When a cosmic storm enters Earth’s atmosphere, scientists are baffled by its composition and origins, but not nearly as much as they are by the storm’s side effect – anyone who has died and chosen not to cross over is suddenly stranded here, visible, and can interact with the living.
With the world thrown into chaos, Thomas Pendleton is eager to make up for many broken promises to his six-year-old son, Seth. Soon after the storm, they set out on a road trip to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, completely unaware of the social and political maelstrom they're heading into that will change their lives forever.
John D. Mimms is a business owner, paranormal researcher, and author. John served as the Technical Director for a TAPS family research group in Arkansas (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), supervising over 100 investigations. John wrote more than sixteen technical articles and a definitive technical/training manual—a comprehensive guide on equipment usage, investigation protocol, and scientific theory for paranormal research. In 2009, John began to couple his knowledge of paranormal phenomena with his lifelong love of literary fiction. Among his completed manuscripts are The Great Keep, Death Theory, and The Lemonade Girl. John's debut novel, The Tesla Gate, is the first installment of a sci-fi/paranormal trilogy published in July 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media. It was favorably reviewed by periodicals such as Publishers Weekly and The Examiner, who referred to the title as emotionally compelling and imaginative. January 5, 2016, Open Road released The Myriad Resistance (The Tesla Gate: Book 2). The Eye of Madness (The Tesla Gate: Book 3) is slated for release September 27, 2016. Though fictional, the trilogy is based on scientific, paranormal theory.
John resides and writes on a mountaintop in central Arkansas with his wife and two sons
This is technically a sci-fi novel, but really, at its heart, it's the story of the love of a parent for a child. As the story starts, Thomas Pendleton is so preoccupied with providing for his family financially that he forgets to be there for them physically (and emotionally). All that changes after the cosmic storm hits earth and Thomas finds himself given a second chance to follow through on the promises he made - and broke - to his son Seth. And Thomas finds himself facing unimaginable challenges as he struggles to keep his promises to his son in the new world that the cosmic storm has created.
There was some fairly heavy-handed foreshadowing... obviously any big suprises or revelations need to be woven into the plot appropriately, but don't need to be as obvious as "Some really bad things are going to happen to these people in the very near future." (This is not a direct quote from the book, just trying to get the basic gist across - but I've griped about Stephen King doing the same thing, so maybe I'm just not a fan of foreshadowing?) That being said, even though the foreshadowing gave a lot away, there were still several surprises in store.
I received an eARC of this book for review purposes. I did notice some issues with grammar, spelling, tense shifts, and plot inconsistencies, but since my eARC copy specifically stated "this version has not been proofread," I'll assume the editors found and corrected those issues before the final copy was published.
I was happy to learn that the author, John D. Mimms, is currently at work on book two of The Tesla Gate trilogy. I don't know if he'll be providing answers to my questions about Thomas and Seth in book two (or book three), but he definitely set up an intriguing scenario with a lot of conflict, and there are several characters that I'm hoping will appear in the next book. (And one whom I really hope gets what's coming to him!)
I loved this book with all the science fiction and paranormal mixed into a very, very good story. Don't tell my girlfriend but the ending brought a tear to my eye. This book is first in a trilogy and I can't wait to read the next two!
Very interesting story. I didn't realize that this is the first book of what will be a trilogy, so now I have to wait for the other 2 books to come out. Good story about what happens to us after we die mixed in with some sci-fi.
Hmm, I don't actually know what I was expecting when I started this book. On one hand I expected something along the lines of a storm of epic proportions with madness and chaos everywhere. I also thought it would be something more and something different. It was part science fiction but more a story of family. The story itself kept my attention and has lots of conflict throughout. At points it kept me guessing as well. it is my understanding this is a series so many of the unanswered questions will, no doubt be answered in future works. It did make me wonder what happens to us after we die. I am the type of listener that loves a storm or something that shakes up the plot and this did just that but, I think I was expecting more backlash from the storm. I think I just expected something different from what I got. The performance was great. I enjoyed my first narration by Jake Urry. His voice added something to this work. I liked his tone and it gave some of those scenes a little needed emotion, whether it be tension, sadness or some other emotion. I have since got another story read by Jake Urry. This story has paved the way for a very interesting and intriguing series.
I received this through Net Galley months ago. The editing was rough which was to be expected for an ARC copy, but the story was incredible. i absolutely loved it! Very original!
