Premonition: A Novel
Author: Randall Ingermanson
Genre: Time-travel suspense
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2003
ISBN: 0310247055
Series Info: Book 2 of 3 in the City of God series. See also Transgression and Retribution.
Summary: A time-traveling archaeology student learns that the only thing worse than not knowing the future is . . . knowing the future.
Awards and Honors for Premonition:
- "Best Historical Novel of 2003" by San Diego Book Awards Association
- "Book of the Year, Long Historical Category" by American Christian Romance Writers
Sample Chapters: Click here for sample chapters
Synopsis of Premonition
An extraordinary stone box was recently discovered in Jerusalem -- the bone-box of "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." A great deal of controversy surrounds this box. Is it authentic or . . . a grand forgery? One thing is certain. There really was a man named James, son of Joseph. He was the brother of Jesus and he headed the Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem in the middle part of the first century. He was a holy man, a courageous man, an ill-fated man. This is his story . . .
It's the year A.D. 57 and Jerusalem teeters on the brink of revolt against Rome. James, leader of the Jewish Christian community, has an enemy in high places. And two very strange friends . . .
Rivka Meyers is a Messianic Jewish archaeologist from California, trapped in first-century Jerusalem by a physics experiment gone horribly wrong. Rivka would love to go home, but she can't. As the next best thing, she means to fix up the world she's in. Which should be easy. Blessed with a photographic memory, Rivka knows exactly what's going to happen in the next years. And she intends to make things right. If you know a disaster is coming and you do nothing, you're guilty, right? But maybe it's not so easy . . .
Ari Kazan is Rivka's husband, an Israeli physicist whose genius got him and Rivka stuck here in the first place. Ari is slowly coming to grips with his Jewish heritage -- and with a man named Jesus he was raised to hate. Ari is grappling with what he calls the Problem of Evil, a problem so large that he's convinced even God has no answer for it. Great evil lies ahead for his people, but Ari is convinced the future cannot be changed. He knows it with certainty and it terrifies him. Yet sometimes the scariest things are those you don't even seen coming . . .
Hanan ben Hanan is a Sadducee, a chief priest and the captain of Temple, a no-nonsense man who sees the nation falling into the abyss of chaos, of messianic foolishness, of following after magicians and false prophets and other evil-doers. Hanan wants desperately to prevent Rome from taking the opportunity to destroy the Temple and the nation he loves. He will do anything -- anything -- to protect them. And those who attempt to lead Jerusalem astray must . . . face the wrath of Hanan.
Rivka knows that an illegal trial and execution awaits James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. Can she prevent this disaster? Will James believe her "premonition"? Or is Ari right that Rivka's meddling in history will only . . . make matters worse?
Reviews of Premonition
Romantic Times: Top Pick! "Randall Ingermanson captivates his readers from his first riveting scene to the last, leaving us satisfied yet eager for more. Fast-paced, thought-provoking, sometimes shocking, this superbly researched novel delivers the tight plotting and deep characterization readers have come to expect from this author. His best yet."
CBA Marketplace: "Ingermanson is a computational physicist with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics who writes like a Jewish historian telling an adventure story that make Indiania Jones look tame by comparison. For anyone who liked Michael Crichton's Timeline or likes historical fiction or just plain good writing, Premonition is a must-read."
Christian Fiction Review: "All in all, I've never read a more convincing portrayal of this time period. In fact, this story covers events that are usually not touched upon in most historical fiction. Very captivating. Both the structure and the ending of Premonition imply that the story is not yet over. I, for one, can't wait for the next chapter. Highly Recommended."
Amazon reader: "Premonition keeps us turning the pages by showing us realistic characters facing very contemporary struggles of faith. The last fifty pages are beautiful and heart-wrenching. If you have an interest in messianic Judaism, this book is a must. If not, Premonition will stir your soul."
Endorsements for Premonition
Lisa Samson, author of The Church Ladies: "Traveling back in time to first-century Chrstianity with Randy Ingermanson is a delight indeed . . . He provided a dynamic reading experience you won't find anywhere else in Christian fiction today."
Brandilyn Collins, best-selling author of Eyes of Elisha: "Premonition is an imaginative and compelling read."
Sylvia Bambola, author of Refiner's Fire: "Premonition firmly establishes Randall Ingermanson as a first-class storyteller and makes you hope he won't keep you waiting too long for the next one."
Kathleen Morgan, author of Consuming Fire: "Be prepared for an intense spell-binding journey into first-century Jerusalem and the lives of its Christian and Jewish inhabitants. The characters are consistently well-drawn and compelling, their personal and spiritual conflicts authentically heart-wrenching."
