The Oldest Enemy is set in the mid-1990s, based on the geopolitical details Michael J. Webb sprinkles liberally throughout this fast-paced horror/thriller hybrid. David Lighthouse is a lapsed investigative reporter turned preacher who finds himself in an epic struggle between good and evil on a global scale. Lauren Barkley, the sister of one of the victims, agrees to help him get to the bottom of her sister's death. Further investigation reveals the evil plot transcends and predates David's involvement, pulling together his father, a concentration camp survivor, and a reclusive Colorado billionaire with a murky past. As people around David have died in horrible ways, the police naturally consider him to be a suspect. Will he be able to convince them of his innocence and obtain the necessary assistance to fight the evil one on his own terms?

The Oldest Enemy is a page-turner with a very strong second half. I found myself carving off extra reading time from my normal routine, just to see what developments were next in the story. As things progressed, the book didn't get set down. Webb's plot involves spinning many parallel threads, none of which are left untended by the end of the story. Michael J. Webb creates compelling characters, each working towards their own spiritual salvation while battling rampant forces of evil. Forces which strive to corrupt the very souls of the protagonists. If you like thrillers giving equal time to both the spiritual and material realms, this is an excellent choice!

Pastor David Lighthouse had to do something. The events he had seen unfold were too similar to those he had witnessed before, events which had surrounded his own fiancee and haunted him to this day. He was certain he could do something the police could not; find answers. Although they were answers not everyone would be willing to entertain. Using his skills as an investigative reporter he begins to dig, placing himself once more in the crosshairs as a prime suspect. The deeper he digs, the more harrowing the truth becomes, and the more it seems something wishes to prevent him from reaching the truth. Overcome vices tempt him like never before, testing his faith and discipline as he delves deeper into a battle that has waged for centuries. They say it is always darkest at the foot of a lighthouse, and there is definite darkness surrounding him, but so too is he a source of light, and perhaps even a means to drive back the darkness and prevent those who would unleash an ancient evil upon their world from succeeding.

If you were to take the first season of Supernatural and add more politics and a Christian twist, you would find yourself with Michael J Webb's The Oldest Enemy. With writing in a smooth and flowing style, you'll find yourself hooked, unable to put it down, unable to look away, and unable to shake that foreboding feeling you are no longer alone. There is some amazing tension building. From page one to the final climax is a steady and suspenseful escalation. The characters are perfectly flawed, each with a burdened past that forged them into who they are today, and the influence Lauren and David have on one another pushes them towards the people they must be. With antagonists you will despise, and protagonists you can really root for, you'll be whisked along on a journey filled with action, suspense, romance, danger, and a quest for survival.

The Oldest Enemy by Michael J Webb is the story of a man called David who is trying to put his life back together after being accused of murdering his fiancee. When someone else is murdered, he finds himself being accused once more. The story opens with a priest attempting to exorcise a demon. This ties in later in the story. There are themes of redemption and faith throughout the story. David makes a leap from a reporter to a pastor as he recovers from what happened. You can see how it has marked him and weighs on him, but he tries to do good and turn his life around. He is pulled into another mystery and risks everything again as he tries to solve it.

Michael J Webb has created an interesting story in The Oldest Enemy. I thought the characters were believable, it had a solid storyline, and it kept me reading. The dialogue was good. I think it reads well, but it would be competing with a lot of similar books on the market. I do think it would be better served in a supernatural or paranormal thriller genre. I love the cover; it really sells the story. There are a lot of different elements to the story and it spans several decades, so there are some historical moments mentioned, which I guess is why it was included in the historical thriller genre. I would definitely recommend the book to supernatural and even horror fans.

The Oldest Enemy is a work of exciting thriller fiction penned by author Michael J Webb. Combining conspiracy with the supernatural and a little dash of historical and murder mystery, this engaging genre-bending book focuses on a man who has faced accusations of murder in his past. When former reporter David Lighthouse is once again accused of murder in his newfound career as an assistant pastor, the demons of his past rear their heads. But similarities between this new murder case and the one that haunts him begin to emerge too, and this time there is a trail to follow. A trail which will lead him to a much wider conspiratorial plot and the answers he’s been seeking for a long time.

Though the underlying conspiracy and supernatural elements may seem farfetched at first glance, author Michael J Webb imparts compelling realism and genuinely threatening and frightening moments into his narrative, bringing the most sublime of elements together with a gritty sense of here and now. David is a compelling hero with plenty of facets to explore, deeply woven into his own plot with high emotional quality. Lauren, whose sister is the second victim, develops in a similarly deep way when we meet her, and it is this powerful connection to character which keeps readers hooked when the mystery plot rockets into its action-packed solutions. The supernatural concepts are also very well described and atmospheric, making The Oldest Enemy a recommended read for both fantasy thriller fans and dark mystery or conspiracy fiction fans alike.

The Oldest Enemy by Michael J Webb is a complex Christian novel about the spiritual battle between good and evil. It is a battle that has been raging since the dawn of time. The Oldest Enemy is grounded in historical facts that Michael J Webb has blended with his imagination to produce a tale that consumes.
The novel shows there is a very real spiritual battle as a character made an oath with the Prince of Darkness. Evil cannot be defeated in our human strength. We must call on the name of Jesus. “Rely upon our Lord … and you will not fail.”
The novel is covered with the love of God. The God who whispered names in the Bible still whispers names today. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Portions of scripture intersperse with the action and are familiar to the reader.
The novel spans from Germany in 1944 to the ovens of Auschwitz to present day. The evil still needs to be defeated. Sadly the Jewish nation still has people wishing its demise as hate is spread. “Demonising us makes it easier to hate us.”
There are cries to God in times of great pain. “Where were you in all the desperate moments of my life when I needed you most?” The truth is that God was with us, walking beside us whether it is on the streets of America or into the ovens of Auschwitz. God walks alongside us. He never leaves us alone.
We may walk away from God but once we have known Him we will be aware of the God-shaped hole in our lives. “She’d had enough of a God who allowed so much pain and suffering… at the same time, she knew something vital was missing in her life.”
We need to beware of what we dabble in. Things like ouji boards are not harmless fun, they are dangerous and we may “ unwittingly open[ed] a spiritual door and unleashed something evil.” It is wise to stay away from what we do not know.
Michael J Webb has created a cosmopolitan epic story that spans nations and years. Actual events, real life figures and clearly much historical research adds an element of realism to the novel. As a historian with a passion for WWII and the Jewish people, I connected on a personal level.
Michael J Webb is clearly a talented author and I look forward to reading much more by him.
May we never forget the six million innocents who perished in the Holocaust. May we have eyes that see and hands that help and lips that speak up for those who cannot.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.