Review of A Lever Long Enough by Amy Deardon

Time travel has always been a concept that fascinates me. The idea of living in the past, the good old days, has sounded appealing on more than one occasion.

Amy Deardon’s book, A Lever Long Enough, incorporates the use of time travel with enough scientific knowledge, technology, and historical fact to make the reader imagine it could really happen. However, the main theme of the story is the mission of the time travelers, a military team sent to film the theft of Jesus body from the grave, thereby disproving the resurrection story and destroying the faith basis for “followers of the way”.

For a crucial period of 72 hours, the four team members must adapt to a culture of long ago while concealing the technology at their disposal in order to survive and accomplish their goal. Ben Feinan, captain of the team, faces the challenges of command while struggling with his feelings for Sara, who he has reason to believe might be a traitor to their mission. Meanwhile, in the present, a ruthless saboteur raises havoc on the Israeli military base.

Amy Deardon guides the reader skillfully through a maze of past and present, melding the two in a tale packed with suspense, adventure, romance, and intrigue. The well-developed characters enrich the fast-paced, action-packed plot of this superbly written novel.

The story reflects the author’s scientific knowledge as well as the doubts and questions she herself has faced about the Christian faith. The movement of the characters in ancient Jerusalem is well researched and depicts the culture of the time period. A compelling sequence of events keeps the reader turning pages and leads to a dramatic ending that poses more questions.

Will this author follow her debut novel with an equally satisfying sequel? I hope so!

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