The Ambition

A Novel

By: Lee Strobel

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A corrupt judge in a mob murder case. A disillusioned pastor, hungry for power. A cynical reporter, sniffing for a scandal. A gambling addict whose secret tape threatens the lives of everyone who hears it. New York Times best-selling author, Lee Strobel, weaves these edgy characters into an intricate thriller set in a gleaming, suburban megachurch, a big-city newspaper struggling for survival, and the shadowy corridors of political intrigue. The unexpected climax is as gripping as the contract killing that punctuates the opening scene.

©2011 Lee Strobel (P)2011 Zondervan

The Ambition .... Church vs Faith

When a popular minister is asked to bid for the governors seat, nothing but questions and chaos ensue. An excellent book written by Lee Strobel. As usual Scott Brick is spot on the best narrator for this story. Very believable and interesting legal thriller.

loved the way the story was delivered

I loved the way the content was delivered. wish there was more people involved with the voices making it more of a story.

Such a "Chicago" Book

I have listened to this book 3 times, and I enjoy it more each time. It is exactly how I imagine corrupt Chicago to function. Fortunately, the protagonists give me hope!

This is a riveting story

It is full of suspence. I appreciate the story being around a large Christian Church and follows people's struggles with Christianity and also represents people who truly have had real change through Jesus Christ. plus I love listening to narrator, Scott Brick.

First Order Questions in the Thick of Life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Believable characters in real world circumstances asking first-order questions about life and living (Is this all there is? Why are we here? Is there a God? Is God loving? If yes, why is there so much suffering/evil?) These questions aren't asked in the midst of sorta-bad or almost-bad circumstances. They are asked in the midst of murder, political corruption, investigative reporting, serious illness, and a bomb blowing up an innocent.The settings and circumstances are real. The characters are believable. The narrative is suspenseful and held my interest. I wanted to punch some of the characters and cry with others. The questions are asked in the midst of all of the above; possible answers are given, but in the end, the reader is left to decide for themselves.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ambition?

There are several, but I don't want to give any spoilers. In one, I dropped my jaw and wanted to yell at the offensive character, the pastor's political assistant, and cheer the offended character's reaction, the pastor's wife.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Strider - the investigative reporter. He's the total skeptic interested in truth and reality. He gets to ask the tough questions and stuff a few things in the pastor's face.

I really enjoyed the book!

I was very entertained by this story. I am Hoping to see more fiction from Lee in the near future.

Sweet Adeline

Love the story line this book I will share with my friends and family

Great fiction!

The is one of the best Christian fiction books I've heard read in awhile. Strobel does a suberb job at spinning this modern tale of ambition, intrique, and suspense without defiling the mind. He leaves just enough for the imagination. I didn't fast-forward past sections like I have with other authors. No gratuitous violence or other offensive elements in excess. (Though still not a child's book.)

I like his style, his word choices and phrases that say a lot succinctly and well. He helps the reader to visualize the setting without droning on about details that you want to skip in order to get on with the story. He manages to tuck in the details like a mother sneaks veggies into delicious muffins that keeps her veggie-rejecting children coming back for more.

I hope he writes more. I have a new favorite author. And the narrator was excellent!

Good drama, legal thriller, and romance

I was really impressed with this book. Lee Strobel is best known for his works dealing with the topic of apologetics (the study of the proof of the existence of God). There is some of that in this book, of course, but I didn't find it preachy in the slightest. What I did find was action, romance, realistic discussions about church vs. state issues, and a really good legal/political thriller.

The book centers on a pastor of an evangelical megachurch that is considering pursuing an appointment for the remainder of a senatorial term. Throw in a nonreligious reporter covering a dangerous political story, a romance that connects the reporter with the megachurch, mob connections, and legal intrigue that explores the church vs. state issue, and you have a really interesting read.

The narrator could have been better, but Scott Brick's performance wasn't bad by any means.

If you want a good drama, thriller, this is a good choice. At the risk of a spoiler alert, you should know that the ending is not entirely happy. I found it satisfying, but there are sad parts.

This was Strobel's first fiction work, and I'm looking forward to more from him.

Caught up in the story from the very beginning!

Lee Strobel’s non fiction is excellent, his fiction is too. Loved the characters in the book. Hated for the book to end, hope he does a sequel. Narrator did a good job with the fast paced story that was hard to turn off!