Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly as good as A Skeleton in God's Closet
Review: A Reader from Wherever does, unfortunately, sum up quite well the flaws of this latest book by Paul Meier. I found some of the dialogue rather corny, especially all the "darlings" that Prof. Weber and his wife Shannon, constantly fling to each other. I know they are relative newlyweds, but sheesh--"darling" this, and "darling" that did get on my nerves, after awhile. There are plot holes in the book, as well. This wanabe Jesus claimed to have come back for an interim visit, between His first and second comings. He wanted to change Christianity. Okay, but what would have happened when He didn't go back to heaven, like the real Jesus? He also developed a [i]tendre[/i] for Weber's beautiful wife. If this ersatz Jesus didn't return to heaven, and instead, married, or at the very least, had an affair with Shannon, after she had done grieving for her dead husband, of course, then wouldn't that have been a tip-off to the rest of the world, that this Jesus was a counterfeit? Where would this fake Jesus have hidden out, to make it appear that he had returned to heaven? The world gets smaller and smaller all the time. Hiding out from everybody would be virtually impossible in today's world. This guy's credibility would have been down the toilet pretty quickly after that, and Christianity would have gone right back to its orthodox beliefs--after admitting that some of its ranks had been gulled. One explanation for Joshua's genius was in some chemical concoction his parents had mixed up and taken. Puh-leeze! That sounds like something out of an old grade B sci-fi movie. Still, the book is entertaining and did hold my interest to the end, despite its flaws. But if you want to read Meier at his best, read SKELETON IN GOD'S CLOSET, and THE FLAMES OF ROME.
Rating:
Summary: Not nearly as good as A Skeleton in God's Closet
Review: A Reader from Wherever does, unfortunately, sum up quite well the flaws of this latest book by Paul Meier. I found some of the dialogue rather corny, especially all the "darlings" that Prof. Weber and his wife Shannon, constantly fling to each other. I know they are relative newlyweds, but sheesh--"darling" this, and "darling" that did get on my nerves, after awhile. There are plot holes in the book, as well. This wanabe Jesus claimed to have come back for an interim visit, between His first and second comings. He wanted to change Christianity. Okay, but what would have happened when He didn't go back to heaven, like the real Jesus? He also developed a [i]tendre[/i] for Weber's beautiful wife. If this ersatz Jesus didn't return to heaven, and instead, married, or at the very least, had an affair with Shannon, after she had done grieving for her dead husband, of course, then wouldn't that have been a tip-off to the rest of the world, that this Jesus was a counterfeit? Where would this fake Jesus have hidden out, to make it appear that he had returned to heaven? The world gets smaller and smaller all the time. Hiding out from everybody would be virtually impossible in today's world. This guy's credibility would have been down the toilet pretty quickly after that, and Christianity would have gone right back to its orthodox beliefs--after admitting that some of its ranks had been gulled. One explanation for Joshua's genius was in some chemical concoction his parents had mixed up and taken. Puh-leeze! That sounds like something out of an old grade B sci-fi movie. Still, the book is entertaining and did hold my interest to the end, despite its flaws. But if you want to read Meier at his best, read SKELETON IN GOD'S CLOSET, and THE FLAMES OF ROME.
Rating: 
Summary: Skillfully told...
Review: As an apologist, Dr. Jon Weber is a modern day Protestant St Paul. Several years ago, he defended Christianity from a hoax that could have shaken its foundations. Still celebrating a recent victory over a faith healer / end times charlatan in court, Jon suddenly finds himself at war with none other than what appears to be Jesus Christ. This new "incarnation" is not heralded by a star, but by the internet. As Jon watches in amazement, Joshua Ben Josef appears to be reenacting the life of Christ, and Jon's own wife is almost playing the role of Mary Magdalene. At first, Jon is certain Joshua is at best a phony, if not a devil himself, but as the miracles mount up, even he begins to be swayed. The critical confrontation between truth and falsehood will be at Vatican III, when once more, Christianity's fate may rest on what happens in Rome. Will Jon be Judas or a martyr? **** Dr. Maier skillfully tells a modern parable, clearly highlighting the danger of false teachers who know how to make the truth the camoflauge for lies. Suspense will keep you riveted to the page, from beginning to end. More than a Skeleton is almost plausible enough to be true, and a frightening picture of what could be. **** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.
Rating:
Summary: The adventure continues!
Review: CK Chesteron gave us Father Brown. William Kienzle gave us Father Koessler. Paul Maier gave us another worthy slueth in Jonathon Weber. Where Chesteron & Kienzle deal with problems involving individuals, Maier deals with predictments involving society and the church. In short, Maier uses a much broader canvas. This book succeeds wonderfully as a mystery and as a thriller. In many ways Weber resembles Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. In this book, a person name Yakob Ben-Yosef claims to be a re-incarnated Jesus. He launches a "ministry" that parallels the Scriptural Jesus. He gains almost universal acceptance of his claims before he is unmasked. Here lies the books weakness. Forgers must slavish copy the styles and themes of an artist. A genunine artist constantly adds new themes to their work. Ben-Yakob's slavish imitation of the Scriptural Jesus would have caused him not to ring true. Also Ben-Yakob does not address hard issues, like divorce, which the Scriptural Jesus tackled head on. These factors would probably limit acceptance of Ben-Yakob's claims and lead to a more sophisticated book. The path Maier chooses allows him to build to dramatic conclusion that the would have been more difficult to create under the scenerio I propose. I must stress I thoroghly enjoyed the book. The above critiism is like criticizing a no hitter because it wasn't a perfect game. I hope to see more of Professor Weber from Dr. Maier.
