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Jack Hawthorne Adventure #1
Elisha's Bones
From Book 1: 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 derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor.
Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth. But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.
Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth. But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2009
255 people are currently reading
2139 people want to read
About the author
Don Hoesel
5 books50 followersDon Hoesel works in the Communications department for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. He's published two novels: Elisha's Bones, released in March 2009, and Hunter's Moon, coming in February 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
June 3, 2025
This was good. There were parts that stood out to me. I enjoyed the main character Jack as he traveled around the world looking for the bones of the prophet. The action scenes were suspenseful and exciting. However, apart from the action and travel scenes most of the story lagged. Since this is a Christian fiction book the faith elements were okay and a bit underdeveloped for what I was expecting. I did appreciate Jack being portrayed as a “doubting Thomas”, which added an interesting layer to the story. Overall, a fairly good time.
July 16, 2009
On Saturday, May 9th I had the pleasure of interviewing Don Hoesel on our radio show: Kingdom Highlights. Mr. Hoesel has his new book published by Bethany House and the title is Elisha’s Bones.
Make no mistake about it this book is a thriller in the guise of a mild mannered archaeologist. An event happens in the very beginning that turns Jack Hawthorne, the hero, into a withdrawn cynic completely turned off to the world. Then multi-millionaire Gordon Reese makes him an offer he cannot refuse. It seems that the Prophet Elisha’s bones are available to be found and Reese needs Jack to find them as these bones have the power to bring the dead back to life.
If you remember Elisha asked for the double anointing from God from his predecessor, Elija. Elija did seven miracles so a double anointing would give Elisha 14. In his lifetime Elisha did 13 so God had to posthumously give Elisha his 14th miracle. A dead man fell against the prophets bones and was restored back to life. When Jack scoffs at the miracle power of the bones Reese tells him that the power of God does not fade over time. This is the major theme of the book as the reader must make his/her own determination as to the truth about the bones and, if they are true, then the power to restore to life must lie in the power of God.
So Archaeologist, Jack Hawthorne is off on a hunt that begins in Venezuela and reconnecting with his old love, Esperanza, or Espy, Habilla. Then the two of them are off on a hunt that leads them around the world to Adis Abiba in Ethiopia and on to Australia. And on every step of the hunt are people trying to kill them. This is the next great theme of the book that men will kill to prevent others from reaching the bones that will provide life.
I do not recommend that you begin this book unless you have lots of time to finish it. You will get angry with yourself when you have to put it down because you need to get to bed because it is late and you have work the following day. This is a great page turner with plenty of twists and turns, cliff hanging chapter endings and a climax that has never been done before and probably will never be attempted again. This book is well worth the price of admission and Don Hoesel does not fail to deliver with the thrills and suspense. I told him in the interview that his biggest challenge from now on is to equal or surpass what he accomplished here.
Mr. Hoesel is a terrific writer as he has an incredible ability to excite the senses: you see what they see, you smell the mustiness of the interiors, you feel the mold under your fingers, all of your senses are engaged. And the characters are extremely believable from the major ones to the minor supporting players. I still fell terrible for what they did to the butler and he only has a walk on for all of one page.
And then there is the romance. What good is a thriller without the love story? Think North by Northwest without the love story–it just won’t work. And Mr. Hoesel doesn’t fail in this department either. Jack and Espy were once in love but he walked away from her years before and it is only circumstances that force him to return to her. So they join together because they need each other but, slowly, like a well-cooked meal, their romance begins to reignite and blossom again. As good as Jack is he cannot accomplish his mission without Espy and this is part of the fun of the book as we join in the rediscovery of their love for one another.
You would almost think that God is not a character in this book but that is the gift of Mr. Hoesel. He forces the reader to make a decision about the reality of Elisha’s bones and their power to restore life. If you decide that they are true then you have to decide in the power of God. If you decide in the power of God then you have to decide in a relationship with that God. Mr. Hoesel leaves it all up to the reader.
Elisha’s Bones by Don Hoesel is a very sastifying read. It would be a blockbuster if someone would turn it into a movie. Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself then let me know if you don’t agree with me. I honestly do not belive that there will be any dissenters among you. His next book is due out next March so be prepared. In the meantime we will keep busy reading other books and praying for the movie.
