The Bell Messenger: A Novel (Paperback)

~ (Author), Alton Gansky (Contributor)
Key Phrases: camel herder, Blue Mike, San Francisco, Uncle Daniel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A suspenseful yet touching story of a Civil war Bible that pops up again and again over a century and shapes the very history of the nation.

This rich and involving historical and archeological thriller begins as a Union soldier, Tate, shoots a Confederate preacher known as the Bell Messenger and is bequeathed a worn Bible by the dying man. Tate's historical narrative parallels the contemporary story of John Brandon, who has just graduated college in 2000 and received the very same Bible, unearthed in a Saudi Arabian cave, as a gift.

The potent history of this book is revealed as Brandon searches for its previous owners, along the way uncovering the existence of a mysterious cache of gold hidden during Old Testament times -- which brings shadowy figures hot on Brandon's heels, hungry for the gold and desperate to learn the new clues he possesses.

As the past and present intertwine, the reader learns that this Bible has passed through many hands over the years. From the Civil War to the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, to the gang wars and the holding of Chinese slaves in nineteenth-century California, to the trenches of World War I, Brandon learns of the lives this Bible has saved, the deaths it has caused, and the history it has changed forever.

About the Author

ROBERT CORNUKE

The president of the Bible Archeological Search and Exploration Institute, Robert Cornuke is an internationally known author and speaker. He has lectured on Bible history around the world more than a thousand times and conducted a Bible study at the White House under special request from the White House staff.

As a former police officer on the Costa Mesa (California) Police Department, Cornuke worked on the SWAT team and as a crime scene investigator. He has led dozens of international Bible research expeditions, including travels to Ethiopia, Israel, Egypt, Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Malta. His research into the archeology of Bible times has resulted in appearances on the History Channel, National Geographic Television, CBS, MSNBC, CBN, Fox, and TBN's Ripley's Believe It or Not.

ALTON L. GANSKY is the author of 20 published novels and 6 nonfiction works. He has been a Christy Award finalist (?A Ship Possessed?) and an Angel Award winner (?Terminal Justice?). He holds a BA and MA in biblical studies. He is a frequent speaker at writer's conferences and other speaking engagements. When not writing his own books, Alton is often retained by publishers to bring his experience to various projects. He has also written video scripts, radio ads, copy and other material for business of all sizes.

Alton brings an eclectic background to his writing having been a firefighter, spent ten years in architecture, twenty-two years in pulpit ministry. He now writes fulltime form his home in southern California where he lives with his wife.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416549811
• ISBN-13: 978-1416549819
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!, January 17, 2009

By	happy customer (IL) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bell Messenger, September 2, 2008

By	K. Orr (Boynton Beach, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Read, August 24, 2009

By	B. Thomas (Garland, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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