As the apocalyptic leaders of Iran call for the annihilation of Israel and the U.S., CIA operative David Shirazi is sent into Tehran with one objec...
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reviews
Dec 12, 2011
Kammera
rated it: 
This was a terrific read. Started out slow and picked up the pace until..BAM a frustrating cliff hangar at the end! I was so astonished, I think i was searching for hidden pages at the end!
It puts me in mind of the Left behind Series, BUT I liked the authors writing style way better. Also, the view point was from the Islamic "end times" point of view and how people of that culture interpret their world around them based on the coming belief of a Holy twelfth Imam and of course th More...
It puts me in mind of the Left behind Series, BUT I liked the authors writing style way better. Also, the view point was from the Islamic "end times" point of view and how people of that culture interpret their world around them based on the coming belief of a Holy twelfth Imam and of course th More...
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Aug 21, 2011
Victor
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Joel C. Rosenberg in his book “The Twelfth Imam” Book One in the The Twelfth Imam series published by Tyndale House Publishers brings us to The Middle East in the possible future.
I think it is entirely possible that Joel Rosenberg is a spy. Not your typical spy I suppose but since I have never met one and have no reference point based on what I read all I can say is he must be some kind of spy. Mr. Rosenberg knows a lot about how governments work. He has a fascinating amount of info More...
I think it is entirely possible that Joel Rosenberg is a spy. Not your typical spy I suppose but since I have never met one and have no reference point based on what I read all I can say is he must be some kind of spy. Mr. Rosenberg knows a lot about how governments work. He has a fascinating amount of info More...
Jan 24, 2011
Nancy
rated it: 
Here is another stirring political thriller by Joel C. Rosenberg, who authored other books about the Middle East in the "last days" (beginning with The Last Jihad). This book begins a second series, and I am looking forward to Book 2 being published!
This story is about the U.S., the C.I.A., and Iran and the previously- unknown-to-me belief of a Muslim Holy Man (the Twelfth Imam) who will usher the world into a time of peace and happiness. The difference between the Muslim More...
This story is about the U.S., the C.I.A., and Iran and the previously- unknown-to-me belief of a Muslim Holy Man (the Twelfth Imam) who will usher the world into a time of peace and happiness. The difference between the Muslim More...
Dec 03, 2010
Laura
rated it:
If you are familiar with Joel Rosenberg, than you know his novels can be somewhat prophetic. In The Twelfth Imam, Rosenberg's latest offering, the author has done a remarkable job of taking current news and creating a plausible story that is once again, all too prophetic.
It starts during the Iran hostage crisis back in the 70's and follows real news events, mixed in with fiction, leading up to a future point in time, which in this reviewers opinion could be now. In this new series, CI More...
It starts during the Iran hostage crisis back in the 70's and follows real news events, mixed in with fiction, leading up to a future point in time, which in this reviewers opinion could be now. In this new series, CI More...
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Nov 08, 2010
Cathy
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This is a must read! If you believe in Mormon eschatology (revelations on events occurring in the last days), then you will love this book which reveals the Islamic Shia eschatology. Rosenberg, whose father was Jewish and mother was gentile,cleverly weaves the twin stories of an Iranian-American CIA operative searching for his roots in Islam with that of an Iranian scientist deeply rooted in the teachings of Islam searching for a more peaceful way in Christianity. As the CIA agent tries to get c
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Oct 25, 2010
Nikole
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“When the apartment was quiet, Najjar would stare out the window into the moonlight, meditating on the Ayatollah’s words and on his fiery insistence that a Muslim’s duty was to perform jihad—holy war—against the infidels. It wasn’t exactly the stuff of childhood dreams, but it stirred something deep within Najjar’s heart.
“Surely those who believe, those who wage jihad in God’s cause—they are the ones who may hope for the mercy of God,” the Ayatollah would declare, citing Sura 2 More...
“Surely those who believe, those who wage jihad in God’s cause—they are the ones who may hope for the mercy of God,” the Ayatollah would declare, citing Sura 2 More...
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Oct 25, 2010
Seth
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While the description deals mostly with the problems surrounding Iran and Iraq, I find that I was actually most drawn to the more domestic issues, so to speak. I found the protagonist relationship with a girl that seems to have dropped off the grid more intriguing than when the CIA operative is fighting to prevent the utter destruction of two nations. I think that's more of my personal draw than the author's fault, if it's even a fault at all.
