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Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye: The World's Greatest Detective Tackles the Bible's Ultimate Mysteries
Embark on a journey
through the Old and New Testament with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as
they explore exotic and spice-laden places in search of clues.
through the Old and New Testament with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as
they explore exotic and spice-laden places in search of clues.
The detective and the doctor travel back in
time with the help of a Moriarty-designed time machine to investigate ten Bible
destinations, unlocking clues to ten Bible mysteries. The most fascinating
crime cases are those that are already solved, those that have been
investigated by the police and brought to a swift, satisfying, and almost
inevitable conclusion. So it is with Bible stories which the reader may
consider familiar and unremarkable. But under close scrutiny these stories give
up their hidden clues, their long kept secrets. Like a jewel newly polished,
they sparkle and shine with a fresh, introspective light.
While traveling back in time to witness
certain scenes, Holmes and Watson unravel ten different Biblical mysteries,
including the following:
· The Hanging Tree: Why did Ahithophel hang himself?
· Righteous Blood is Red: Is Zechariah the son of Berekiah or
Jehoiada in Matthew 23?
· You Miss, You Die: Why did David take five stones against Goliath?
· Dead Man Walking: Why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus in John
11?
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
50 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Len Bailey
4 books6 followersI was minding his own business one day, watching old VHS recordings of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes when it dawned on me I had a pile of Bible mysteries tucked away somewhere in a dark corner of my already dark mind. And so I tried combining the two. I got an excellent agent (Les Stobbe) and had a publishing contract with Thomas Nelson (Harper Collins) shortly thereafter.
Six months later, Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye hit the shelves. I hope you enjoy this strange combination. Fun is really my aim here, As there are plenty of serious (but good!) Bible studies out there.
Enjoy! Give me your comments . . .
Len Bailey
Six months later, Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye hit the shelves. I hope you enjoy this strange combination. Fun is really my aim here, As there are plenty of serious (but good!) Bible studies out there.
Enjoy! Give me your comments . . .
Len Bailey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 1, 2013
More effective as a Bible study.
An unusual idea for readers to enjoy Holmes, but I wasn’t impressed. The book began with the Needle’s Eye, the means to Holmes and Watson’s ability to time travel, but I was left confused.
It continued with ten Biblical mysteries to be investigated. Holmes and Watson took the time traveling trips where they witnessed scenes and discussed clues. Holmes recited Scriptures from memory and the two connected the dots. I found it odd that Holmes memorized Scriptures when he doesn’t share the faith, and Watson was his typical annoying self.
Reading the book as a novel, my thoughts turned to thinking maybe it was more effective as a Bible study. The reader would answer questions provided in the back of the book, which included specific scriptures to follow.
Desiring to finish the book with a pearl or two, as much as I was confused and frustrated, I decided to read the investigative questions provided. They were thought provoking enough for pondering - always a good thing.
To be fair: the book was presented with two suggestions on how to read it, as a Bible study or as a novel/collection of individual mysteries.
An unusual idea for readers to enjoy Holmes, but I wasn’t impressed. The book began with the Needle’s Eye, the means to Holmes and Watson’s ability to time travel, but I was left confused.
It continued with ten Biblical mysteries to be investigated. Holmes and Watson took the time traveling trips where they witnessed scenes and discussed clues. Holmes recited Scriptures from memory and the two connected the dots. I found it odd that Holmes memorized Scriptures when he doesn’t share the faith, and Watson was his typical annoying self.
Reading the book as a novel, my thoughts turned to thinking maybe it was more effective as a Bible study. The reader would answer questions provided in the back of the book, which included specific scriptures to follow.
Desiring to finish the book with a pearl or two, as much as I was confused and frustrated, I decided to read the investigative questions provided. They were thought provoking enough for pondering - always a good thing.
To be fair: the book was presented with two suggestions on how to read it, as a Bible study or as a novel/collection of individual mysteries.
February 14, 2013
The great Sherlock Holmes uncovers.... Biblical mysteries? You've got to be kidding me, this isn't canon. Oh, it's a fan work? Ok, I guess that's alright then.
That was basically my reaction when I saw this book on NetGalley (you can blame Detective Conan for the canon part). But I was glad to read it, it's actually a really awesome read!
As you can tell from my first sentence, this book has Holmes and the ever faithful Watson (and in one case, their landly) travel through time through a device called "The Needles Eye". At each time, they find a mysterious card that has a mystery, like "Why did Abithopel (check sp) betray Jesus?", "Why did David pick five stones instead of one?" and so on.
While I admit their answers are convincing, I'm not sure as to how true they are. For some, like the David and the stones mystery, the answer is deduced from other pieces on information. For some, like "What did Jesus write on the ground during the case of the woman caught in adultery?", we have no way of knowing, and their 'solution' is nothing more than an educated guess. And for some, like the question of Abithopel's betrayal, the Biblical references cited are convincing enough that I'll actually use it as an answer.
In addition to these mysteries, there is quite a lot of interaction between the characters, which I enjoyed. The author clearly loves Holmes and Watson, and you can see him writing out the scenes with glee. Plus some, like the one of Sherlock having lunch on top of a carriage are laugh-out-loud funny. Apart from humour, both characters do struggle with their faith, which is a new aspect of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
If you're interested in Biblical mysteries and you like Sherlock Holmes, you've definitely got to get this book. It's a fun read, and I like how they deduced almost all their solutions from the Bible.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
That was basically my reaction when I saw this book on NetGalley (you can blame Detective Conan for the canon part). But I was glad to read it, it's actually a really awesome read!
As you can tell from my first sentence, this book has Holmes and the ever faithful Watson (and in one case, their landly) travel through time through a device called "The Needles Eye". At each time, they find a mysterious card that has a mystery, like "Why did Abithopel (check sp) betray Jesus?", "Why did David pick five stones instead of one?" and so on.
While I admit their answers are convincing, I'm not sure as to how true they are. For some, like the David and the stones mystery, the answer is deduced from other pieces on information. For some, like "What did Jesus write on the ground during the case of the woman caught in adultery?", we have no way of knowing, and their 'solution' is nothing more than an educated guess. And for some, like the question of Abithopel's betrayal, the Biblical references cited are convincing enough that I'll actually use it as an answer.
