The Twelfth Imam

Dec 12, 2011 Kammera Rice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

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 their belief on Al...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Henri Moreaux rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spy-intel-services, politics, middle-east

I picked up this book because the blurb made it sound like an interesting thriller coming from a unique aspect.

This impression was correct for the first half of the book; it was well written, good plot line, mix of mystery, questions and answers to keep the pages turning then all of a sudden it's like the author is trying to convert you to Christianity and combining this with a thesis on Islam being a false religion & the product of satan. Add in numerous excerpts of scripture and the book g...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Stephen rated it 1 of 5 stars

The Twelfth Imam
© 2010 Joel Rosenberg
512 pages

Who’s up for the Apocalypse? Israel stands ready for a preemptive strike against Iran, whose concealed nuclear program is on the verge of being able to produce warheads. Considering that both Iran’s Supreme Muckety-Muck and president subscribe to a cult within Islam that believes the end and salvation of the world can be brought about only through a war of annihilation against Iran’s foes (namely, Israel and the United States), Tel Aviv just may have...more The Twelfth Imam
© 2010 Joel Rosenberg
512 pages

Who’s up for the Apocalypse? Israel stands ready for a preemptive strike against Iran, whose concealed nuclear program is on the verge of being able to produce warheads. Considering that both Iran’s Supreme Muckety-Muck and president subscribe to a cult within Islam that believes the end and salvation of the world can be brought about only through a war of annihilation against Iran’s foes (namely, Israel and the United States), Tel Aviv just may have cause for concern. Especially seeing as there’s a fellow roaming around the countryside performing miracles and claiming to be the Messiah, ordained by God to restore the Islamic Caliphate and subordinate the entire world to his will.

Such is the setup for Joel Rosenberg’s The Twelfth Imam, a doomsday novel that starts out reading like a political thriller in the vein of Tom Clancy, complete with a CIA operative inserted into Iran with the objective of thwarting the nation’s nuclear ambitions. The book quickly proves to be much more along the lines of Left Behind; this is an apocalyptic novel in its truest sense, because the religious prophecies drive the plot, and not merely as motivation for the characters; instead, supernatural forces and creatures are active elements within the plot, making it light fantasy and…well, somewhat silly. I say silly because while I started reading Left Behind knowing it would have fantastical elements, The Twelfth Imam began with a more sober setup which is derailed by them.

It is perfectly believable to anyone that Iran could be led by religious lunatics, because it is; it is perfectly believable that Israel could be aggressively wary, because it is; it is perfectly believable that a man could claim to be the messiah and create a following for himself, complete with magic tricks and illusions. And the premise is outstandingly interesting: although Christianity is the religion most identified with the concept of messiahs, other religions with an apocalyptic strain believe that a hero – a powerful warrior, a charismatic leader, a righteous judge – will rise and lead the forces of good to a final triumph over evil, and establish a paradise on Earth. The Jews call this figure the moschiah; the Muslims, the Mahdi. Christians believe that Jesus will be this figure when he returns, but a minority (the Left Behind readers) believe that fake messiah, the Antichrist, will emerge as a popular and powerful figure, and create a world empire of scum and villainy. The Twelfth Imam combines two views of the messiah: the Mahdi has come, but he’s coming in the role of the antichrist, the villain.

Done well, readers could have been treated to the story of 'good' characters who put their trust in a leader promising and apparently delivering great things, who are later agonized when his intentions prove to be malevolent, and who undergo crises of confidence -- like The Good German. Alas, Rosenberg instead uses this premise to demonize Islam, complete with his Mahdi offering the same deal to Iran’s supreme muckety-muck as Satan offered to Jesus during his 40-day fast in the wilderness. Worship me, and the world is yours. There are no sympathetic Muslims here: the devout are without exception utterly slavish stereotypes, vowing and delivering violence against non-Muslims. In one scene, a Muslim father drives his kids across town and cheerfully quizzes them on how the Koran instructs them to hate Jews and delight in slaughter. (Then he drops them off so they can become human minesweepers. Dad of the year, he’s not.) There are a few characters the reader can identify with from Iran or Iraq, but they’re not devout and in the course of the novel will be bejesused when Jesus himself shows up to covert them and start giving them advice on life.

