Robert Liparulo writes a novel that is engaging, fast-paced and an intriguing and fresh perspective on an age-old legend - immortality. The 13th Tribe is a book that asks reader to believe that anything is possible, and Liparulo makes it easy with his detailed characters and command of story sequence. Woven with mystery throughout, as soon as one question is answered, three more spring up in its place and kept me turning pages until past my bedtime.
The 13th Tribe begins with the idea that a group of Israelites has been punished with immortality for their sin of worshipping the golden calf in the time of Moses. Since then, this group of forty people of all ages has been wandering the earth, searching for a way to end the curse. Using their remarkable knowledge and power that they have gained over the last three thousand years, they have come to believe that ridding the world of evil is the mission God has given them.
The main character, Jagger, has his own demons to battle and has come to a remote archeological dig as a security guard as he tries to piece his life back together. An unavoidable collision between this man and the Tribe's mission brings the reader on a fast-paced ride of intrigue, adventure and mystery.
This book was entertaining and made me think...immortal beings roaming the earth for thousands of years as part of God's curse for their disobedience doesn't really make sense theologically to me. However, I am enough of a conspiracy theorist to leave a tiny margin of possibility, at least enough to allow me to enjoy this book. And enjoy it I did.
