(Originally posted on 5/28/13 as "Touching . . . The Judgment Stone")
Robert Liparulo is a master at writing thrillers. He's also my friend. We haven't seen each other in years, and he's so busy we rarely email anymore, but one thing never changes: he's a treasured friend. So it's always a pleasure – and a privilege – to read and review his work. The Judgment Stone is his latest release, Book Two in The Immortal Files, published by Thomas Nelson.
As I've said before, this fantastical supernatural adventure series is not normally in my reading repertoire, but if Robert writes it, I'm reading it. This series began with The Thirteenth Tribe, introducing us to a gang of immortals cursed with life on earth through the centuries since they celebrated around the golden calf in Moses' absence while receiving the stone tablets from God. In the first book Jagger Baird, his wife Beth, and his young son Tyler agree to travel to Egypt for a job so Jagger can recover from losing his left arm, where a tough metal prosthetic arm with a hook now resides, and the death of a family who'd been close friends, in a fatal car crash back in the states. Jagger was to provide security for an archaelogical dig close to an ancient monastery where interesting monks do more than maintain the buildings. It's a paradise for Tyler who explores the monastery's many tunnels and monk cells and learns amazing history from certain monks.
I don't want to ruin that story for newcomers to the series, so suffice it to say The Tribe we meet in the first book is back with their leader Neveah who once again wishes to capture Beth but for a different reason. Before The Tribe's venture is in full swing, the monastery is attacked by a grisly ghoulish bunch, perhaps more dangerous than The Tribe. After the onslaught of evil perpetrated by this group leaves several dead monks and a severely injured Oliver who's in charge of the dig, Jagger is informed as to the identities of these marauders. Like The Tribe, these more sinister individuals are known as The Clan because they too celebrated the calf but instead of regret for their ancient actions, they're on a hate-filled mission to destroy all they can, especially those who worship God. But they need something to do it well, and they arrive at the monastery to retrieve it. The immortal who goes by Owen is summoned for assistance and direction as to how to retrieve the special stone which was stolen during the attack.
When the powers belonging to the stone are known, Jagger partially understands why he must join Owen in getting it back, but he's torn about leaving his family again. Knowing he must go, he bids his tearful family goodbye and he and Owen fly away without a concrete plan. Total and brutal mayhem await them from the time they land in one place to the time they land in another, aided by a salvaged broken piece of what The Clan stole.
Jagger Baird has missing centuries from his memory ever since the car accident. New revelations begin to return to him in spurts in this second installment, and one of them is also revealed to Tyler unexpectedly. Beth proves heroic and resourceful in her endeavors to protect her son from The Tribe while far far away Jagger and Owen attempt to take down The Clan and retrieve the stone.
Anyone who's read Robert's novels knows to expect plenty of threats, trouble, and trauma. The Judgment Stone fills the pages with them but not without moments of extraordinary emotional content. I admit, sap that I am, parts of Chapters 94, 95, and 96 had me crying.
The Thirteenth Tribe and The Judgment Stone are Robert Liparulo's unique-to-him versions of what Frank Peretti began in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. Spiritual warfare at the highest and lowest levels race through the pages of The Judgment Stone while Jagger worries, rants, and wonders why God does what He does – or perhaps why He doesn't do what Jagger thinks He should. It's the age old conundrum of questioning why God allows such evil to seemingly reign on earth, and it keeps this protagonist at arm's length even when He sees the evidence of God's miraculous interference. If there is a "weakness" in this story for me – and I use that term more as a personal preference rather than a commentary on the writing – it's Jagger's constant refusal to acknowledge God's presence and intervention even after experiencing it.
Readers will travel with Jagger and Owen who must figure out a way to protect unsuspecting potential victims while back at the monastery, and unbeknownst to Jagger, Beth and Tyler and the amazing Father Leo battle for their lives against indestructible forces.
The final chapters of The Judgment Stone ratchet up the excitement factor and come to a satisfying and meaningful conclusion with plenty of conflict awaiting the next book in The Immortal Files. For maximum enjoyment I highly recommend readers start with The Thirteenth Tribe and proceed to The Judgment Stone. Fascinating novels with high-tech action while presenting thoughtful spiritual questions.
Father, bless my friend Robert in every way with your abundance. Please lead him on the path you designed just for him and pour out your Spirit upon him as he travels it with gusto. Keep him and his family safe from all harm and please surround them with your ministering spirits. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