Rating:
Summary: I hate to say this.....
Review: First, I have just about all of Mr. Maier's books and I LOATHE the "Left Behind" series. (ever since I graduated the 3rd grade, I didn't want to read on that level anymore, hence, the loathing :-) )
The premise of MTAS is wonderful. I agree with a previous review that Mr Maier doen't write female characters well. My "nitpick" of the book is there are WAY too many exclamation points. I was faintly disappointed with the ending, however here's the review: A cybermsg stating (more or less) Jesus is back is received over ALL computers. No one can track its orgin. Dr Weber eventually meets Joshua Ben-Yosef and witnesses some miracles for himself. Dr Weber must decide what this means to him. Interesting points: What WOULD we do if the events in the book unfolded during our lifetime. Major points: Thank you Mr Maier for NOT catering to the "left behind" mania. All in all, 4 stars because I'm a huge fan. In the world of Christian fiction, I'll admit its difficult to find intelligently written books. This falls short of the best (but not at the bottom where the "Left Behind" series is), and there are holes in the story, but can't say I didn't find enjoyment in turning the pages----and that's the bottom line what a book is about.
Rating:
Summary: Not nearly as good as A Skeleton in God's Closet
Review: Having read "A Skeleton in God's Closet" a few years ago, I was thrilled when Mr. Maier published a follow-up. This book is one that makes you think. It is an entertaining yarn about a man who by all of his actions would appear to be Jesus in the 21st century. Mr. Maier makes us think, do we know enough about the future to definitively say that how we would respond. I heartily recommend this to all readers and I ask Mr. Maier not to make us wait so long for his next work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A Gut Check Thriller
Review: Having read "A Skeleton in God's Closet" a few years ago, I was thrilled when Mr. Maier published a follow-up. This book is one that makes you think. It is an entertaining yarn about a man who by all of his actions would appear to be Jesus in the 21st century. Mr. Maier makes us think, do we know enough about the future to definitively say that how we would respond. I heartily recommend this to all readers and I ask Mr. Maier not to make us wait so long for his next work of fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: A book for the thoughtful Christian
Review: I can not say how pleased I was with this title. Having read A Skeleton in God's Closet, I snatched up this book as soon as I saw it. I devoured it in two days. As some reviewers have exclaimed, it is not a title for those that have "RAPTURE" bumper stickers on the back of thir cars, but is aimed at the thoughtful christian. Dr. Maier's topic is certainly one of plausibility, without being preached as "The New End Times" senario. If anything, it is a good warning against the current rage in End Times Prophesy. It was a book that forced me to think about my views on the second coming, how I expect it to be, and how I would react to it differing from what I expected. As chrisians, we should be able to learn from the literal interpretation that confounded the hebrews upon Christ's first arrival. And yet, with the popularity of "Left Behind" I fear, as does Dr. Maier I am certain, that such a literal interpretation of a symbolic book can be dangerous to the christian. I would recommend this book to any and all who enjoy the thriller genre, End Times genre, or just a good old fashion mystery. It is a thought provoking book, and worth a place in anyones library.
Rating:
Summary: A Thrilling, Engrossing Read--Not for an uncritical thinker
Review: I can well understand why one reviewer thought this book a waste of time and money. That person had a preconceived notion about what the end times should be like. Instead, we should review all novels, teaching, sermons, etc. on the basis of the Bible, read in context. I can assure you though, it is NOT a waste of time or money. In fact, you will likely have trouble putting it down. I would have completed it in one evening if I didn't have to go to bed! This book is best read in context, i.e., after reading A Skeleton in God's Closet. Read, buy and recommend this theological thriller. You don't have to be a Lutheran or a protestant to appreciate it. The author is honest about his theological bias. He is a Lutheran Christian, an ordained clegryman in the conservative, confessional, and Biblically-based Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The author refutes such authors like Hal Lindsay and the Left Behind series from a Biblical standpoint and a mature, well-thought-out theology that is in line with what has been historically taught in the church. The idea of a "Rapture" is foreign to Christianity pre-1830. The idea spread through travelling evangelists and study Bibles to North America. The author is correct in asserting that the majority of Christians who have ever lived, as well as a majority of Christians alive today, do not support the "rapture" as described in Left Behind and the theology called premillenial dispensationalism. Granted, majority numbers alone do not dictate theology, but they do cause one to wonder-was the church across the board wrong about the end times for 1,830 years? I think not. People are and can be easily deceived. Just because a novel or denomination claims to be Bible-based does not always guarantee that they are. Often, religious fiction is less "taken from the Bible" than "inspired by the Bible." The worldview presented in the novel is consistent with the historic Christian faith. It understands Bible verses in context, with due reverence for the literal and the symbolic, and draws meaning from the Christian Scritpures rather than reading preconcieved notions into so-called "proof passages." Look for Dr. Maier's other historical novels and excellent work on the early Church.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting concept, quick resolution
Review: I enjoyed reading Maier's previous book about Jon Weber, A Skeleton in God's Closet, and quickly purchased More Than a Skeleton. While I enjoyed the intriguing concept of a Jesus like figure returned, I thought the end was a little quick and lacked the detail of the previous chapters. It seemd like a very quick resolution to Weber's current dilema. After the book was finished, I also thought that it was missing a final chapter about where the main characters end up and their thoughts about Joshua and the state of Christianity.
Having said all that, the book was definitely worth it. I kept asking myself what I would do if the premise of the story happened today.
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