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An Unexpected Afterlife

(The Dry Bones Society #1)

Dan Sofer (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 217 ratings · 67 reviews

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE?

He lost everything. His wife. His job. His clothes. Oh, and his life.

When he wakes up, naked and alone, in the Mount of Olives Cemetery, Moshe Karlin finds that the afterlife is not what he had expected.

The doomsday prophecies of the Hebrew Bible are coming true, but why does everyone seem to want him dead?

He’ll have to work very hard to win back his ...more

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Paperback, 284 pages

Published March 28th 2017 by Amazon Digital Services

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Sep 25, 2017 Gayathri rated it liked it

Shelves: e-books, fiction, 2017, reviewed, part-of-a-bigger-volume, series, spl-reviews, zombie

Read full review at Musings Over Nothing

Moshe Karlin wakes up naked at a cemetery at the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem the morning after his 40th birthday. He catches a taxi to his house, trying to remember what prank his best friend Avi had pulled on him the previous night, only to find Avi and his wife Gallit in bed together. As if that was not enough to enrage him, Avi throws him off his house, saying Moshe has been dead for two years.

He reaches out to the local Rabbi Yosef, the one who buried Read full review at Musings Over Nothing

Moshe Karlin wakes up naked at a cemetery at the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem the morning after his 40th birthday. He catches a taxi to his house, trying to remember what prank his best friend Avi had pulled on him the previous night, only to find Avi and his wife Gallit in bed together. As if that was not enough to enrage him, Avi throws him off his house, saying Moshe has been dead for two years.

He reaches out to the local Rabbi Yosef, the one who buried Moshe when he was dead and tries to understand his situation. Without an ID, place to live or family to depend upon he stumbles on trying to win his old life, his wife, and his daughter. The Rabbi and Moshe are startled to find more 'dead' people are resurrected, and they seek their help. Some remember who they were; many don't. Some are Jews, and few are not. Didn't Torah promise that only Jews will be resurrected?

Meanwhile, not far from this chaos, the Prophet Elijah himself is stuck in an unforeseen situation. According to the scriptures and the destiny, he was supposed to save the world, but how can he when His world is changing. To make matters worse for the Rabbi the Great Council (of religious wisemen) discards the Rabbi's theory of resurrection and pronounces the resurrected as ' Sitra Achra!' (other side / unholy world).

What does the Rabbi choose - his free will and understanding of the Torah or the words of the Council that has guided him all through his life and also can change the stability and peace in a teacher's life? How do Moshe and his clan move ahead? Did they find what they are seeking? The An Unexpected Afterlife and the series will answer your questions.

An Unexpected Afterlife is a steady paced narrative that kept me engrossed until the end, well, end of the first book of the series. Thankfully the book didn't end in a cliffhanger perse, though the series would answer many questions. The writing is crisp, and the tiny streak of satire kept things interesting. I loved the strong world building, and all the central characters had depth

The one thing that kinda annoyed me at the was that the stories of Moshe and Elijah did not seem to be related all, at least in the first book. Maybe they will merge somewhere down the lane in the following books of the series. I am not a great fan of fantasy and the zombie/undead world and have avoided them for a while. An Unexpected Afterlife made me realize what I have been missing out.

The story is primarily set in Israel, and I loved how the book let me have a glimpse into the world of Jews and their beliefs and culture. It is one of those things that made say yes when the author Dan Sofer approached for a review of his book, and I am glad I chose it. If you are interested in reading a religious take on the resurrection An Unexpected Afterlife is your pick. ...more

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Sep 29, 2017 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, own, fantasy, fiction, author-review-requested, scifi, religious

A unique and unusual take on the resurrection, An Unexpected Afterlife, blends humor with the heart-crushing reality that life goes on without you and the result on those who would rise again.

Original and a well-developed cast made the reading seamlessly flow.

The devotion of the main character to his wife is something to behold. Even after his 2-year absence and her moving on to his best friend, he must come to the realization that a moment in time for him was years in their lives.

Some things ...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Dax Munro rated it it was amazing

Set in East Jerusalem, An Unexpected Afterlife follows the journey of Moshe Karlin, a forty year old husband and father, who awakens from the grave two years after unknowingly leaving the world of the living, to find that he has been replaced by supposed best friend, Avi.

As we learn more about Moshe’s predicament, others in his situation begin to appear, none any the wiser to the cause of their resurrection. I found Moshe’s character to be kind and humble, a true gentleman seeking to do what is ...more

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Oct 24, 2017 Hobart rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Moshe Karlin wakes up after his birthday party got out of hand -- so out of hand that he doesn't remember drinking as much as he clearly did, he doesn't remember what happened to his clothes, or why he's in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives. He makes it home, crawls into bed and finds another man in his bed with his wife. The man (his best friend and business partner, Avi) and his wife are pretty freaked out -- as is Moshe. Moshe because This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Moshe Karlin wakes up after his birthday party got out of hand -- so out of hand that he doesn't remember drinking as much as he clearly did, he doesn't remember what happened to his clothes, or why he's in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives. He makes it home, crawls into bed and finds another man in his bed with his wife. The man (his best friend and business partner, Avi) and his wife are pretty freaked out -- as is Moshe. Moshe because that's the last thing he expected to find in his bed, and the other two are freaked out because Moshe has been dead for 2 years.