The plot as a whole is fascinating. It takes More...
The plot as a whole is fascinating. It takes More...
Oct 19, 2010
Kara
rated it:
This was my first time reading a novel by Mr. Rosenberg. On the back cover it is listed as Fiction/Suspense, which is one of my favorite genres to read, but I tend to tread cautiously - not wanting to get expectations too high, only to be disappointed by a “Suspense” novel, that was about as suspenseful as reading yesterday’s news. However, this was not the case with The Twelfth Imam.
From the very first page I was drawn into the political unrest of 1979 Iran and the siege on the Americ More...
From the very first page I was drawn into the political unrest of 1979 Iran and the siege on the Americ More...
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Aug 27, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it:
First let me say be aware that this is a Christian novel. It's not Tom Clancy or Vince Flynn and while there are some action and thrills in the book it's not what I'd call action adventure or techno-thriller, there are elements of each in it, but neither is it's primary focus.
Now this is no problem for me as I'm a Christian and have only a few arguments with the book. I just wanted readers to know what they are picking up, not that you'd miss it and I'm sure most non-Christians will/ More...
Now this is no problem for me as I'm a Christian and have only a few arguments with the book. I just wanted readers to know what they are picking up, not that you'd miss it and I'm sure most non-Christians will/ More...
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Mar 01, 2011
Gail
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The Twelfth Imam, by Joel C Rosenberg, Hardcover, First Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, October 19, 2010, 512 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1414311630, $26.99
Ten-year-old Roya hid on the upper stairway and overheard the black-turbaned cleric speak to her parents below. "Allah has sent me to your home to heal little Roya."
She couldn't see her parent's face but imagined they were stunned like she was. Then she heard the man tell what her family had done yesterday, from t More...
Ten-year-old Roya hid on the upper stairway and overheard the black-turbaned cleric speak to her parents below. "Allah has sent me to your home to heal little Roya."
She couldn't see her parent's face but imagined they were stunned like she was. Then she heard the man tell what her family had done yesterday, from t More...
Feb 27, 2011
Brad
rated it:
As a fan of thriller fiction, this was one that I couldn't put down and placed on my row of favorites once the last page was read.
As a Christian, this is one that I can read time and time again. The accuracy of the details regarding both Judeo-Christian and Islamic eschatology was incredible and Rosenberg should be commended for that alone. The end times prophecy points were woven seamlessly into a story that was both highly entertaining and frighteningly plausible considering the na More...
As a Christian, this is one that I can read time and time again. The accuracy of the details regarding both Judeo-Christian and Islamic eschatology was incredible and Rosenberg should be commended for that alone. The end times prophecy points were woven seamlessly into a story that was both highly entertaining and frighteningly plausible considering the na More...
Jan 04, 2011
Peter
rated it: 
I am going to go out on a limb and muse aloud about how Muslims deal with Rosenberg...he is an evangelical christian thriller writer and makes no bones about how he feels about Islam and the Islamist threat to America and the world. The is the first in a series of novels putting the end of times belief on the part of some Shia Muslims in The Twelfth Iman at the heart of a nuclear threat being launched in the world. There are some intriguing conversion stories at the heart of this story and a bol
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Dec 05, 2011
Christina
rated it:
Here's a shocker: The hubs and I actually read this book on our Kindles at the same time so this is a collective review!
The pros: We both enjoy Joel's writing style, which is fast paced and very factual. I always feel like I'm learning a ton about the Middle East. As always, I recommend reading Joel's "Epicenter" if you really want to get a grip on the Middle East and prophecy. Joel knows his stuff and is thoroughly researched.
The cons: There are always More...
The pros: We both enjoy Joel's writing style, which is fast paced and very factual. I always feel like I'm learning a ton about the Middle East. As always, I recommend reading Joel's "Epicenter" if you really want to get a grip on the Middle East and prophecy. Joel knows his stuff and is thoroughly researched.
The cons: There are always More...
Nov 04, 2010
Giovanni
rated it:
This author has over 2 million copies in print and I haven’t read one of them. The novels that I have missed to date are: The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option, The Copper Scroll, Epicenter, and Inside the Revolution. I will back track eventually but for now I had to stay focused on The Twelfth Imam. The novel has so many plots and sub plots one need’s a score card; it is all good stuff though.
Here is the synopsis from the inside jacket of the cover: “Tensions are rising in the More...
Here is the synopsis from the inside jacket of the cover: “Tensions are rising in the More...
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Jul 18, 2011
Renee
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“Don’t you know how close we are, you fool? Don’t you know how pious we must be? He’s coming at any moment. We must be ready.” ~from The Twelfth Imam
These words from Joel Rosenberg’s latest are not uttered by an evangelical Christian but by a Muslim at the top of the Iranian power structure. His statement greatly impacts agent Reza Tabrizi (David Shirazi), the first of his CIA colleagues to realize that at the heart of the Iranian nuclear program is a group of men who believe the wor More...
These words from Joel Rosenberg’s latest are not uttered by an evangelical Christian but by a Muslim at the top of the Iranian power structure. His statement greatly impacts agent Reza Tabrizi (David Shirazi), the first of his CIA colleagues to realize that at the heart of the Iranian nuclear program is a group of men who believe the wor More...
Nov 11, 2011
Jess
rated it:
The Twelfth Imam is well written, but it's a bit hard to get into unless you're seriously into Bible prophecy and can deal with... oh, how shall I say this without spoiling it? ...unless you can deal with prophets appearing to people and telling them what to do. I don't mean people who think some higher power is guiding them or someone who thinks they saw something in a dream. I mean people from the Bible (or Koran) appearing before them and having conversations with them and/or doing miracles.
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Jun 10, 2011
Yolisa
rated it:
Very Interesting... LOVED LOVED THE SUSPENSE!! He highlights that struggle of the 1st generation American (from Iran) torn between serving his country (USA) and not being labelled as a traitor to his Iranian roots...the struggle to hold on to two opposing sides to which he is loyal without betraying either one. Pretty awesome... loved it.
Actually learned a lot about the difference in cultures and political histories (assuming most of it was accurate) between Iraqis and Iranians... More...
Actually learned a lot about the difference in cultures and political histories (assuming most of it was accurate) between Iraqis and Iranians... More...
Apr 07, 2011
David
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This book was nothing like what I expected when I started it. I was thinking CIA agent infiltrating Iran’s nuclear program and I eventually realized that this was just an interesting sub-plot to the main event. It is not often that I find a book that throws me a complete curveball, but The Twelfth Imam threw it right past my head (we are close enough to Opening Day for Baseball to get away with that phrase). Beyond the suspenseful and surprising storyline, the writing by Rosenberg is top notc
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Jul 13, 2011
Mary
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Excellent CIA book on events that have unfolded since 911.This was a gripping story and could not get enough of it. Haven't researched yet if its ia series but they way it ended, I'm sure it is. It takes you on a journey of a young girl and her family and the tragic events and the friends of that families young son. So while you think the main characters are the parents, they are only the beginning of the story. I'm more a fantasy lover, faith, personal journeys, murder myster and maybe some
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Aug 05, 2011
SAMer
rated it:
DISAPPOINTING: a very promising plot is ruined by the author's religious beliefs trumping those of his characters. For example, in reality, highly-educated Muslims would struggle greatly if someone who claims to be Jesus was contradicting Islamic beliefs about Al-Mahdi (aka the twelfth Imam), because of Islamic warnings against a fake Messiah. In the book, every single Muslim who saw Jesus, easily converted to Christianity. They naively trusted the Bible's warning against a fake Messiah, and dis
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Oct 31, 2010
Sandra
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The CIA knows a lot that’s going on. Israel faces threats every day from Iran and other nations who want to destroy them because they are God’s chosen people. I enjoyed the way the story got the point across in narrative that Russia and Iran is working together to accomplish their goal even though they neither like, or trust each other. The idea that the story so closely follows current events was wonderful. I especially like it because it’s based on prophesy that we can see happening every
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Aug 05, 2011
Matt
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Another excellent novel by Rosenberg that tackles an on-going issue, Islamic terrorism and the threat of nuclear weapons on the "Great Devil" (read: USA). I thoughly enjoyed Rosenberg's layering of past (Islamic Revolution, September 11, 2001) and present, as he presents two generations of characters in the fight to keep Iran (and the fundamentalist Islamic movement) at bay.
