Customer Reviews

The Bell Messenger: A Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I could not put it down. Well researched, well written, and will stick with me for a long time.

Don't expect to read yourself to sleep with The Bell Messenger.... it kept me awake half the night! I was bleary-eyed in the morning, but it was SO worth it! A compelling work of fiction. I love the authentic historical background behind the story, and already sent a copy to my brother.

The Bell Messenger is a very exciting book. It traces the journey of a Bible given to a soldier during the Civil War, and the lives of people throughout the years that found it. This unique Bible creates and solves a mystery in the lives of everyone with whom it comes in contact. It's a very good discussion book for a book club. Bree Thomas

One of the top 10 novels that I have ever read. I could hardly put it down.

Bob Cornuke has exploded into fiction with this book. There's a rather intense history lesson about the Chinese slave trade, suspense and the high adventure of a treasure-hunt--all intermixed with archeology.
It's not what you'd expect (considering that it involves a Bible), since it's far removed from "the typical 'religious'" book.
The plot--as it follows the journey of a Civil-War-era Bible and the lives it impacts--is so compelling that it could prove to be the beginning of an exciting series. I found myself wanting more!

Great writing, loved the historical aspect and the characters...one could almost believe they were real. I do not have any patience for books that are not well written,as in skill level, so this read definitely made the cut. There were a couple of "fall in place" items that I loved where the author did not spell them out directly which I quite liked. The only thing is I felt the authors could have developed the ending a bit more as I would have liked a bit tidier ending. Maybe there is a second book coming? If there is, I would definitely purchase.

Cornuke's new book is an exciting page-turner that is a travelogue to exotic places and times. But this is more than a great historic novel with clashing cultures and adventure. The central foil of this story is not a person, but an old Bible which is the vehicle Cornuke uses to explore the lives of people who come in contact with it, starting in the Civil War and ending in our modern day. The story jumps back and forth in time, but is never confusing. Cornuke's casual writing style belies his extensive research and personal on-site experience with the locales and people featured in this riveting new book. His characters come alive as real people with likable personalities who face the kind of moral dilemmas and incremental decisions that transform people into heroes or villains; the small steps which we later recognize as leading to strengthened character or turning points preceding personal decline.

A master storyteller, Cornuke is able to add amazing depth to his fictional characters who come across as authentic, probably because they are, in reality, compilations of real people encountered by the author during his years as a police Crime Scene Investigator and SWAT team member in the L.A. area, or more recently as an adventurer in Africa and the Middle East. After leaving police work, Cornuke became the real-life Indiana Jones around the same time that Harrison Ford made the role popular. Cornuke's real archeological adventures rival anything Hollywood imagined for their fictional hero, which makes it possible for Cornuke to develop characters that are plausible, and a storyline that is rife with excitement.

I give "The Bell Messenger" a strong two-thumbs-up recommendation. I can't wait for Cornuke's next novel which I understand will be even better than this one - a feat that is hard to imagine since his first effort in this genre is already in the I-couldn't-put-it-down category.

What an exciting novel that captures both history and the need of something more meaningful in life. I was captivated by the stories of all the character's lives. I recommend this novel for both men and women. What a great gift for anyone!

The mind of Bob Cornuke never ceases to amaze me. His non-fiction works have changed history... now his knowledge of history is changing the world of fiction. I don't know how he does it, but he lives (and now writes)ouside of the box and he pulls it off in a way that seems so natural. This is not your normal book. The premise is unique. The plot line takes such unusual twists... Mix that together with masterful story telling instincts and you get the Bell Messenger. My 11 year old son has read it and was quickly absorbed (I'll have him write his own review) I think a few people will hate this (they always do)and the vast majority will love it... but no one will be indifferent, it's just too wild of a ride to not have an opinion.

Great read. Loved the book and the characters. Kept my interests especially when moving back and forth between the events in the 1800's and the 1980's. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
Doug Scherling