Audiobook14 hours
The Last Ember
Written by Daniel Levin
Narrated by Jeff Woodman
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
A search for a priceless artifact stolen from the Second Temple in Jerusalem becomes a race against time, terrorism, politics, and the past.Jonathan Marcus is a promising young archeologist studying at the American Academy in Rome when a terrible accident results in a fellow student's death and Jonathan's expulsion. He abandons archeology for the law, becoming a skillful advocate for unscrupulous antiquities dealers.When Jonathan's firm sends him to Rome to discredit the testimony of a prominent U.N. antiquities official, a chance reunion leads to a hunt for the legendary Tabernacle Menorah: solid gold, eight feet high, stolen 2,000 years ago and never recovered. As Jonathan and his friend scour Rome's ancient sites for hints to its whereabouts, they quickly realize they are not alone and the precious menorah is a key to controlling history itself.
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Reviews for The Last Ember
Rating: 4.428571428571429 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
14 ratings8 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A fast paced and interesting book going into depth on the subject of Jewish and Roman history. A well developed plot and "alive" characters made a sometime implausible story live a bit more believable. It will be interesting to see what the author does in succeeding books.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you enjoy thrillers that include history, culture, and religion, set in stunning locales of both Italy and Jerusalem, I highly recommend Daniel Levin's The Last Ember.Daniel Levin has created an anxious page-turning thrill ride through legends and rumors, faith and culture, and it's one that I absolutely could not put down. The Last Ember -- it will not disappoint.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed the book. It was a fun read, kind of like a roller coaster. The believability factor was a little difficult to swallow. It seemed the characters went days without food or sleep. But other than that, I enjoyed the ride.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Daniel Levin writes like he's sitting next to you telling you a story around a camp fire. The characters are very genuine and belivable. My only complaint is that it took so long to understand what was going on.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Daniel Levin’s debut novel is a mixed bag. It has a lot of problems, but nonetheless, I see enough promise in this first novel to encourage me that there will be better things to come.The Last Ember opens with attorney Jonathan Marcus arriving rather abruptly in Rome. Given his background in archeology and classics, he’s been summoned by the firm to consult on a case regarding an artifact of questionable provenance. Jonathan hasn’t been back to Italy since he was drummed out of the American Academy following a tragic incident. Suddenly, his past is coming back to haunt him, as it is one of his former friends and classmates opposite him on the witness stand.Jonathan is a talented lawyer and performs his job well, albeit with reservations. He has found a clue in the disputed artifact, something no one else seems to have discovered. Unable to let sleeping dogs lie, Jonathan starts down a path that leads him straight to his recent legal adversary, Dr. Emili Travia. Soon the two realize they are on the same side as they hunt down clues to the Tabernacle Menorah, the eight-foot solid gold menorah from King Herod’s court, lost for millennia.All such chases have obstacles, and in The Last Ember, baddies abound. Unfortunately, the revelation of their identities, both named and unnamed, were ridiculously anticlimactic. I mean, if you can’t figure out the identity of “Salah-al-din” before the reveal, I’ll, I’ll… revoke your library card! A lot of the “surprises” were well telegraphed ahead of time. Another problem with the novel was that Levin has succumbed to some very convenient plotting. Need to find a person with a highly specialized skill set? One of the protagonists knows just the person! Need to escape the country as a fugitive? I’ve already got a flight lined up! The two protagonists never make a misstep as they untangle clues that have defied scholars and treasure hunters for centuries—but that’s good, because the bad guys and the carabinieri are just as adept at solving ancient puzzles and are hot on their trail.What does Levin get right? Well, I, for one, really liked the way he blended the Jewish and Christian elements of this tale in interesting ways. It’s unfortunate that the Muslims are the villains (though by no means are all of the Muslim characters villainous), but that’s the reality of the stories being told at this point in our history. (And that’s not a spoiler, BTW.) Had the Catholic Church been the bad guys, that would have been equally clichéd. If it had been the Jews, well, let’s not go there.Quite possibly my favorite thing about this novel was the way he really brought Rome and Jerusalem to life. Levin did an excellent job when describing the ubiquitous ruins found in both places, and the way they blend in with contemporary life. I was fascinated with how ancient civilizations literally built right on top of the ruins of what came before, and the underground sequences were marvelously atmospheric!I think Levin does a really nice job with the secondary characters, with the unfortunate side effect of having the two protagonists appear to be somewhat bland. His prose is fine, and he’s very good with pacing. It’s not a short book, but Levin kept the pages turning speedily. And overall, it’s a fun story he’s telling. There’s a lot of interesting history and scholarship. Levin is also making a serious comment on historic revisionism. I can be a very critical reader, but I can’t deny that there was fun to be had reading this novel. Despite a flawed debut, I’ll be willing to check out whatever Levin comes up with next. I think he has real potential.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Daniel Levin has concocted a wonderful blend of biblical history, interesting characters, and an intriguing plot in The Last Ember.Fans of The DaVinci Code will appreciate this story about the quest for the Tabernacle Menorah, the menorah with the eternal flame.Two groups of seekers--one group dedicated to preserving the menorah--the other to destroying it--lead the reader through Israel and Rome in search of the artifact.Ancient cities below existing cities, through aqueducts and synagogues, Daniel Levin takes us on a journey and gives us the opportunity to experience a rich taste of history. A recommended read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a journey. I was pulled along through over 2000 years of history in the most exciting, non stop manner!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A fast paced and interesting book going into depth on the subject of Jewish and Roman history. A well developed plot and "alive" characters made a sometime implausible story live a bit more believable. It will be interesting to see what the author does in succeeding books.