In addition to these mysteries, there is quite a lot of interaction between the characters, which I enjoyed. The author clearly loves Holmes and Watson, and you can see him writing out the scenes with glee. Plus some, like the one of Sherlock having lunch on top of a carriage are laugh-out-loud funny. Apart from humour, both characters do struggle with their faith, which is a new aspect of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
If you're interested in Biblical mysteries and you like Sherlock Holmes, you've definitely got to get this book. It's a fun read, and I like how they deduced almost all their solutions from the Bible.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
October 29, 2013
As noted I did not read the entire book as I felt it was a waste of my time.
Now that I have your attention lets get to the book in question.
The focus of this book is NOT Sherlock Holmes, but rather the authors interpretation of various stories within the Bible.
As a Sherlock Holmes story is fails miserably because you are constantly being bombarded with religious ideology and interpretation. I didn’t buy the book for this I bought it to enjoy another Sherlock Holmes adventure.
I had read the reviews but needed to see for myself.
I read the first three chapters, and the end, and stopped at that point.
As a Bible study it may be great; but I am not qualified to assess that.
As a Sherlock Holmes story it is an utter failure to me.
NOT recommended
Now that I have your attention lets get to the book in question.
The focus of this book is NOT Sherlock Holmes, but rather the authors interpretation of various stories within the Bible.
As a Sherlock Holmes story is fails miserably because you are constantly being bombarded with religious ideology and interpretation. I didn’t buy the book for this I bought it to enjoy another Sherlock Holmes adventure.
I had read the reviews but needed to see for myself.
I read the first three chapters, and the end, and stopped at that point.
As a Bible study it may be great; but I am not qualified to assess that.
As a Sherlock Holmes story it is an utter failure to me.
NOT recommended
March 4, 2013
Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye is a dream come true for readers who are passionate about the Bible and a Sherlock Holmes fan.
The first sentence draws the reader immediately into the world of Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr Watson. Sherlock Holmes hands Dr Watson a calling card from a client: “The note forecasts, upon acceptance, ten Bible puzzles to be solved. Ten adventures fuelled by deep mystery.”
“Puzzles? Isn’t the Bible rather straightforward to be mysterious?”
Dr Watson asks Sherlock Holmes, “But your disinterestedness in Scripture is remarkable, Holmes. Will you accept this challenge?”
I am delighted to announce that Sherlock Holmes accepts the challenge and thus gives us, the readers, an opportunity to investigate these Bible mysteries with him. Have you ever wished you could go back to Bible times and see for yourself what happened? Imagine being there when Jesus writes in the sand, or when David slays Goliath. Have you ever wondered why David picked up five stones instead of only one? Have you wondered why Jesus delayed and arrived four days after Lazarus was already dead? These are some of the mysteries Sherlock Holmes sets out to solve.
Len Bailey has done his research. He presents the investigations into the Bible mysteries with typical Sherlock Holmes flair and the rich conversations between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. At the same time the truth of the Bible is displayed. It is phenomenal how Len Bailey combines the two and stays true to both.
I recommend Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye to all Bible lovers and Sherlock Holmes fans, and of course to all mystery lovers.
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their media review bloggers program provided this eBook to me for free in exchange for this honest review.
The first sentence draws the reader immediately into the world of Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr Watson. Sherlock Holmes hands Dr Watson a calling card from a client: “The note forecasts, upon acceptance, ten Bible puzzles to be solved. Ten adventures fuelled by deep mystery.”
“Puzzles? Isn’t the Bible rather straightforward to be mysterious?”
Dr Watson asks Sherlock Holmes, “But your disinterestedness in Scripture is remarkable, Holmes. Will you accept this challenge?”
I am delighted to announce that Sherlock Holmes accepts the challenge and thus gives us, the readers, an opportunity to investigate these Bible mysteries with him. Have you ever wished you could go back to Bible times and see for yourself what happened? Imagine being there when Jesus writes in the sand, or when David slays Goliath. Have you ever wondered why David picked up five stones instead of only one? Have you wondered why Jesus delayed and arrived four days after Lazarus was already dead? These are some of the mysteries Sherlock Holmes sets out to solve.
Len Bailey has done his research. He presents the investigations into the Bible mysteries with typical Sherlock Holmes flair and the rich conversations between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. At the same time the truth of the Bible is displayed. It is phenomenal how Len Bailey combines the two and stays true to both.
I recommend Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye to all Bible lovers and Sherlock Holmes fans, and of course to all mystery lovers.
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their media review bloggers program provided this eBook to me for free in exchange for this honest review.
August 10, 2018
I really, really enjoyed this book!! Bailey has so much Bible knowledge and an excellent grasp on how to write Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.
This book taught me things I had never considered before! I love it when people delve deeper into Bible passages and find connections which just add to its credibility.
What I wasn’t expecting was for this book to be so amusing! Bailey wrote Holmes and Watson’s banter so well that at times I was laughing out loud at the things they said to each other!!!
Such a good book. Enjoyable and educational. 👌🏻
This book taught me things I had never considered before! I love it when people delve deeper into Bible passages and find connections which just add to its credibility.
What I wasn’t expecting was for this book to be so amusing! Bailey wrote Holmes and Watson’s banter so well that at times I was laughing out loud at the things they said to each other!!!
Such a good book. Enjoyable and educational. 👌🏻
June 1, 2013
Sherlock Holmes investigating mysteries from the Bible? Yes. In his new book, Len Bailey enables his readers to look through the eyes of Mr. Holmes while learning to study their Bible in a deeper way.
Sherlock Holmes is one of the best literary detectives in history. With his assistant Dr. Watson, mysteries were solved, problems put to rest. Now Sherlock Holmes turns his attention to the Bible and invents a device to help him - the Needle's Eye - explore deeper mysteries. Watson takes some convincing, but eventually comes around. Characters to meet and mysteries to solve include: Athithophel, Zechariah, Lazarus, and Christ; temptation, murder, and suicide. Pick up your Bible and solve these murders and mysteries with the help of Sherlock Holmes.