Make no mistake about it this book is a thriller in the guise of a mild mannered archaeologist. An event happens in the very beginning that turns Jack Hawthorne, the hero, into a withdrawn cynic completely turned off to the world. Then multi-millionaire Gordon Reese makes him an offer he cannot refuse. It seems that the Prophet Elisha’s bones are available to be found and Reese needs Jack to find them as these bones have the power to bring the dead back to life.
If you remember Elisha asked for the double anointing from God from his predecessor, Elija. Elija did seven miracles so a double anointing would give Elisha 14. In his lifetime Elisha did 13 so God had to posthumously give Elisha his 14th miracle. A dead man fell against the prophets bones and was restored back to life. When Jack scoffs at the miracle power of the bones Reese tells him that the power of God does not fade over time. This is the major theme of the book as the reader must make his/her own determination as to the truth about the bones and, if they are true, then the power to restore to life must lie in the power of God.
So Archaeologist, Jack Hawthorne is off on a hunt that begins in Venezuela and reconnecting with his old love, Esperanza, or Espy, Habilla. Then the two of them are off on a hunt that leads them around the world to Adis Abiba in Ethiopia and on to Australia. And on every step of the hunt are people trying to kill them. This is the next great theme of the book that men will kill to prevent others from reaching the bones that will provide life.
I do not recommend that you begin this book unless you have lots of time to finish it. You will get angry with yourself when you have to put it down because you need to get to bed because it is late and you have work the following day. This is a great page turner with plenty of twists and turns, cliff hanging chapter endings and a climax that has never been done before and probably will never be attempted again. This book is well worth the price of admission and Don Hoesel does not fail to deliver with the thrills and suspense. I told him in the interview that his biggest challenge from now on is to equal or surpass what he accomplished here.
Mr. Hoesel is a terrific writer as he has an incredible ability to excite the senses: you see what they see, you smell the mustiness of the interiors, you feel the mold under your fingers, all of your senses are engaged. And the characters are extremely believable from the major ones to the minor supporting players. I still fell terrible for what they did to the butler and he only has a walk on for all of one page.
And then there is the romance. What good is a thriller without the love story? Think North by Northwest without the love story–it just won’t work. And Mr. Hoesel doesn’t fail in this department either. Jack and Espy were once in love but he walked away from her years before and it is only circumstances that force him to return to her. So they join together because they need each other but, slowly, like a well-cooked meal, their romance begins to reignite and blossom again. As good as Jack is he cannot accomplish his mission without Espy and this is part of the fun of the book as we join in the rediscovery of their love for one another.
You would almost think that God is not a character in this book but that is the gift of Mr. Hoesel. He forces the reader to make a decision about the reality of Elisha’s bones and their power to restore life. If you decide that they are true then you have to decide in the power of God. If you decide in the power of God then you have to decide in a relationship with that God. Mr. Hoesel leaves it all up to the reader.
Elisha’s Bones by Don Hoesel is a very sastifying read. It would be a blockbuster if someone would turn it into a movie. Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself then let me know if you don’t agree with me. I honestly do not belive that there will be any dissenters among you. His next book is due out next March so be prepared. In the meantime we will keep busy reading other books and praying for the movie.
March 24, 2009
“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 archaeology / adventure titles, A Skeleton in God’s Closet and More than a Skeleton by Paul L. Maier. Fans of Maier’s books and similar titles will definitely want to pick up their own copy of Elisha’s Bones. It is not very often that I do this, but I so thoroughly enjoyed this book, I am going to give it five stars. Hats off to Don Hoesel for writing such an enjoyable book and hats off to Bethany House for publishing it!
Don Hoesel is a web designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communications from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. Elisha’s Bones is Don’s first novel. You can learn more about Don and his writing at www.donhoesel.com.
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 archaeology / adventure titles, A Skeleton in God’s Closet and More than a Skeleton by Paul L. Maier. Fans of Maier’s books and similar titles will definitely want to pick up their own copy of Elisha’s Bones. It is not very often that I do this, but I so thoroughly enjoyed this book, I am going to give it five stars. Hats off to Don Hoesel for writing such an enjoyable book and hats off to Bethany House for publishing it!
Don Hoesel is a web designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communications from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. Elisha’s Bones is Don’s first novel. You can learn more about Don and his writing at www.donhoesel.com.
September 7, 2011
As others have noted, this book appears to be a hybrid of "The DaVinci Code" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." It's marketed as Christian fiction probably for the fact that its title is taken from the Biblical account where a dead man touched the prophet Elisha's bones and came back to life. Also, the protagonist, Jack, believes in God but doubts the authenticity and historicity of the Bible. The bones, however, disappear from history following this account, and the fast-paced plot has skeptical archaeologist Jack Hawthorne racing to find them. He's bankrolled by a man named Reese, whom we learn is dying of cancer (making his motive to find the bones very clear).
There are pretty decent descriptions of excavations and archaeological finds in the novel, which begins in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt and traverses the globe to Evanston, North Carolina; Caracas, Venezuela; Sydney, Australia, and Addis Ababa. Hawthorne is aided in his quest by his onetime fiancee, Esperanza (Espy) and by her brother, Romero.
The action comes very quickly in this book; no sooner does Jack endure a tragedy involving his brother then Reese comes calling and Jack's off to Venezuela. Jack and Esperanza endure car crashes, gunfights, gunshot wounds, and many other things that would normally sideline people for a while, which takes away from any realism the novel might have had. The author also leaves out exposition or explanation in some scenes, so the reader is left wondering why the characters behave a certain way. If this book were filmed, I have a feeling it'd be one of those "Noah Wyle as the Librarian" type films; they're fun to watch but not very deep.
There are pretty decent descriptions of excavations and archaeological finds in the novel, which begins in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt and traverses the globe to Evanston, North Carolina; Caracas, Venezuela; Sydney, Australia, and Addis Ababa. Hawthorne is aided in his quest by his onetime fiancee, Esperanza (Espy) and by her brother, Romero.
The action comes very quickly in this book; no sooner does Jack endure a tragedy involving his brother then Reese comes calling and Jack's off to Venezuela. Jack and Esperanza endure car crashes, gunfights, gunshot wounds, and many other things that would normally sideline people for a while, which takes away from any realism the novel might have had. The author also leaves out exposition or explanation in some scenes, so the reader is left wondering why the characters behave a certain way. If this book were filmed, I have a feeling it'd be one of those "Noah Wyle as the Librarian" type films; they're fun to watch but not very deep.
July 18, 2012
Author: Don Hoesel
Title: Elisha’s Bones
Description: Archaeology professor Jack Hawthorne is hired by a mysterious millionaire to find a sacred artifact. He travels around the world, hooks up with a beautiful woman, finds some clues, some people get killed…
Review source: Free on kindle (looks like it still is).
Plot: Too much happened in this book. The plot sent Jack and Espy from one crisis to another. Realistically, they shouldn’t have survived past Venezuela…
Characters: Character development isn’t a strong suit here. The characters are just something the plot happens to.
Writing style: Typical thriller. Very little character development because things keep happening. I don’t think this book would be in existence without The Da Vinci Code; it’s very much along those same lines.
Audience: This book is Christian fiction, but the Christian part is fairly light-handed. The relic (oh, you know it is Elisha’s bones; the title gives it away) supposedly has supernatural powers. Jack sort of equates if the bones really do have supernatural powers then God exists.
Wrap-up: I’m really not a big fan of thrillers. 2.5/5*
Title: Elisha’s Bones
Description: Archaeology professor Jack Hawthorne is hired by a mysterious millionaire to find a sacred artifact. He travels around the world, hooks up with a beautiful woman, finds some clues, some people get killed…
Review source: Free on kindle (looks like it still is).
Plot: Too much happened in this book. The plot sent Jack and Espy from one crisis to another. Realistically, they shouldn’t have survived past Venezuela…
Characters: Character development isn’t a strong suit here. The characters are just something the plot happens to.
Writing style: Typical thriller. Very little character development because things keep happening. I don’t think this book would be in existence without The Da Vinci Code; it’s very much along those same lines.
Audience: This book is Christian fiction, but the Christian part is fairly light-handed. The relic (oh, you know it is Elisha’s bones; the title gives it away) supposedly has supernatural powers. Jack sort of equates if the bones really do have supernatural powers then God exists.
