interesting enough to follow, though I wouldn't call it a page turner by any means. There were enough questions going through my head that made me want to know what the outcome really would be. But, in truth, i only finished the book so quickly so i could move on to my next novel, none-the-less, if it was too boring I'd have just sat the book down. My advice; check it out from a library or find it at a good used price. This book, while not horrible, isn't quite worth the "new hardback" price.
Rating: 
Summary: A truly gripping novel!
Review: As I write this, I have just finished reading Thr3e. I can honestly say that there is nothing negative to say about this book. This is the best work of fiction I have read in a long time!
Let's start with the author. Ted Dekker is truly a gifted writer. His characters are vivid and fleshed out. Most modern fiction presents two-dimensional characters and thin plots. Dekker's characters are real; people you would expect to meet in your neighborhood. Dekker also has mastered the art of painting a scene. Each scene has nuance and suspense as Dekker provides the little filler details that really adds flavor to the reading.
Secondly, the plot was simply amazing. Kept me guessing (and second guessing, and third guessing) all the way to the end. Dekker has the ability to lead you down a path and then have that path turn suddenly and leave you wondering what's real and what's not.
Thirdly, was the message of the book: Within us all is the capacity for great good, great evil, and the struggle between the two. This is no different for the Christian than the unbeliever. In fact, it's probably more true for the Christian. The unbeliever may do good, even great good, but from what motives? If you believe the Bible's doctrine, we're all fallen sinners in a fallen world. Even the good we do is for less than good motives. The person in Christ is set free from that sorry condition and is in the position of being able to do true good--good that pleases God--and true evil (as the Apostle Paul writes in Romans chapter 7).
Bottom line: Read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Christian Fiction Has Been "Born Again!"
Review: Besides the poorly written "Left Behind" series, this is the first Christian book I've read. I enjoyed Three by Ted Dekker very much.
Kevin Parson is a third year seminary student when he gets a phone call telling him to confess his "sin" or his car will be blown up. Kevin has no idea what the sin is so he abandons his car in a Wal Mart parking lot where it is blown to bits. The police are quickly on the case and believe this is the work of "the Riddle Killer", a murderer who killed after leaving riddles for the victims to solve. Kevin receives another call telling him to confess a sin or another bomb will explode. Kevin this time confesses the only sin he can think of but it isn't what the killer is looking for, and a bus is blown away.
Kevin is totally confused about his situation and starting to fall apart. Thankfully his childhood friend Samantha and current California Bureau of Investigation agent comes to help. Kevin also becomes friends with FBI agent Jennifer Barnes. From there, the chase is on to find the madman, whose name is Slater, who continues to threaten harm to others until Kevin confesses his sin.
Kevin led a deeply troubled childhood and Kevin himself doesn't want to face all the secrets he hides. Hopefully Kevin can find out what the killer wants him to confess before it is too late.
The Christian message of this book is good vs. evil and what must be done to expose evil, even the evil in the most moral people. The religion is pounded into you but is there just enough to get the message home. In fact, I think Kevin did not turn to God enough to aid him in his struggle. Comparing the writing to other novels I've read, Three didn't seem to be as tightly plotted as it could have been. Samantha's duty with the CBI is never thoroughly covered. Also, referring to Sam and the FBI agent Jennifer constantly only by their first names took some of the authority out of their positions and made the novel seem "soft" at times.
Still, the conclusion is somewhat surprising in spite of some of hints given earlier in the book. The conclusion also solves some of the weaknesses of the characters I mentioned above.
After reading the book, you'll obviously wonder if what you read earlier in the book is consistent with the "truth" revealed in the climax. I haven't yet gone back to reread some of the passages for clues, but it would be a fun excercise.
This is an exciting thriller that compares favorably to anything on the secular market and has definitely piqued my interest in Christian novels.
Rating:
Summary: Worth more than THR3E stars!
Review: For the last 30+ years of my life, I have never really given Christian fiction much of a thought. There was no interest on my end to really read these books. The "Left Behind" series changed all of that. I have found reading to be very enjoyable and now look for great Christian fiction to read. The first book I opted to read was "Thr3e" by Ted Dekker. Having never heard of him before, I did not know what to expect. But the book cover looked like it would be a good read, and it most certainly was. The book centers around Kevin Parsons, a 28 year old seminary student who has spent the last 5 years trying to put the past behind him. And just when he thinks he has, someone from that very past comes back to haunt him. But this mysterious person doesn't want Kevin to just merely relive it, he wants Kevin to confess it. But of everything from Kevin's past, he doesn't know what it is that this lunatic wants him to confess. Naturally, the fact that this madman has a bad tendency to blow things up when Kevin either can't solve his riddles or gets the cops involved doesn't really help Kevin's concentration much. There are very few places in this book where you can safely put the book down for awhile. Once you begin, the suspense will reel you in. Ted Dekker gracefully takes you for a ride that has more hills, loops, and corkscrews than the local amusement park. If you have never heard of Ted Dekker, like me, "Thr3e" is a great book to get to know him with.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting suspense, but...
