Rating: 
Summary: Most enjoyable.
Review: If you're like me, you've read the Left Behind books with considerable pleasure. And, most importantly, you've been LEFT WANTING MORE. Well, I'm here to tell you that MORE is here, right now, with Peter Senese's "Cloning Christ".I can't help but recall how, as a reader of the Left Behind series, that the books began to slow down, the enthusiasm for textured storylines fading to a degree -- leaving me craving for something so filling. That's what it's been like for us who're Left Behind fans. As we've gone through the series, we've encountered an endless string of appetizers--good, as far as they go--but not really totally satisfying. Listen. Your problems are over. If you're at all like me, you'll DEVOUR "Cloning Christ"--probably at one or two sittings. In contrast to the Left Behind series, the first book in the "Cloning Christ" series is filled with such texture and history, but more importantly, I felt as if I was a character in the book. That is the first time I felt that! "Cloning Christ" is action-packed, historical, educational, and very well developed.
Rating: 
Summary: A complex, fascinating tale of the human spirit.
Review: CLONING CHRIST by Peter Senese with Robert Geis. If anything is less pleasant than seeing an eye-catchy cover jacket so interesting you force yourself to read a book, I do not know what it is. In Cloning Christ, the writers unusual style of literary journalism left me feeling fully and completely satisfied as the visual compelled me to wonder who dare write about this unthinkable subject. In this very rare case, the sum of the plots, subplots, and yes, a thesis, is much more than the wonderfully crafted individual movements of the book itself. Like a perfect, elegant meal that leaves you craving for more, even though your could not eat another morsale, Cloning Christ leaves you satiated, however, I found myself attempting to figure out how I could have one last bite. Afterall, the subject matter, though that of fiction, could indeed exist one day (human cloning is here regardless if we desire to accept it or not). I would like to point out that I have stated this is a work crafted in a literary journalism style: the Cross of Jesus takes on a role all to itself and talks to you, pulls and prods you in a subtle way, until you feel you are carrying the same weights Jesus may have carried on your own shoulders. And I say this as a person of Jewish faith. Afterall, I can't imagine what I would do if I had the potential blood of God in my own hands, assuming Jesus was the Son of God. Nevertheless, this book pulled me in, and didn't let me go. I still am left thinking about what I would do if I were Max Train.
Rating:
Summary: This was good.
Review: Okay kids, here's my thoughts: First off, the characters in this book are thought out - each somehow making you think about different issues we all face in today's mixed-up world. The lead guy, Max Train, is a normal guy that really got pissed-on: he losses his wife and daughter to a brutal murder, then gets tried about their killings. If this happened to me, I, like Max sure would have some choice words with the Big Man upstairs. As you can imagine, Max doesn't believe in a thing. Then something crazy happens to him - he finds a cross that may be Jesus cross. To make things worse, this cross appears to have blood on it. Now kids, in christian faith, didn't Jesus, if he was Christ, leave this place? That is a question Max is confronted with. So here is a guy that looses his faith, wants to get back to believing, then suddenly is confronted with wondering if God exists. To lead matters from the gray to the black, there is a cardinal, who in my openion, is one of the cleverist characters I have every read, that wants this guy Max dead before he lets on to the world that a cross that may be the one Jesus was linched on was found. Yep! The blood and hair follicles get Cardinal Mugant's blood boiling. Caught in what he thinks is his responsabilty to protect the Church, this guy does anything humanly possible to find Max - including making a deal with an assasin who is seeking redemtion and salvation . . . so the Cardinal thinks. Unfortunately, Mugant has no idea who he REALLY made a deal with. Do I hear some piercing violins? I sure do! Adding to the mix are some fascinating characters, known as the Fifth Crusade. Five cats with great wealth coming from the misdeeds of Nazi Germany that were protected by the Church (this stuff I know to be true, so the authors did some serious homework), are all held hostage, so to speak, by Mugant. If they don't follow his commands, their little secret of how they pandered monies would be shared with the world. In essence, their lives belong to him. There's this woman Adrianna who is the only surviving child of an arms dealer that can't have a kid. Yet she is torn between participating in the Cardinal's manhunt for a genetisct who may one day assist in medical science that may allow a flower to grow inside her, and killing him. There's this media mogul from Italy who is trying to also protect his empire, but believes in the message of the good Pope - who Mugant can't stand and expects to where the great big hat once the Pope dies. There's a CIA bigshot with more secrets than there are secrets also manipulated by this crazy cat. You get the point: there are some good layers here. Personally, my favorite cat outside the Cardinal is a Jewish rabbi that helps out Max, not to mention Sara, the 'guide' who eventually follows and protects him as the story drives you to keep reading. The cool thing is that Max, while on this crazy journey, somehow finds his soul, and makes friends again with the Big Man upstairs. Overall kids, this is a good story.
Rating:
Summary: A Triumph . . . Senese accomplishes a rare story.