Wrap-up: I’m really not a big fan of thrillers. 2.5/5*
May 8, 2011
Some good fiction, very Indiana Jones in some places. The book lost a star about 70% into the book though because 1) so much crazy stuff was happening and so many people were trying to kill the main character that it didn't make any sense what-so-ever that a college proffessor would have so many shady dealings with people or handle being the target of murder so well, 2) the fact that he couldn't connect the dots sooner of how every time he called a friend or colleague the bad guys would find him, it was as if he thought only his cell phone was bugged and not the other way around, 3) that he could walk out of a place with nothing but the clothes on his back but the next scene he has his laptop, 4) -and this was the deal breaker- that the author neglected to note that in Australia it is SUMMER during December. It's not like summer in Tennessee either, it's more like summer in Texas, 100+ degrees is fairly normal.
So in conclusion, I found the writing itself enjoyable, the story was fun, but there were just too many details along the way that didn't hold water.
So in conclusion, I found the writing itself enjoyable, the story was fun, but there were just too many details along the way that didn't hold water.
May 30, 2011
I really wanted to like this book. Although the book started out with a good opening scene (very well-written and of the type that makes you feel you're in the room), after that the pacing didn't just slow, it stopped. Jack Hawthorne, the protagonist, is asked by a billionaire to find Elisha's Bones. Jack isn't execting to actually find them, and is quite skeptical about the whole affair. In short, Jack wasn't very excited about looking for or finding Elisha's bones. And at 27% of the way through the book (according to Kindle), I wasn't very excited about it either. The author failed to make the reader feel invested in the search, or to care whether anyone actually finds Elisha.
At some point, I may try to go back and finish it, but every time I try to pick it up again, all I can think about is that there's books out there that DO make me keep turning the pages, and those are the books I would rather spend my time reading.
At some point, I may try to go back and finish it, but every time I try to pick it up again, all I can think about is that there's books out there that DO make me keep turning the pages, and those are the books I would rather spend my time reading.
February 16, 2009
An acclaimed archeologist has left the exciting life of active excavations and digs, and is living the dull but safe life of a college professor. Then he gets a call from one of the richest men in the world, and is asked to undertake a little project -- find the bones of the prophet Elisha, which are reported to resurrect the dead. The task takes him on a fast-paced globetrotting trip, uncovering a centuries-old trail and unearthing some dangerous people who will stop at nothing to keep him from his goal.
I really enjoyed this book! It reads like a cross between Indiana Jones and Robert Ludlum, a formula for sure-fire excitement. I don't know if the author really as been to all those exotic places, but he writes like he's intimately familiar with them. And this is his debut novel! I'm going to keep my eye out for Don Hoesel's future books.
I really enjoyed this book! It reads like a cross between Indiana Jones and Robert Ludlum, a formula for sure-fire excitement. I don't know if the author really as been to all those exotic places, but he writes like he's intimately familiar with them. And this is his debut novel! I'm going to keep my eye out for Don Hoesel's future books.
November 21, 2009
I'll admit to being a bit biased but I thought it was fantastic.
April 22, 2009
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!
July 18, 2011
An OK Kindle freebie that wavered between Indiana Jones and DaVinci Code, but wasn't as good as either of those... and DaVinci Code wasn't that great. And don't even get me started about the last Indiana Jones movie. Ug.
The writing was good and the action fun to read. Plausibility, plot and character motivation were the main problems. We don't get a great explanation of why this professor chooses to leave his comfy university, travel around the world in pursuit of these bones. Sure, at first he's paid by some billionaire to do so, but then he's not and the killin's begin - but he decides to keep looking anyway! Why? We're told it's because of an insatiable curiosity and a need to discover. As every friend, acquaintance and passing stranger he meets get killed, our hero shrugs it off in pursuit of them bones... because HE MUST KNOW!
I hope if my oldest friend and mentor is ever butchered in front my eyes that it will take me more than a paragraph to recover from it. And if this happens more than once in a day... I might reconsider whatever silly quest I'm on.
