Behold the Man, The Jerusalem Chronicles Series #3 -eBook

Behold the Man is the third book in the Jerusalem Chronical series.

This book tells the story of Pilate, his wife Claudia and Centurion Marcus Longinus. When the trio encounter Jesus of Nazareth their lives will be forever changed, some for the better, some not so much.

This book will engage you from the very first page and draw you in to the life of the people who lived in the first century Jerusalem. The story, while familiar, has some fresh aspects and their characters come alive within the pages, although it was hard for me read certain characters.

The book is primarily told from Claudia's point of view, but we are also given Pilates' and Marcus' additional narrative which give it some depth.

Historical bible fiction is one of my favorite types of stories as long as the author stays true to the bible which the Thoene's consistently do. They are a very creative in their writing.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, defiantly to anyone who likes historical biblical fiction.

Excellent! You cannot go wrong when reading the works of Bodie and Brock! This series helps put you in the scene as if you, yourself are there listening to Jesus!

I haven't had an opportunity to read it, yet, as I'm busy recovering from a heart attack. However, the Thoene's books are always a 110% good reading! It will take me some time to get it read, but I will read it! I've read most of their books, and have most of them, and I've never got one that was even a little less than 110% great reading! One cannot go wrong with reading a book by Bodie & Brock Thoene! Their books not only give you insight to the times they are about, but actually put you into the pages--you're actually there, seeing it all take place!

Bodie and Brock Thoene have an engaging writing style that brings history to life. Their World War II series, the Zion Covenant, is among my favorites. So, when I saw they had a new novel out that revolved around the subject of Easter, it intrigued me.

Behold the Man, third in the Jerusalem Chronicles series, follows the story of several individuals who encounter Jesus during his ministry. The two main characters, Pilate's wife Claudia and Marcus, the Centurion present at Jesus' crucifixion, give the primary perspectives. We get a glimpse into their lives as well as their reaction to Jesus.

The story of Jesus life, death, and (spoiler alert) resurrection has been told from many angles, though none can beat the actually telling of it in the Gospels. The Thoenes use their beautiful prose to craft the story, but unfortunately, they chose character too close to the history books to allow their fictionally narrative to fully develop. I cared about the characters and wanted to learn more about what happened to them, but felt the plot tugged me away from their story.

My favorite parts were when the Thoene's were able to let their writing loose, so to speak. In those times, I could feel the life and struggle of Judea at Jesus' time. I felt upset at the injustice that paved the way for Jesus' death. And enjoyed watching the character arch transpire around Claudia's son Philo.

If you are looking for a different perspective on such a life-changing story, Behold the Man is a good choice.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

2.5/5 Stars

Behold the Man concludes the Jerusalem Chronicles by Bodie and Brock Thoene. Despite being a long time fan of the Thoene's this series did not meet my expectations. It began well with When Jesus Wept, a dramatic retelling of Christ's friendship with Lazarus and the miracle in which Lazarus is raised to life. Take This Cup, was a drastic departure from the Thoene's usual style of writing and I set the book aside unfinished. When my book club proposed reading Behold the Man in March, nicely coinciding with Easter, I agreed. Prior to our first meeting I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Historical fiction, particularly biblical fiction, is my all time favorite genre. Admittedly, my standards for biblical fiction are higher than other genres. This is because in the hands of an unbeliever or un-read church goer, these books have the potential to skew their beliefs about biblical events or persons. I found two particular instances in which the authors manipulated scripture. I understand that this is a work of fiction, however this bothered me because the changes had no bearing on the story. Hence, why not hold to the truth? (Matthew 14:1-21 & Mark 4:10)

With this story I felt like I was reading what was happening, but not feeling it my heart never fully engaged with the characters. From the outset it was clear Pilate and Claudia's marriage was established for political gain rather than love. This was not uncommon throughout history, however I felt like the Thoenes were pushing their readers to desire Claudia and Marcus to have an affair. Furthermore, I question why Pilate's harsh treatment of Claudia was continuously thrust into the limelight when so little character development was gained from it. To me, depravity and the ambitions of various men overshadowed the more important message of Christ's mission and message.

I've not given up on the Thoene's, I've just determined this series wasn't written for me. Perhaps it will strike others differently and for that reason I am looking forward to our book club discussion.

**I received this book free as a member of the BookLookBloggers review 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 Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.