Saving the Light of Justice

 Saving the Light of Justice, Barry Nadel, Independently Published, 2021

In part 2 of a series, three members of an Israeli archaeological expedition are stuck in solitary confinement in a Spanish prison. International economic and media pressure force the king to pardon them. They almost don't make it out of prison alive.

A senior member of the Spanish Government wants to lure Yoshua, leader of the expedition, back to Spain, to label him as a terrorist, and to kill him. A pair of elderly Hoshiyans (kind of like a secret society) save Yoshua from an ambush. There is an action-packed shootout, where Yoshua captures the senior government official. Yoshua gets the chapel back, and its priceless artifacts. The excavating continues, while the Vatican would like the thing to quickly go away.

This book is a little less Wow! than part 1, but it is still an excellent story. It's more of an emotional book, as the Israelis deal with what they found in a sealed room inside the Spanish chapel (it involves the Spanish Inquisition). There is enough action here for anyone, and this book cannot easily be put down. It easily gets 5 stars.

Seeking the Light of Justice

 Seeking the Light of Justice: The Hoshiyan Chronicles I, Barry Nadel, Agrosearch, 2020

First of a series, this novel is about Yoshua Rosenberg, archaeology professor in present-day Israel, and former member of the Israeli military. In his travels, in an ancient book, he finds a title page for the Hoshiyan Chronicles. It specifically mentions something called the Light of Justice. Rosenberg is beyond shocked. This is not family folklore; it is more like a sacred duty to be constantly on the lookout for any such evidence.

The focus shifts to a 500-year-old nothing of a church in southern Spain. The Israelis set up a full-fledged archaeological expedition. Interesting things are found, including high-quality, colored marble tiles in strange shapes and patterns. It was hidden under several layers of paint, sand and other lesser-quality tiles. In a sealed room, inside the church, they make a horrifying discovery (it involves the Spanish Inquisition). The Vatican pressures the Spanish government to immediately shut down the site. The Israelis get evidence of "it" out to the public, creating a worldwide political and media firestorm. Most of the group gets back to Israel safely. But, three members are arrested, including Rosenberg, and tossed into prison, in solitary confinement. The Spanish Government won't be too upset if they should suffer an "untimely demise" while in prison.

This is a gem of a book. It's got a bit of science fiction, long-ago history, centuries-old religious coverups and some very good writing. I don't say this very often, but, I am very much looking forward to Part 2.