The writing was good and the action fun to read. Plausibility, plot and character motivation were the main problems. We don't get a great explanation of why this professor chooses to leave his comfy university, travel around the world in pursuit of these bones. Sure, at first he's paid by some billionaire to do so, but then he's not and the killin's begin - but he decides to keep looking anyway! Why? We're told it's because of an insatiable curiosity and a need to discover. As every friend, acquaintance and passing stranger he meets get killed, our hero shrugs it off in pursuit of them bones... because HE MUST KNOW!
I hope if my oldest friend and mentor is ever butchered in front my eyes that it will take me more than a paragraph to recover from it. And if this happens more than once in a day... I might reconsider whatever silly quest I'm on.
August 13, 2013
Elisha's Bones is an exciting book about a man who lost his desire for the dig when his brother was murdered on a site in Egypt the government immediately shut down and didn't investigate; but after five years as an academic took a job during the three weeks of Christmas holiday to follow leads to Elisha's bones for a billionaire. He runs into the woman he was engaged to five years ago and the site he searches in Argentina is connected to the site in Egypt where his brother died. He is attacked and almost murdered - and his new billionaire boss fires him. What's going on? This is a fast paced adventure that will keep you reading from beginning to end in breathless anticipation for every advancing word; and when you're all through, you'll be wanting the next instalment.
June 1, 2012
This book was National Treasure meets Indiana Jones with The DaVinci Code mixed in. At times, the events and situations surrounding the characters were fantastical and they traveled in and out of countries as easily as the average person would go to the grocery store. Just as soon as the worst seems to have befallen the lead characters, they bounced back and continued the quest. That being said, I loved it. If you are a fan of National Treasure and Indiana Jones with the additive secrecy surrounding the DaVinci Code, you will love it too. It's an easy read that held my interest to the very end.
April 20, 2011
It's kind of like a love child of The Mummy, Da Vinci Code, and National Treasure. Someone didn't do a great job proofreading it, though. Some typos and a space after any word beginning with the letter "j", which was a bit annoying. But it was entertaining enough for the gym!
I've seem some reviewers says it's "Christian fiction", which I don't necessarily agree with. Yes, the bones are mentioned in the Bible, but it's didn't read like a story geared towards a religious audience, IMO.
I've seem some reviewers says it's "Christian fiction", which I don't necessarily agree with. Yes, the bones are mentioned in the Bible, but it's didn't read like a story geared towards a religious audience, IMO.
April 10, 2010
I'm reading this at the same time I'm reading two other books, but so far I'm loving it. Wow. Definitely a great adventure story. Well written. Can't put it down. I'll be updating this review as soon as I'm finished!
July 29, 2019
The story it’s self had potential but the characters were poorly developed... to much murder without enough explanation.
January 28, 2018
Elisha's Bones, Jack Hawthorne Adventure #1
by Don Hoesel
Spoilers here:
Okay, I enjoyed this novel, but...
First, let me say that I really wanted to love this character, if for no other reason that he smoked cigars, and that reminds me of my father. My childhood memories of him always include that stoogie, lit and sometimes unlit, that rested securely at the side of his mouth. I'm one of the few people you'll run into who likes the smell of a good cigar, even in today's no-smoking mindset.
And I think Hoesel has good storytelling skills. His pacing was good, there was plenty of action, you got to know the characters relatively well in this first in a series novel. For the most part, the editing and proofing were good -- although the proofing of the digital format for Kindle left quite a bit to be desired. While that might well be the fault of the person/firm in charge of digitizing the novel, in the end isn't it up to the author, who has given so much of his heart and soul to create the story, to see that every version of it is properly proofed? The story itself is a good one. I saw reviews that compared this novel to the Indiana Jones franchise and to Brown's "DaVinci Code." I think those are fair comparisons, and the novel lives up to that hype until it falls apart in the end. With perhaps the exception of "The Last Crusade," neither the Indiana Jones movies nor Dan Brown's Langdon series dares to prove the existence of an almighty god through the artifact being chosen.
And even after the miracle of the bones, it was disappointing to have them disposed of/hidden/stashed safely in the manner they were. It seemed counter productive, and really didn't solve any of the problems that the main character struggled to overcome, nor did anything about the ending make the reader feel better about the body count leading up to the end.