This is the part where I started giggling, where the tenseness of the spy novel became a farce. Rosenberg has managed to write quite a few novels without being schooled on the meaning of Deus ex machina, apparently: Here the fantasy elements take the plot off the rails by physically picking them up and plonking them down wherever: once Jesus shows up (repeating the Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus bit line for line in a random conversion), he makes a habit of rescuing the main characters from conflict. Need something? Oh, good, Jesus just told that guy in the supermarket to give it to you. Flying down the highway with the mahdi’s state apparatus looking for you? Jesus is your GPS: turn left, now, to avoid capture. Unfortunately, the novel becomes increasingly ridiculous as it wears on: at one point, the Mahdi summons the leaders of Islamic countries and groups together and proclaims the caliphate, at which point they happily drop down in fealty. Forget the hostility between Iranians and Arabs, between Hezbollah and Hamas, between Shiites and Sunnis: all that is trivial compared to the power of a man in black robe who shouts generic jihadist phrases.

Ultimately this isn’t a spy thriller or a story of political intrigue: it's Left Behind for a new generation, meant to broadcast a particular view of the world to a mass audience, and it's just as narrow-minded, partisan, arrogant, and fearmongering. It stands apart for having a far more interesting premise and being somewhat better done than the Jenkins-LaHaye novels. It still manages to be entertaining, for all tis weaknesses, because the back cover refers to Rush Limbaugh as a “leader”.

For what it's worth, I've also read the sequel, The Tehran Initiative, which is mildly better but still has absurd situations like Satan worrying if his cellphone is secure. Yes, really.(less)

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Apr 18, 2013 Francis Gahren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, fiction

Bestseller Rosenberg has carved out a deep niche in conservative political fiction, vividly sweeping
from 1979 Iran during the hostage crisis to a world-threatening crisis in the present day. When a prophecy of the coming Mahdi, or 12th imam, is believed to have been fulfilled through a Muslim prophet, a nuclear attack is threatened by Iran against Israel to bring the end of days.

Iranian-American CIA operative David Shirazi must infiltrate the Iranian government without leaving American fingerp...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am somewhat at a loss to explain how I feel about this book. I thought it was well written with a good plot but for me it had too many recitations of prayers in full. There would be pages and pages of muslim prayers to the point that I sometimes wondered (if not for the plot) if the author was trying to convert people. I think it would have sufficed for the author to just explain that the character was praying and for what he was praying. I actually started skipping these passages. Meanwhile t...more

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Feb 23, 2013 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Here's what I like about this book:

(1) It is exciting and the author moves things along in an interesting manner, a real page-turner.
(2) It draws on current events which gives it a contemporary feel of reality.
(3) The author is not afraid to deal with religious themes, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian.
(4) It isn't full of gratuitous sex and foul language.

Here's what I don't like about the book:

(1) The non-ending. When the last page is over the book isn't finished. My reaction to this was, "What!"...more Here's what I like about this book:

(1) It is exciting and the author moves things along in an interesting manner, a real page-turner.
(2) It draws on current events which gives it a contemporary feel of reality.
(3) The author is not afraid to deal with religious themes, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian.
(4) It isn't full of gratuitous sex and foul language.

Here's what I don't like about the book:

(1) The non-ending. When the last page is over the book isn't finished. My reaction to this was, "What!" Turns out this is the first of a 3-volume series. OK, I can handle that, but when most authors write a series, each volume is more-or-less self-contained. Not Rosenberg.
(2) He misquotes the Qur'an more often than not. Here's an example. On page 114 (Loc 1935 in the Kindle version) he quotes Sura 4:52 as follows: "Jews and Christians are the ones whom God has cursed, and he whom God excludes from His mercy, you shall never find one to help and save him." So I found an English translation of the Qur'an (http://quran.com/4) and here is Sura 4:52 from it, "Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed; and he whom Allah curses - never will you find for him a helper." No mention of Jews and Christians at all. In the previous verse, Sura 4:51, it says, "Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in superstition and false objects of worship and say about the disbelievers, 'These are better guided than the believers as to the way'?" This describes "[t]hose...whom Allah has cursed". So the Qur'an is saying that those who believe in superstition and false objects of worship are those whom Allah curses. Well I suspect Jews and Christians would say the same of those whom they consider believers in superstition and false objects of worship. The way Rosenberg presents the quote and others is helpful for his story, but is not entirely accurate.
(3) Rosenberg represents the Twelfth Imam as one who wishes to destroy Israel and the United States as a precursor to bring peace and righteousness to the world. He also portrays the Twelfth Imam as anti-Christ. I'm not conversant with the issues involved here, but according to the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad...), Muslims who believe in a Twelfth Imam (Twelvers), believe that Jesus will also come and follow the Twelfth Imam to destroy tyranny and falsehood and to bring justice and peace to the world. So, if the Wikipedia has it right, Jesus will be a follower of the Twelfth Imam and they will work together to bring peace and justice to the world. This is a far cry from Rosenberg's version of the situation.

