The Bone Box

Are there secrets, long hidden, which could prove that Christianity is the one true faith? This tantalizing premise underlies the latest excursion into religious fiction by Hoestetler (American Idols), a pastor-writer. Randall Bullock, an archaeologist who recently lost his wife, agrees to investigate a cave in Israel that turns out to contain not only the bones of Joseph, son of Caiaphas, but also an ancient scroll that appears to verify Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The author knows his ancient history and labors to explain rituals, texts and biblical geography. He develops the Bullock character, making him a believable and sympathetic figure. Other characters, such as Bullock's daughter Tracy and his love interest, Miri Sharon, do not propel the plot forward much at all. The Christian apologetics toward the end seem heavy-handed. Bullock faces a crisis in his own faith as he attempts to convince the world that he has found unquestionable proof that Jesus is indeed the Messiah; the author generates theological questions that will give Christian readers much to contemplate.