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And the Beat Goes On #1
Conspiracy of Bones
Canadian born archaeologist Mark Graham unearths a remarkable discovery while at a dig in the mountains of Zimbabwe – pterodactyl remains and giant human bones buried together. Speculation leads to the possible existence of a mythical race known as ‘Nephilim’, a pre-flood people alleged to have descended from both gods and men.But skepticism and sabotage delay Mark and his team as the dig site is compromised, putting their discovery – as well as his very life – in grave danger. Deceived and framed by trusted friends and colleagues, Mark struggles to safeguard his findings and protect his reputation in order to unearth the mystery behind the bones. Originally published under the title, And the Beat Goes On , it's the same gripping story from award winning author Tracy Krauss .
- GenresChristian
342 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2009
105 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Krauss
81 books100 followersTracy Krauss is a prolific author, artist, and playwright. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English – all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. For more information or to check out her published books and plays, visit her website. https://linktr.ee/TracyKrauss
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 9, 2013
This is a suspenseful edgy tale. It starts off with a glimpse into the distant past. We see a race of pre-flood people who worship pterodactyls. This provides some great texture to the story. We then jump to present day and join Mark Graham - an archaeologist on a very important dig. Things get hairy when he discovers remains of an ancient civilisation - and pterodactyl bones buried along with human remains.
Suddenly Mark finds himself in grave danger. A conspiracy is at work. Mark isn't sure what to believe through all of this. His Christian family see his discovery of evidence for creationism. As a non-believer Mark is highly sceptical.
I enjoyed the development of Mark's character. He was portrayed in a gritty realistic way through every step of his character journey. Woven into all of this was a romantic sub-plot which was nicely done. We see the characters go through a whole range of emotions as they deal with the various issues that come up.
This is a story of danger and betrayal. In his hopelessness, Mark refuses to give up. As the story races towards its thrilling conclusion we discover a dark villain who reflects the worst parts of us when we try to do bad things for the sake of a good cause.
I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
Suddenly Mark finds himself in grave danger. A conspiracy is at work. Mark isn't sure what to believe through all of this. His Christian family see his discovery of evidence for creationism. As a non-believer Mark is highly sceptical.
I enjoyed the development of Mark's character. He was portrayed in a gritty realistic way through every step of his character journey. Woven into all of this was a romantic sub-plot which was nicely done. We see the characters go through a whole range of emotions as they deal with the various issues that come up.
This is a story of danger and betrayal. In his hopelessness, Mark refuses to give up. As the story races towards its thrilling conclusion we discover a dark villain who reflects the worst parts of us when we try to do bad things for the sake of a good cause.
I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
October 23, 2010
If you enjoy a book with lots of intrigue, hidden agendas, mystery, deceit, betrayal, and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, then you will enjoy And the Beat Goes On by Tracy Krauss. Tracy told me that the book is officially categorized as "Romantic Suspense” but I felt that other elements of mystery and suspense were predominant and the romance was not the main element of the story.
The book begins in an ancient time in the heart of Africa in the area that is now known as Zimbabwe. Tracy certainly knows how to grab her reader and draws them in with her very first words. In her prologue, she portrays the enactment of a pagan ritual in extremely vivid detail and such gruesome acts of violence and depravity are committed that I felt unclean after reading it and felt the need to purify my mind.
She immediately jumps from this scene to the present day where Canadian-born archaeologist Mark Graham has uncovered artifacts which are the remains of the ancient civilization and proof of the existence of the mythical race of the Nephilim. His find is so startling and of such import to the scientific community that Mark is guaranteed a place in the annals of history for his discovery. Unfortunately for him, his find also places him at odds with members of governments, political factions, and even his fellow scientists. This discovery causes Mark and some of his crew to begin to rethink their stance on creation and other important Biblical events.
When Mark begins to document some of his data, the government of Zimbabwe steps in to take control of the site and suddenly Mark is not only desperately trying to salvage his research and his reputation, he is also fleeing for his life. Who is it that could possibly be so threatened by Mark's discovery that they want him dead? Who is it that will benefit from Mark's death? Tracy keeps the reader guessing throughout the book as to the answer to these questions. It is astonishing to discover the great lengths that scientists and politicians will go to in order to keep the Truth from being revealed.
Thus begins the chase and the race for Mark to reveal the results of his excavation before he is either arrested or killed. Through it all, God is dealing with Mark and showing him the truth about the reality of God's word; Mark is slowly being drawn back to a place with God that he had left behind years ago.
This book is a very well-written and suspense-filled tale and contains just enough factual material to make a plausible story; a story that will cause some people to think again about the various theories that are espoused in order to discredit the facts about the creation.
The book begins in an ancient time in the heart of Africa in the area that is now known as Zimbabwe. Tracy certainly knows how to grab her reader and draws them in with her very first words. In her prologue, she portrays the enactment of a pagan ritual in extremely vivid detail and such gruesome acts of violence and depravity are committed that I felt unclean after reading it and felt the need to purify my mind.
