Elisha's Bones

by Don Hoesel and Stephan Pastis

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764205609
• ISBN13: 9780764205606
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic, thrilling, fast paced, increased adventure with every turn of the page.

If you like Indiana Jones at all...you'll even like this better. I'm hooked. Hoping this becomes a series. Seriously...this is one of the better books I have ever read. I doubt the Hollywood type will ever pick it up...but it would be an incredible movie as well. It's every bit as good as anything I've read by Robert Ludlum. Even though it has an Indiana Jones feel...the character is entirely unique. The main character is more of your everyday person thrown into a Jason Bourne type role entirely against his own will. Very nice read. I got it from the public library but will probably buy it for my own personal library.

A pro-Christian Da Vinci Code?

I'd certainly say it's safe to call it that without exaggeration. Especially since Da Vinci Code dealt with an agnostic detective and this deals with a professor who was an archaeologist until a covered-up "accident" killed his brother. Called back in for one very specific relic- the bones of Old Testament Prophet Elisha, now he goes around the world and founds out the people that are protecting the bones will seriously do anything it takes to protect the secrets of the bones, including their existence, from anyone that they feel don't deserve know them. I'm not into archaeology (except when watching The Mummy or Indiana Jones), but this seriously drew me in quite literally from the first page all the way to the last sentence. Don did it that well, and I'm one picky reader.

Action-packed pulse-pounding quest for the bones of a prophet

Elisha's Bones by Don Hoesel is a pulse-pounding action filled thriller in the vein of The DaVinci Code, but written well! Jack Hawthorne gave up working in the field as an archaeologist to work as a college professor after the mysterious death of his brother. He's lured back into one of his old digs in Venezuela when a reclusive billionaire hires him to find the biblical prophet Elisha's bones which are rumored to have the power to resurrect the dead. Hawthorne reconnects with his old fiance (and she reconnects her fist with his face), Espy, who is a language expert. But every time Jack and Espy make a discovery, someone dies, and they are on the run for their lives, especially when he learns that this quest is connected to his brother's death.Hoesel has created a humorous self-deprecating character who has a lot to learn about himself and relationships. Espy is more than just his female foil, she's smart with a lot of heart and wants very much to share her new faith with Jack, but he's not quite ready yet. I fully intended to go to bed at a reasonable hour Monday night, but I because so caught up in the story, I didn't get to sleep until I finished it, after 1:30 am. So this book comes with a reader's warning: Don't pick it up unless you have the time to finish it, because it's too good to put down!

Archaeology thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

"And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet." (2 Ki 13:21, ESV) Is it conceivable that the power of God surging through Elisha's bones could be harnessed yet today? What if your life and the lives of those you care about depend upon you finding them first? Jack Hawthorne was well settled into the quiet and routine life of an archaeology professor at Evanston University in Ellen, North Carolina. It was only six years previous that a personal tragedy in Egypt had caused him to trade in the spade and meter stick of the field archaeologist in favor of textbooks and classrooms, the seemingly safer tools of the archaeology professor. Christmas break is just around the corner and Jack has every intention of spending it watching ESPN, eating frozen cookie dough out of the wrapper, and doing anything else he might wish to pass the time. That is, until his plans are suddenly derailed by a visit from a mysterious man claiming to represent billionaire Gordon Reese. Jack can't help but wonder what use a man like Gordon Reese would have for an archaeology professor like him. As it turns out, Reese wants Jack to take up what seems a fool's quest; finding the bones of the prophet Elisha. This quest is anything but new to Reese, who has been pursuing the bones for some time. As a dying man, Reese has more money than time and time is running out. Intrigued by the prospects of a little adventure, Jack can't help but agree to Reese's proposal. At worst, a fool's quest funded by a blank check backed by a billionaire would be more exciting than three weeks of ESPN and frozen cookie dough. Jack soon finds that he got much more than he bargained for. The quest for Elisha's bones will take Jack across the globe to the likes of Venezuela, Ethiopia, and elsewhere. Throughout this adventure, Jack must contend both with others who are intent on finding the bones and those who intend to protect them. In the process of searching for the bones of the prophet, Jack must face many of the skeletons that have suddenly come back to life right out of his own closet. He is finding, real or not, the power of Elisha's bones appears to be alive and well, if only figuratively. As the quest progresses and the stakes rise increasingly higher, the focus of the quest becomes less and less about finding the bones and more about finishing or getting out of the quest with his life. As fate would have it, finding the bones may be the only way to do it. I had a hard time putting down this book. The non-stop adventure and excitement kept me on the edge of my seat. It can be hard to find a comparison for this type of novel, as the Biblical archaeology / adventure genre is a pretty narrow part of the Christian fiction market. From a comparison standpoint, I would put Elisha's Bones in league with the Biblical archaeolog

Debut novelist hits the spot!

Elisha's Bones is a brilliantly satisfying adventure from debut novelist, Don Hoesel. Imbuing Jack with a dry wit and a self deprecating personality, Don has created one of the most fascinating characters I've had the pleasure to read. Spiritually conflicted and relationally challenged, Jack's interaction with his former fiancee, the fiery Esperanza, adds spice and intensity to the rapid fire action that doesn't let up as they travel over four continents. Nailing the balance between heart pounding danger, Jack's exceptional first person voice and the baffling lure of the unknown, Don has a sure fire hit on his hands. If you like Bronleewe's August Adams and the fast pacing of Liparulo's thrillers, you are going love Dr Jack Hawthorne and Elisha's Bones.