But even more than that, the poor digitization of the book was annoying. In several instances, some right in the middle of important/exciting/crucial action scenes, the clumsy digitizing would stop the reader (this one, anyway) in her tracks, pull her out of the storyline, thus defeating the hard work the author went to in order to produce this important/exciting/crucial scene. Here are some examples:
At 678 on my Kindle (Chapter 6 of the book), the word jungle is written j ungle.
At 1067, the word jumbled is separated with the j on one line and the rest of the word on the next line.
At 1812, in one of those action scenes: ...he meets my eyes j ust before Espy...
At 2113: ...I'm about to j am my thumb...
At 2179, the quotation marks at the end of the sentence are separated from the end of the sentence, so that the last word of the dialogue is on one line and the quote marks are on the next.
At 2349, in another one of the tense scenes: ..I fight the impulse to j erk my head back,... Yes, two spaces between the j and the erk.
And just a few Kindle pages later in the same scene at 2408: ...by tossing her the j acket... Two spaces between tossing and her and at least that many between the j and acket.
And, inexplicably, at about 2624: ...asks the bartender for a whis key.
At the final one of these that I wrote down was at 2789, when one of the character's name is written Man heim.
Did you notice how many of those involved a word that began with a "j?" Freaky.
Were there others? Yes, there were the usual stretch the sentence out when a word is too long at the end, and along with hyphenated words that didn't appear at the end of a line, so didn't need the hyphenation, and conversely, at least one place where the word was hyphenated, but rather than breaking the word at the hyphen, the entire word was dragged to the next line (making the line above stretch out and the hyphen unnecessary).
I did like that the author had done his homework, both biblically and geographically. I looked up words, bible passages, biblical persons, and places and in doing so learned a lot.
I know that the digitizing problems that so annoy me, do not annoy everyone. That's fine, but, as I'm fond of saying, this is my review. I've had this book, unread, on my Kindle since I first got my Kindle -- so a few years. I've never received an updated version (the book was published in 2009, I think, which is about the time I got the Kindle), which often happens with books that are updated as to errors or additions. So, I take it that Hoesel hasn't corrected the problems and I can't imagine why not.
In any case, it was a relatively enjoyable read, but my discomfort with the ending is such that I won't be reading any more of the books in the series.
by Don Hoesel
Spoilers here:
Okay, I enjoyed this novel, but...
First, let me say that I really wanted to love this character, if for no other reason that he smoked cigars, and that reminds me of my father. My childhood memories of him always include that stoogie, lit and sometimes unlit, that rested securely at the side of his mouth. I'm one of the few people you'll run into who likes the smell of a good cigar, even in today's no-smoking mindset.
And I think Hoesel has good storytelling skills. His pacing was good, there was plenty of action, you got to know the characters relatively well in this first in a series novel. For the most part, the editing and proofing were good -- although the proofing of the digital format for Kindle left quite a bit to be desired. While that might well be the fault of the person/firm in charge of digitizing the novel, in the end isn't it up to the author, who has given so much of his heart and soul to create the story, to see that every version of it is properly proofed? The story itself is a good one. I saw reviews that compared this novel to the Indiana Jones franchise and to Brown's "DaVinci Code." I think those are fair comparisons, and the novel lives up to that hype until it falls apart in the end. With perhaps the exception of "The Last Crusade," neither the Indiana Jones movies nor Dan Brown's Langdon series dares to prove the existence of an almighty god through the artifact being chosen.
And even after the miracle of the bones, it was disappointing to have them disposed of/hidden/stashed safely in the manner they were. It seemed counter productive, and really didn't solve any of the problems that the main character struggled to overcome, nor did anything about the ending make the reader feel better about the body count leading up to the end.
But even more than that, the poor digitization of the book was annoying. In several instances, some right in the middle of important/exciting/crucial action scenes, the clumsy digitizing would stop the reader (this one, anyway) in her tracks, pull her out of the storyline, thus defeating the hard work the author went to in order to produce this important/exciting/crucial scene. Here are some examples:
At 678 on my Kindle (Chapter 6 of the book), the word jungle is written j ungle.
At 1067, the word jumbled is separated with the j on one line and the rest of the word on the next line.
At 1812, in one of those action scenes: ...he meets my eyes j ust before Espy...
At 2113: ...I'm about to j am my thumb...