She immediately jumps from this scene to the present day where Canadian-born archaeologist Mark Graham has uncovered artifacts which are the remains of the ancient civilization and proof of the existence of the mythical race of the Nephilim. His find is so startling and of such import to the scientific community that Mark is guaranteed a place in the annals of history for his discovery. Unfortunately for him, his find also places him at odds with members of governments, political factions, and even his fellow scientists. This discovery causes Mark and some of his crew to begin to rethink their stance on creation and other important Biblical events.
When Mark begins to document some of his data, the government of Zimbabwe steps in to take control of the site and suddenly Mark is not only desperately trying to salvage his research and his reputation, he is also fleeing for his life. Who is it that could possibly be so threatened by Mark's discovery that they want him dead? Who is it that will benefit from Mark's death? Tracy keeps the reader guessing throughout the book as to the answer to these questions. It is astonishing to discover the great lengths that scientists and politicians will go to in order to keep the Truth from being revealed.
Thus begins the chase and the race for Mark to reveal the results of his excavation before he is either arrested or killed. Through it all, God is dealing with Mark and showing him the truth about the reality of God's word; Mark is slowly being drawn back to a place with God that he had left behind years ago.
This book is a very well-written and suspense-filled tale and contains just enough factual material to make a plausible story; a story that will cause some people to think again about the various theories that are espoused in order to discredit the facts about the creation.
July 24, 2010
Book Review
And The Beat Goes On
By Author Tracy Krauss
And the Beat Goes On is an intriguing, unpredictable, and inspirational tale of an archeologist (Mark Graham) who unearths the remains of a pterodactyl at a dig site in the mountains of Zimbabwe, and surprisingly finds the remains of gigantic human bones buried beside the pterodactyl remains. Widespread dispute follows as some speculate that the human bones are those of a mythical race of half-god and half-men known as the Nephilim. Mark Graham is faced with the dilemma of preserving the bones as well as his very life as he faces betrayal, sabotage, and deception from those around him. And The Beat Goes On forces its readers to seek answers to the difficult questions surrounding the debate of Creationism vs. Evolution and is filled with solid facts and historical evidence that can not be easily ignored. Interestingly, Krauss does not advocate for one side or the other, but rather provides enough information that allows readers to make intelligent informed decisions about the origins of life. Enlightening, educational, informative, and mysterious, And the Beat Goes On creatively provokes profound analytical thought and is bound to hold your attention captive from the beginning to the end. And The beat Goes On is a brilliant, thought-provoking, and entertaining highly recommended read.
***** (5 Stars)
Highly Recommended
Review Completed by:
Angel Brown, Author
The Great X-Cape
And The Beat Goes On
By Author Tracy Krauss
And the Beat Goes On is an intriguing, unpredictable, and inspirational tale of an archeologist (Mark Graham) who unearths the remains of a pterodactyl at a dig site in the mountains of Zimbabwe, and surprisingly finds the remains of gigantic human bones buried beside the pterodactyl remains. Widespread dispute follows as some speculate that the human bones are those of a mythical race of half-god and half-men known as the Nephilim. Mark Graham is faced with the dilemma of preserving the bones as well as his very life as he faces betrayal, sabotage, and deception from those around him. And The Beat Goes On forces its readers to seek answers to the difficult questions surrounding the debate of Creationism vs. Evolution and is filled with solid facts and historical evidence that can not be easily ignored. Interestingly, Krauss does not advocate for one side or the other, but rather provides enough information that allows readers to make intelligent informed decisions about the origins of life. Enlightening, educational, informative, and mysterious, And the Beat Goes On creatively provokes profound analytical thought and is bound to hold your attention captive from the beginning to the end. And The beat Goes On is a brilliant, thought-provoking, and entertaining highly recommended read.
***** (5 Stars)
Highly Recommended
Review Completed by:
Angel Brown, Author
The Great X-Cape
October 22, 2017
I wanted so badly to give this novel a higher rating.
The storyline is face-paced, complete with archaeologists running from crumbling ceilings in a dig site that could easily kill those inside, disappearing bone fragments of giant beast-men before being inventoried, corruption in government officials, and one particular archaeologist who was raised in a Christian home, where everyone but him were believers, who is struggling to resolve in his heart his dig's findings, which clearly show spiritual beings were involved. The premise was amazing.
However, when a book is marketed as Chistian Fiction, I assume that means a higher level of human behavior, even if not believers. In this story, the intimacy of unmarried scientists, swearing multiple times, and simply crude expressions ruined it for me, at least to a great degree.
A thorough editing one more time, one that corrects typos, crudities, swearing, and describes physical intimacy in a more veiled way would improve this story enough so that a mom who reads it could suggest it to her unmarried adult daughter.
If you are comfortable reading a novel with the above problems, you might enjoy this. However, I would not be able to recommend this novel to anyone.
The storyline is face-paced, complete with archaeologists running from crumbling ceilings in a dig site that could easily kill those inside, disappearing bone fragments of giant beast-men before being inventoried, corruption in government officials, and one particular archaeologist who was raised in a Christian home, where everyone but him were believers, who is struggling to resolve in his heart his dig's findings, which clearly show spiritual beings were involved. The premise was amazing.
