Blood and Bone... a book review

Blood and Bone

 

A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Series #3

Christian / mystery / adventure / suspense/ archeology

 

by Don Hoesel

 

Bethany House Publisher - June 2013

When I first requested this book, the main character sounded familiar.  What I found in my pre-reading research was that I had the first novel in the series, Elisha's Bones, on my personal bookshelf to be read.  So, before I even cracked open the spine of Blood and Bone, I read Elisha's Bones( #1) and Serpent of Moses (#2) in the series.


Although you do not have to begin with the first book in the series, I believe it did help me to get a feel for the characters and their personalities. Jack Hawthorne, an archeologist turned college professor, is lured back into the field in Elisha's Bones by a millionaire seeking the healing powers rumored to be in this prophet's bones.  But, the bones have been, and still are, protected by a secret society spanning 3,000 years. With the help of his former girlfriend Esperanza and her brother, Jack must not only locate the bones, but stay one step ahead of those who will kill to protect them.  From a sleepy town in North Carolina, the duo hop from continent to continent seeking these biblical relics.

2 Kings 13.20-21: "²⁰ Elisha died and was buried.  Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. ²¹ Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet."


Jack's archeological adventures continue in Serpent of Moses (#2).  Within 3 years of locating Elisha's bones, Jack has returned to archeology full-time.  While his absences from Espy are expected, this one is different.  Esperanza receives a odd call regarding Jack from an antiquities dealer with troubling news.  After she follows Jack oversees, she soon realizes that he may be in trouble.  Espy and her brother begin to follow the clues that Jack had previously.  He not only has one entity after him but three: the Libyan government, the Vatican, and an Egyptians assassin.  Once again, the search for a biblical relic has brought another life or death possibility to Jack and those he cares about.

Numbers 21:8-10: "⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."



Finally, in Blood and Bones, Jack and Espy marry and settle down with their two sons into a college professor's quiet life... or so they thought.  Now, 10 years after the Serpent of Moses had been found, he receives an emergency call to flee his home and find sanctuary elsewhere.  With the help of a co-professor and ex-CIA agent Ducky, Jack disappears into the night with his family.  Yet, while they follow Ducky's lead, the boys are kidnapped and the only possibility of their safe return hinges on relocating Elisha's Bones to trade for their own.  Once again, we join Jack and Espy on a globe trotting adventure.



I thoroughly enjoyed all three books by Don Hoesel!  Today, on Barnes and Noble, you can download Elisha's Bones for free!  How's that for a preview of this terrific series!  I don't know how long this will last.  So, what are you waiting for?

My rating: A+

6 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of Blood and Bone from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review.  I bought Elisha's Bones and Serpent of Moses for the pure enjoyment of a great story!

Blessings,

     Ellen