I really enjoyed this book. There are two ways to read it - as a novel and as a Bible study. I read it first as a novel while adding some of the Investigative Questions to my reading. I can't wait to go back and use it as a Bible study, completing the Investigative Questions at the back of the book first.. I recommend it to individuals as well as groups because there is not only information but fun here. It is definitely an encouragement to study the Bible deeper, to look more closely at the little things. I received my free review copy from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Sherlock Holmes is one of the best literary detectives in history. With his assistant Dr. Watson, mysteries were solved, problems put to rest. Now Sherlock Holmes turns his attention to the Bible and invents a device to help him - the Needle's Eye - explore deeper mysteries. Watson takes some convincing, but eventually comes around. Characters to meet and mysteries to solve include: Athithophel, Zechariah, Lazarus, and Christ; temptation, murder, and suicide. Pick up your Bible and solve these murders and mysteries with the help of Sherlock Holmes.
I really enjoyed this book. There are two ways to read it - as a novel and as a Bible study. I read it first as a novel while adding some of the Investigative Questions to my reading. I can't wait to go back and use it as a Bible study, completing the Investigative Questions at the back of the book first.. I recommend it to individuals as well as groups because there is not only information but fun here. It is definitely an encouragement to study the Bible deeper, to look more closely at the little things. I received my free review copy from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2020
(1.4)
...
The good: you can tell that the author cares about the Bible. He did do some research on Holmes and Watson.
The bad: It is very obvious that the author is just using the characters to prove a point, not tell a story. They don't really care outside of The Author Wants Them To and there's no reason for the reader to care. Holmes is rule to Mrs. Hudson; even though Holmes isn't a fan of women he's never rude like this. Then "Rahab wasn't actually a prostitute" and "God won't give you more than you can bear." Citation needed.
Recommended 13+ for violence and topics younger readers may not understand
...
The good: you can tell that the author cares about the Bible. He did do some research on Holmes and Watson.
The bad: It is very obvious that the author is just using the characters to prove a point, not tell a story. They don't really care outside of The Author Wants Them To and there's no reason for the reader to care. Holmes is rule to Mrs. Hudson; even though Holmes isn't a fan of women he's never rude like this. Then "Rahab wasn't actually a prostitute" and "God won't give you more than you can bear." Citation needed.
Recommended 13+ for violence and topics younger readers may not understand
July 8, 2013
I had high hopes for this book as it involves three of my favorites topics: time travel, Sherlock Holmes and Biblical history. As a Bible study, I think it is fantastic because it presents the material in such a new and unconventional method. However, reading this as a book simply for pleasure was not so great. I think the author captures the essence of the traditional Holmes style of storytelling (although he does not use the first person perspective as told by Dr. Watson), but the stories got a little bogged down in historical detail and Biblical facts. I would have liked to have seen Holmes consult the works of Josephus and other historians of the period to support the details from scripture. All in all, I think this was a good effort but I think it makes a better Bible study than simply a fictional novel. In fact, I hope to use this material some day for a Bible study of my own.
September 29, 2013
Calling all Deep Thinkers
The whole premise is interesting and fun to read, but deep thinkers will definitely get more out of the book, as they do any Sherlock Holmes. It has been a while since I’ve read a Sherlock Holmes book, but it reads much like I remember. The author put some serious work into replicating the atmosphere and wording of the original. For serious Bible readers, this book can help answer some questions in a fun way. If you have read and enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, this book is an excellent addition to your bookshelf.
The whole premise is interesting and fun to read, but deep thinkers will definitely get more out of the book, as they do any Sherlock Holmes. It has been a while since I’ve read a Sherlock Holmes book, but it reads much like I remember. The author put some serious work into replicating the atmosphere and wording of the original. For serious Bible readers, this book can help answer some questions in a fun way. If you have read and enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, this book is an excellent addition to your bookshelf.
August 3, 2013
Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's' Eye by Len Bailey
Publisher's Description:
"Embark on a journey through the Old and New Testament with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they explore exotic and spice-laden places in search of clues. The detective and the doctor travel back in time with the help of a Moriarty-designed time machine to investigate ten Bible destinations, unlocking clues to ten Bible mysteries. The most fascinating crime cases are those that are already solved, those that have been investigated by the police and brought to a swift, satisfying, and almost inevitable conclusion. So it is with Bible stories which the reader may consider familiar and unremarkable. But under close scrutiny these stories give up their hidden clues, their long kept secrets. Like a jewel newly polished, they sparkle and shine with a fresh, introspective light."
Since I like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, I looked forward to reading this book. Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye is great for a Bible Study Group with the discussion questions in the book. The chapters do not need to be read in order and not at one time.
Because my favorite characters for Holmes and Watson,are Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce , I pictured them as the characters in the book.
There are ten different mysteries in the book using both the Old and New Testament.
The detectives try to solve the mysteries and I enjoyed the manner in which they deduced (as Watson says).
This is a good book for those interested in the Bible, mysteries, Victorian age, time travel and Sherlock Holmes.
I received a complimentary e-book copy to read and review from booksneeze.com. Published by Thomas Nelson.The opinions are my own.
I give this a 5 star.
Go to this link on Huffington Post to read an interview with Len Bailey:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/len-bai...
To read more about Len Bailey: http://business.thomasnelson.com/publ...
Leona Olson
www.mnleona.blogspot.com
September 10, 2013
I have enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson for almost as long as I have relished mystery books. I grew up reading and watching Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes, and it was always a treat. I embarked on this book with an expectation that I would find the same scintillating characters with a Christian bent.
First of all, I struggled to see Holmes and Watson in modern times. In fact, I didn't even realize that was the case until fighting in Afghanistan was mentioned a few times. I wish that Holmes and Watson would have remained in the 1800's--they seemed to fit better.
Secondly, I really was lost concerning the gospel message in this book. I knew it was supposed to be there, but I never felt closure on this issue. I would have preferred this not being such a murky issue. Holmes was definitely his intellectual self, but the ending left me a little more confused on the salvation issue than I would have preferred.
