Babylon Rising

Dr. Michael Murphy, prominent archaeologist, is drawn to the Middle East in search of Noah's Ark and the ancient Philosophers' Stone. The global plot to take over the world and kill Christians, with its blatant salvation message, makes for a poorly plotted, contrived, and preachy novel. The author portrays Murphy as an Indiana Jones knock-off, fearless and hard-driving, but Jason Culp's delivery does not match the action. Culp handles a multiplicity of characters, with a variety of ages and genders, but the overall delivery sounds old and tired. The cliff-hanger ending leaves the listener feeling betrayed. It's all very disappointing from the likes of Tim LaHaye. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine