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The Bone Box Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Bob Hostetler / Howard Books Reviewed by Gail WelbornHostetler has written an interesting, fictionalized account drawn from the pages of time.Dust flung into the air by the earth-moving machine highlighted the sunset's golden colors against the ancient Jerusalem skyline. Momentarily distracted, the operator sensed a sudden shift beneath him. He swiftly brought the engine to a shuddering halt and jumped to the ground, soon joined by other excavation members. They stared into the gaping hole in the desert floor ten feet below, inches from the front of the machine. Several stone boxes sat on the floor of what might have been an ancient burial chamber. If they were right, the Jewish Antiquities Authority would take over the excavation site. They were concerned about their jobs, but losing the site would be nothing compared to the political infighting, danger, and intrigue their discovery would unleash. Tightly rolled scrolls inside one sealed box would reveal the 2000 year-old bones of the high-priest, Joseph Ben Caiaphas. In The Bone Box, award-winning author and pastor, Bob Hostetler, writes a fictionalized tale of biblical supposition, filled with archeological, political, and religious intrigue. The story confirms the resurrection of Christ, and the fictional role Joseph Ben Caiaphas might have played in the ancient event. The story is told through the eyes of three fictional characters, Randall Bullock, recent widower, and agnostic archaeologist, his estranged college-age daughter, Tracey, and the high-priest, Joseph Ben Caiaphas. The Bullocks story revolves around dysfunctional family relationships and Bullock's crisis of faith, which was triggered by his astonishing discovery of the bone boxes. Hostetler uses short chapters to interchange time periods, with the archaeologist's story running concurrent with the excavation. Caiaphas's 2000 year-old story parallels Bullock's adventures. The alternate time frames slowed the story down for me until the middle of the book. Two plot lines that weakened the story for me was the implied romance between Bullock and Miri, the Israeli Antiques Authority representative, and the romantic involvement between Tracey and Carlos. I would have liked to see the relationships more developed and integrated into the plot. However, the plot was ambitious and interesting, particularly Caiaphas's account of what-might-have-been. Verifying Jesus' death and resurrection and why newspapers wouldn't print the story, was thought provoking. Overall, however, Hostetler has written an interesting, fictionalized account drawn from the pages of time. |
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About Gail Welborn Visit Gail's website. |
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The Bone Box Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Bob Hostetler / Howard Books Reviewed by Cara PutmanI enjoyed this book, and kept returning to it.The Bone Box is the latest release from author Bob Hostetler, an award-winning author and pastor in Ohio. I think this is the first book of his that I've read, and it reminded me of John Olson's Fossil Hunter. It follows in the niche genre (that I may be coining) of archaeological suspense. Usually these books focus on a what if that surrounds the Bible. What if a fossil was discovered that supported intelligent design? Or in the Bone Box: what if a scroll is found which supports the resurrection? Randall Bullock is an archaeologist in need of redemption both in his career and with his daughter. He's ready to pack up and head home to the States when his mentor sends him to a burial chamber uncovered by excavation. He's under an extremely tight deadline to complete the excavation. Then his 19 year old daughter arrives. Joseph ben Caiaphas has been made the high priest. He's caught in a whirlwind of intrigue as he tries to bring righteousness back to Israel and protect his people from the Romans. This book was a slow start for me -- not sure why. I think initially it may have been the back and forth between Rand's story and stepping back 2000 years to Caiaphas' story. Early on that slowed the story down for me, but about a third of the way through, that element is what kept me turning the pages. This book is like many of the archeology suspense stories I've read. Misunderstood archaeologist trying to redeem a career that's on the skids and finds something they weren't looking for. In this case it's the bone box for the high priest at the time Jesus was killed. For the first third at least, I wondered why that would be important until Rand finds the scroll. What set this book apart -- at least for me -- was the way that the author brought Caiaphas to life. Caveat -- remember this is a work of fiction. But sometimes fiction helps me try to imagine what was going on in the background that the Bible doesn't supply. I actually turned to the end notes about the midway part because what the author hypothesized fit and I wanted to see if he'd done his homework. He has, but it is fiction. That said, this book's strength is in transporting you to Israel -- both today and 2000 years ago. The intrigue that may have surrounded the Sanhedrin comes to life and I found myself wondering about the tightrope Caiaphas may have walked. Now, what really happened could be far from the scenario the author paints, but I found his portrayal believable and challenging. The suspense element didn't really build for me -- I think the action and adventure tag is a better fit. There isn't a real sense of a ticking bomb, though the setting is definitely exotic. I enjoyed this book, and kept returning to it. If you enjoy questions about what happened in Jesus' times with the flavor of Indiana Jones, then you will enjoy this book. |
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About Cara Putman Author of Deadly Exposure. View this review and more at: carasmusings.blogspot.com |
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Susan Sleeman
is passionate about Christian Suspense as both a reader and a writer. She is the author of High-Stakes Inheritance, a romantic suspense novel to be released in September by Love Inspired Suspense an imprint of Steeple Hill Publishers and Nipped in the Bud, a romantic cozy mystery in October from Barbour Publishing.
Read more about Susan's. . .
Christian Suspense
To Die For
©2006-10
Susan Sleeman
Susan Sleeman