I have to admit, I don’t think I would have picked this up, were it not for Jake Urry, one of my favourite narrators, doing the audio book. However, I ended up thoroughly enjoying myself - the narration is as ever top notch, even though it took me a surprised minute to tune into Jake’s (flawless) American accent. The story itself is very different from what I expected, although I’m not sure what I did expect, quite sweet actually without diving into cheesy, the SciFi being largely incidental, kind of a mix of warm-hearted father and son relationship study, ghost story, and government conspiracy with a good bit of sadness and humour both and a highly intriguing ending. Great start to a very original series!
Part paranormal, part ghost story, part sci-fi, this book was very different from most of the other books I read. Telling the story of Thomas and his son Seth who has come back to visit him from the after life, it made you think about making the most of what you have now, and what you could do with second chances. Charting their story and Thomas' wish to keep his promise to Seth, it had both heart-warming and scary moments with a range of interesting characters. The narration was great and really suited the characters. I wasn't aware this is part of a trilogy so will be looking out for the others to continue the story.
WARNING - Before you start reading/listening to this book make sure you have a box of issues handy!
This isn't my usual genre, but I will listen to anything narrated by the fabulous Jake Urry! Anyway I absolutely loved this book which is a beautifully written story which is a mix of scifi thriller and ghost story. The characters are amazing, and I felt a real emotional connection to them. It's all about second chances and makes you wonder how you would react if you got the chance to see your deceased loved ones again.
When I first started istening to this I thought I'm not going to like this because I'm not a big fan of science fiction. However I left it playing and I was pleasantly surprised. Mr Urry has one of the most haunting/emotive voices on audible and he sucked me in. I found looking forward to going back to it (when I had to join the real world). The story is one that makes us all want it to be real. John Mimms has written a reat story that I would highly recommend.
The Tesla Gate was a nice, emotional story – a good start to the series.
I’m a fan of sci-fi and paranormal, and this combined these into an intriguing storyline. But I’d have to say, this was really more a relationship novel with some sci-fi, in this case the relationship between a father and his son. While it definitely had it’s nice moments, I also thought that it was sometimes stereotypical in its father-son approach. For example, to begin with, the father felt guilty about working too hard and not spending time with the son – so nothing unusual there, and then it went on from there to repair it. It was nice that the father got a second chance, so to speak, so it pulled the emotional strings, but even that seemed a bit set up.
To his credit, John Mimms started with a creative idea, played with it a bit, and spun a pretty good story. I enjoyed his writing style – it was easy to read and descriptive. The pace was pretty good, although it could be uneven in terms of both direction and pace, being a little too slow or confusing at times. The plot seemed believable to me, but with that became a little predictable, so there were no big surprises, which took away from some of the thrill. I appreciated that it had a satisfactory conclusion, so that even though it’s the first in a trilogy, it worked well as a stand-alone. (3.5 stars) (I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Open Road!)
Book Readers Review The Tesla Gate is a Science Fiction book that has an interesting and unique idea. The plot has its roots in both the paranormal, science, and insight into how people cope with death. Tesla Gate the first book of a trilogy ends leaving the reading hanging ready for the next one. A cosmic storm enters Earth’s atmosphere and the paranormal effects begin. Scifi is not my usual choice of reading but I found myself drawn into the story early on and compelled to finish. A love story between a father and son is the focus takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster, at times frustrating. The story revolves around a man named Thomas Pendleton losing his wife and son Seth. and the second chance for Thomas has a second chance to keep promises he made to Seth but never kept. The author has taken an unusual idea and achieved an interesting combination of human emotions and the paranormal. Source: I was given this book by Netgalley and as part of a tour, which did not influence my views in any way. These are my own thoughts on the book. Read More at http://bookread-mumswritings.blogspot...
With a little bit of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, and a lot of pure originality, this paranormal thriller combines science fiction, horror and a fantastical premise with a heart-wrenching relationship story about a father and his son. Add some great moments of humor, and a ton of insight into what death means and how we "deal" with it, those of us living, anyway, and you have all the mixings of a great new series that just screams to be a major motion picture franchise. Mimms is an author to watch, busting on the scene with a debut novel series that makes this reader wonder if he hasn't been secretly writing all of his life and just holding out on us!!! It's great stuff, a real page turner that will have you begging for Book Two. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an engaging thrill-ride of a read!!!!
