Date published: June 2010
ISBN: 978-1416589143
Thriller, Action Adventure, Historical Fiction
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Obtained via: Publisher
American born and raised, Sam Deker is now a member of the Israel Defense Forces (“IDF”). The death of his beloved fiancé, Rachel, a few years past still tears at him. Life has little meaning yet he plods along, taking on his missions with grim determination. His latest mission takes him to the Temple Mount, known as the most contested religious site in the world. He’s come to test the security of the site and the secrets that lay beneath the Dome of the Rock. He completes the closely timed assignment only to find himself captured by an Arab splinter group. Taken with him is his immediate superior, Uri Elezar. Deker resists the torture the terrorists heap on him and finds a way for both Elezar and himself to escape. The pair flee to cross the Jordan River, but what they find on the other side isn’t quite what they anticipated.
Now, confronted by an unexpected army, Deker is forced to recreate the fall of the walls of Jericho. While not the best student of Biblical history, there are parts of the story he knows, events that happened, things that must be done and Deker has the knowledge and tools to complete the task. What he doesn’t expect is what seems almost like a second chance to save Rachel’s life. Elezar alternately tests, assists and torments Deker. Determined to save the Israelis and the woman who reminds him of Rachel, Deker takes on the battle. What he finds at the end is so stunningly momentous that his entire world is rocked.
But can the world survive his discovery?
I was no way prepared for Thomas Greanias’ THE PROMISED WAR. As I came to the end of each chapter I was stopped in my tracks at the twists and turns the story was taking. While the book is billed as a Thriller, it is so much more. It is an action adventure, a historical fiction, a military action, and even a bit of a romantic suspense.
Having read and enjoyed Mr. Greanias’ first three books on the Atlantis legacy, I thought and hoped this would be yet another adventure for Conrad Yeats. It isn’t;. Not directly, but there is a thread woven into the story that leaves one hoping there will be more “Deker” stories to be told.
While I am not well versed in or really a fan of old testament history, I know bits and pieces and find it interesting. Mr. Greanias brings the era and its impact on today’s world to life in a well told story. My jaw dropped when I first read where Deker and Elezar first end up. It was the last thing I expected until just before the ending. That was a stunner until I read the last paragraph. I had to sit there for a few minutes, replaying some of the scenes and then re-reading the last page. It reminded me a bit of M.J. Rose’s ending in The Reincarnationist. It wasn’t the one I expected but it was the only way the story could end. Brilliantly and cleverly done, I truly hope we see more of Mr. Deker in future stories and that I don’t have to wait long to read them.
THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.
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