If you find the greatest treasure in the world, is it really worth risking everything to possess? Ted Dekker’s novel Obsessed introduces a Los Angeles realtor who becomes caught up in an obsession that is far more dangerous than he imagines. It all begins with the death of a lady he has never met. When he finds that they are intimately connected, he begins a search to recover valuable artifacts that he believes she has hidden. Stephen’s quest eventually introduces him to a deeper and more important obsession. For a time, he unknowingly stakes his life on this quest, but when the danger becomes clearer, he must determine the value of his obsession to him.
From the title, you can probably guess that the theme of this book is obsession. However, the obsession that weaves itself through the plot is not one-dimensional. It develops into a spiritual matter as well. In fact, the main thrust of the book can be summarized in this one realization of Stephen’s near the end of the book: “This moment was nothing less than the collision of two obsessions, theirs and Roth’s. God’s obsession with man. Lucifer’s obsession with himself. Humankind’s obsession with God on one hand, or themselves on the other hand” (371).
Parallel to Stephen’s story runs an account of some Jewish prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp in 1944-45. The details of this camp, Toruñ, are realistically sickening and may be too graphic for young readers. Yet these details show the depth of the wrong kind of obsession, which is an important part of the book’s theme.
Obsessed contrasts positive obsessions with evil obsessions, which ultimately spring from obsession with God or obsession with self. Human obsessions with God or self, in turn, spring from the cosmic and opposing obsessions that God and Satan hold. This is Dekker’s message, delivered not through preaching but through the weaving of his narrative. The heart of his novel lies buried in the comments of an old antique dealer and a Messianic Jew. The antique dealer observes, “‘We are created [by God] for love, for obsession. So we do indeed obsess, though usually not over the right idea'” (147). And then there is Chaim, the Messianic Jew: “The rabbi still was attracted to much of Judaism, but he also believed the Messiah had already come. He’d put his faith in Jesus of Nazareth, and he talked regularly about falling madly in love with him” (157).
Who would be interested in Obsessed? This novel would make an excellent gift from a Christian who wants to share his or her faith with a non-Christian friend who enjoys reading. If nothing else, this book communicates that God deeply desires us and our love. Most teens and adults who are interested in quality Christian fiction will probably enjoy this book, as well. If you are a parent, make sure to judge the content of this book yourself before recommending it to your children. Certain scenes and some of the subject matter may not be suitable for your children or teens. Otherwise, enjoy this book and pass it on to your friends.