Lest you think I didn't enjoy the book, nothing could be further from the truth. The book is definitely written in an intellectual, somewhat classical style. Holmes's antics were quite entertaining, and every time he bested Watson, it was quite entertaining. I didn't hate the time travel--it seemed to make sense. After all, Holmes is a genius, and he could certainly create such a device. And the Biblical mysteries were quite baffling and completely amazing! Sometimes I felt that the mystery's solution was somewhat dogmatically stated when we truly can't be sure about some things, but I guess that would have been the way Holmes would have done it.
I wrestled with the rating I would give this book because it wasn't my favorite, but it was intriguing at the same time. I think I delighted in witnessing the Bible stories more than any other part of the book. To be able to go back in time and see these stories firsthand would be an unbelievable, somewhat dangerous trip!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, I struggled to see Holmes and Watson in modern times. In fact, I didn't even realize that was the case until fighting in Afghanistan was mentioned a few times. I wish that Holmes and Watson would have remained in the 1800's--they seemed to fit better.
Secondly, I really was lost concerning the gospel message in this book. I knew it was supposed to be there, but I never felt closure on this issue. I would have preferred this not being such a murky issue. Holmes was definitely his intellectual self, but the ending left me a little more confused on the salvation issue than I would have preferred.
Lest you think I didn't enjoy the book, nothing could be further from the truth. The book is definitely written in an intellectual, somewhat classical style. Holmes's antics were quite entertaining, and every time he bested Watson, it was quite entertaining. I didn't hate the time travel--it seemed to make sense. After all, Holmes is a genius, and he could certainly create such a device. And the Biblical mysteries were quite baffling and completely amazing! Sometimes I felt that the mystery's solution was somewhat dogmatically stated when we truly can't be sure about some things, but I guess that would have been the way Holmes would have done it.
I wrestled with the rating I would give this book because it wasn't my favorite, but it was intriguing at the same time. I think I delighted in witnessing the Bible stories more than any other part of the book. To be able to go back in time and see these stories firsthand would be an unbelievable, somewhat dangerous trip!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
June 10, 2013
F - Wow! What a misleading piece of crap.
I found this one through the pop-ups in the Goodreads trivia quiz and actually went to Barnes and Noble and bought it new because it sounded so good.
Book blurb: "The Detective [Sherlock Holmes] and Doctor [John Watson} travel back in time with the help of a Moriarity-designed time machine to various Bible destinations, unlocking clues to ... Bible mysteries."
Sounded good, but it wasn't. And it was a misleading disguise of Bible study. Now I love the Bible, the stories, the characters, the language, but this was way too detailed for me - especially with 52 pages of Bible Study Questions and Endnotes.
I'm not a major Holmes fan, but have recently become enamored with all the new versions of the stories. Last summer I read the entire set of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell stories of a retired Sherlock. I love the new Benedict Cumberbatch/Martin Freeman BBC series set in present day London - Sherlock. I like (not love) the American version (Elementary) with a Joan Watson.
Here's how it goes: Watson is captured (we eventually find out under Holmes' orders and taken to a paddle wheeled steamboat on the Thames where Sherlock reveals that he's made some improvements on a Moriarity designed time machine. Ten stories follow. After the first I'm donating tbe book to the local library (if they'll have it).
Story One: The Hanging Man. The story is about the apparent suicide of Ahithophel, plrincipal advisor to King David.
H&W keep popping in and out of the story, "magically" transported to where and whenever something integral to the plot is happening, of course, they're invisible and understand the local language. At least in the Laurie R. King books both Mary and Sharlock studied and could speak the languages and it was explained how and why - basically through study and practice.
I don't think I've ever given a Goodreads book a score this low... and it was worth it.....
I found this one through the pop-ups in the Goodreads trivia quiz and actually went to Barnes and Noble and bought it new because it sounded so good.
Book blurb: "The Detective [Sherlock Holmes] and Doctor [John Watson} travel back in time with the help of a Moriarity-designed time machine to various Bible destinations, unlocking clues to ... Bible mysteries."
Sounded good, but it wasn't. And it was a misleading disguise of Bible study. Now I love the Bible, the stories, the characters, the language, but this was way too detailed for me - especially with 52 pages of Bible Study Questions and Endnotes.
I'm not a major Holmes fan, but have recently become enamored with all the new versions of the stories. Last summer I read the entire set of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell stories of a retired Sherlock. I love the new Benedict Cumberbatch/Martin Freeman BBC series set in present day London - Sherlock. I like (not love) the American version (Elementary) with a Joan Watson.
Here's how it goes: Watson is captured (we eventually find out under Holmes' orders and taken to a paddle wheeled steamboat on the Thames where Sherlock reveals that he's made some improvements on a Moriarity designed time machine. Ten stories follow. After the first I'm donating tbe book to the local library (if they'll have it).
Story One: The Hanging Man. The story is about the apparent suicide of Ahithophel, plrincipal advisor to King David.
H&W keep popping in and out of the story, "magically" transported to where and whenever something integral to the plot is happening, of course, they're invisible and understand the local language. At least in the Laurie R. King books both Mary and Sharlock studied and could speak the languages and it was explained how and why - basically through study and practice.
I don't think I've ever given a Goodreads book a score this low... and it was worth it.....
February 21, 2014
I thought it was interesting that Sherlock Holmes takes on the mysteries of the bible. It is different. What I didn't understand is what the Needle's eye was or how they got a hold of it. They didn't go into how it worked. I could have missed that explanation.
Some of the biblical stories were familiar to me since I grew up Catholic and going to church. I liked the first two stories. After the four story, it started to get very dry.
I didn't feel the writer captured the voice of the original author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It just didn't seem the same as reading the original stories. I thought the book was only average.
Some of the biblical stories were familiar to me since I grew up Catholic and going to church. I liked the first two stories. After the four story, it started to get very dry.
I didn't feel the writer captured the voice of the original author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It just didn't seem the same as reading the original stories. I thought the book was only average.