However, when a book is marketed as Chistian Fiction, I assume that means a higher level of human behavior, even if not believers. In this story, the intimacy of unmarried scientists, swearing multiple times, and simply crude expressions ruined it for me, at least to a great degree.
A thorough editing one more time, one that corrects typos, crudities, swearing, and describes physical intimacy in a more veiled way would improve this story enough so that a mom who reads it could suggest it to her unmarried adult daughter.
If you are comfortable reading a novel with the above problems, you might enjoy this. However, I would not be able to recommend this novel to anyone.
August 24, 2010
And the Beat Goes on is an entertaining and thought-provoking Romantic Suspense story about Mark Graham, Canadian archaeologist investigating a temple burial ground in Zimbabwe.
What he discovers there rocks his world and sets up a chain of events that threaten his reputation, his world view, even his life.
While this edgy Christian novel started a bit slow for an adventure nut like me, it quickly became a white-knuckle thriller with well-handled romance. I read the last half of the book in one sitting, unable to put it down.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it four stars.
What he discovers there rocks his world and sets up a chain of events that threaten his reputation, his world view, even his life.
While this edgy Christian novel started a bit slow for an adventure nut like me, it quickly became a white-knuckle thriller with well-handled romance. I read the last half of the book in one sitting, unable to put it down.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it four stars.
November 24, 2012
An exciting book from start to finish. The backdrop of an archaeological find that goes against the preconceived ideas of some of the scientific community is clever and well utilized by Tracy Krauss. The characters are real and they experience the gamut of human emotions, struggles and hope. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book!
September 20, 2017
An intelligent expose of the current Creation vs. Evolution. Apex reviews calls it "cleverly crafted - engages the imagination while simultaneously provoking higher thought - a feat difficult for even the most seasoned writer."
June 5, 2012
Very intriguing read and a real page turner. Tracy's imagination brings together theory and theology in a crafty mix that makes you think. *****
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September 22, 2017
Read with caution or skip the first chapter.
The first chapter sets a great back story for the book. Unfortunately, it's probably too close to the truth of how very evil things were before the flood. It's very descriptive and you won't be built up by reading it. It has some value but maybe it's better left unread. The story was creative and I applaud the author for including creation science in a story!!! Well done. The characters were interesting. You can really sense the age difference in two characters, but I don't why Amy fell for such a man, considering her values. And I didn't totally get the crazy of another character...he was unpredictable and didn't seem like a consistent crazy. I would say this had more mystery and suspense than romance.
The first chapter sets a great back story for the book. Unfortunately, it's probably too close to the truth of how very evil things were before the flood. It's very descriptive and you won't be built up by reading it. It has some value but maybe it's better left unread. The story was creative and I applaud the author for including creation science in a story!!! Well done. The characters were interesting. You can really sense the age difference in two characters, but I don't why Amy fell for such a man, considering her values. And I didn't totally get the crazy of another character...he was unpredictable and didn't seem like a consistent crazy. I would say this had more mystery and suspense than romance.
June 27, 2022
Creation vs. Evolution
An archaeologist discovers a huge man - buried with bird like creature TOGETHER. He struggles to believe it is true — but believes what he found. Problem is this discovery brings danger, lies, and more danger. TOTALLY loved this book. Once you start it you find it very difficult to put it down!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
An archaeologist discovers a huge man - buried with bird like creature TOGETHER. He struggles to believe it is true — but believes what he found. Problem is this discovery brings danger, lies, and more danger. TOTALLY loved this book. Once you start it you find it very difficult to put it down!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
September 21, 2017
Intrigue and romance
A kinda short and easy read. I thought the casual sex between two colleagues was inappropriate in a Christian novel. There was no expression of sorrow or repentance from the man who later came to faith.
A kinda short and easy read. I thought the casual sex between two colleagues was inappropriate in a Christian novel. There was no expression of sorrow or repentance from the man who later came to faith.
January 19, 2024
Wow, this book will have you gripped. Canadian born Archaeologist Mark finds some outstanding things while digging in Zimbabwe. Full of questions and danger. Couldn’t get enough of the characters and story.
December 13, 2018
It has it all...
... thought provoking science, romance, true self sacrifice, and some murder & mayhem !! Tying it all together is a loving God working in people's lives.
... thought provoking science, romance, true self sacrifice, and some murder & mayhem !! Tying it all together is a loving God working in people's lives.
July 29, 2020
This novel is fast-paced, with excellent characterizations and an exciting multi-faceted plot. The story stands out in its accurate descriptions of archaeology protocols both at the university level and in conducting an excavation. It also deals with "political correctness" in archaeology and its effect on permissions, publication, and funding. I chose this book because I'm looking for novels that deal with ancient cultures and the fast-moving science of archaeology. There are several levels of this story running parallel, all of which I found entertaining—a beautiful read.
November 2, 2016
A very interesting look into the possibility that scientists are not speaking the truth of what they find. If it doesn’t match their preconceived notions (usually evolution) they will drop it, hide it or refute it with a mix of imagination and unrelated answers. Tracy Krauss has produced a wonderful book with good action, suspense and characters. I can’t wait until she writes the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews