Review: "Serpent of Moses" by Don Hoesel

Reviewed by *Katie McCurdy for Legacy of a Writer

4/5 Stars

THE BOOK:

Moses built and lifted up the brass serpent, healing the afflicted Israelites of snakebites.

King Hezekiah called the serpent Nehushtan. Long thought destroyed, it's been buried for millennia, secreted under the region's shifting sands.

Now the Israeli government wants it back and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Yet they're not the only ones who covet the Nehushtan.

Archaeologist Jack Hawthorne travels to Libya intent on recovering the sacred object, but one does not cross the Mossad and expect to walk away without a fight. Jack and his friends must find the priceless "snake of brass upon a pole" before those who are also hunting it find them...and silence them forever.

MY REVIEW:

Serpent of Moses was my first read by Don Hoesel, though I own two of his previous books. And after such a good experience I will definitely be reading them in the near future! As I saw another reviewer compare, this book does put you in mind of an Indian Jones movie. What’s not to like, right?!!

Jack Hawthorne was a one-of-a-kind type of guy! While it was easy for me to grow to like him, I couldn’t help but laugh at a few of his antics—such as the ability to sit back, relax (or even sleep) no matter the situation. Esperanza, Romero, and Duckey made awesome “sidekicks” for him and, really, with a guy like Jack, he needs them!

The people hunting for the staff against these characters were formidable. I loved how Hoesel gave us a peak into their operations by having several scenes from either Bouyfayed, Imolene, or Templeton’s point of view. The plot, as a whole, was very well done. Things began at a rather suspenseful and climatic moment and—to my surprise and delight—Hoesel kept it steadily climbing till the end of Serpent of Moses.

The main reason I didn’t give Serpent of Moses5 stars would be because of the writing. It was different then I was used to and there were a few scenes were I became confused because of the way things were written. I had to reread it for clarity. But, really, that might just be me—and it wasn’t to such a severe degree that it inhibited my experience in this book.

This newest release of Hoesel’s was a very easy read—the suspense and action pushing me effortlessly from one scene to the next. The cast of characters were easy to get to know and become endeared to. And the whole "hunt for the serpent" was intriguing! So to sum it all up, a very engaging and enjoyable read!!

* I reviewed this book for the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. Thanks to the publishers, Bethany House, for sending me a review copy. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.