Thomas Pendleton is a hard-working and loyal father and husband but he lets his work get the better of him. He is always busy and breaking his promise to his family. But when a cosmic storm hits the planet, he is given a second chance to show his son, Seth, just how much he loves him by finally taking him to the museum. But their vacation is cut short when dead people start showing up and the government decides to capture them and get rid of them once and for all.
Despite the awkward writing style, it was written in hindsight (Thomas retold the events of his life and adventure) I found the storyline interesting enough to read on till the end. I’m glad I did. The ending was the best. Thomas Pendleton becomes the father he was meant and always wanted to be by making the ultimate sacrifice for his son, Seth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed reading The Tesla Gate by John D. Mimms. It is thought provoking and makes the impossible seem like something that just hasn't happened yet. It grounds the fantastic in reality by answering the logistical questions a reader has as to how the premise would actually work. The novel tells a big story, but with a very personal focus. I was struck by how effectively the author delved into the important issue of how quickly freedoms can be lost and we can turn on each other, even those we love most, all within a very entertaining story. I am really looking forward to the next volume in the series.
First of all: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."
The Tesla Gate was an interesting concept, but I didn't love it. I thought the writing was a little corny, and not well-polished. The underlying feel of "right vs wrong" felt a little ominous, more like if you didn't agree in the one type of "right" that the author was promoting, you were clearly in the "wrong". I don't think that accurately captures what I'm trying to say, but the tone was just a little weird to me.
The narration was not bad, but I didn't find it especially outstanding either. If you have time to kill, check this one out. You may find it more enjoyable than I did.
The Tesla Gate is a thrilling ride that tells a great story of family past and present.
It was an easy read for me. John really developed the characters well and the story so compelling that it was hard to put the book down.
The concept of the spirit moving back and forth through the Tesla Gate was thrilling like the hair standing on the back of your neck. Not scary but a thrilling ride through the imaginary world John Mimms creates a powerful balance between the living and the dead.
You got to read this book, I cant wait to read it again... and I'm sure the sequels to follow.
This book rocks!!!!!! I got swept away in the first chapter and it took me for a ride! I wasn't sure where the story was leading and then bam...it sucks you into it as if you're living the story. I felt a panic when I finished the book and didn't have book 2 to read. Superior writing and storytelling!
This is the story of a busy man who gets a second chance in life. Thomas Pendleton could never make time for his family due to his job, but he realized to late about priorities in life. His wife and six-year-old son get killed in a car accident, and Thomas’ life gets turned upside down. A strange cosmic storm approaches Earth and changes the energy of the ones deceased that didn’t decide to cross the door, those popularly called ghosts. Seth is one of these souls who decided to stay behind, and Thomas will get a second chance to try to make things in a different way.
Paranormal stories are not usually my cup of tea, so I tend to take this kind of books with a grain of salt. I confess that having Tesla in the title and the fact that the audiobook was narrated by Jake Urry is what sold me on this one. There is not a lot of science in this book, but I have to say that this time I didn’t care at all. This is such a beautiful story about the important things in life and second chances that we never get but we’d love to. Thomas and Seth’s story is one of hope, sacrifice, and also forgiving oneself. It’s about rights, equality, but also fear and racism. This is one of those books that will stay with you for a while after having finished it.
The characters were very well depicted, and their relationships and dialogs felt natural. Thomas and Seth felt really close and I deeply cared for them. Touching important subjects is nothing without great characters that bring those subjects close to the reader. Mimms wove a wonderful tale with realistic and relatable characters, and this is what made this book perfect.
And what can I say about Jake Urry? He could read the phone book and make it interesting. I am amazed at how deep a voice he has for someone so young. He can really pull off an American accent and make it sound natural. Urry gave distinctive voices to all the characters and delivered very emotive character interpretations. He also used a subtle reverb effect for the impals that worked really well. With audiobooks I often choose books more due to the narrator than the author, and this was one of those cases. Any story will shine when narrated by Jake Urry.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
( Format : Audiobook ) " I would do anything for Seth." What might happen if the dead came back to life? Not everyone, just those who had died but not yet ',crossed over'. And not zombies, nothing like. instead they are as they had been in life, same hopes and likings, and loves. Some problems, yes. A little insubstantial, perhaps, but more than mere ghosts. And how would their loved ones respond? Would they be glad to have their husband, wife, father, mother, grandparent, son or daughter back when, perhaps they had moved on after the passing of time? And what of those for whom no-one returned? Could they accept the presence of those others?
