When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. I was informed that it was about the two thieves on the cross that hung on either side of Jesus. I never really thought about those two guys, other than that one ultimately submitted to Jesus, while the other remained defiant to the end. But after thinking about it, I realized that these two guys were real people with a real backgrounds that ultimately led them to the cross at the exact same time as Jesus. In "Demons and Thieves", Brae takes us into one possible explanation of how they got there.
The intrigue led me to getting one of the first released copies of the book. I was not disappointed. It didn't take long before I was captured. This is a real page-turner, stay-up-later kind of book that had me both wondering "how would I have explained them differently?", and "is this really consistent with the Bible?" There are certainly parts where I would have taken a different turn than Brae does, but that is what imagining and conjecture is all about. When it comes to Biblical consistency, I found myself going back to the Gospel accounts and to maps of ancient Israel. On this account, Brae gets it right over and over.
There are several surprises in the book about real characters that we know very little about. As with any good book, the closer I got to the end, the faster I read. Although we all think we 'know' what happens at the end, there are still some surprises there.
Now that this book is behind him, I want Brae to start wondering about the story behind the woman at the well, about David's 'mighty men', about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego… The possibilities are endless!
Get the book!
Why four stars and not five? Because nobody gets a five ;-).
Wow!! This book took me on a ride I will never forget. The story that he developed surrounding the two thieves and the two demoniacs is absolutely riveting, and yet, somehow plausible. He gives names and narratives to people that we only know by their titles. He showed us their humanity and invited us into the journey of their heart, their hurt, their fears and their struggles. Though these characters are real historical figures in the bible, you don't have to be familiar with the bible to love them. They remind us of our brothers, our fathers, our friends and co-workers. Demons and Thieves is an amazing adventure that leaves you changed...a little more tenderhearted to the person next to you and the stranger on the street. I find myself wondering what their story is. Everyone deserves a deeper look and that's just what Brae Wyckoff managed to do within a fast-paced, action-packed, page-turner of a book--He made us take a deeper look. He took us on a thrill ride into the depths of despair and darkness and he shined a light on it. Thank you, Brae Wyckoff. Well done!
Wow, wow, wow! I LOVED this book! From the first page, I was hooked. His interesting and nuanced characters drew me in to the degree that I missed them when I didn't have time to keep reading. I found myself delighted and surprised at clever plot twist after plot twist. Wycoff's ear for dialogue is wonderful! All the characters had their own cadence and I enjoyed each one. I laughed, worried, and was delighted throughout the story and found my heart being deeply touched at the emotional, beautiful ending. Hey, Brae - hurry up with your next book! I can't wait to read it!
I NEVER considered the story of the legion of demons or the thieves on the cross this way. It's completely disrupted my assumptions about the characters I'd heard and read about in the bible stories. And Barabbas! I never in a million years would have seen any other sides to him. Not until Demons and Thieves. Sometimes you want to slap characters, and sometimes you want to hug them and not let go. I can't wait to read it again and find even more details and cool moments to geek out over.
This book hooked me from the beginning. The storytelling is smooth and flows easily. This is the back story of the 2 thieves on the cross with Jesus. We might know that story about Jesus, but we don’t know this story. I’m halfway through and hate it when my schedule demands that I put it down. Yet I want to savor it. I didn’t like the violence in Chapter 19, The Great Loss, but it shows how brutal life probably was back then. I can hardly wait to finish it.
I have NEVER reviewed a book before completing it. I am in awe of this story. So much so that I don’t want it to end. I’m reading it in sessions and enjoying every moment.
WOW! What a story. Brae captures the essence and emotion of each individual that we read in Scriptures. He adds so much depth and personality to each person that you feel like you truly understand the why behind their choices. I could not put the book down, so much so I was reading it before work, on my lunch break and at night before bed. I have already started to read this book again because I feel like there is so much more I will get this next time around. Please purchase this book, you will not regret it.