May 8, 2014
I grew up loving Sherlock Holmes and the fascination never died. I am always drawn by a "new" adventure and thought this one looked interesting, combining Sherlock and Watson with the Bible, which is full of mysteries. But it will not appeal to someone looking merely for a new Sherlock Holmes adventure. It's not that kind of book. The characters and settings are secondary to the investigative element, but, with that in mind, it is a great read! I enjoyed the experience and learned a few things about the Bible I hadn't known were there. If you have a background of reading Sherlock Holmes stories and the Bible, you'll probably like this one. Fun and scholarly at the same time.
April 13, 2013
What great creativity! He writes like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in wit and style which makes reading these historical points of interest, interesting indeed. I laughed my way through this book and enjoyed every twist and turn he gave to some of the conundrums of the Bible. The way these facts and ideas are presented makes for excellent debates and discussions; so much so that I think every Seminary school should make this required reading for one of their classes.
May 6, 2013
I read the first chapter of this book, and I felt that Bailey captured the Victorian atmosphere and the character of Holmes well. I enjoyed this adventure. However, the book seems to require a lot of concentration, and I just can't get into it at the moment.
Christian fans of the great Sherlock Holmes may enjoy it.
Christian fans of the great Sherlock Holmes may enjoy it.
January 8, 2019
This book has been on my TBR list for several years after I went on a little Sherlock Holmes binge back in 2013. I hesitated for a while because reviewers referred to the book as a "great Bible study." That wasn't what I was looking for in a Sherlock Holmes story, time travel or no. Having read it, I think I understand what the reviewers might have been talking about. It's not that the book itself is Bible study material... not by my standards anyway. There is a sense that the author learned quite a bit about the Bible through his research of the book and he shares what he learned through various footnotes, etc. While not a Bible study in and of itself, it is possible to be drawn to the original text much like Holmes himself to seek out the Bible account. Laudable, but not a Bible study.
My other hesitation was that in attempting to bring an already established character like Holmes into Bible times would somehow compromise both the Scripture and Doyle's character as well. In essence, I worried that this book was going to "wreck everything in sight." I'm glad to say that it didn't. I felt Bailey captured Holmes' and Watson's voices well and I enjoyed the stops at 221b Baker Street as much as the time travel moments. I'm glad they went back and forth several times and there was more than just "let's answer these Bible questions and have Holmes solve them for us." It was also good that Holmes remained a skeptic as Watson voiced a steady belief. If Holmes had had some kind of obligatory "salvation experience" I would have tossed the book away in disgust as it was not true to his character and clearly contrived.
Having read many time travel tales, I am always interested in the mechanisms for the travel itself, doubly so as I wondered how Holmes and Watson would explain it in the context of their own time. While there was an air of magic surrounding who was doing the transporting, I liked the premise that Holmes was tinkering with a dastardly device of Moriarty's.
I am not the kind of person who needs to rationalize everything in matters of faith, so not all of Holmes' questions were as important or seemingly devastating as the book implies from time to time. I don't believe every mystery needs to be solved. Rather I enjoyed the moments when an unexpected happening in Holmes' present day shed light on a past mystery. His being indebted to his housekeeper was priceless.
My other hesitation was that in attempting to bring an already established character like Holmes into Bible times would somehow compromise both the Scripture and Doyle's character as well. In essence, I worried that this book was going to "wreck everything in sight." I'm glad to say that it didn't. I felt Bailey captured Holmes' and Watson's voices well and I enjoyed the stops at 221b Baker Street as much as the time travel moments. I'm glad they went back and forth several times and there was more than just "let's answer these Bible questions and have Holmes solve them for us." It was also good that Holmes remained a skeptic as Watson voiced a steady belief. If Holmes had had some kind of obligatory "salvation experience" I would have tossed the book away in disgust as it was not true to his character and clearly contrived.
Having read many time travel tales, I am always interested in the mechanisms for the travel itself, doubly so as I wondered how Holmes and Watson would explain it in the context of their own time. While there was an air of magic surrounding who was doing the transporting, I liked the premise that Holmes was tinkering with a dastardly device of Moriarty's.
I am not the kind of person who needs to rationalize everything in matters of faith, so not all of Holmes' questions were as important or seemingly devastating as the book implies from time to time. I don't believe every mystery needs to be solved. Rather I enjoyed the moments when an unexpected happening in Holmes' present day shed light on a past mystery. His being indebted to his housekeeper was priceless.
August 4, 2022
I would rate this book 3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed it, but there were a few things that made it not as smooth as it could have been.
The mechanics of the time travel combined with the supernatural elements were a little weird and did not add much to the story. It could have been fine without the Needle's Eye, and it didn't make sense that such a device would decide to have them either be able to interact with the past or not. There was no rhyme or reason to that, and I would have preferred it if they had remained observers for the most part.
Every once in a while, the author also took liberties with what he wrote. For example, he describes Benaiah (the man who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day) as having tattoos. Inking skin, however, is forbidden in Mosaic law, and the Bible makes no mention of him having any. While none of these instances were theologically incorrect, they were annoying.
Additionally, Holmes solves cases through off-handed remarks from others a little too often. Once, for instance, Mrs. Hudson declared that she'd stirred a glass of orange juice 44 times, and this prompted Holmes to focus on the number 4. It was a little too obvious to be realistic.
I also don't remember canon Holmes treating Mrs. Hudson as though she were "Jezebel" (as he says in this book) or making fun of Watson for not liking gore (Goliath's beheading) or the smell of death (Lazarus). Watson also seemed a little too quick to tears at times. Little instances like these seemed out of character. The interjection "Ha, ha, ha!" was also overused by Holmes and awkward.
Overall, however, I did really like the insight the author gives to the stories of the Bible. It really felt as though Holmes were unconvering the answers to riddles, and I did enjoy most of the dialogue. The scene where Holmes ate breakfast atop the cab carriage was especially funny to me.
I really enjoyed it, but there were a few things that made it not as smooth as it could have been.
The mechanics of the time travel combined with the supernatural elements were a little weird and did not add much to the story. It could have been fine without the Needle's Eye, and it didn't make sense that such a device would decide to have them either be able to interact with the past or not. There was no rhyme or reason to that, and I would have preferred it if they had remained observers for the most part.