This intriguing story focuses on one father who found out, too late, how much he had neglected his wife and child too late, only to have a second chance when his son came back to him. Read by the excellent Jake Urry, who is both sinister and sweet at the same time, this book is unusual, a little frightening and full of the love of a father for his son. My thanks to the rights holder of The Tesla Gate for freely gifting me a complimentary copy. It is science fiction of the type to make the reader think and empathise with the characters caught up in something beyond their control. Recommended.
Hooked from the first chapter! Overall 5 out of 5 stars Performance 5 out of 5 stars Story 5 out of 5 stars Reviewed: 05-21-19
First, I have to start off by stating that I got this book free of charge in exchange for a review, but as I always state, this does not in any way impact my review. My reviews are always honest and my own.
The Tesla Gate is a Science Fiction book that has an interesting and unique idea. The plot has its roots in both the paranormal, science and insight into how people cope with death. Tesla Gate the first book of a trilogy ends leaving the reading hanging ready for the next one. A cosmic storm enters Earth’s atmosphere and the paranormal effects begin. Sci-fi is not my usual choice of reading but I found myself drawn into the story early on and compelled to finish. A love story between a father and son is the focus takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster, at times frustrating. The story revolves around a man named Thomas Pendleton losing his wife and son Seth. and the second chance for Thomas has a second chance to keep promises he made to Seth but never kept. The author has taken an unusual idea and achieved an interesting combination of human emotions and the paranormal.
This is the most wonderful and heart warming book I've listened to in years. The concept is inspired; your deceased loved ones coming back to be with you. Discovering that they never really left, but hung about, taking care and watching over you. I had to stop listening on numerous occasions so I could have a little weep at the thought of any of my departed family possibly coming back and how marvellous that would be. Jake Urry does a magnificent performance as Thomas Pendleton. This is a beautifully composed, thought provoking tale of one man's love for his son. It will resonate with every working parent and anybody who has ever lost someone close to them. There should be a multiple tissue warning with this book. Five bright, shiny stars for a story that touched my heart and will stay there for a very long time.
I picked up this story because it's premise sounded interesting and different... But unfortunately, this book really wasn't for me... I kept waiting for something to pique my interest, something to make me care about the characters, and by the time that finely happened I was 3/4 the way through, and then it was over! Ugh... It's a sweet story of a father learning what's really important, his son! I didn't think much of the narrator, I kept trying to figure out if he was using his natural voice or if that was a persona he used for the book... The book is well written but not my cup of tea...
Other reviewers have noted that The Tesla Gate is author John Mimm's debut novel, which, if so, makes this a pretty fantastic debut! While it can be safely categorized as sci-fi, it also fits into the mystery/thriller genres as well. Complex characters, a well-developed storyline, and lively narration give this novel its depth, and a unique plot provides the strong foundation for it to stand on its own, away from the crowd. I'm eagerly awaiting my chance to read the follow ups, which can't come soon enough!
I was provided a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. Many thanks for this opportunity!
Audible:Wow!What a book!Read by one of my favorite narrators,this is an amazing book.A weird storm happens and the dead start coming back.The government rounds them up for purposes unknown.Our hero will do anything to make a trip up to his dead son.He encounters many interesting dead people along the way.Have tissues nearby for the end.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
Wow, what an inspiring, creepy, mind-blowing story! Very emotional, but in all sorts of ways. This is a super interesting premise and I loved the story.
Narration was AWESOME.
I think this is something anyone would enjoy, and I definitely recommend it to others. So interesting!
Give it a listen :) I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is part paranormal part science fiction. There is plenty of action and adventure. It grabs you from the beginning and holds you all the way to the end.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Jake Urey brings it all to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This book was an interesting take on life after death. I found it refreshing that the author didn't go into the the dark side of what was happening (i.e. focusing on the "good" ghosts or souls and not the "bad" ones).
I really enjoyed this book. It's hard to explain without going into detail but this book held me captive. The range of emotions were so wide but it was a great book and I really fell into the story and the characters. After I finished reading it, I had to take some time before starting the second book so I could deal with my emotions. It was a very well written book.
The Tesla Gate by John Mimms is my first book by this author and will not be my last. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and stays with you. I came across this trilogy while searching for books narrated by Jake Urry who is amazing, as always!!! Highly Recommended!