At 2179, the quotation marks at the end of the sentence are separated from the end of the sentence, so that the last word of the dialogue is on one line and the quote marks are on the next.
At 2349, in another one of the tense scenes: ..I fight the impulse to j erk my head back,... Yes, two spaces between the j and the erk.
And just a few Kindle pages later in the same scene at 2408: ...by tossing her the j acket... Two spaces between tossing and her and at least that many between the j and acket.
And, inexplicably, at about 2624: ...asks the bartender for a whis key.
At the final one of these that I wrote down was at 2789, when one of the character's name is written Man heim.
Did you notice how many of those involved a word that began with a "j?" Freaky.
Were there others? Yes, there were the usual stretch the sentence out when a word is too long at the end, and along with hyphenated words that didn't appear at the end of a line, so didn't need the hyphenation, and conversely, at least one place where the word was hyphenated, but rather than breaking the word at the hyphen, the entire word was dragged to the next line (making the line above stretch out and the hyphen unnecessary).
I did like that the author had done his homework, both biblically and geographically. I looked up words, bible passages, biblical persons, and places and in doing so learned a lot.
I know that the digitizing problems that so annoy me, do not annoy everyone. That's fine, but, as I'm fond of saying, this is my review. I've had this book, unread, on my Kindle since I first got my Kindle -- so a few years. I've never received an updated version (the book was published in 2009, I think, which is about the time I got the Kindle), which often happens with books that are updated as to errors or additions. So, I take it that Hoesel hasn't corrected the problems and I can't imagine why not.
In any case, it was a relatively enjoyable read, but my discomfort with the ending is such that I won't be reading any more of the books in the series.
April 3, 2019
Loving books that deal with Egypt and archeological digs, bring back the memories of the many trips I have taken there. The story weaves one in with words from the Bible, history, of the many tombs, red dust, and the officials, that don’t like you being there. He did a great job, showing the emotion of the find, having to leave. With a billionaire last request to go again, was something he couldn’t and didn’t want to pass up. To see someone he had loved, and the anticipation of a find. Well done, as though you too are at the digs, and waiting of what might be revealed.
October 26, 2023
Not just an adventure story
While this book is a very good adventure book, it is so much more. It’s a book of loss and how it rules a life. It is a book of love and vengeance. It also paints a picture of how much what we do affects other people in our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this one
While this book is a very good adventure book, it is so much more. It’s a book of loss and how it rules a life. It is a book of love and vengeance. It also paints a picture of how much what we do affects other people in our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this one
September 4, 2019
Had some interesting pieces
Plot was good but the author rambled on, I found myself skipping pages just to get on with the story. Could have been great but I guess the imagination wasn’t there.
Plot was good but the author rambled on, I found myself skipping pages just to get on with the story. Could have been great but I guess the imagination wasn’t there.
January 25, 2024
This novel was goooooood! I enjoyed hopping from one countrt to another. The suspence of trying to figure out who wanted them dead. Just the thought of the possibility, if Elisha's bones being out there somewhere, is creepy yet exciting.
October 21, 2024
Follows Elisha, who inherits an old estate in a small Southern town and uncovers family secrets tied to local legends and supernatural events. As she investigates her ancestry, she confronts dark forces and uncovers the truth behind the bones of a long-dead ancestor.
June 10, 2017
I really liked this book. Taking a bible story and turning it into a really good adventure
August 5, 2017
Love this author, his main characters and series. I highly recommend!
June 1, 2018
4.5/5
July 8, 2018
Well!
I enjoyed this book but it ended as I suspected. I would have liked it more if there had been more biblical and archeological references to build the story.
I enjoyed this book but it ended as I suspected. I would have liked it more if there had been more biblical and archeological references to build the story.
July 4, 2019
The first 70% of this book was just okay... It was a bit dry and felt like it was moving very slowly. However, once I got to the end of the book, things really picked up and I loved all the action!!
August 13, 2019
I didn't want to put this down! It had me on the edge of my chair following the ride. Well written.
September 17, 2019
A fresh, surprisingly violent take on the treasure hunt story.
January 19, 2020
A little Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon with Rick Blaine thrown in to complete the mix.
Not deep, but entertaining enough.
Not deep, but entertaining enough.
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