Every once in a while, the author also took liberties with what he wrote. For example, he describes Benaiah (the man who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day) as having tattoos. Inking skin, however, is forbidden in Mosaic law, and the Bible makes no mention of him having any. While none of these instances were theologically incorrect, they were annoying.
Additionally, Holmes solves cases through off-handed remarks from others a little too often. Once, for instance, Mrs. Hudson declared that she'd stirred a glass of orange juice 44 times, and this prompted Holmes to focus on the number 4. It was a little too obvious to be realistic.
I also don't remember canon Holmes treating Mrs. Hudson as though she were "Jezebel" (as he says in this book) or making fun of Watson for not liking gore (Goliath's beheading) or the smell of death (Lazarus). Watson also seemed a little too quick to tears at times. Little instances like these seemed out of character. The interjection "Ha, ha, ha!" was also overused by Holmes and awkward.
Overall, however, I did really like the insight the author gives to the stories of the Bible. It really felt as though Holmes were unconvering the answers to riddles, and I did enjoy most of the dialogue. The scene where Holmes ate breakfast atop the cab carriage was especially funny to me.
August 16, 2021
This book is not for the faint of heart.
Bible story mysteries that you may not have asked for, but are getting the answers to anyways.
There are 10 pretty obscured 'mysteries' explored in this book, and all through the eyes of Holmes, Watson, and even their landlady Mrs Hudson at times.
The premise was a really cool idea - and I want to clarify that I did enjoy the book. I love the characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it was fun to see them in a biblical setting.
However, having said that, this was a very theological (or academic if you will) view on 10 stories in the bible.
There were some interesting first hand perspectives of bible times and stories, and some that didn't appear to have much relevance (until Holmes and Watson began deliberations at the mystery). Overall, a majority of the book was spent with Holmes and Watson discussing what the answer should be.. this could make parts a little dull.
I occasionally had to skim read over sections, as it was quite theological, and I wanted a fun read, not a bible lesson. Other times though, I loved reading and learning some of these things as well.
I liked the back pages where you could approach the book as a 10 day bible study - this seemed a good idea and very inventive.
Overall, I loved the Holmes elements, liked the bible elements, and did learn somethings. I gave it a 4/5 star rating.
Bible story mysteries that you may not have asked for, but are getting the answers to anyways.
There are 10 pretty obscured 'mysteries' explored in this book, and all through the eyes of Holmes, Watson, and even their landlady Mrs Hudson at times.
The premise was a really cool idea - and I want to clarify that I did enjoy the book. I love the characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it was fun to see them in a biblical setting.
However, having said that, this was a very theological (or academic if you will) view on 10 stories in the bible.
There were some interesting first hand perspectives of bible times and stories, and some that didn't appear to have much relevance (until Holmes and Watson began deliberations at the mystery). Overall, a majority of the book was spent with Holmes and Watson discussing what the answer should be.. this could make parts a little dull.
I occasionally had to skim read over sections, as it was quite theological, and I wanted a fun read, not a bible lesson. Other times though, I loved reading and learning some of these things as well.
I liked the back pages where you could approach the book as a 10 day bible study - this seemed a good idea and very inventive.
Overall, I loved the Holmes elements, liked the bible elements, and did learn somethings. I gave it a 4/5 star rating.
November 26, 2021
This book poses and examines 10 questions related to the Bible:
(1) Why did David's advisor Ahithophel join Absalom's rebellion and subsequently hang himself?
(2) What did Jesus write on the ground to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery?
(3) In Matt 23 did Jesus mean "Zechariah son of Jehoiada" when he said "Zechariah son of Berechiah"?
(4) When was the "more opportune time" referred to in Luke 4:13?
(5) Why did Paul make Philippi his first destination when he arrived in Macedonia (Acts 16)?
(6) Why did David pick up exactly five stones when he prepared to fight Goliath?
(7) Why did Jesus delay when his friend Lazarus was dying?
(8) How can the appearance of King Jehoiachin in the genealogy of Matt 1 be explained in light of the curse pronounced in Jer 22:24-30?
(9) Why were Jesus' birth and death said to have happened at just the right time (Gal 4:4; Rom 5:6)?
(10) Why were the Israelites told to circle Jericho once on each of 6 days, then 7 times on the 7th?
This is an interesting set of questions, though they are hardly "the Bible's ultimate mysteries" claimed in the book's subtitle. The author considers the questions by having Sherlock Holmes and John Watson investigate them with some help from a time machine (the "Needle's Eye" of the title). I found their discussions to be stimulating and fun, and most of the conclusions reasonable.
I think he gets the eighth question wrong, since there is evidence in both the Bible and rabbinic tradition that the curse on Jehoiachin was reversed when Jehoiachin repented---see for example
http://graceandknowledge.faithweb.com...
I also think the discussion of the second question would have benefitted from far less gratuitous Pharisee-bashing and more attention to how Jewish law was adminstered in Jesus' day---see for example http://graceandknowledge.faithweb.com...
(1) Why did David's advisor Ahithophel join Absalom's rebellion and subsequently hang himself?
(2) What did Jesus write on the ground to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery?
(3) In Matt 23 did Jesus mean "Zechariah son of Jehoiada" when he said "Zechariah son of Berechiah"?
(4) When was the "more opportune time" referred to in Luke 4:13?
(5) Why did Paul make Philippi his first destination when he arrived in Macedonia (Acts 16)?
(6) Why did David pick up exactly five stones when he prepared to fight Goliath?
(7) Why did Jesus delay when his friend Lazarus was dying?
(8) How can the appearance of King Jehoiachin in the genealogy of Matt 1 be explained in light of the curse pronounced in Jer 22:24-30?
(9) Why were Jesus' birth and death said to have happened at just the right time (Gal 4:4; Rom 5:6)?
(10) Why were the Israelites told to circle Jericho once on each of 6 days, then 7 times on the 7th?
This is an interesting set of questions, though they are hardly "the Bible's ultimate mysteries" claimed in the book's subtitle. The author considers the questions by having Sherlock Holmes and John Watson investigate them with some help from a time machine (the "Needle's Eye" of the title). I found their discussions to be stimulating and fun, and most of the conclusions reasonable.
