The Joshua Stone

by James Barney

In 1959, in an underground laboratory in a remote region of West Virginia, a secret government experiment went terribly awry. A half dozen scientists mysteriously disappeared, and all subsequent efforts to rescue them failed. In desperation, President Eisenhower ordered the lab sealed shut and all records of its existence destroyed. Now, fifty-four years later, something from the lab has emerged.

When mysterious events begin occurring along the New River Valley in West Virginia, government agents Mike Califano and Ana Thorne are sent to investigate. What they discover will shake the foundations of science and religion and put both agents in the crosshairs of a deadly, worldwide conspiracy. A powerful and mysterious force has been unleashed, and it's about to fall into the wrong hands. To prevent a global catastrophe, Califano and Thorne must work together to solve a biblical mystery that has confounded scholars for centuries. And they must do so quickly, before time runs out . . . forever.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Action, Historical Fiction

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2013

About the author

James Barney is a trial lawyer in Washington, DC and a former submarine officer. His debut novel, THE GENESIS KEY, was nominated for the Best First Novel Award by the International Thriller Writers Association. His second novel, THE JOSHUA STONE, will be released by HarperCollins on October 8, 2013. More information can be found at www.jamesbarney.com. Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjamesbarney.

Reviews

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won The Joshua Stone in an author's giveaway, through Goodreads. This is an unbiased review. I had not heard of this book or author, before I entered the draw, and entered to win it, along with several other giveaways. I had no expectations of winning, nor had I won a book before. I did not read any reviews of The Joshua Stone before I began reading it.

On the back cover, it reads "when mysterious events begin occurring along the New River Valley in West Virginia, government agents Mike Califano and Ana Thorne are sent to investigate. What they discover will shake the the foundations of science and religion and put both agents in the crosshairs of a deadly, worldwide conspiracy." As a Canadian, the reference to the New River Valley tweaked my interest, since it is one of the places in the United States that I have visited. It was easy to visualize the bridge that spans the very deep gorge, and the breathtaking beauty of the valley that was revealed, after we hiked down the boardwalk in the steamy heat of an August morning.

I was immediately drawn in by the events that transpired in a research lab, deep in the sides of the gorge, circa the mid 1950's. Skip forward to the present, and an unidentified man turns up at a diner, and collapses. Where has he come from? Why is he wearing clothes that a well-dressed gentleman would wear in the fifties? The unanswered questions begin piling up, like dominoes that have been tipped over. Enter the two main characters, Mike and Ana, who work for an obscure branch of the CIA. They are given the task of finding out where this man came from, and why it seems as if he has stepped out of the past, from an era more than sixty years ago, into the present.

I assumed that the story was going to be about time travel, which is an acceptable premise for plot construction, in my reading world. Mr. Barney has taken this notion, and twisted it, added to it, reinvented it, in a way I had not expected. This is a thriller, and I was invested in the investigation and developing partnership between Mike and Ana, right from the get-go. I had to keep reading to find out what really happened in that lab, and how two small, black stones, fallen into the wrong hands, could have dire consequences for the world.

The fact that this book held my interest is especially impressive, given that it has two major elements that are not usually of particular interest to me, as common elements in the fiction I read-namely science and religion. There is a lot of scientific information, relating to physics, in The Joshua Stone. Additionally, the scientific research/mystery is closely interwoven with a biblical mystery. At several points during my read, I stopped to ask my husband questions, who is a "science type". I admit that there were sections of text that I did not understand, but the main thread of the story more than compensated for that, and kept me reading to the very end.

This is Mr. Barney's second book, the first being The Genesis Key which is about the discovery of a gene that could extend a human life for hundreds of years. The main character is a gifted biologist, who becomes embroiled in the mystery behind her murdered parents secret research-all tied to the topics of the human genome, archaeology, and the Book of Genesis. I am looking forward to reading how Dr. Kathleen Sainsbury investigates this obviously complicated case.

I would recommend The Joshua Stone to anyone interested in a swiftly paced plot, with elements of espionage, time travel in a way you have likely not encountered before ( no spoilers here!), and characters that I cared about. If you like Science and Religion added to the mix, this book is for you! But do not let these latter themes dissuade you from experiencing an enjoyable read. Many of us belong to Goodreads in order to expand our reading comfort zone, find new authors, and enjoy the ride. Thanks to Mr. Barney, all three apply.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok - this was pretty much crap but it was lite crap. There was nothing new about this story- in that stories like this are told over and over again..
A mysterious biblical story about a time bending material is wanted by everyone...in the war the Nazi's were researching it (of course) and then in the 50s there was a experiment that went wrong in the US...or did it? Mysterious men, who should be dead, and are from the 50s suddenly appear and the hunt is on for this weapon - because of course it's a weapon.

