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Aceldama
Modern medicine can find neither cause nor cure for an affliction that is slowly sapping life away from a young architect, Tim Harrington. As clues fall into place, Tim's wife, Anna, begins to believe that an ancient curse is killing her husband. Anna's quest to uncover the truth and save his life pits her against formidable logic, history and even the Catholic Church. As Anna follows her instincts and her heart to find the answers in time, she risks unwittingly unleashing an awesome, terrible power from which the world will never recover.
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First published June 25, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 4, 2016
~e-copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review~
After purchasing a coin, Tim Harrington starts to have nightmares that become dangerously vivid. When he goes into a coma, his wife, Anna, embarks on a journey and soon learns that an ancient curse is what's keeping her husband unconscious. She finds herself returning to Paris but her search for the truth goes much further in history. She has no choice but to follow her instinct, even if it means going against scientific logic, history and her own beliefs.
Aceldama has an intriguing premise. It was interesting reading this story as this coin is slowly passed through history, impacting the lives of all its bearers until it reached the hands of Tim Harrington. Hazen has created this intricate line of action with a variety of engaging characters. There were moments of great suspense and paranormal detail. I was intrigued by Anna as a protagonist and was attached to her from the beginning to the end as she did all that she could to save her husband.
However, for no one's fault apart from my own, I found it difficult to start this book. I wasn't at all captivated at the beginning but that did certainly change once everything started going. The mix of different perspectives was hard to follow at first, which was strange because I don't usually struggle with that. For example, there's scenes set in Jerusalem around AD30 (I think) but the language used didn't fit into the timeframe. The way some of the characters talked felt too modern for that time period and, to me, it felt jarring. There were moments, especially in the beginning, of info dumping which was a struggle to get through but, overall, it was an interesting read.
After purchasing a coin, Tim Harrington starts to have nightmares that become dangerously vivid. When he goes into a coma, his wife, Anna, embarks on a journey and soon learns that an ancient curse is what's keeping her husband unconscious. She finds herself returning to Paris but her search for the truth goes much further in history. She has no choice but to follow her instinct, even if it means going against scientific logic, history and her own beliefs.
Aceldama has an intriguing premise. It was interesting reading this story as this coin is slowly passed through history, impacting the lives of all its bearers until it reached the hands of Tim Harrington. Hazen has created this intricate line of action with a variety of engaging characters. There were moments of great suspense and paranormal detail. I was intrigued by Anna as a protagonist and was attached to her from the beginning to the end as she did all that she could to save her husband.
However, for no one's fault apart from my own, I found it difficult to start this book. I wasn't at all captivated at the beginning but that did certainly change once everything started going. The mix of different perspectives was hard to follow at first, which was strange because I don't usually struggle with that. For example, there's scenes set in Jerusalem around AD30 (I think) but the language used didn't fit into the timeframe. The way some of the characters talked felt too modern for that time period and, to me, it felt jarring. There were moments, especially in the beginning, of info dumping which was a struggle to get through but, overall, it was an interesting read.
June 14, 2016
Aceldama has a great premise: a cursed coin from AD30 whose mystery is slowly revealed to the reader while a contemporary couple are struggling to fight off the consequences of the curse. I hope that's a good way of describing it without giving anything away. This is the third book by this author I have read within one month and I'm in awe of his versatility. Aceldama has great suspense and the supernatural aspect is not overdone. What I like is the humanity that permeats Hazen's work without it being lecturing. He writes great characters and good stories, whatever genre.
This book had me intrigued and interested from the beginning chapter set in AD30 to the final denouement. A great accomplishment.
This book had me intrigued and interested from the beginning chapter set in AD30 to the final denouement. A great accomplishment.
March 30, 2018
A Spiritual Mystery with Layers of Intrigue and Excitement
It is amazing how Aceldama by John Hazen works well on so many levels. The novel is a psychological intrigue, a police procedural, a medical enigma, an historical drama, and, most importantly, a metaphysical mystery. In a way the novel starts with architect Tim Harrington acquiring an ancient coin and then his physically deteriorating to the point he is completely incapacitated. But Aceldama really starts two thousand years earlier in Judea at the forging of the coin and continues through Western history via a Roman soldier, a Turkish sailor, and a French countess.
