The Bell Messenger: Book One

By Robert Cornuke

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416549811
• ISBN13: 9781416549819
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Howard Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Exciting Read

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

Awesome book!

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.

The Bell Messenger

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.

The Bell Messenger

One of the top 10 novels that I have ever read. I could hardly put it down.

The Bell Messenger

Bob Cornuke has exploded into fiction with this book. There's a rather intense history lesson about the Chinese slave trade, suspense and the high adventure of a treasure-hunt--all intermixed with archeology. It's not what you'd expect (considering that it involves a Bible), since it's far removed from "the typical 'religious'" book. The plot--as it follows the journey of a Civil-War-era Bible and the lives it impacts--is so compelling that it could prove to be the beginning of an exciting series. I found myself wanting more!