Book Review: The Methuselah Project

By Adam Blumer September 21, 2015 Book Review, Books 2 Comments

In World War II, German scientists began many experiments. One never ended.

Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed―until the day he’s shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy.

When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success―but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn’t aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn’t Captain America―just a lousy existence only made passable by a newfound faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger’s sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there’s no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It’s 2015―and the world has become an unrecognizable place.

Katherine Mueller―crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle―offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he’s trying to flee?

Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

About the Author

Rick Barry is the author of Gunner’s Run, another World War II novel, Kiriath’s Quest, and over 200 articles and fiction stories. In addition to being a World War II buff, he is the director of church planting ministries at BIEM, a Christian ministry operating in Eastern Europe. He holds a degree in foreign languages, speaks Russian, and has visited Europe more than fifty times. Rick lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Visit him at facebook.com/AuthorRickBarry, or on Twitter (@WriterRickBarry).

My Thoughts

Rick has been an author buddy for several years, and we’ve shared much in common when it comes to publishing quality, clean Christian suspense. I was excited when my copy of The Methuselah Project arrived in my mailbox from the publisher and didn’t wait long before diving in. I must confess that the premise seemed familiar to me even before I started reading, but I decided to keep an open mind. I’m glad I did.

Rick succeeded in taking the story well beyond anything I expected with a finesse certain to impress the pickiest of readers. Naturally, the writing is top notch, but the well-crafted plot with a Nazi twist really stirred my imagination. Rick did an excellent job keeping his protagonist, Roger Greene, in character, all the way from his clothes to his jargon and pop culure references right from the 1940s. Rick clearly did his homework from the first chapter, when Roger gets shot down over Nazi Germany. Getting the period right with so many details is no small feat. I especially felt for Roger after he remains in a cell for more than seventy years. When he finally steps into the sunlight, the reader can’t help but feel his delight.

Once Roger escapes and makes it to present-day USA, the story really takes off. Throw in a romantic interest and bad guys who want to shut down this walking, breathing experiment, and you’ve got all the classic ingredients of a popular thriller, with plenty of action, chases, and twists. Rick defty layers in clever humor and a redemptive message many Christian readers will appreciate. The wedding of historical fiction with a science fiction twist is certain to appeal to a wide readership. I really enjoyed this latest offering from Rick, and as I neared the end, I couldn’t put it down. I had to know how Rick was going to resolve this complex scenario. I wasn’t disappointed.

I highly recommend this novel. Be sure to check it out. You can learn more about Rick and The Methuselah Project by checking out the links below:

Author’s Website
Author’s Facebook
Book at Amazon