That past is intertwined with Tim’s condition and it is primarily the burden of his wife Anna to uncover the secrets necessary to save him. And boy, are there secrets. Hazen has artfully plotted an intricate story that takes Anna through police investigations involving the death of a coin seller, the neurological explorations at the hospital, and the spiritual rituals connected to both church and temple. She has plenty of help, including many charming likeable characters, especially the charismatic French police officer René, the kindly, humorous Dr. Cohn, and the free-thinking Father Mark.
To create this compelling, realistic tale of loss and redemption, Hazen shows impressive knowledge of medicine, psychology, criminal justice, and theology. The subplots of Dr. Philip Mordecai’s familial issues, the murder of the coin seller in France, and the larger agenda of the Catholic Church not only give the novel more layers and resonance, but nicely drive the main plot about what exactly is happening to the comatose Tim.
Aceldama is a great ride – mysterious and filled with intrigue. Hazen has given readers a novel that is simultaneously grounded in the rhythms of everyday life while offering secrets and revelations that are otherworldly.
It is amazing how Aceldama by John Hazen works well on so many levels. The novel is a psychological intrigue, a police procedural, a medical enigma, an historical drama, and, most importantly, a metaphysical mystery. In a way the novel starts with architect Tim Harrington acquiring an ancient coin and then his physically deteriorating to the point he is completely incapacitated. But Aceldama really starts two thousand years earlier in Judea at the forging of the coin and continues through Western history via a Roman soldier, a Turkish sailor, and a French countess.
That past is intertwined with Tim’s condition and it is primarily the burden of his wife Anna to uncover the secrets necessary to save him. And boy, are there secrets. Hazen has artfully plotted an intricate story that takes Anna through police investigations involving the death of a coin seller, the neurological explorations at the hospital, and the spiritual rituals connected to both church and temple. She has plenty of help, including many charming likeable characters, especially the charismatic French police officer René, the kindly, humorous Dr. Cohn, and the free-thinking Father Mark.
To create this compelling, realistic tale of loss and redemption, Hazen shows impressive knowledge of medicine, psychology, criminal justice, and theology. The subplots of Dr. Philip Mordecai’s familial issues, the murder of the coin seller in France, and the larger agenda of the Catholic Church not only give the novel more layers and resonance, but nicely drive the main plot about what exactly is happening to the comatose Tim.
Aceldama is a great ride – mysterious and filled with intrigue. Hazen has given readers a novel that is simultaneously grounded in the rhythms of everyday life while offering secrets and revelations that are otherworldly.
December 21, 2020
This was a very intriguing book. Whether you call it spec fic, thriller, historical mystery, it grabbed the reader quickly, and kept hold of him/her. Anna was a complex, but very likable character. All of the characters were interesting, the plot exciting, and there was a bit of a surprise twist. Everything came out happily ever after at the end, but I don't have a problem with that. Most thrillers leave bodies strewn all over the place, this one didn't even while maintaining the tense atmosphere. Nice job!
February 22, 2017
It all starts with a simple coin - but that coin turns out to be anything but simple. Aceldama takes the reader on a thrill ride around the world and even back through time. With interesting characters and a fast pace, this well-written novel grabs hold from the start and never lets go. The satisfying ending leaves you with something to think about. Well worth your time.
January 21, 2018
Interesting read
Overall a good story. Jumping back and forth between timelines and trying to backfill some of the character history got confusing and monotonous at times and lost my interest.
Overall a good story. Jumping back and forth between timelines and trying to backfill some of the character history got confusing and monotonous at times and lost my interest.
January 15, 2021
There's a show called '30 Coins" on HBO/Europe about this very book. It's in a Spanish version with captions but still intriguing and theologically mindblowing! The similarities aren't equivalent,but the storyline of Judas in theory very ominous and thought provoking.
November 28, 2017
the book is good in itself but then it becomes confusing and tedious but it is recommended for all public
May 16, 2021
Aceldama gets a 5 star rating from me. I was hooked from the first page. Well worth the read
May 20, 2021
Different
This was a book I will remember for a while. It was entertaining and made you think at the same time.
This was a book I will remember for a while. It was entertaining and made you think at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews