4.8 stars for this stunning mystery thriller.

What if you could see into the future? What if you could fathom your afterlife and the things it has in store for you? The mind-tingling question arises: Will I go to Heaven or will I end up in Hell?
Randy Black has seen it – both sides. Following his murder rampage to avenge his parent’s bankruptcy and death, Randy almost loses his own life due to the beating he takes from an arresting police officer. The things Randy witnesses while unconscious range from the indescribable beauty of God’s heavenly threshold to the utmost barbaric torture sinners will endure for all eternity.
In I.C.U., Randy awakes as a changed man. Handcuffed to his bed, he recalls the grueling images of Hell and decides to turn his life around, hoping it isn’t too late. And that’s where his real trouble begins: The more Randy tries to clean-up his ways, the deeper he slips into a labyrinth of crime. No matter which direction he turns for help; his attorney, the cops, and even the judge trying his case, Randy encounters manipulation, black-mail and distortion. With only one person to trust, a story-hungry reporter named Cassie, Randy soon finds himself entrapped in not just earthly dangers, but also the threat of God’s Unforgiving.

With Randy Black, author CJ West created a strong character who takes us on a fast-paced journey of great mystery and suspense. We cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. The story’s plot and sub-plots spread over a vast variety of interests, beginning with the epilogue and it’s wonderfully narrated glimpse of the afterlife, and ends with the beautiful tenderness of a romantic drama. West’s skill of thrill dabbles with modern political and ethical topics which make A Demon Awaits an even more desirable read. A few times I put the book down, but only to question why this story hasn’t found its way to the desk of a traditional publisher, or even onto the big screen. With a few gentle edits, A Demon Awaits should hold its own against any mystery thriller the likes of Dean Koontz.
I’m extremely stingy with 5-star reviews but after zipping though CJ West’s Randy Black novel and especially after such an unconventional ending, I’m just too impressed to give it a lesser score than a 4.8.

Rebecca Lerwill is the award-winning author of Relocating Mia and The Acronym. Her book reviews are available on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and Authorsden.