Review: 'Cloning Christ'? What was the author thinking? In this book many readers seem to be enthusiastically talking about, I curiously wondered how author Peter Senese gets away with such a blatant title such as 'Cloning Christ'? To think someone would go out of their way with such an outlandish thought/title was beyond me. Well, my interest got the better of me and I began to read the story of Senese's main character, a very identifiable protagonist, Max Train. The more I read, the more I was compelled to keep up with the journey of Max, and his own quests for Redemption - not to mention the deadly forces of evil continually chasing him as he embarks upon an unknown jouney for Salvation. To my happy surprise, the storyline did not direct itself towards the actual cloning of genetic material that may be from Jesus. Yes, there are many elements of the complex genetic and cloning issues presented in the story. Senese takes a strong stance - one that coincides with the teachings of Christian faith - to the point where perhaps intentionally, the main characters do not even get to the point where a real decision must be made of the possible bodily remnants Max discovers. If you are looking to read something unthinkable, there are other written works in the market that may suite you . . . but not this highly inspirational story. So then how did the author derive a title such as 'Cloning Christ' and what message, if any, is there in this novel that moves at breakneck speed . . . with well-developed players, a fascinating stage, and a possible discovery of The Ages? In Max, we have the perfect blend of a well developed character who has critically misplaced his faith in Our Lord. The reasoning behind his suffering is severe, yet actually so easily identifiable with readers (at least I think so). I think in reality, each of us has had enough issues to at least question God's existance. Senese, in Max Train, props the reader to easily identify with their own personal struggles one may have or had in holding onto their own Faith. Yes, "Faith". And so herein is the message so brilliantly executed by Senese: it appears that to 'Clone Christ' is to follow the teaching of Our Lord, something every Christian with a full and loving heart attempts to do in our day to day living. Yet we are all similiar to Max Train - life does extend difficulties only Our Holy Father knows the purpose of. It is possible at to loose our faith, to show weakness in our resolve, to question Him for what we do not know and for what we desire to understand. Our questioning, like Max Trains, actually can lead us back to Our Lord, though, without question, while not under His arm, darkness covers our spirit and soul. As an Elder in my Church, I have made it a duty to read an assortment of written works which may be influencial and helpful to those who have lost their way towards Him. In "Cloning Christ" I do say this inspirational story of Our Lord as is portrayed through Max Train as he confronts and battles the demons of evil on this earth is in my openion a praiseworthy, identifiable inspirational tale few other fiction works can be compared to.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: The moral, scientific, and religious issues brought out in this fascinating page-turner without question leaves me to beleive this is, and I say this carefully, one of the best storys I have ever read. With substantial force, the authors story-telling style unbendingly compell and grasp you to wonder aloud what would you do if you became the one who held the body of Christ in your hand? Cloning Christ moves from one cascading backdrop to another: its rich historic settings carefully wrapping around the principal characters movements like a perfect and comfortable pair of shoes. Bravo! James Matthinson is a freelance writer and reporter with articles published in over one hundred periodicles.
Rating:
Summary: What's next?
Review: Simply put: Cloning Christ explodes off of the pages! I felt as if I was on a high-wire, and one little mistake on my part would bring me over the edge -- so in tune were the writers in making me feel as if I was Max Train. What's next? Keep writing! Jason Holbrook
San Diego
Rating:
Summary: A Thinker.
Review: What I have found to be most enjoyable about Cloning Christ is the interactive role of Sara Kohn, the introspective Massad Agent who comes to the aid of the novel's protagonist, Dr. Max Train. Sara, an M.D., is thrust into the action of this thriller many readers will relish upon due to her strong, sensible values clearly illustrative of the authors' call for the respect of all life, interactive or in carbon form! Cloning Christ is a thought-provoking novel containing many scenes that make the reader think about some very important issues. Cleverly, the title - and I think I get it - is based upon the respect of life - a teaching Jesus - whoever Jesus is - taught.
Rating:
Summary: The Historical Thriller at its Best
Review: The Historical Thriller,in my openion, is the most difficult of novels to write. Accuracy to historical detail with flare and drama to bring to life past facts so as to breath relevancy to the 'thriller' are critical, and too often missed by the writer. Cloning Christ hits on all fronts; character development, deeply-woven plot-lines, and a most interesting subject matter. This story is like a fast paced chess match with historical and factual twists at every turn.
Rating:
Summary: A truly Contemporary thriller
Review: What I liked most about Cloning Christ is how real world it is: it addresses a phenomenon-- scientific cloning-- in a way making it a reality the reader must confront. How? In the most ingenious way possible-- by taking Jesus Christ's bodily remnant from his Cross and saying to the reader, What happens if Christ's body is cloned? Is it God? Is it a substitute Christ? And what do you do with this new found reality, the cloned remnants of God the Son? Cloning Christ brings the reader across many leaps of faith as its hero, Max Train, flees unknown assassins from Jerusalem all the way to New York. The Vatican looms as a cursing shadow in Train's struggle to understand his find of Christ's Cross. Within the eternal city prowls a Cardinal, Anselm Mugant, who has arrogated unto himself the role of God's vengance on geneticists who dare to play "Creator" of man. Powerful players in finance and media, gun running, and environmental ownership are this Cardinal's pawns as the Israeli Mossad comes forth in ways clever and subtle to beat back the would be killers of Max Train. There is a great human dimension in the book that the two authors adroitly develop: the heartache, doubt, despair, fear, and final resurrection of Max Train's spirit; the plodding hatred and self-righteousness of a pathological prelate; the calm and deliberate behavior of a Pope and a Jewish Rabbi; the simply remorseless behavior of a hired killer who was once a penitent at the confessional of Anselm Mugant. In the character of this killer, The Scorpion. one sees Nietszche revelling in the oily turmoil of words he alone could bring about. Cloning Christ is a contemporary thriller then, in its making clear what cloning is for humanity, what it could be for a God, and what it actually became for the novel's hero-- Max Train. His only desire in life was finally never to have lost the family so cruelly siezed from him, but which he finally found replaced in full when he made his peace with the Cross and saw his life transformed by a magical woman who actually showed him that God had never stopped loving him. I cannot recommend the book strongly enough.
Rating:
Summary: Intense
Review: Scene after scene, premise after premise, this novel is intense, provocative, and highly suspenseful! Senese with Geis have written a most enjoyable book.
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