The Promised War

Sam Deker #1

by Thomas Greanias

Deep beneath the ancient city of Jerusalem lies a secret that knows no bounds, devastating enough to reach across time. History’s greatest spy story begins here.

For a millennium, Jerusalem’s Temple Mount has been at the center of war and death. There’s never been a time when blood wasn’t spilled upon this ancient, sacred site. Flash forward to present-day Jerusalem, where 35-year-old Israeli counterterrorism agent Sam Deker has just thwarted the most recent act of violence—an attempt by radical Palestinians to blow up the Dome of the Rock mosque and pin the blame on right-wing Orthodox Jews. The threat, however, is a diversion. Deker himself is the real target. He is captured and taken to neighboring Jordan, where he is tortured because of his deep knowledge of Israel’s most closely guarded state secret.

Deker escapes with his comrade Uri Elezar, making it all the way to the border, only to be taken down at the banks of the Jordan River. This time, however, Deker wakes up in the middle of the ancient Israelite army on the eve of its historic siege of Jericho. Deker doesn’t know if he is dead, in some torture-induced psychosis, or really back in time. But General Bin-Nun has declared a colossal holy war, and he’s sending Deker and Elezar on a dangerous mission to spy on the Promised Land in advance of the invasion.

For Deker, it’s his only hope to escape this genocidal hell. Then he finds himself in the arms of a beautiful enemy named Rahab, caught in a web of deadly betrayal, as he struggles to unlock the truth, secure Israel’s future and his own, and save the twenty-first century from The Promised War.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2010

About the author

No. 1 Amazon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven international thrillers, including Raising Atlantis, The Atlantis Prophecy, The Atlantis Revelation, The Promised War, The 34th Degree, The War Cloud and The Chiron Confession.

Reviews

[Hermien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite unbelievable but not un-entertaining.

[Ed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so proud of myself. I dumped the book a third of the way in.

It's a mish-mash of thriller, fantasy and historical fiction. Very poorly written with impossibly stereotyped characters. I realized that I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen so I skipped to the last three, mercifully short chapters, and voila, I was right.

The ending is also unbelievable because the whole book is based on an unbelievable premise followed by an unbelievable epilog.

Don't bother with this one.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a very average book. An interesting premise but it wasn't told in the best way. A bit convoluted and at times frustrating. Good for a read only if there's nothing else available.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. His Atlantis books are much better! A couple of good twists here, but the time travel element didn't really work well for me. Space/Time continuum is always tricky. But I enjoyed it enough that I'll read the second book in the trilogy and wonder if the promised third book will ever come out. If you want to read amazingly good fiction from this author, check out the Atlantis books. They are excellent! (Yes, I said it twice...yes, it bears repeating).

[London · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was engaged fully. Scripture and other ancient texts fascinate me as I am a follower of Christ so it didn't take much gas to get me going. There were more than a few "Oooh!" moments had and the action is well paced and utilized. My only gripe is the final conclusion but this is coming from a "picky ending" reader. I would recommend.

[Philip R Elvidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel very much all be it a bit predictable, still a good Interesting read

[Lisa Towner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very challenging to follow… interesting plot at the end

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading historical fiction and so when I saw this book on the shelf of my library I took it home. Having not read any previous novels by this author or having heard of him before, I wasn't sure what to expect. First, this has to be one of the easiest books that I have ever read. Not being the fastest reader by far, I read this book in a 24 hr. sitting. Second, don't let this fool you by thinking it is trash it isn't. I found that Mr. Greanias's writing to be exactly what it is, this is fiction so he tells the story with historical facts that don't take chapters of depth to illustrate and goes with the characters that he has developed to keep you in suspense. I could not put this book down! For a fast paced read about the conflict of Jericho in 1400bce, this is a good read.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to be generous to this book, which is sort of a Jewish "DiVinci Code," though pro religion instead of against. The thesis is a little silly, that two members of Israeli intelligence are somehow transported back in time to when Joshua fights the battle of Jericho, one of whom speaks not one but two ancient languages. The ending is both predictable and too cute. However, the book in-between works, and is exciting, As a person who has been to war twice, I could feel the offense being prepared by the invaders, and see the preparations inside the City of Jericho. I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promised War is the fourth book by Greanias that I've read. I loved the three Atlantis books and so I was excited to read this one. After reading the preview and finding that the book takes place in biblical times and ties into the story of the fall of Jerico I was really curious. In short, the story is pretty interesting from the start through most of the book. The ending felt a bit rushed to me. I would have liked another chapter or two to get a little more detail at the end. All in all, the book is worth the read, but didn't blow me away like the Atlantis trilogy did.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Decent story, and another easy "brain candy" read. I liked the historical tie-in, and to a place and time not often seen in this type of historical fiction novel. The overall premise was interesting, but written a bit simply - I'm no genius, but the antagonist plot line and scenario vehicle was transparent early on. My only other issue is that the wrap up was too quick. A problem I'm seeing more and more in stories of this type: good story and development, etc, etc, then BAM, wrap up in one or two short chapters. . .

Still an okay read.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this book. It has so many levels. On one level it's a time travel novel about two Israeli Defense Force operatives who find themselves in ancient Israel before the battle of Jericho. On another level it's a political and religious commentary.

Trying to explain what I mean would provide too many spoilers.

to conclude the plot is a bit predictable and the author never really takes a theological stand. The author mixes scientific explanation with blind faith and ends up with a cocktail that is hard to label.

[James Kidd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear. I read 2 chapters today. I have given up. I hate giving up! I did not like the writing and especially did not like how the main character escapes seemingly with ease and then his confederate produces a gun from nowhere. Just poor writing. No thanks. I have not read the other books by this author and given the tag line promise of being like James Rollins, I had high hopes. Avoid. Glad it was a library book.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange premise, haltingly executed. Plot twists were not well thought out, not well explained. Did not rise to the criteria of "willing suspension of disbelief" that I was told all good fiction must meet. Started his second book "The 34th Degree" and found out there was a "Sam Deker #1", so compulsively had to read it first. If it isn't better, his second book may be my last from him.

[Tommy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I did the Atlantis trilogy. I couldn't get into the whole concept of the main characters going back in time to help fight the battle of Jericho. Hopefully his next book will be more like the first three.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Greanias proving to me to be an authro I would like to see more of. The idea of taking the story back to the days of the Old Testament as a means of obtaining information from the key character was good. Now will look to read more biblical related stories.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with the first few chapters of this book, but I gave it a chance. I don't regret it, the story really came into its own, after Deker goes back in time. It was enthraling and I couldnt put it down. This is the first novel I've read by this author, and I'd like to read more.

[John Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good thriller, though the end does stumble a bit. An Israei special-ops soldier while on a dangerous mission is transported back in time to ancient Jericho, where he joins the Israelite invasion of Canaan. Or is it all a hoax? Hmm... You'll have to read it to find out.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two Israeli agents are apparently transported back in time to the siege of Jericho.

The writing / narrative is difficult to follow only really making sense / being interesting for the last hundred odd pages.

[Marika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like it. Nothing like his others. Kept getting confused.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written: 5
Accessible: 5
Kept Attention: 5
Meaningful: 1
Must Read: 3 (if you like the political/mystery thriller genre)

[Steve Schlutow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book.. It was definitely different, and unexpected.. I like surprises, and the book got me reading the Old Testament again.. It was an enjoyable popcorn-adventure-reading book..

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't find it very compelling and eventually gave up on it. I couldn't follow the plot or cared about the characters.

[Steven Raszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read, entertaining story.

[Kimberly]

Boring...didn't finish

[Frederick Tan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to shout about.