Rating: 
Summary: Great Concept - Mediocre Execution
Review: The plot concept is intriguing; but I'm about halfway through the book and have found the prose to be clumsy, and some of the characters to be caricatures. I also don't buy the reaction of the public to "the discovery". Its too extreme. Although not one myself, I could do without the protagonist/(author's?) prejudices against "fundies". I also agree with earlier reviewers that the romantic involvements are (so far) superfluous and the female characters shallow. I'd like to see what a gifted screenwriter could do with the concept for the next(?) Indiana Jones film!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: The romance is the kind we nerds like. By some miracle, and against all reason, the beautiful girl falls in love with the geek. Hey, I'm all for it! :) This may be why it lacks the depth everyone seems to be looking for.Onto the book. I have to say that this was an excellent read. It created a very scary plot, and then went, after creating an apparent noose for Christianity, to smash it down and expose the truth. Fantastic. One reviewer complained that it portrayed "fundies" as being too extreme and that the reaction would not be that bad. Speaking as an evangelical (and, judging by his other work, Maier is also), I can say that while I wouldn't hang myself, I would be absolutely desolate if they somehow "proved" that they had Jesus' body. I'm sure others would react worse. Why would he create truth? Same reasons the reviewer below exhibited. He had great animosity towards the Christian faith. Why? Don't ask me. Maybe because it doesn't applaud mankind and presents a scenario involving humbleness for forgivness. Many people deny Christ not out of actual intellectual reasons (those who do are invited to read Maier's book IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME or just type "Christian Apologetics" into the book-search box), but because it takes too much humility to admit one's own guilt. They WILL disbelief. That is why most people appeal to "hypocrisy" or "anti-Semitism" as the root of why they do not accept Christianity. Both claims are easily explored, and both are also utterly irrelevant to whether or not Jesus rose from the dead. So please -- do you ignore the facts of history because you feel they are unproven, or because you have a problem with pride? God bless, Christinaphylus
Rating: 
Summary: Can you challenge your faith?
Review: Then read this book! I loved the overwheming sense of reality that Maier portrays here. From cover to cover I was deeply enveloped within the story, engrossed in each character and deeply moved emotionally by every upset and twist and turn. When someone died I actually shed tears! I gasped with shock aloud at many points! The only reason I allowed it to loose a star is because at times I found the precise Technical explanations of the archaology extremely tedious and hard to read through, some of them felt like college textbooks; but honestly every bit of it was worth the deep philosophical questions asked! Would this change your faith? Can the world adapt to such a severe shift in perception? Incredible realism, images painted more vividly than most movies can even begin! I think anyone who enjoys a deeply rooted mystery, a spiritual journey, or a deeply introspective search would thoroughly enjoy this book! Or even if you just want a good fast-paced page turner to cozy up with on an otherwise lazy afternoon. Remember: action, discovery, mystery, romance, and philosophy all with one whack!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Christian archeao-suspense story!
Review: This book I first read when someone gave it to my sister for a gift (it's okay, we share!) and being a Christian and a student of archaeology I thought it was a GREAT story. I had never read anything like it except the Cooper Kids Adventures. I read it in twenty-four hours flat and almost missed a test because I couldn't put it down. Definitely a must-read for all those Christian adventure readers (and archaeologists) who want something different. Share!
Rating:
Summary: powerful and well written, keeps you in suspense
Review: This book is excellently written, with powerful twists, it makes you feel like your on a roller coaster ride throughout the book. Very descriptive, but far from a bore, the character development is head and shoulders above the rest. Paul Maier has an incredible mix of facts, description, and development making this book a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This book made you wonder if it could really happen. And as a theologian, I can say that he covered every detail and almost had ME questioning my beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: What would you do?
Review: This book makes you ask yourself, "If what is happening in this story really happened where would I be in my faith walk?" Very perplexing. Well written. Would recommend this to everyone. I gave the rating of 4 stars because I feel the love interest was not essential to the story and at times detracted from the story. Still an excellent read and well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: What would you do?
Review: This book makes you ask yourself, "If what is happening in this story really happened where would I be in my faith walk?" Very perplexing. Well written. Would recommend this to everyone. I gave the rating of 4 stars because I feel the love interest was not essential to the story and at times detracted from the story. Still an excellent read and well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Questions
Review: This is my second reading of the book...the first being when I was about 12 and bored, therefore catching NOTHING important. But this time around, everything was different. Although I knew how things would turn out, I couldn't get rid of the sinking in my stomach at the "proofs" that Christianity would die. It was eye-opening to think about how I personally would react to such a crisis. But the book itself...wonderfully written, one of those you really can't put down. Very few other authors have presented characters this realistically and still maintained their ability to write an "intelligent" book. I hate books where I feel like I am being talked down to. The technical language was sometimes difficult, but it gave a better realistic grasp. Also, the inclusion of several subjects--linguistics, history, romance, etc.--makes for a good change when all the talk of the procedures behind carbon-14 dating does get old. All in all, Maier wrote an awesome book that presents difficult questions about religion and then provides a basis of faith on which they can certainly be answered.
Rating:
Summary: Excellently writen and researched
Review: This is one of the best fiction thrillers that I have ever read and, even though I am also a theologian, I found myself questioning the basis of our belief system, not only in religion but in life as well, halfway through this book.
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