Review: I bought this book because of the rave reviews by other readers, so my expectations were very high. I read many kinds of books. Christian fiction is something I especially enjoy when it is well written and leaves me with a good feeling and message when I've read the last page. That was not the case with Three. I don't like to say negative things about a book--especially one that so many other readers have loved--but since it was those reviews that got me to read the book, I feel I must share my own reaction. First, the good stuff. Certainly the main character, Kevin, came to life on the pages. The plot was exciting and suspenseful, and I'll admit I found it hard to put down. I was impressed not only with the author's writing ability, but also with the unique and very surprising ending. If I had been purposefully looking for a book that would scare me with the evil of the antagonist, keep me on the edge of my seat throughout, and catch me offguard with the ending, then I guess I'd be writing how great I found this book. If this book had been classified as "horror" and written by Koontz or King, I would have thought, yep, that's typical of their stuff. But I was looking for a Christian novel. The main character was a student in what was apparently an Episcopal seminary. Other than that, I saw nothing Christian in the book. I found it horrific and twisted--DEFINITELY not edifying or uplifting in any conceivable way. The only "message" if left me with was how sick a mind can get. I can contrast this unpleasant reaction with how I felt after reading some other Christian fiction, such as that of great authors like Alan Gansky and Randy Alcorn. When I finished Alcorn's books "Deadline," "Dominion," and "Safely Home," I was blown away by the message and the writing. I could see where these books might convert the hardest heart who would read them. In sharp contrast, Three is a horror/suspense novel, and to be honest, I found it distasteful. I gave it 3 stars because of the writer's talent.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, now I get it
Review: I have been hearing about Ted Dekker and how intriguing his books are for about a year now, and after having finished reading Thr3e the other day, I finally get it. I am an avid reader, but a slow one, normally, but I read this in less than two days because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Rarely has a book been so absorbing to me (C. W. Tooke's Ballpark Blues was another instance where this took place) that I would lose a bit of sleep to keep on reading.
The pacing of this book is at a breakneck speed and there rarely seems to be a lull in the action. Whether it's creepy phone calls with bizarre riddles being spoken by the mystery man on the other end, exploding cars and buildings, or the notion of good versus evil that is interjected throughout, this is a creative and entertaining piece of fiction that takes you on a wild ride. You will have to understand how to suspend your disbelief a bit if you are to truly enjoy this, but if you can do that, I believe you will enjoy the ride because it is a doozy. It makes you think about how each of us struggles against the forces that try and destroy our lives and how we deal with our own demons, and so this book also goes beyond mere entertainment in that way.
This was a solid read that I recommend for folks who are fans of the Frank Peretti brand of Christian fiction, as both are in a league that outshines many other writers in the genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Three times the bore!
Review: I received this book as a gift and after reading it, I have to say, I felt sorry that money was wasted on buying it. The writing is on par with a high school creative writing class (if that) and the characters are completely one-dimensional and annoying throughout. The plot follows every hackneyed serial killer story that Hollywood puts out these days, replete with banal dialogue and a 'surprise' ending. (i.e. this story is nothing that you haven't already read or seen before) In fact, for those who have seen the movie Adaptation, one of the characters of that film wrote a schlocky serial killer script called The Three with an ending that is eerily similar to this book (not to mention the same title)! Makes you wonder... Anyway, the underlying message of Romans 7:15-25 is a good one, but the writing is simply atrocious and I shudder to think that people actually find it worth their time. This is the first of Ted Dekker's books I've read and it will also be the last. If I could've given this book 0 stars, I would have.
Rating:
Summary: OH, PL3ASE!!
Review: Juvenile Writing.
Shallow Characters.
Predictable Plot.
Surprise Ending.
Three negatives.
No wonder "Christian" writers have so little credibility.
I'm going back to Dostoyevsky.
Rating:
Summary: Surpasses the Hype
Review: Okay, I don't do Christian writers, sorry, I just have never gotten past the assumption that it is somehow less. But I'd heard a lot about this book and when a good friend of mine at FOX studios suggested I read it, I buckled and bought it.
This book is written phenomonally well. Another review here suggested the writing was juvenile and mentionted Dostoyevsky as a prefered style in fiction. If you're one of the few literary types who limits thier enjoyment to such authors and shuns the likes of King, Koontz, Grisham, and Patterson, then steer clear of Dekker as well. He writes for the common culture like Shakespear did in his day. Not for narrow minded elitists.
But if you like any of these other authors, be like me, take the plunge, you'll find a story here that will suprise and delight you. What suprised me most was the depth of the questions about human nature behind the plot. I'll definately be reading more of Dekker. And FOX is right, this will definately make an incredible movie.
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