It was only when (as is typical with anything by Rosenberg) the arrival of the 'Christian epiphany came up that m More...
It was only when (as is typical with anything by Rosenberg) the arrival of the 'Christian epiphany came up that m More...
Feb 11, 2011
Michael
rated it:
The first in a new series by Joel C. Rosenberg The Twelfth Imam is mainly the story of David Shirazi, an Iranian-American CIA agent.
The book starts off with his parents' escape from Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979, then moves on to show his first love during a fishing trip in September 2001 with how the events of that month affected him.
Then the book settles down into what the main plot of the story and series will be: the Iranian leadership believes Muhammad a More...
The book starts off with his parents' escape from Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979, then moves on to show his first love during a fishing trip in September 2001 with how the events of that month affected him.
Then the book settles down into what the main plot of the story and series will be: the Iranian leadership believes Muhammad a More...
Dec 10, 2011
Carol
rated it:
A great book to listen to during a car trip. Rosenberg uses current events combined with Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious beliefs to craft a real thriller. The CIA is dealing with Iran on the brink of having the ability to detonate a nuclear weapon. Great characters with a number of stories woven together held my interest. My husband and I both enjoyed this and our trip just sped by. We purchased Rosenberg's next book, The Tehran Initiative immediately because the story continues in th
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Feb 12, 2011
Tre
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What if the entire eschatology of Islam is the exact opposite of Christianity’s? In Joel Rosenberg’s latest thriller, The Twelfth Imam, which I prefer to call “future-historical fiction”, he takes the reader on a fast paced ride through the lives of two families, intertwined through their years of experiences, to educate us in this very real truth. Rosenberg weaves Islamic eschatology into the story to not only drive the plot, but to inform the reader of a real belief system within Islam.
As Ira More...
As Ira More...
Feb 24, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
I usually really enjoy Rosenberg's books, and this one was a good read once you get into it. The first 60 pages are a drag - I nearly gave up, but things finally picked up and the story became very interesting. However, I hate how this one ends. I wonder if he's trying to ensure future readership, or maybe he ran out of time to meet a deadline.... but the story just stopped dead in its tracks. I can understand a TV sitcome having a "to be continued" where you find out next week wha
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Oct 19, 2010
Freda
rated it:
I knew by the title this would be an interesting read, but I had no idea as to what capacity my attention would be grabbed. I was pulled in so deep to this story I found myself reading it every chance I could get.
I loved reading this author's style of writing. His fluid language kept it easy to keep up with what was going on at all times. When you deal with subject and places foreign to you, sometimes it can be harder to digest, but not this story. I have to admit though, I am glad this is More...
I loved reading this author's style of writing. His fluid language kept it easy to keep up with what was going on at all times. When you deal with subject and places foreign to you, sometimes it can be harder to digest, but not this story. I have to admit though, I am glad this is More...
Jun 10, 2011
Jimmy
rated it:
This book was quite interesting. I enjoyed reading it and finished it fairly quickly. Interesting characters - good plot - and (always a good thing) I was disappointed that I reached the final page. This book is not for everyone. Rosenberg is an evangelical Christian who had a Jewish father. This gives him an interesting perspective and some "skin in the game." This book may not rank Rosenberg up there with the big-time authors of mainstream thrillers, but it is refreshing to read
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Nov 11, 2011
Sher
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For a lot of this book I was thinking "Oh WOW." I was very involved emotionally pretty much from the start. There are a couple of things you will want to know about it before you read it however. First, it is the first book in a series. This book does not have a satisfying ending. It seems to stop in mid-air. I am so glad I knew that before I finished the book. Second, if you are offended by Jesus Christ, don't read it, as He does make an appearance, small as it is. For me, it
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Dec 07, 2011
Alexander
rated it:
The author does make the story exciting, although the story you read in the preview for kindle is misleading and should really be its own preface as the majority of the book takes place decades later. He also gets kinda preachy about Jesus and it feels corny how Jesus will appear and quote himself saying something in the bible. And some of his logic doesn't make sense. And it ends on a cliffhanger. But the biggest problem is probably the excessive use of deus ex machina where he wants you to get
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