I just finished reading book, took me 2 1/2 days;

it had 3 different themes in them. (current, Old Testament and Ben's Vietnam War in 1970's)

It's a good story now I have to wait for next book.

We've been waiting for Jerry B. Jenkins to release another series to captivate, inspire, educate, and cause us to think the way he did with the global phenomenon Left Behind series. His new novel, Dead Sea Rising, is written in an easy-to-follow format with each chapter changing time periods between present and Abram's world 4,000 years ago. I devoured this book in one day and am ready for Book 2!

Dead Sea Rising sets the stage for the series and introduces characters and storylines that will eventually weave together. We enter the modern day adventure of Dr. Nicole Berman from NYC, a Messianic Jew working to uncover the greatest mysteries buried in the Saudi Arabian desert that may prove the middle east religious conflicts are based upon faulty history. Then we jump to Abram's life, 2,000 BC to understand how Muslims, Jews, and Christians all came to be so close yet so far from one another. However, someone in the present day does not want the truth of the past to be uncovered. Will Nicole survive let alone find what she seeks?

Jerry is working with Dr. Craig Evans as his Biblical Consultant and I can't wait to see where Book 2 will lead us in this adventure.

This is an interesting blend of Biblical characters from the book of Genesis and characters set in the modern times. Jenkins is one of my favorite authors.

Dead Sea Rising

Dead Sea Chronicles #1

By Jerry B. Jenkins

Nicole Berman has a theory that she thinks will change the history of the Middle East as we have always believed it to be. But to prove her theory she needs the permission of Saudi Arabia to lead an archeological dig to find the evidence she is sure exists. But will the Saudis allow a woman to lead a dig, though she has the experience she's never before lead a dig?

When tragedy strikes her mother all thoughts of a dig are momentarily put on hold. But when a perceived accident turns into an investigation with both Nicole and her father, Ben number one on the police suspect list both are naturally surprised. Who could possibly want to attack Virginia Berman?

As the present day is played out the reader is offered two additional story-threads that are important to what is unfolding in Manhattan. We are given glimpses of Ben Berman's life as an angry 18-year-old, who in an attempt to prove something to both his parents and himself enlists and is sent to Vietnam. Vietnam is rough as Ben is assigned to a hospital tasked with getting the injured stabilized and shipped out to other out of combat hospitals or back on duty.

The other story-thread is set in 2000 B.C. in Shinar, Mesopotamia, which is under the rule of Nimrod, who has taken the name of Amraphel for himself. The main focus of this thread is on Terah the chief officer of Nimrod and his life. Terah and his wife Belessunu are finally expecting their first child, which couldn't come at a worse time as Nimrod fears, due to the words of his soothsayers, that a coming male child will threaten his reign! As Terah plots and prayers to the gods he carved, his wife prays to the God of their forefather Noah for the son she knows she carries.

It is interesting as these various threads progress to the conclusion of the book, which is the first in a series. The conclusion of the various threads in not reached as they are integral to the additional books if I'm reading the story correctly. If you like mysteries, historical and contemporary fiction you've found the perfect combination in this book. I highly recommend this book for longtime fans of Jerry's and for those new to him and his work. I for one can't wait until book 2 comes out to find out what happens next!

I received an uncorrected copy of this book from Worthy with proof of my pre-order receipt. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I was attracted to this book because...

Jerry B. Jenkins is another of my favorite authors. For almost two decades, he kept me waiting at the new release shelf for the next book in the Left Behind series. The Dead Sea Chronicles series, which Dead Sea Rising is book one, has the same potential.

This book was about

Dead Sea Rising is tale told with great craft of moral and political intrigue which covers four centuries, yet at it's heart is a theme of love and protection of family. Three stories run through the book. Each of the story lines are full of personal conflict, legal, political and medical intrigue. The characters' development reveal some of their past, some of their current situation and hints of their future potential. Two of the stories relate to the current day characters, Nicole Berman and her father, Ben Berman. The third line tells the story of Terah, King Nimrod's chief officer, and his wife, Belessunu, and takes the reader to 2000 B.C, in Shinar, Mesopotamia. The Berman's are Messianic Jews and archeologists. Nicole's greatest desire is to be the lead archeologist on a new dig in Saudi Arabia, but is defending her ability against prejudices of her being female, Christian and Jewish. The potential artifacts of her dig are a gentle tie bringing the three story lines together.

Things I liked about this book

It is a fast paced read with appealing characters. You find the page turned, although you planned to stop reading. And when you read THE END, you scream for more.

I learned fascinating information about Messianic Jews. It stimulated my imagination about Biblical history.

Having been the primary caregiver for both of my parents, Jerry had me with the first line. "It's your mother."

Why you should read this book

The Terah story reminds us there is more to the stories of Biblical characters than the snapshots we are shown in the Bible. It prompts us to think of them as three dimensional characters. The Berman's provide insights to Messianic Jewish life and customs. All of the stories emphasize the choices we make come with consequences we have to live with.

This book lived up to the back cover copy

The back cover provides us with the back story we need to read the book. There is the hint of the potential impact of not only this book, but the stories to come.

I read the advanced reader's copy.