I realize this is a book of fiction, so the author should be allowed to do what he wants. But in "A Note from the Author" following his non-ending, he explains how he has made "an effort to create a realistic setting for this story". His misquotes from the Qur'an and his portrayal of the Twelfth Imam as an anti-Christ with mass destruction of Christians and Jews in his heart appear to me to be destroy his claim of a realistic setting.(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Saima rated it 1 of 5 stars

The most stupid book I ever read. It's full of lies. Imam Mehdi ll not be a Shia Imam. He ll not say that he is a prophet. He ll not say that he is "maseeh" or Jesus. He ll be a pious Muslim man from the lineage and blood of Prophet Muhammad, he ll lead Muslims in very difficult time, the war ll thrust by "anti Christ" against muslim, he ll fight just against anti Christ, he ll pray that may The Lord send Jesus who can and ll win the war against anti Christ. I wonder and want to ask from all the...more The most stupid book I ever read. It's full of lies. Imam Mehdi ll not be a Shia Imam. He ll not say that he is a prophet. He ll not say that he is "maseeh" or Jesus. He ll be a pious Muslim man from the lineage and blood of Prophet Muhammad, he ll lead Muslims in very difficult time, the war ll thrust by "anti Christ" against muslim, he ll fight just against anti Christ, he ll pray that may The Lord send Jesus who can and ll win the war against anti Christ. I wonder and want to ask from all the people's who claim that they love Jesus, you all befriends with the people who ll be with anti Christ. The things which are stated in this book that Imam Mehdi ll do such horrible things, anti Christ ll do all these. Jesus ll come and ll defeat anti Christ, Imam Mehdi ll be with Jesus. I don't know how you live and justify your own selves with so many lies.
This book changed the whole truth, everything that is told in this book about Imam Mehdi he ll be opposite of all this. In the start he even won't accept the leadership, Muslim scholars ll insist to him to do so. Imam Mehdi ll fill the earth with justice and peace.
All the people who claim that they love Jesus listen carefully, The Lord ll ask from Jesus on the day of judgment that

Qur'an 5:116-120 Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
And behold! Allah will say "O Jesus the son of Mary! didst thou say unto men 'worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah"? He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.
"Never said I to them anything except what Thou didst command me to say to wit 'Worship Allah my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up thou wast the Watcher over them and Thou art a Witness to all things.
"If Thou dost punish them they are Thy servants: if Thou dost forgive them Thou art the Exalted the Wise.
Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home: Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah: that is the great Salvation (the fulfillment of all desires).
To Allah doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein and it is He who hath power over all things.(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, action, man-books, religious

This is an action packed book about a spy named David Shirazi, an American born of Iranian parents who left Iran when the Shah's government fell. David has to infiltrate the communication system of Iran so that the CIA can monitor their calls. On the one hand you have the Israeli PM calling for a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities while the POTUS says negotiations are the key to finding peace. In the middle of all this cloak and dagger stuff a mysterious religious cleric claiming to...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-fiction

This was my first Joel Rosenberg book and I enjoyed it tremendously as a work of fiction. Woven throughout the fictional story was a lot of stark reality: reality of world conflict between Islam and Christianity. His research has obviously been thorough and his perspective on the conflict is balanced and true to the nature of the conflict and through the voice of the characters, we can easily seen how a conflict that has existed for thousands of years will continue in our generation and beyond.

M...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Josh Hopping rated it 2 of 5 stars

Over the past decade, author and former political consult Joel C. Rosenberg has been amassing a huge following with multiple New York Times best sellers. Drawing off his as a consult for Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky and then-former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rosenberg’s books tend to focus on Middle Eastern politics and terrorism (think CIA and State Department thrillers).

A good chuck of Rosenberg’s fame comes from his uncanny ability to ‘predict’ real-life events within...more Over the past decade, author and former political consult Joel C. Rosenberg has been amassing a huge following with multiple New York Times best sellers. Drawing off his as a consult for Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky and then-former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rosenberg’s books tend to focus on Middle Eastern politics and terrorism (think CIA and State Department thrillers).

