Publication Date: March 14 2015
Amika Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback
256 Pages

Genre: Archeological Adventure/Thriller/Mystery

On a hill overlooking the Aegean Sea in Turkey, an international team of archeologists discovers a stone box that first-century Jews used to rebury their dead. The box’s Aramaic inscription: Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Sophia Altay, the beautiful French-Turkish archeologist who heads the team, tries to keep the discovery secret until she can authenticate the ossuary. She knows that people will kill to obtain the relics—and to suppress the box’s other contents, documents that could alter Western history.

Joseph Travers, an American sent to Turkey to evaluate the archeological dig, soon finds himself pulled into the web of betrayal, reprisal, and violence. In his journey through Istanbul’s mosques and palaces, the archeological sites around ancient Ephesus, and, ultimately, the strange and mystical terrain of Cappadocia, he comes to understand the epochal meaning of the bone box.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | AMIKA PRESS

Excerpts

Excerpt 1: Uncovering the Ossuary
Excerpt 2: The Curtain Wall
My review:

Five Stars

Copy received from Bookjunkies Book Promotions for an honest review.

First, I have to confess that I did not anticipate liking this book as much as I did. I can't think of a single thing that I did not like about this book. First, a fantastic plot! An unearthed stone box thought to house the bones of Jesus. I mean, wow! I had no idea about the traditions of stone boxes and I learned this and so many other things that I did not know. Second, an equally fantastic heroine- Sophia Altay. I can't love her more! She was an interesting heroine, and a huge part of why I loved this book. Third, Joseph Travers. I really enjoyed both these characters individually and when they were together. Their dynamic was fantastic. The pacing of the story was perfect. I was able to learn new information that would become vital to the storyline but not feel overburdened with it. It was wonderfully suspenseful and captivating at the same time. I really enjoyed and highly recommend this fascinating story of discovery and adventure.

Praise for Bone Box

"A…well-written, fast-paced thriller that follows in the footsteps of The Da Vinci Code and Indiana Jones." —Kirkus Reviews

“Will mystify, entrance, enthrall and captivate readers.” —Fran Lewis, Just Reviews

“Politics, religion, sexuality, culture, deceit, greed, and prejudices turn this thriller into a page-turner.…The stories within the story demand attention and remind us that one event can be perceived rightly or wrongly from several perspectives.” —T.B. Markinson, Self-Publishing Review

“A reflective thriller that will leave you catching your breath while illuminating your own sense of connection with our shared past.” —Michele Fitzpatrick, Author, The Women’s Center

Praise for Jay Amberg’s novels

“Jay Amberg takes his place among the elite of this country’s suspense-adventure authors.” —Clive Cussler, for Deep Gold

“A taut thriller that will…elate readers. Brilliant.” —Midwest Book Review, for Blackbird Singing

“The final recovery scenes in the face of a raging hurricane deliver true high seas drama.” —Publishers Weekly, for Doubloon

“An inspiring call to action…” —Kirkus Reviews, for Cycle

About the Author

Jay Amberg is the author of eleven books. He received a BA from Georgetown University and a PhD from Northwestern University. He has taught high school and college students since 1972.

His latest book, Bone Box, is now available from Amika Press. Amberg has also published Cycle, America’s Fool, Whale Song, and compiled 52 Poems for Men. Cycle, a novel giving unique voice to the world’s environmental crisis, is the winner of a 2013 Independent Publisher Living Now Book Award.

Prior to Amika Press, Amberg published thriller novels Doubloon (Forge), Blackbird Singing (Forge) and Deep Gold (Warner Books).

Among his books on teaching are School Smarts and The Study Skills Handbook, published by Good Year. Amberg wrote The Creative Writing Handbook (Good Year) with Mark Henry Larson and Verbal Review and Workbook for the SAT (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich) with Robert S Boone.

For more information and to contact Jay Amberg, please visit his website.

You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.