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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a theological thriller, January 21, 2004
This review is from: More Than a Skeleton: It Was One Man Against the World. (Hardcover)
This is the most original and thought-provoking work of Christian fiction since C.S. Lewis wrote "The Great Divorce", and the best book I have read in years. I couldn't put it down and stayed up well into the night to finish it on the day I received it. Dr. Maier simply gets better and better as the years go by. This book really puts the reader in the place of the New Testament characters who encountered Jesus and considered his claims. What questions would you have asked Jesus if you had been in Nicodemus' place? Dr. Maier recreates that confrontation in this book when a skeptical historian, Jon Weber gets a personal interview with the man who claims to be the messiah. Its that sort of dynamic which made this book a literal thrill to read. Unlike most writers in the Christian Fiction camp, Dr. Maier is an acclaimed master in his field which is Ancient Roman History. He is one of the most recognized and admired Christian Scholars living. Yet he is also blessed with the rare ability to write an exciting and plausible novel. Just like C.S. Lewis, Dr. Maier is able to write brilliant works within various genres. He has even created 2 new ones, the so-called "Documented Historical Novel" containing "Pontius Pilate" and "The Flames of Rome" and the so-called "Theological Thriller" consisting of "a Skeleton in God's Closet" and now "More than just a Skeleton". Of all 4 works, which I have read many times over, I have to say this newest work was the most intriguing and fun to read.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Theological Thriller--End Times & Christian Judaism, November 8, 2003
This review is from: More Than a Skeleton: It Was One Man Against the World. (Hardcover)
Maier is a favorite of mine. As he demonstrates consistently, he can write and hold our attention by having well researched, layered plot veins, and then wordsmithing them into the mystery attention holder that is fast becoming his reputation with these last two novels. Dr. Jon Weber again becomes the focal point as he seeks to verify the factuality of Joshua Ben-Yosef. For 249 pages one is left in the deepening sense that the eschatological progrosticators want to take us to an intermediate state with Jesus' return. Much like the scheme of Gerzone's bestselling "Joshua" series, however, with the addition of much more reasonable theology, Maier sets Ben-Yosef as a more likely returning Messiah. Almost convinced of his authenticity, Maier suddenly leaps forward with the crack in the case which his loyal reading followers were waiting for, explodes into the work. The intricacy and reasoning behind the conspiracy and its discovery show forth the active, sophisticated and informed intellect of this author. Although I found the final resolve and public disclosure of this solution slightly more "trumped up" than his previous theological thriller with Dr. Weber, it was a riveting and enjoyable read. Interested in the topic readers might check out Philip Jenkins fine work: "Mystics and Messiahs:Cults and New Religions in American History." My only wish for this book would have been the author's resisting interjection of his own opinions concerning the troubles in our synod, i.e. Yankee Stadium comments and overal ecumenical, fellowship slants at times. However, Dr. Maier certainly with his background and accomplishments derservedly has the right to express them. This humble reviewer however expresses his regrets for their inclusion into this fine work dispelling the unbiblical "Last Things" phenomena, which somewhat distracted the overall taste for this otherwise superb fictional work.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, Informative and Refreshing, May 16, 2004
This review is from: More Than a Skeleton: It Was One Man Against the World. (Hardcover)
Paul L. Maier's A SKELETON IN GOD'S CLOSET found theologian Dr. Jonathan Weber involved in an archaeological dig; such a dig opens his latest novel, MORE THAN A SKELETON (with its tag line of "It was one man against the world.") Here, a small but significant find at that dig draws Weber over to Israel and finds him interested in a young man who has begun to captivate the world beyond Jerusalem: Joshua Ben-Yosef, whose personal traits, curriculum vitae and Apostles-like band of followers have already convinced many people that he is The Christ. Maier, a specialist in ancient Rome, is a personally conservative but intellectually liberal academic who has clearly modeled his protagonist on himself: when fundamentalist preacher and television personality Dr. Melvin Merton begins to espouse Ben-Yosef as Christ in his Second Coming, Jon Weber's well-credentialed hackles rise almost instantly. If this really is Jesus, where are His miracles? Where is His death and resurrection? While Shannon Weber seems to fall under Ben-Yosef's spell as her husband doesn't (causing inevitable conflict in their sunny-side-up marriage), Jon waits for Proof. He doesn't have to wait long, since Ben-Yosef starts evincing not just run-of-the-mill miracles, but miracles that nearly replicate those in The Gospels. Water into wine, becalmed seas, and a blind man seeing are all not just run-of-the-mill miracles, but so close to The Gospels that they confirm Ben-Yosef's status for so many people that the world media begins to pay attention --- very, very close attention --- to the man who would be the Messiah. Soon, as his research attempts into Ben-Yosef's past point again and again to the probability of his telling the truth, Weber himself begins to believe. Maier has a brilliant premise for a plot, but his academic execution of pacing, dialogue and setting mean that some readers will drop off before the going gets interesting. Professor Maier has clearly modeled his protagonist on himself, and perhaps his well-credentialed self was well-intentioned --- but Jon Weber speaks stiffly and unnaturally both when he's whispering sweet nothings into Shannon's slightly-too-perfect ear and when he's chatting heartily with his colleagues. On the other hand, sometimes Maier is dead-on accurate and even funny, as when Weber's father tells him that his mother is at a Lutheran ladies' get-together: "I hope the coffee, cookies, and green Jell-O are good!" The plot has its problems, too: it's very hard to believe that in the post-millennium "global village," Ben-Yosef and his merry men would be able to hide out so effectively and so often --- even if he is the real thing, surely Christ walked more often among the people. And unless Maier meant to tip his hand, the interaction between Ben-Yosef and Shannon seems wrong. Nonetheless, MORE THAN A SKELETON is entertaining, informative and refreshing, about as different from the Left Behind series as you can get while still staying within the realm of Christianity and Christian questions. Perhaps Maier will write more thrillers and gain more authority with the elements of suspense writing so that his smart, thoughtful stories will be supported by tight, fresh writing. --- Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
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