I think he gets the eighth question wrong, since there is evidence in both the Bible and rabbinic tradition that the curse on Jehoiachin was reversed when Jehoiachin repented---see for example
http://graceandknowledge.faithweb.com...
I also think the discussion of the second question would have benefitted from far less gratuitous Pharisee-bashing and more attention to how Jewish law was adminstered in Jesus' day---see for example http://graceandknowledge.faithweb.com...
October 15, 2025
A travesty that Sherlock and Watson were dragged into a terrible story if you can even call it that. One of the greatest things about the greatest detective and his tales is that the mysteries he solved were actually believable to an extent. Yes the cases and stories may be fictional but they felt very possible. This one missed the mark. This book throws Sherlock into a time machine to solve biblical "mysteries" all the while having Sherlock casually sipping tea talking about God, and biblical events. Our beloved Sherlock wouldn't be engaged in mundane things such as this. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherolck shouldn't be dragged through mud like this book did. An absymal story at best, and a poor attempt of bible study material using the most famous detective of all time.
Some readers may say "Excellent"
"Elementary" says I as it doesn't take decutive reasoning to see this book isn't worth the read and doesn't embrace the true spirit of The one and only beloved Sherlock Holmes.
Some readers may say "Excellent"
"Elementary" says I as it doesn't take decutive reasoning to see this book isn't worth the read and doesn't embrace the true spirit of The one and only beloved Sherlock Holmes.
October 2, 2013
Sherlock Holmes and the Needle's Eye
, by Len Bailey: In which Jesus (code name: K2L2, for 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords') hires Sherlock Holmes to 'investigate' various biblical mysteries. By time-traveling him to Bible times via a doodad called 'the needle's eye', which Holmes built using schematics he stole from Professor Moriarty. See, Moriarty wanted to travel at the speed of light (for nefarious purposes), which is obviously impossible. Instead, the whatsit he invented enables the user to travel back in time. Holmes and Watson explore and resolve various 'conundrums', thereby demolishing many of Holmes' objections to religion and faith.
How could I not read this book? Sherlock Holmes solving Bible mysteries? Yes, please! After all, who among us hasn't lost sleep wondering why Ahitophel hanged himself? Or trying to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the Old and New Testamment references to Zechariah, son of Berechiah, and Zechariah, son of Jehoida? Or why Jehoiachin is included in Jesus' genealogy? Nail-biters, one and all.
To be fair, Bailey does include at least a few legitimate mysteries that may actually have crossed the mind of the average Christian: What did Jesus write in the sand (after the adulterous woman was dragged before him)? And, slightly less mysteriously, why did David take five stones with him when he went to slay Goliath? Bailey's answers ('Where's the man?' and 'Because Goliath had 4 brothers') make sense, but at the end of the day, the truth is we don't know. We know what we know and no more. We have the biblical accounts; beyond that, we are merely guessing.
The remaining mysteries are more along the lines of 'Why did God do X?', which, while certainly something Christians wonder about, isn't really appropriate for fruitful inquiry by someone like Holmes. So, for example, when faced with the query 'Why did Paul begin his Macedonian campaign in Philippi?', Bailey (through Holmes) does some fancy figuring and decides that had Paul started anywhere else, all sorts of problems would have occurred, and so, as it happens, Philippi was the right place to start.
This is ... problematic. It is never a great idea to build our understanding of anything on unknown hypothetical results. And anyway, most of the time we don't know why God works the way He does. Questions like 'Why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus?', 'Why did God command the Israelites to march around Jericho 7 times on the last day?', 'What made the time of Christ's birth the right time for the coming of the Messiah?' are simply examples of His ways being higher than our ways. Studying Scripture and applying our critical thinking skills may help us come up with a few possible explanations, but ultimately, we don't know why He does what He does, because He is God and we are not. (Is. 55:8-9) Which is not to say that we can't try and understand the situation. We absolutely can. So reflecting on the fact that marching around the wall 7 times instead of the usual 1 time would likely result in all the Jericho-ans coming to the wall to see what was up, thereby ensuring their death when the wall collapsed ... that's a fine observation. But to say that's why God told them to do it is presumptuous and unwarranted.
Still, taken less as a serious inquiry or a model of how to 'solve' biblical mysteries, and more as a fun excursion, the book is fine (though his 'old-timey' style can be kind of goofy and his organizational structure tends to be rather meandering). Bailey is clearly very enthusiastic about Scripture study and Sherlock Holmes. He obviously put a lot of work into the book and enjoyed writing it. It's fun enough to read, too--the tone doesn't quite match up with Doyle's original work, but that's common with Sherlockiana. And I appreciate Bailey's high view of Scripture; he clearly views biblical 'mysteries' and 'discrepancies', not as evidence of flaws in Scripture, but as areas we haven't sufficiently examined and which we don't yet understand. He firmly believes that, with enough study, any apparent conflict can be resolved, for the simple reason that the Bible is unalterably true. I wholeheartedly agree (though it is not always the case that the resolution can or will be discoverable by fallen human minds). However, to the extent that he also believes we can 'explain' divine mysteries behind the actions of our unsearchable God, I must demur. (Rom. 11:33-34)
It was a fun read, though.
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze%c2%ae.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]
How could I not read this book? Sherlock Holmes solving Bible mysteries? Yes, please! After all, who among us hasn't lost sleep wondering why Ahitophel hanged himself? Or trying to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the Old and New Testamment references to Zechariah, son of Berechiah, and Zechariah, son of Jehoida? Or why Jehoiachin is included in Jesus' genealogy? Nail-biters, one and all.
To be fair, Bailey does include at least a few legitimate mysteries that may actually have crossed the mind of the average Christian: What did Jesus write in the sand (after the adulterous woman was dragged before him)? And, slightly less mysteriously, why did David take five stones with him when he went to slay Goliath? Bailey's answers ('Where's the man?' and 'Because Goliath had 4 brothers') make sense, but at the end of the day, the truth is we don't know. We know what we know and no more. We have the biblical accounts; beyond that, we are merely guessing.
