Is it a novel? Is it a study? Sadly, The Resurrected Ones by Richard K. Thomas, Ed.D., tries to be both and misses.

When I saw it on the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze site, the premise intrigued me: if those who were resurrected during the earthquake following Christ’s crucifixion remained alive throughout history, what was the purpose of their resurrection and continuing existence among mankind?

Great premise, but the execution needs refining. It tells stories about three Resurrected Ones and their roles in observing the history of the Church Age following Christ’s return from the tomb, but there are also passages of discourse where the author directly addresses the reader. Given that Thomas has a long career in justice and an advanced education, the combination of writing styles is understandable, but distracting.

Also distracting are the overused exclamation points repetitions of words and entire sentences. In one six-sentence paragraph, I counted the word “great” five times. Several times in each story, we’re told how beautiful the night was. A thorough and critical edit would have eliminated such off-putting elements.

The “About the Author” page at the end of the book mentions that Thomas began writing The Resurrected Ones as a story for his children, and the text reflects the type of writing one would expect in a book geared to a younger audience. However, the stories are filled with historical and academic details that appeal to older readers.

All in all, I spent more time considering how I would rewrite the book than I did reading it. It’s a pity, because a couple of the stories really grabbed me. If the whole book had been as compelling as those two stories, I might have been able to ignore the exclamation points.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Unless otherwise noted, I receive the books I review free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I am not required to write a positive review of any book. The opinions I express are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”