A Skeleton in God's Closet [Paperback]

Paul L. Maier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 2005

An ancient skeleton is discovered in Israel - will it shed new light on the life of Jesus or plunge the world into darkness and chaos?

Dr. Jonathan Weber, Harvard professor and biblical scholar, is looking forward to his sabbatical year on an archaeological dig in Israel. But a spectacular find that seems to be an archaeologist's dream-come-true becomes a nightmare that could be the death rattle of Christianity.

Carefully researched and compellingly written, A Skeleton in God's Closet explores the tension between doubt and faith, science and religion, and one man's determination to find the truth--no matter what the cost.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Paul Maier is a professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University. He holds degrees from Harvard University and Concordia Seminary. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including Pontius Pilate. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595540024
• ISBN-13: 978-1595540027
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Stimulating and Provocative Read., December 26, 2000

By 

"zakvta" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Skeleton in God's Closet (Paperback)

This is the first book I read in the genre 'Theological Thriller'. The book represented the world really well. It depicted one way the world could react to the discovery of Jesus' bones. It was an intense read at times forcing me away from sleep to continue another chapter. I enjoyed the book thoroughly except for one thing, the romance. There was a relationship between the main character and another character that seemed out of place and a bit forced. This was a pretty minor thing though. I just dismissed the relationship as just a vessel for more conflicts and complications to intensify the situations. I give it a 4 out of 5 because there were some instances where it was slow but they were pretty slight, but this combined with the relationship brought it down a little. As I said, overall I love the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good, captivating read!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Premise but Weak Writing, November 4, 2005

By 

Wendell Henderson (AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Skeleton in God's Closet: A Novel (Hardcover)

I was urged to read "A Skeleton in God's Closet" by a co-worker whose opinion I respect so I decided to give it a try. The plot drew me in and I was impressed by Dr Maier's obvious knowledge of archaeology, the Middle East, and Biblical scholarship. He created a plausible scenario and I found the central mystery to be quite a page-turner.

It's a good thing that the story is good because the writing is pretty bad. The dialogue is laughable at times and there are frequent instances where Maier, when his characters are in a bind, simply tosses logic out the window and has a high-level official somewhere clear such obstacles as traveling without a passport or gaining access to a particular building. There is one entire sequence involving swimming the Dead Sea that is almost beyond belief, no matter how much you try to suspend it.

But the most painful part of the book is the romance. Dr. Maier clearly has significant academic credentials but, on the evidence of this book, he is not capable of writing believable dialogue between two people falling in love. There were times when I almost laughed out loud, such as the romp around the Sea of Galilee when our two lovebirds first declare their affection for one another. I was reminded of nothing so much as the scene between Leslie Neilsen and Priscilla Presley in "Naked Gun" when they frolicked to the warblings of Herman's Hermits.

I gave the book three stars on the basis of the story; it is strong enough to warrant your time. Focus on it and the central mystery; try to tolerate the grating dialogue, remarkable plot contrivances, and the worst romantic subplot since whatever James Patterson wrote last.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can you challenge your faith?, February 11, 2000

By 

Duston Barto (Hickory, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Skeleton in God's Closet (Paperback)

Then read this book! I loved the overwheming sense of reality that Maier portrays here. From cover to cover I was deeply enveloped within the story, engrossed in each character and deeply moved emotionally by every upset and twist and turn. When someone died I actually shed tears! I gasped with shock aloud at many points! The only reason I allowed it to loose a star is because at times I found the precise Technical explanations of the archaology extremely tedious and hard to read through, some of them felt like college textbooks; but honestly every bit of it was worth the deep philosophical questions asked! Would this change your faith? Can the world adapt to such a severe shift in perception? Incredible realism, images painted more vividly than most movies can even begin! I think anyone who enjoys a deeply rooted mystery, a spiritual journey, or a deeply introspective search would thoroughly enjoy this book! Or even if you just want a good fast-paced page turner to cozy up with on an otherwise lazy afternoon. Remember: action, discovery, mystery, romance, and philosophy all with one whack!