A good chuck of Rosenberg’s fame comes from his uncanny ability to ‘predict’ real-life events within his books. For example, he wrote about kamikaze plane attack on an American city nine months before 9-11 and five months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq he wrote about a war with Saddam Hussein.

Having heard bits and pieces of this fame throughout the years, I finalize decided to give his books a try (well, that and the fact that a co-worker was pressuring me to read them!). Looking at my local library, I discovered that they had both the “The Twelfth Imam” (2010) and the sequel “The Tehran Initiative” (2011) in an audio format, which is my preferred method of ‘reading’ non-fiction books.

As to be expected, the hero of the series is an American CIA spy named David Shirazi who must infiltrate the Iranian government and try to stop a nuclear war. What was not expected was the way in which Rosenberg incorporated both Shia Islam eschatology and Christianity into the story line. Simply put, in the books the leaders of Iran are devoted Imami Shīa Muslims who are trying to hurry the arrive of the Mahdi (the twelve successor of Prophet Mohammad who is prophesied to unite the world under Islam) via destroying Israel and the USA – i.e. ushering in the end of times.

In fact, the Mahdi does show up in the books as someone with supernatural powers and insight into the future. Jesus also makes various appearances – only Jesus tended to appear to small groups of folks while the Mahdi takes the spotlight and control of various nations. Think of them as a Frank Peretti, Tim LaHaye/Jerry Jenkins, and Tom Clancy hybrid novel. (Note that Rosenberg is a Christian believer with a family tree of Orthodox Judaism.)

An interesting thing about the books is that the longer I read them the more I kept thinking about how much the Imami Shīa Muslims leaders sounded like USA Dispensationalism Christian church and political leaders. Both groups are heavily focused on end time prophecies and use such writings to defend and/or justify their political, economic, and religious choices and behaviors. They also are both awaiting a savior who will usher in a peaceful world-wide rule via an Armageddon type war and are willing to ‘help’ the prophecies along via their choices. If you think I’m reading too much into things, you should probably note that I’m not the only person making these comparison (see http://www.peace-catalyst.net/blog/po...).

In addition to exploring Islamic and Christian eschatology, Rosenberg explores the religious themselves with various characters converting from Islam to Christianity. While this makes sense to a certain degree within the world of the novels, it actually rubbed me wrong as each of the new converts then proceed to help the CIA and USA government (a religious/political marriage that I STONGLY disagree with). The excuse or rationality for this help was that the USA was fighting to stop a war while the Iranian leaders were trying to start one – i.e. Christianity was for peace and Islam was for war.

However that stereotype does not work for me as I know there are plenty of Muslims who long for peace and have no desire to destroy or harm the nation of Israel or the USA. They mostly just want to live life, get a good job, marry, have some kids and enjoy living – just like most Christians, Hindus, Atheists, etc. People are people. As such, I would have like the books to have included a some Muslims heroes fighting for peace from within their religion...

I guess in conclusion I am torn as to what I think about the books… on one hand there were good pop-corn reads with plenty of action coupled with some good thinking points. However, they do seem to promote a theological view and stereotype that I dislike… can I say 2 or 2.5 stars out of 5? :?(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 John Ausmus rated it 5 of 5 stars

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, CIA operative...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Renn Shearin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tension rises in the Middle East.
As the apocalyptic leaders of Iran call for the annihilation of Israel and the United States, CIA operative David Shirazi is sent into Tehran with one objective: use all means necessary to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program—without leaving American fingerprints and without triggering a regional war.

As David begins to infiltrate the Iranian government, news spreads throughout the region of an obscure religious cleric hailed as the Islamic messiah known as th...more Tension rises in the Middle East.
As the apocalyptic leaders of Iran call for the annihilation of Israel and the United States, CIA operative David Shirazi is sent into Tehran with one objective: use all means necessary to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program—without leaving American fingerprints and without triggering a regional war.

As David begins to infiltrate the Iranian government, news spreads throughout the region of an obscure religious cleric hailed as the Islamic messiah known as the Mahdi or the Twelfth Imam. News of his miracles, healings, signs, and wonders spreads like wildfire, as do rumors of a new and horrific war.

With the prophecy of the Twelfth Imam seemingly fulfilled, Iran’s military prepares to strike Israel and bring about the End of Days. Shirazi must take action to save his country and the world, but the clock is ticking.

The Twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg is an intense political thriller that masterfully conveys the true tensions that lie in the Middle East. The first book in Rosenberg's new series, it beautifully sets the stage for the following novels. The plot line of this novel is well developed and pulls in characters from all areas of the story. At the beginning it is hard to see how all the characters are important and part of the unfolding events, but as the novel continues, it becomes increasingly evident of their connections to each other and to the overall plot. There is a tone of urgency and impending destruction throughout the novel that keeps the plot line moving at a fast pace. The novel is a wonderful combination of quick moving action segments and incredibly researched and insightful comments about the Shia Muslims' beliefs and the rising tensions in the Middle East.

The characters were interesting and realistic as well. At times they seemed less developed when compared to the intricacy of the overall plot line, but it did not take away from the story; rather, it left room for continued character growth in the sequel, The Tehran Initiative. David and Najjar both experienced growth throughout the novel, and it was interesting to see their thought processes as they began to grasp what was truly going on.

The Twelfth Imam was a very interesting novel that clearly showed what many Muslims believe as well as pointed out the growth of Christianity in the Middle East through Jesus dreams and visions. I learned a lot about some groups of Muslims views about the End Times and about the implications of their beliefs.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel by Joel C. Rosenberg. It was not a quick read, but it was informative and I was not bored while I read. I highly recommend it, and I cannot wait to read the Tehran Initiative. (less)

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Aug 21, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 information about...more 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 information about what is going on in the Muslim world and he has written a fast-paced thriller to prove it.

In Iran is a group of men who believe the world is in its last days. These men are looking for the appearance of their Promised One, the Twelfth Imam, who will come in power and might to destroy all Jews, Christians, and infidels and reward the faithful. And these men believe they can hasten their Imam's coming by using nuclear weapons to destroy Israel and the USA. To stop them the CIA send David Shirazi to Tehran with one objective: use all means necessary to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program, without leaving American fingerprints and without triggering a regional war. Now the clock is ticking as Shirazi not only has to deal with the power men but also with the Islamic messiah.

In "The Twelfth Imam" Joel C. Rosenberg weaves together headlines from our current news with Biblical prophecy. This book is entertaining and will have you flipping pages as fast as you can read but, be prepared, it is also thought-provoking and will have you looking up from the page going, "wow". I do not recommend starting this book late at night because it will cost you sleep as you will not want to put it down. Mr. Rosenberg is an excellent writer and knows how to twist your nerve endings as he tightens the suspense. I am looking forward to "The Tehran Initiative" the next book in this series.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Jan 24, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fiction, history, political, religion

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 belief and the Christi...more

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Dec 03, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

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, CIA operative...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Nikole Hahn rated it 5 of 5 stars

“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 2:218 from the Qu...more “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 2:218 from the Qur’an. Jews and Christians are the ones whom God has cursed, he would explain, saying the Qur’an taught that they “shall either be executed, or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off alternately, or be banished from the land.”” – Pg. 32

From Part One to Part Three, Joel Rosenberg fills my head with facts, Qur’an quotes and the horrific reality of Iran’s possibilities in this fictional account of the foretold coming of the Twelfth Imam. At first, I am learning about The Harper’s and The Shirazis in Iran, circa 1979 when the American Embassy was taken over by Iranian Revolutionaries. Fast forward to the main character, born from The Shirazis who now live in Canada. The Harper’s and The Shirazis are good friends. We are introduced to The Shirazis’ son, David.

David gets his first chance to go on a guys camping trip with his dad. He was sick the year before and could not accompany his father. Finally, David is given permission to attend. The catalyst, the daughter of his father’s friend, Marseille, appears. Innocent teenage love disintegrates upon the dawn of 9/11 when Marseille’s mom is killed in the towers. David begins to flounder in school.

It is in Juvenile Hall that David meets Jack Zalinsky, the CIA man who helped get his father and mother along with The Harper’s out of Iran. David is inducted reluctantly at first into the CIA. From that point, he lives two lives as he matures into an adult. Joel masterfully tells the tale of how difficult it is for David to lie to his parents and live a double life. David is very good at his job. He is an effective agent. For a moment, Marseille is forgotten, but not totally. He meets his NOC, a female agent named Eva, and he thinks he may have a chance romantically with this woman.

