Customer Reviews

Brotherhood of the Tomb

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first Easterman book I had ever read. I too read the whole thing in one sitting. His descriptions bring the setting in the story to life and he maintains a dark sometimes tragic mood throughout the story. The story is captivating and combines the elements of a good spy story with a story of lost love and religious/political intrigue. The protagonist, Patrick Canavan, is taken on a journey that revisits his former career in the CIA, resurrects a past personal tragedy, and injects mystery that ties the two together. I wish his books were more available--but this one is definitely worth a search. Easterman has moved up my list of favorite authors. If you enjoy this one, The Judas Testament will satisfy you as well.

This is one of only two books I have read cover to cover without putting down, much to the neglect of family, friends and everything else. Eat a big meal, grab a tall glass of water, get comfortable in your favorite chair with the light just right, and ENJOY!

I am just now reading Dan Brown's book. Yes, the plot twists are different, but they share a thread wherein the very core of Christian belief is threatened. Whether Mary Magdalene or James the Just, I happen to believe the implied relationships in these books are credible. Anyhow, I thought this book a great read. And, now I'll see if Brown's as good as they say...

Well, this was just brilliant. Sure, the story is dark and at times depressing, but the classic lone struggle against dark forces turns what could have been a pedestrian undertaking in to a gripping and at times qute moving story of love and, ultimately, loss.

I'm sorry this book is out-of-print. It is an incredible story combining philsophical truism with international espionage. If you ever see it in a used bookstore -- pick it up. You won't regret it.

The Brotherhood is dark, depressing, and creepy as a tomb, more religious horror than religious thriller. Easterman offers the same take on Christianity as Dan Brown, but I feel that Easterman is the better writer.

Unlike Brown, Easterman refuses to pretend to be historically correct, which is honest. More admirably, Easterman depicts the world as it would be were the premise of his novel correct. Brown faces the abyss with a smile because he seems to have little clue about the moral/existential consequences of his vision; Easterman does not display an iota of optimism, and given the plot of his novel, he is right.

The writer Easterman reminds me most of is Lovecraft: both authors share a specific vision of the universe, and perhaps because of that, both excel at depicting the terror of that universe.

Another excellent novel from Easterman, who deserves more fame than he has since he is a superb writer. Here, the story concerns a secret, 12th-century society formed to destroy the church and assassinate the Pope by using their secret which involves the finding of a tomb with the remains of Jesus. An ex-CIA agent gets caught in all of this and along with a priest tries to solve this religious conspiracy. Thrilling and frightening, a great thriller.

I rarely read a book twice but this one I have just read for a third time. It is an international thriller to the greatest degree. I have since read all of the author's other books but I still like this one the best.

This is a great thriller and the details are uncanny. This is much better and more compelling than Brown's DaVinci code. I would like to know how much Brown was influenced by Easterman. It's a testament to mediocrity that Brown achieved fame, which eludes Easterman. I really have not found better in the religious/historical conspiracy/thriller genre than Easterman.

The Brotherhood of the Tomb - Daniel Easterman (1989)

Here's a modern example of the secret society trope. It can't really be discussed without spoiling the plot, so I won't. But call it "theological horror" if you like.

I have to hand it to him, it's a great idea. (Essentially it's a version of "a conspiracy at the heart of Christianity".) It's crazy as all get-out, but a great idea. The problem with this book is that the story itself can't contain the idea, it's clichéd as all hell, complete with "I thought she was lost but now she's found" and "terrible plot averted at the last minute" and "crazy powerful guy as leader" and people behaving stupidly just because it's convenient for the plot and last minute escapes and all that kind of stuff. It's so corny and hackneyed in the presentation, in fact, that one is forced to wonder if it was always meant as just some kind of sugar-coating to cough down the pill of the idea. And if that's the case, if Easterman on some level BUYS his notion (not so much that it's True, but that something like it might be true, or that the Catholic Church is capable of things like that, or that the truth of Christianity is unpleasant, or whatever), then he has a real problem, `cause that's some wacky stuff he's talking about here.