The leading book in a series of three from Don Hoesel who has other books available and writes in a fun to read Indian Jones style that I enjoy. There will be some reviews that don’t give the book high regard; they have shown me that reading is a highly individual experience and humble me for when I hate a book and can’t understand how others can rave about the book. I’m amazed at the amount of beating and abuse that Jack Hawthorne can go through and still keep on ticking!

I enjoyed the writing of this book as much as the story, maybe more. The author is highly skilled at irony (compare to Hemingway) and super subtle foreshadowing. I like that there is only necessary dialog is used to get the point across. I’ve tried to get ahold of this book for months; the first time a link went to a different, excellent book, so I was distracted. When I finally got to read it, I have to tell you I would award more than five stars if they were available.

We are dropped into an archaeological find with mysterious signs and letters on a sarcophagus cover at an ancient Egyptian burial site. A rumbling explosion and cave-in keeps Jack from learning more about what he’d glimpsed seconds before. Outside in safety, the group realizes that members of their team which were working on another nearby site are not present. Their discovery of the real cave-in is traumatic. In that cave-in, under suspicious circumstances, Jack’s brother died while pleading with searchers to save him. Jack believes that the cave-in was deliberate and his interest in archeology dwindles along with any scientifically modified faith he had before.

Fast forward five years where we find Jack approached by an extremely rich man who hires him to investigate the possibility of the existence of the Prophet Elisha’s bones. There is indication of a cabal holding and preserving these bones; men want them.

2nd Kings 13: 20-21: Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s Bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

Can Jack track down the bones? Joined by friends and colleagues the world over, Jack will endeavor to learn answers. At the risk of life and limb. His former fiancé, Esperanza, joins him in the search during which she shares her faith which was strengthened during the years that Jack was wandering spiritually. The dangers they encounter together revives Jack’s faith. It felt a bit like an Indiana Jones type with the wide expanse of incredible events that the characters go through; many don’t survive — the author is good at clearing the place of any extras.

There is some violence in the book, very little profanity and no erotica. The Christian aspects of the story are extremely subtle and part of the artistic treatment of the story. It is a story; don’t expect to be given new information to discuss at book club. That kind of detail would have made a Kindle-hogging tome that wouldn’t be fun to read. Elisha’s Bones was fun to read. I have the next book, but am saving it.