A visit to his parents house brings less than ideal complications to his life. Plopped right in the middle of his life is also a mysterious letter with a return postmark of Portland, Oregon. Eva falls as easily from his heart as a leaf from a tree. His struggles intensify as the Middle East stirs a violent storm. From the dust of this violent storm rises a mysterious Twelfth Imam who heals and does all the things Jesus has done in the Bible. Muslims get excited. David’s interest turns to The Twelfth Imam. Jesus also appears to Najjar, the scientist.

Joel’s story has many main characters both in Iran and America. Joel has made the Middle East story and End Times philosophy the main plot and the characters and their stories of Salvation the subplot. It is fascinating to follow along and learn about Iran’s beginnings and how terrifyingly close this story is to becoming our reality. Thus, follows a story of a war between God and Satan. I realized when I read the last page that Joel is not done with David and Marseille. There’s another book. I’m anticipating it.

Book provided by the publisher
Go to www.thehahnhuntinglodge.com to see other book reviews and blog tours forthcoming.(less)

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Oct 25, 2010 Seth rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 place al...more 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 place all over the Middle East to various parts of North America. It really delves deep into the culture of Iran and Iraq and the differences and the beautiful and also disastrous culture that the Iranian and Iraqi culture harbors.
The author of this book could not have done much better with the characters. The main character is clearly defined, yet I also felt my passion in some of the side-characters who are fighting as hard as the protagonist, just for different things.
The transformation of several characters was utterly beautiful and I loved watching them grow.
All this said however, I felt my heart was more with one character that does not even appear for most of the book then any other character, save possibly the protagonist. Perhaps this was because of the protagonist's deep feelings for her, or maybe it was just me. You be the judge.
Nope. Nothing to say here. Writing was excellent and polished except for minor incidences with my copy which was an ARC but that is to be expected.
I learned more in this book then any other fictional book I've ever read. Yet, it didn't feel like I was reading some boring attempt to intertwine fact and fiction. It felt smooth and natural. It flowed-and I loved the outcome. While this book was fantastic, I cannot give it a full five stars(pens). I think it was great, but I just don't think it will be one that resonates with me for the rest of my life. But don't take that as a negative for this book-go and get the book, you won't regret it.(less)

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Oct 19, 2010 Kara Hunt rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

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 American Embassy...more 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 American Embassy in Tehran. From there starts the story of Charlie Harper, an American trapped inside a country he loves, that now sees him as the enemy. He soon realizes that trying to get out of Iran alive with his pregnant wife and their American passports is no longer an option. But Charlie is determined to find safety for his wife and unborn child. And as the violent attacks against them increase in intensity and frequency, he retaliates in kind and does the unthinkable.

And that’s just within the first 25 pages!

The Twelfth Imam, is a fast paced, action filled, hold on to the seat of your pants suspense ride. The intrigue and political upheaval in the area continue on for decades, spurred on by rumors and visions that the mystical Twelfth Imam, a descendant of Mohammed, has returned to claim his kingdom which includes plans to annihilate all Jews and Americans off the face of the earth. But when Israeli Intelligence is able to secretly confirm that Iran has almost completed their nuclear weapons program, they prepare to strike first, and everyone, including the President of the United States, feverishly work to keep peace.

Joel C. Rosenberg masterfully takes you on tour of the Middle East, immersing you in the various cultures and religious beliefs of Iran and Iraqi Muslims, while keeping you abreast of the inner workings of the CIA. He even manages to throw in a little romance!

Highly recommended. I enjoyed reading every page of this book. A first degree page turner. Joel C. Rosenberg – you have a new fan.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.
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Jan 21, 2013 Ian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, war, religion, politics, alternate-history, action, religious-fiction

This was...an interesting read.

It was recommended to me by my ex-girlfriend's grandfather, so I had no idea it would turn out to be a work of evangelical fiction; he tends to be secularist, so I assumed it would be one of those disposable thrillers, the sort of thing James Patterson and his ilk write. And for the first half, it was. The writing is crisp and the pacing is good; the characters are well-drawn and the plotting makes sense; the author even had some excellent insights on the nature of...more This was...an interesting read.

It was recommended to me by my ex-girlfriend's grandfather, so I had no idea it would turn out to be a work of evangelical fiction; he tends to be secularist, so I assumed it would be one of those disposable thrillers, the sort of thing James Patterson and his ilk write. And for the first half, it was. The writing is crisp and the pacing is good; the characters are well-drawn and the plotting makes sense; the author even had some excellent insights on the nature of the West's approach to the Islamic world, insights I'd before encountered in Bernard Lewis' scholarly works.

I've seen a couple reviewers (Shi'a Muslims, I assume) ranting about how the author is "lying" by referring to the Mahdi as the Islamic Messiah, but those rants betray a general ignorance of A) what the word "Messiah" actually means in Hebrew, and B) what the word has come to mean in the West, because 9 times out of 10, the people referring to the Twelfth Imam as a "messiah" in the book are Westerners. And, if we're being perfectly honest about it, the whole Twelver-mahdi-veneration thing IS remarkably messianic, in both an ancient and a modern sense, and is pretty clearly the result of Persian Zoroastrian & Christian influences on Shi'a Islam. The Mahdi resembles both the Christian Christ AND the Zoroastrian Saoshyant, even in Twelver depictions.

In any event, the author did such an excellent job of grounding the work in the real world that I actually believed the appearances of the Twelfth Imam were the result of special effects or hallucinogenic drugs or simple hallucinations. Then Jesus started appearing, people began converting to and reading from the Bible, and I became very, very confused.

As it turns out, the author is an evangelical Christian (something I would not have guessed from the name "Joel C. Rosenberg"), and this book proposes something genuinely interesting -- that the Twelver mahdi is actually the anti-Christ, leading astray a vast swath of the world's population in preparation for the final confrontation with Jesus. Whether or not that fits your own personal theology (it does not fit mine), it is certainly an intriguing and original premise.

Unfortunately, Rosenberg misses the mark in his depictions of Christian conversion and the ending of the novel. All it takes for lifelong, devout Muslims to convert is an appearance from Jesus...even as the mahdi is out performing miracles. And the novel ends abruptly and weakly with what I assume to be a set-up for a sequel...despite the fact that the book itself is not presented or marketed as the first in a series, and nothing outside of the final 10 pages indicates that the story is finished.

Overall, a solid, if confusing 3 star book. Highly readable, quick, but weakened by its author's poor incorporation of his ideology into the narrative and sudden, unexpected ending.(less)

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Aug 27, 2011 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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/would enjoy...more 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/would enjoy the read.

The book opens up with a flashback to 1979 and the Iran Hostage Crisis. I lived through this once and did not enjoy reading about it, thinking about the shape the country was in then (I'll not follow that train of thought). This sets up the background for our hero and leads into the rest of the story.

We meet our protagonist, David Shirazi when he's young and follow him through some early teenage angst and coming of age. Not my favorite part of the book and I found it a bit slow going. This does set up a later plot point.

From here on we move to David's struggles with life and his recruitment into the CIA and his assignment involving Iran's search for nuclear weapons.

While the events in the book are quite (even frighteningly) plausible the story moves over into conjecture and the imaginative with religious overtones. Revolving around a credible story of nuclear arms research and simultaneously tying in the/an Islamic belief in the coming of the Twelfth Imam. The story itself is well written and I think most will find it interesting. It is (as noted) told from a Christian point of view. This will of course effect the, view of some. :)

I liked the book. I have a passing acquaintance with Mr. Rosenberg but had never read one of his books before. I may follow it up, at least when the sequel to this one comes out. As noted above the only real negatives I found with the book were a couple of places where it slowed badly and I felt got a bit self-involved, though those of you who love "coming of age" stories and a bit bit more romance or angst may actually enjoy this and not find it a negative. The other argument(s) I may have with the book come in it's theology, and as I have noted often before, don't get your theology from novels. I would suggest that if you know what you believe this won't be a problem for you. Some will read this as a science fiction/fantasy political thriller...with religious overtones :).

So forewarned, you see I went 4 stars. I like it and think most will. (less)

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Mar 01, 2011 Gail Welborn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

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 the flight to Qom for her birthday,...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 nature of the...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Peter rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-about-books, fiction, history, philosophy, religion, thriller

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...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-christina, kindle

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 a few unrealistic coincidences thrown in...more

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May 14, 2013 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book after my mom and dad read it and recommended it. And I really, really loved it. It really makes you wonder and think about where this fallen world is going be in ten or fifteen years. I got the feeling that "The Twelfth Imam" was set about five years in the future, so that's not far off at all. And there're nuclear warhead threats in Iran and Iraq, plus the whole "twelfth imam" thing with the false Messiah of the Muslims.