The main character is an analyst for the US- Mike Califano - super smart, with a tragic back story, who acts like an immature brat. Really, our first intro to him, he has set up a prank on a lecturer because he doesn't like him..really ...is he 12? Then when he first meets his 'partner,' a female analyst from the CIA (also with a tragic back story,) he tries to hit on her because that is how all professionals act, and when she shuts him down, of course his itty bitty pride is hurt. ...again not a grown-up.

Anyway a quick silly read, perfect for the airport or the beach - but neither of these characters are ones I would revisit...and I probably won't read anything else soon by this author.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Joshua Stone is a very well researched story basically about the possibility of bending time. I do not understand the scientific mumbo jumbo of course but I did get the concept of the story. A lab that is shut down in 1959 by an experiment gone wrong and the reappearance of men who worked in that lab decades later have the government racing against time to figure out what is going on and stop the Russian's from getting the "Joshua Stone" and using it to their advantage.
You can tell the story is well researched and the author has a way with the scientific facts that makes the reader excited to read more.

The story takes the reader from West Virginia to Washington DC to Saudi Arabia. The reader is swept along with Mike Califano and Ana Thorne, government agents, as they investigate strange occurrences and once they understand the biblical and scientific implications, they need to work fast to stop a global conspiracy that could have devastating effects on the world if they are unsuccessful in obtaining the "stones". A fast paced thriller to be sure. I feel a sequel!!

James Barney is also the author of The Genesis Key, another great sounding book that I will have to read!! Anyone who loves a fast paced thriller that combines science, religion, and myths will certainly want to read The Joshua Stone.

I received a copy of the book for review and was not monetarily compensated for the review.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy book to read, but then, I'm not a scientist so a lot went right over my head, but it finally came together and just had to keep going to find out "what's happening"!

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Barney in his new book, “The Joshua Stone” published by William Morrow gives us an adventure with government agents Mike Califano and Ana Thorne .

From the back cover: Some secrets belong to the past. Others refuse to stay there…

In 1959, in an underground laboratory in a remote region of West Virginia, a secret government experiment went terribly awry. Half a dozen scientists mysteriously disappeared, and all subsequent efforts to rescue them failed. In desperation, President Eisenhower ordered the lab sealed shut and all records of its existence destroyed. Now, fifty-four years later, something from the lab has emerged.

When mysterious events begin occurring along the New River Valley in West Virginia, government agents Mike Califano and Ana Thorne are sent to investigate. What they discover will shake the foundations of science and religion and put both agents in the crosshairs of a deadly, worldwide conspiracy. A powerful and mysterious force has been unleashed, and it’s about to fall into the wrong hands. To prevent a global catastrophe, Califano and Thorne must work together to solve a biblical mystery that has confounded scholars for centuries. And they must do so quickly, before time runs out . . . forever.

The Bible Book of Joshua Chapter Ten tells us that while Joshua was in battle with an enemy the day was going to end. Concerned that he would lose Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still and God did. In 1959 a group of scientists in West Virginia are trying to recreate what God did with time dilation. As always something goes horribly wrong and the lab is sealed. Now present day West Virginia all sorts of odd events are happening that seem to involve time in some manner. It is into this environment that Califano and Thorne are sent. Now they have to understand what happened back then to deal with what is happening now and stop a global catastrophe. Mr. Barney has given us a wonderful thriller as the whole world is in danger History and fiction blend together as the two agents are trying the mystery. ”The Joshua Stone” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. Barney has provided us with a very exciting book with clever characters that I hope come back in this very talented authors next book.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed 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.”

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review & Giveaway: I love a good political thriller and when it also contains sci-fi and mystical historical elements, that’s just the icing on the cake. When I read the concept for The Joshua Stone by James Barney, it sounded like it was going to be exactly that kind of novel so I decided to join its virtual book tour. I was familiar with James Barney’s The Genesis Key, so I knew I was probably in for a treat – and I was right. The Joshua Stone blends a political/technological thriller with mad scientist/sci-fi elements, a bit of biblical mythology, and action-adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones. In other words, it’s a complete original. Read on at http://popcornreads.com/?p=6691 to see if it fits your definition of a fun popcorn read and, if it does, be sure to enter our very first e-book giveaway!

[Don Badowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book right up till the last chapter. Don't worry, this is not a spoiler.
This book came across as Raiders of the Lost Ark, crossed with The X-Files. The last part has to do with the protagonists coming across as Scully and Mulder.
Every chapter has you trying to figure things out, as a good mystery should. And then the last chapter, which should tie up all the threads? Nope. You don't know what happens to the main antagonist, or what his motivation was, or how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Frustrating.
Last fall I read the book Night Witches, by Kathryn Lasky, about Russian women pilots fighting the Nazis. Same thing. You get all worked up and involved in the plots and the characters, then the book ends and you wonder where's the rest of it. I'm getting the feeling that publishers are telling authors to cut their books short so they'll sell better or cost less to print, or they have editors just rip out the ending pages. Anyways it's very frustrating.

[Roberta Sallee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book that I read on Bookbub intrigued me enough to take it out of the library and I am glad I did.
The story focuses on solving a plot to use the aftermath of a scientific experiment gone wrong in a way that would be very very bad for the world (and good for the bad guys who would get control of it).
It involves some time dilation and the pursuit of the explanation of gravity's reason for being, black stones, Bible vs science with a strong touch of excitement, violence, death, love, data analysis and the CIA. Also, think Nazis, Princeton, and Russia.
With a plot with all that, how can you go wrong?

[Steven jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using a stone with remarkable properties, a physicist's experiment goes wrong in 1959, presumably killing him. The US government abandons the secret project until the physicist reappears over 50 years later, and now the US race with the Soviets to uncover the secret of the stone. A well written thriller mixing science and religious concepts. Well done.

[Shelby Gambino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been 4 stars had there not been so much unnecessary and unwarranted misogyny/ sexism surrounding Ana Thorne's strong character. Plot was good, too bad this was distracting away from the positives.

[sara murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced fun

This book grabbed me from the first page. The characters are interesting and well developed. The narrative is fast paced and the scientific details are interesting. A fun jaunt into fiction.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it because it is fun.

[G.R. Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced and imaginative plot. The characters, however, were pretty cliche, the story sort of like watching a 1980s TV crime drama.

[Helen Marsh]

Interesting - I looked up the author and read his earlier book.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the pace of the book and all the action

[Judy Nappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting!

[Andy2302 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action Adventure chasing a Magical stone last known to have been sealed in an underground lab 50 years ago. Nice play with time, fast with likeable leads. Obviously Book #1 of something like the X Files.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think about Time. Forward, backward, fast and slow. You can’t really mess with Time, can you? In The Joshua Stone, James Barney lets us know that, in fact, you may be able to. The prophets thought so (Joshua:6-1-27) (mentions of Jasher, the moon stood still over Gibeon, the twelve tribes of Israel, etc.) This is what is called time dilation and you will be educated and entertained by this novel

From now back through 1949, we travel to a group of people in West Virginia who were tempting fate with their experiments. Did they fail or succeed? In 2013, an old man walks into a restaurant in Fall Creek, WVA, passes out from a gunshot wound and, when paramedics arrive they see he has very long nails and hair and that, while he looks elderly; his body doesn’t. Progeria? Possibly.

A group of sorta-CIA but really not is gathered to see where this man who only speaks German came from. Then, another man shows up, same diner, same looks but not injured. He asks for Chesterfield cigarettes – is told they no longer make them – gets Camels instead and several papers and news magazines.

This book lost me for awhile in technology but, if you keep on reading all is explained in laymen’s terms and even the explanation was done well. The characters are believable and, you’ll never guess what the White House bunker is!!

Coming out this October this is one I would stand in line for.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A secret government experiment in 1959 in a West Virginia coal mine goes terribly wrong resulting in the death of several scientists involved in the research. It is now the present and although it is over 50 years later, there may be a survivor( or two?) from this horrible incident. And so starts James Barney's latest thriller.
Two government agents, Ana Thorne of the CIA and Mike Califano , a Scientific Intelligence Analyst or Data Miner are going to be paired up to resolve some deep government secrets from that long ago secret lab.Things have surfaced suggesting that intelligence from that time may be very relevant to the present and the future! In fact, unknown to Thorne or Califano, there are also foreign agents intent on obtaining some of the results from that experimental lab. And the key might be a small piece of an ancient stone!
Barney challenges many of our beliefs on whether science or religious history may have played a bigger role with our planet as it developed and where we may travel in the future. The pace is fast as Thorne and Califano attempt to actually find? the survivors from the mine explosion. Something very strange is going on and this book may well challenge some of your most sacred beliefs. Imagine if you could make time stand still ?? And you don't have to be a biblical scholar to remember that Joshua fell the walls of Jericho !

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is the Joshua stone? It's not just one stone and you need two of them to make things happen. What happens with two seems to be time warping. It's nebulous. A brilliant flash. Then... some people and places experience a kind of time warp, and a large enough warp temporarily disables satellites. This fictional story based on a few scientific and biblical facts will keep many readers interested enough. Some of it is well done, some not so, to this reader, but it's generally engaging if you don't get hung up on details. The book should appeal to a broad audience.

Thoughtfully written but not literary. The story encompasses several nations and has bad guys, good guys, and confused guys. And one tough lady. If you like thrillers, adventure, suspense, this is a decent book except it didn't keep me on the edge, reading deep into the night. It did keep me interested throughout.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written page turner is how I would describe this novel filled with scientific biblical theory. The Joshua stone was associated with a disastrous experiment in the mid 40's. It's not until 50 years later questions are raised about the possible effects of that experiment.

An elderly man walks into a restaurant and passes out. Paramedics find he has been shot, they also notice a few oddities... he looks old but his body doesn't, his hair and nails are long. A government group descends to begin their investigation. Meanwhile, another elderly man walks into the same restaurant. He has a few oddities also.

I loved (and hated) not being able to figure out what was going on, the likeable characters and intriguing plot make for a very interesting read.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not familiar with this author when I requested an early reviewer copy of The Joshua Stone, but I definitely want to read his first book now. the Joshua Stone unfolds like the movie Jaws. With Jaws you knew it was about a shark, but you didn't see the shark for the first half of the movie. With this book You are given a little bit of information sparingly throughout the first half of the book, and only after you have had time to figure things out for yourself are you as the reader, given nearly the full picture of what the Joshua Stone really is. The science was interesting without being to complicated, and the characters are interesting and not the usual cliched types with awesome powers of strength or deduction. This was a fun adventure in the same vain as a James Rollins book.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

Does the government still have secret projects? Will the consequences of former projects harm us in the future? How much does the public need to know about what is going on in their country? All of these questions took a center stage in this book as a government project gone wrong comes back to life more than 50 years later.

Set in many places around where I live, this book felt like it really took place in my backyard, this was a fun part of the book! The chase between the different places kept my flipping the pages so quickly! I loved how things were so interwoven and how a few dropped hints didn't provide too much to give too much away, but just the right amount.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like fast-paced thrillers that combine history, biblical myth, science and mystery then this book is for you. The author takes the concepts of gravity and time dilation and pulls in some very interesting historical facts and incidents and builds an entertaining story around two old testament references to the book of Jasher. The story begins back in the Eisenhower era and links a secret experiment gone awry in rural West Virginia in 1959 to present day intelligence efforts. He teams up two drastically different personalities in Mike Califano and Ana Thorne as the U.S. agents that must literally race against time to save the day. I can't wait to read more by this author and plan to read The Genesis Key soon.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced page turner. It combines science and Biblical scripture. Not particularly religious so if you are looking for something full of religion and theology this is not a book for you. The science is thought provoking, will appeal to those interested in quantum physics and the fringe sciences, and is put into language that one can easily understand. The characters are likable and relatable as normal human beings tasked with a very hard job. The ending, though it does bring closure to the story, does feel a bit rushed, bit lacking and leaving a couple gaps for questions, after the fast paced build up throughout the book. Over all it is well written and quite entertaining.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If man can bend time; just think of the possibilities. Over fifty years ago, a secret experiment goes wrong. But now some mysterious things are happening that don’t make a lot of sense; two men show up in a town; one shot, and seems really old, then other. Where did they come from? Now two agents of another government agency go to investigate. Somehow these men are linked to the mystical Joshua Stone and that ill-fated experiment.

A story filled with scientific biblical theory and suspense that kept me turning the pages. The two agents were likable and the writing was good (even enough to understand the science). I found this to be a very well written adventure.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting theories about gravity and time are at the center of this book. Throw in some Bible history and the search for some ancient artifacts and it's a pretty good mix. Ana and Mike are good characters but I would like to see them more developed. People who like their books slick and fast paced will rate this higher. I thought the ending seemed rushed. Thank you goodreads for sending me this ARC.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this book was a simple read but the book held my interest and had a captivating plot. Even though the book is a fiction suspense, it carried biblical undertones that got me thinking. It brings to light a few scriptures specifically in Joshua and 2 Samuel and the current debates that scholars have with regards to the meaning of those scriptures. The mentioning in the bible about the Book of Jasher but has never been found to this day. Very interesting and thought provoking.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, decent character development, intriguing entanglement of religion and science, plenty of scientific explanations throughout, and solid pacing! I will definitely be following this author and reading his other book, "The Genesis Key"!

The only, very small quibble I have with this book is that the story ended rather abruptly without an epilogue. But other than that, I'd put this story right up there with Michael Crichton and Douglas E. Richards' best works!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good thriller with 2 interesting characters and an ancient mysterious stone. Very similar to James Rollins, Mr Barney also blends the science, the mystery and the chase so well that before you know it you're almost finished wondering how he could tie everything up.But he does. And now I want to read more of Califano and Thorne. Rollins and Dan Brown fans will love it.