The remaining mysteries are more along the lines of 'Why did God do X?', which, while certainly something Christians wonder about, isn't really appropriate for fruitful inquiry by someone like Holmes. So, for example, when faced with the query 'Why did Paul begin his Macedonian campaign in Philippi?', Bailey (through Holmes) does some fancy figuring and decides that had Paul started anywhere else, all sorts of problems would have occurred, and so, as it happens, Philippi was the right place to start.
This is ... problematic. It is never a great idea to build our understanding of anything on unknown hypothetical results. And anyway, most of the time we don't know why God works the way He does. Questions like 'Why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus?', 'Why did God command the Israelites to march around Jericho 7 times on the last day?', 'What made the time of Christ's birth the right time for the coming of the Messiah?' are simply examples of His ways being higher than our ways. Studying Scripture and applying our critical thinking skills may help us come up with a few possible explanations, but ultimately, we don't know why He does what He does, because He is God and we are not. (Is. 55:8-9) Which is not to say that we can't try and understand the situation. We absolutely can. So reflecting on the fact that marching around the wall 7 times instead of the usual 1 time would likely result in all the Jericho-ans coming to the wall to see what was up, thereby ensuring their death when the wall collapsed ... that's a fine observation. But to say that's why God told them to do it is presumptuous and unwarranted.
Still, taken less as a serious inquiry or a model of how to 'solve' biblical mysteries, and more as a fun excursion, the book is fine (though his 'old-timey' style can be kind of goofy and his organizational structure tends to be rather meandering). Bailey is clearly very enthusiastic about Scripture study and Sherlock Holmes. He obviously put a lot of work into the book and enjoyed writing it. It's fun enough to read, too--the tone doesn't quite match up with Doyle's original work, but that's common with Sherlockiana. And I appreciate Bailey's high view of Scripture; he clearly views biblical 'mysteries' and 'discrepancies', not as evidence of flaws in Scripture, but as areas we haven't sufficiently examined and which we don't yet understand. He firmly believes that, with enough study, any apparent conflict can be resolved, for the simple reason that the Bible is unalterably true. I wholeheartedly agree (though it is not always the case that the resolution can or will be discoverable by fallen human minds). However, to the extent that he also believes we can 'explain' divine mysteries behind the actions of our unsearchable God, I must demur. (Rom. 11:33-34)
It was a fun read, though.
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze%c2%ae.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]
January 20, 2022
Brilliant!
In the style and voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Len Bailey transports us to ancient times with Sherlock and Watson as the pair investigate biblical conundrums. As we eavesdrop on their adventures, friendly banter, and deductive contemplations, a logical solution presents itself. Not only is this historical novel entertaining, but it also stretches the mind and one's knowledge of the Scriptures. The study guide for each chapter is a plus, making “Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye” an excellent choice for book clubs and group study. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it!
In the style and voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Len Bailey transports us to ancient times with Sherlock and Watson as the pair investigate biblical conundrums. As we eavesdrop on their adventures, friendly banter, and deductive contemplations, a logical solution presents itself. Not only is this historical novel entertaining, but it also stretches the mind and one's knowledge of the Scriptures. The study guide for each chapter is a plus, making “Sherlock Holmes and the Needle’s Eye” an excellent choice for book clubs and group study. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it!
November 27, 2021
Firstly, this book has to be viewed as a Bible study companion. It cannot be read like a novel. I did enjoy reading the “mysteries” and the explanations or hypotheses for the unsolved mysteries. It also made me dig into a few of the passages of the Bible more.
Unfortunately, I did not like how the author portrayed Holmes. While he originally did have an arrogant mannerism, he was portrayed as a lot meaner to Watson and Mrs. Hudson. I would have wished that the author tones all of the attitude down so the relationships among the three main characters weren’t so undesirable.
Unfortunately, I did not like how the author portrayed Holmes. While he originally did have an arrogant mannerism, he was portrayed as a lot meaner to Watson and Mrs. Hudson. I would have wished that the author tones all of the attitude down so the relationships among the three main characters weren’t so undesirable.
February 15, 2025
This book was interesting but it was confusing. I think reading it as a novel moves you through the book too fast and I found myself feeling bewildered. As a Bible study it would be slower and you would have time to think it through and work along with Holmes and Watson. Sometimes I’d agree with the solved mystery, some I didn’t, and some I was left scratching my head. If you like Sherlock Holmes you might enjoy this more than I did. I give this 3 stars and I was being generous. Definitely not a keeper for me.
April 2, 2022
I loved how this book asked questions when looking at Bible stories. I tend to read the Bible matter-of-factly without asking enough questions to understand what the story is trying to relay. This book is a very enjoyable way to see deeper insight into great Bible stories. Although I could have stood without the Sherlock Holmes backdrop, I understand that this can make it intriguing to younger readers.
February 16, 2018
This book marries together perfectly my two favorite things theology and Sherlock Holmes. This book stays true to the character of Sherlock Holmes which I love. This book in its own way teaches how to use Mr.Holmes methods of deduction to study the Bible. These methods I now use myself in Bible study and are very helpful.
April 2, 2019
The book delves into an understanding regarding some of the questions many of us have regarding events in the bible. Very interesting & enlightening. I'm not too taken with this Sherlock Holmes in the book though he is very well portrayed. Len Bailey I hope has more proven answers to offer from the bible in perhaps another book.
April 15, 2022
An unexpected treasure chest full of nuggets & gems!
Thought this might be a “cute” book for the grandkids, wow! Was I surprised!! I couldn’t put it down. Thought provoking, intriguing and a lesson in digging deeper in my study of the Word. Absolutely worth time to read and reread and study and share. What a gift!!!! Thank you.
Thought this might be a “cute” book for the grandkids, wow! Was I surprised!! I couldn’t put it down. Thought provoking, intriguing and a lesson in digging deeper in my study of the Word. Absolutely worth time to read and reread and study and share. What a gift!!!! Thank you.
December 16, 2020
I often found myself daydreaming for pages only to realize when I refocused that I really hadn’t missed anything of importance. There was enough curiosity to keep me going, otherwise it would have been a 1 Star.
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