The Bell Messenger

By: Robert Cornuke

Narrated by: Henry Strozier

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 listener 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.

©2008 Robert Cornuke with Alton Gansky (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Loved it!

A unique story that takes you through time. Many stories within the story. Again, I loved it.

Captivating

Listening to Robert Cornuk's "The Bell Messenger" while driving to and from the office each day was a great way to start and end my day. The weaving of the story through several periods of history was well thought-out and engaging. The story ended all too quickly. The narrator, Henry Strozier brought the words to life. My only constructive criticism would be to more carefully record some of the readings as listening to Mr. Stozier breath and swallow can be distracting. Overall - an enjoyable tale.

Nice Historical Fiction

I chose this book specifically for the narrator after listening to him narrate "Goodbye to a River". He did not disappoint.

This story follows a Civil War era Bible that passes through the hands of several people. I found it to be a nice historical fiction novel. It was not too syrupy or preachy. It did put more focus on the book rather than the teachings, but probably would have lost a few readers if it didn't. Sometimes a subtle nudge is more moving than an "in your face" lecture. I felt quite a connection with the first few owners of the Bible, but felt sort of rushed through the owners from Ruth on. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.