Review: Elisha's Bones by Don Hoesel

Title:		Elisha's Bones
Author:		Don Hoesel
Publisher:		Bethany House
Pub. Date:		03/01/2009
ISBN:		0764205609
Pages:		352

Every year, professor of antiquities Jack Hawthorne looks forward to the winter break as a time to hide away from his responsibilities. Even if just for a week or two. But this year, his plans are derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor.


Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth. But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.


(Summary and cover via Goodreads)


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This was a fairly interesting read. It revolved around Jack Hawthorne, an archaeologist who is hired to prove the existence of Elisha's bones, an ancient relic said to have the power over life. This search takes him all over the world and gets him involved with some mysterious organizations. Naturally adventure and peril follow him as well.

The concept behind the relic was interesting. The book is also a fairly fast read. There was a lot of action. In fact, I almost felt there was too much going on. You never really got a chance to breath, and you almost want Dr. Hawthorne to stop talking to people because a perilous situation inevitably followed. Who knew the world of antiquities could be so dangerous? The plot also seemed to jump a bit in time from one chapter end to the next chapter beginning. It could feel a bit choppy at times.

After all that adventure, the ending felt a bit sudden. Perhaps a bit random too (although apparently this was meant to be Christian fiction, so maybe not?). Overall, I didn't think it was a bad book. It was pretty entertaining at times. I'm just glad I'm not friends with an archaeologist. Looks like it's pretty dangerous.