Retribution: A Novel
Author: Randall Ingermanson
Genre: Time-travel suspense
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2004
ISBN: 0310247071
Series Info: Book 3 of 3 in the City of God series. See also Transgression and Premonition.
Summary: A time-traveling archaeology student must convince the Jewish-Christian community in Jerusalem to leave the city before the Jewish revolt begins. But will they listen to a woman whose credibility is badly damaged?
Awards and Honors for Retribution:
- Christy Award finalist in historical fiction
- "Book of the Year, Long Historical Category" by American Christian Romance Writers
Sample Chapters: Click here for sample chapters
Synopsis of Retribution
It's the year A.D. 62 and Jerusalem seethes with rage against imperial Rome. James, leader of the Jewish Christian community, has just been executed. But some unlikely and reluctant new leaders are emerging to take his place . . .
Rivka Meyers is a Messianic Jewish archaeologist from California, trapped in first-century Jerusalem by a physics experiment gone horribly wrong. Rivka has resigned herself to the fact that she can never go home. She's stuck here in the worst possible time, and she knows exactly what's going to happen next. Rivka now knows that she can't run ahead of God, trying to change the future. All she wants to do is go somewhere safe. But she is informed by a local prophet that before she can go, she must learn to hear God's voice, to see "beyond the veil" to the Other Side. And Rivka finds opposition from within her own family . . .
Ari Kazan is Rivka's husband, an Israeli physicist whose genius got him and Rivka stuck here in the first place. Ari has narrowly escaped death at the hands of the high priest, and he would love to take Rivka far away. But his friends have other ideas -- they want Ari's physics skills in the service of the City of God. With the machines of war Ari alone can build, they argue, Jerusalem can fight back against Rome and win! They can usher in the age of the messiah. Ari knows better, and yet . . . he is haunted by the death of his father and the knowledge that Good must rise up against Evil. Should he fight -- or turn the other cheek? Ari is not sure, but his best friend believes that he knows . . .
Baruch is a righteous man, a healer, a man gifted to hear from God. Baruch is certain that Rivka is the one ordained to lead the community from Jerusalem. If only she were not a woman, then maybe the people would listen to her! Baruch is convinced that Ari is in great danger if he takes the road of the "men of violence." All the City of God is following after such men, and Ari must stand firm or he will be swept away. And furthermore, Baruch insists that Ari and Rivka must pray for their worst enemy . . .
Hanan ben Hanan is a Sadducee, the high priest who engineered the death of James. Now he has been ousted for his abuse of power, and he blames Ari Kazan and his "witch woman" Rivka. But Hanan has bigger problems. The City of God is suffering under the boot of imperial Rome. A drought burns the province. Unemployment sweeps the streets. The idle king, Agrippa, does little to solve the problems, appointing a sorry succession of high priests who seem powerless to stop the tide of violence. And now Rome has released on Judea an impossible man . . .
Gessius Florus is not merely an incompetent Roman governor. He is intent on squeezing every last dinar out of the dying province and then provoking it to revolt. When a number of young idlers insult Florus and the emperor Nero, Florus seizes his opportunity to exact a stunning retribution . . .
Rivka knows that in the spring of A.D. 66, Governor Florus will murder 3000 Jews in cold blood in the streets of Jerusalem. Can she persuade the followers of Yeshua to leave before it's too late? Will Ari agree to go with her? And what is the meaning of Brother Baruch's words: "Sacrifice releases power."
Reviews of Retribution
Road to Romance: Reviewer's Choice. "Retribution is a feast of plots/themes that include wars, intrigue, romance, suspense among others."
Romantic Times: Four and a half stars (out of five). ". . . Thematically brilliant, this well-crafted and heart-wrenching new installment of the City of God series beckons readers to step into the biblical and historical past. Ari, Rivka, their friends -- and even their enemies -- flow effortlessly off the pages."
Christian Retailing: "This look into the lives of a couple forced to deal with historical events they understand but cannot control provides a fascinating insight into what life was like in the fomrative years of early Christianity. It also is a deeply moving story of a husband and wife struggling to reconcile their own modern-day prejudices with historical truths."
Library Journal: ". . . Ingermanson, a two-time Christy Award winner (for Transgression and Oxygen) proves again that he is one of the best authors of biblical fiction today."
Amazon reader: "This is a page turner! Wonderful story, great characterizations, well-written. Randall Ingermanson is one of the best historical/suspense writers around. ."
Endorsements for Retribution
Kathy Tyers, New York Times Bestselling novelist and author of Shivering World and the Firebird trilogy: "Retribution is a convincing page-turner, full of compelling, distinctly voiced characters. I devoured the book and wished it were longer."
Colleen Coble, author of Without a Trace and Beyond a Doubt: "Only Randy Ingermanson could blend science and riveting historical detail into a fascinating read. The breadth and scope of Randy's knowledge of the lives of first-century Christians is amazing. I loved this book!"
DeAnna Julie Dodson, author of In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed, and To Grace Surrendered: "Retribution, Book Three of Randy Ingermanson's genre-bending City of God series, takes up where Premonition left off -- a perfect blending of science fiction, well-researched first-century history, realistic human drama, and gripping action. Bravo!"