Characters...they may throw you for a loop at first, what...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 Middl...more 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 Middle East. Iran’s president vows to annihilate the United States and Israel. Israel’s prime minister says someone must hit Iran’s nuclear sites “before it’s too late.” The American president warns against a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and says negotiations are the key to finding peace.
And amid it all, rumors are swirling throughout the region of a mysterious religious cleric claiming to be the Islamic Messiah known as the Twelfth Imam. Word of his miracles, healings, signs, and wonders is spreading like wildfire. CIA operative David Shirazi was born for this moment. He is recruited and sent into Tehran with one objective: use all means necessary to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program, without leaving American fingerprints and without triggering an apocalyptic new war. But time is running out.”
I love the last part, time is running out. It is always running out, that is why it is a thriller. If they had too much time the novel would have more pages and the plotline would sag and lag a bit making it boring and monotonous. I much prefer a few booms and gun shots to politician’s ramblings in the novels I read. But I digress yet again. Rosenberg’s novel was a hot read from the get go. He grabbed me by the collar of my Hawaiian Shirt and didn’t let go. He crawls into the mindset of the Islamic Jihadist with a gusto I haven’t read in a while. The plotline he crafts is gut wrenching, sad, and moving. Their view on life and the quality and quantity of it blow my mind.
The material and timeline in The Twelfth Imam is very current and felt like it was something straight out of today’s newspaper. Joel C. Rosenberg blew me away with his ability to suck me right into the history of Iran, the viewpoints, his characters, and his incredible plotline. The novel has so many different facets to it that it is like a disassembled rubric’s cube in the beginning and it gets put together before our eyes as the novels comes to completion. I am sorry I have not read his other work, but I will get to it. At the minimum this novel should make it to your Shelfari or Goodreads –to read- lists. If you put it there move it to the top though.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

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Feb 25, 2012 Poiema rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've heard Joel Rosenberg speak; he's a man on a mission to warn Americans that the proverbial "sword of Damocles" hangs over our heads. Today that sword is wielded by Islamist nations. Rosenberg's writing is even better than his speaking. He has the knack of intertwining current events, history, Bible prophecy,geography, archeology---all within the confines of a fast moving adventure story. This book marks the beginning of a new series and contains a little more of the supernatural in it than t...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

“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 world is in it...more “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 world is in its last days.

These men are looking for the appearance of their Promised One, the Twelfth Imam, who will come in power and might to destroy all Jews, Christians, and infidels and reward the faithful. And the men believe they can hasten their Imam’s coming by using nuclear weapons to destroy Israel and the USA.

The story is actually set in motion earlier than this, by an incident in 1979 that brings two families together. The Harpers are an American couple living in Iran while Charles works at the American Embassy. The Shirazis are conservative Iranians who risk their lives to save the Harpers when the embassy is overthrown. Thus begins a friendship that will affect world events twenty years later—through the lives of their children, David Shirazi and Marseille Harper.

Another key player is Najjar Malik. While David and Marseille are experiencing Western childhoods, Najjar is growing up in Iraq. Eventually, he becomes a physicist for Iran. At first he is thrilled with his life. He’s married to the girl of his dreams, raising a sweet baby daughter, and working for his wife’s father, a man he greatly admires. Then he learns that the nuclear program is a front for a more nefarious undertaking. Najjar must decide if this is the way of the Promised One or if he is being deceived. However, he cannot share his doubts or he will be killed.

At first when David is assigned to Iran, he is pleased to be in his parents’ homeland. His CIA mentor Jack Zalinsky remains cynical. But David attends the mosque, prays five times a day, reads the Koran, and searches for truth. Soon enough he is drawn into a thrilling mystery, which involves the sightings of a miracle-working Imam and espionage in the nuclear facility. He also finds himself dealing with family problems and following a quest to locate an old flame. When the least likely player in this novel is converted to Christianity, the story takes an amazing turn!

I loved this book! It provided heart-stopping suspense, educated me concerning some important historical events in the Middle East and their significance, and inspired sincere thankfulness. I’m grateful that I was born in a free country, taught about God at a young age, accepted Christ, and had access to Bibles, inspirational books, and sermons that teach Truth. And I’m also grateful to know that the God of all mercy is finding ways to touch hearts all across the Middle East. As He promises, “You will seek Me and you will find Me when you search for me with all your heart.”

This review is part of a giveaway at my blog Doorkeeper until July 31!(less)

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Nov 11, 2011 Jess rated it 2 of 5 stars

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.

N...more

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