Review: "The Scroll" by Grant R Jeffrey and Alton L Gansky

"The Scroll" by Grant R Jeffrey and Alton L Gansky

Product description (Text from the back of the book): Dr. David Chambers, leading archaeologist, has spent his professional career uncovering the facts in the artifacts. His work sets the standard for biblical research in the Holy Land. But surrounded by the evidence, David has sunk into an abyss of doubt. A painful experience with a seemingly unresponsive God has left him without hope. The Old Testament scriptures that used to fill his mind with wonder now drive him to frustration. His unanswered questions have ripped him from both his academic pursuits and the love of his life, his fiancée, Amber.
An old friend and mentor reaches out to David, enticing him with the riches described in the enigmatic Copper Scroll. Losing ground with his peers, his love, and his faith, David Chambers has a choice to make. Will he undertake one final dig to unlock a secret that could alter the course of history? Do the mysteries of the Old Testament hold the key to the political turmoil of the Middle East?
In a world where faith has been eclipsed by the allure of doubt, The Scroll offers a different journey: a gripping adventure to find truth worth dying for.

Review:
The marketing text on the back of the book is almost more interesting than the book itself. If I had to summarize the book in one phrase, it would be "Rip-off of Joel Rosenberg's The Copper Scroll (Political Thrillers Series #4)". Except, Joel Rosenberg is a better writer. Mr. Jeffrey and Mr. Gansky have only one character with any depth... the rest are sloppy, shallow caricatures. The plot rushes and halts unevenly, and then at the end uses a jump of several years to allow some meager wrap-up of plot lines. When the plot halts suddenly, it's because some character needs to suddenly give a multi-page monologue/lecture about archeology, history, or the significance of something Biblical. And these lectures are delivered to the most random characters: one to a airplane pilot, one to a security guard, and then (most ridiculous of all) the group of world-renowned experts lecture EACH OTHER. Along the way, the main character does the usual expected stuff: re-finds his faith, finds amazing treasure, and gets the girl. You can even spot the "surprise" double-crossing bad-guy within the first 20 pages. I adore the genre of thriller fiction that is related to end times and to the Ezekiel prophecies, but don't waste your time on this book. Instead, read or re-read the Joel Rosenberg series.

FTC Disclaimer: "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."