Moshe might be alive again, but his life is gone -- his business is a wreck, his daughter doesn't recognize him, and his wife won't talk to him. But his neighbor a rabbi will listen to him, and talks to him about the believes around the Resurrection. They soon discover another person claiming to be resurrected -- she has no memory about anything, not her name, cause of death, anything. The two bond quickly and begin working together to provide for their new lives, to understand them, and to try to get Moshe's family back. Along the way, they bring in more of the Resurrected to help out. It's not a large, general resurrection at work, or even a stream of them -- but it is a decent trickle.

Their rabbi friend tries to get them in front of the religions leaders in the culture, but are rebuffed. Next thing they're fighting to survive. They have no legal standing, a need for money and shelter, jobs, and some way to make people pay attention to their claims.

There's a prophet running around, too. An accident put shim in the hospital and takes him off the chessboard for most of the game, but he's aware of Moshe and his friends as well as knowing what that means for the world. If only the medical establishment would let him get to work. His character is plenty interesting and I found myself grinning at the situations he found himself in.

The writing is crisp, nothing too flashy, but it's more enough to keep you reading. Sofer imbues his characters with a good deal of humanity, of hope. There's a splash of humor that helps a lot, too. I'm not sure why Moshe is so taken with his wife, but he is -- and you have to admire his dedication to her (and if we had some more time with her, I'd probably agree with him). The reaction he has to his daughter not recognizing him is hard to take. All of the resurrected are having difficulty fitting back in to the world -- especially when they try to fit in to their old lives -- and that's a very interesting thing to see play out.

I'm really uncomfortable about the subject matter -- it's one thing for McGuire or Hearne to pillage myths of the Tuatha Dé Danann or Riordan to pillage the Greek/Roman/Egyptian/Norse stories. But it's something very different for someone to utilize figures and beliefs of a religion like Judaism -- especially when it's not just beliefs, but utilizing actual figures from the religion for your own means seems to cross a line to me (and yes, I'd say the same about Christian fiction, for example). I'm not saying Sofer's wrong to do this, or that he does so with any measure of discernible disrespect, but I figured I have to throw up a warning.

If you can get past the use of the religious characters/events, I'd expect that you could like this one. I'm not sure I can get behind it, but it's good, I can tell you that.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for this post and my honest opinion -- my thanks to him for this. ...more

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Mar 14, 2017 Kevin Swaine rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and the very realistic approach taken to what resurrection might actually be like. I thought the character development was excellent and I really got to know the many characters in the book. I really could not put the book down and cannot wait for the second book in the series to come out.

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Oct 06, 2017 WiLoveBooks rated it it was amazing

Wow. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but the description sounded interesting so I thought I’d give it a try. I loved it. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. A man wakes up in a cemetery and finds out that he died two years ago. Why is he back? What’s he going to do now? This book explores the Jewish religion, but at its core it’s a story about people. That’s what kept me reading. The pace was good and kept moving right alone, and the twists kept coming. I was satisfied with the ...more

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Mar 22, 2017 Linda Suchy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-enjoyed

I am loving the books coming from this local author (Dan Sofer living in Jerusalem). I live in Netanya, Israel. I could not put this book down and can hardly wait for the next in the series. The characters are so well-developed and easy to care about. I highly recommend Dan's books.

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Oct 16, 2017 Richelle rated it it was amazing

I was given a reading copy of this book, An Unexpected Afterlife, and I picked it up over the weekend. This book is beyond any other plot I have ever read. Every now and then I feel like I am reading similar plots one after another, especially when I read popular bestsellers of the season. Then, once in a while I get an email asking me if I would like a copy of an authors book.... And I am given a book like this. I'm left awaiting the second book in the 'Dry Bones Society Series' now. There are ...more

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Oct 26, 2019 Valerie Campbell Ackroyd rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I had picked up a bundle of books for my Kindle app for traveling and as a result I started reading this one without knowing what the premise was, thinking it was some kind of murder mystery. Wow, the first chapter stunned me. Mystery it is but it isn't really a murder mystery. Moshe Kanin wakes up in Jerusalem after what he thinks was a heck of a 40th birthday bash to find out that, actually, he has been dead two years. He goes home to find his wife has taken up with his best friend and wants I had picked up a bundle of books for my Kindle app for traveling and as a result I started reading this one without knowing what the premise was, thinking it was some kind of murder mystery. Wow, the first chapter stunned me. Mystery it is but it isn't really a murder mystery. Moshe Kanin wakes up in Jerusalem after what he thinks was a heck of a 40th birthday bash to find out that, actually, he has been dead two years. He goes home to find his wife has taken up with his best friend and wants nothing to do with him although both she and the best friend recognize that he IS who he says he is. He then meets up with his rabbi who not only recognizes Moshe but believes that he could be part of the Resurrection and the Jewish Coming of the Messiah. I am not Jewish and my own church has its views of what the Second Coming will be so this book was doubly interesting--I learned more about the Jewish beliefs of the Messiah and I also started wondering what my own views really were.

Moshe soon learns he is not the only person to be resurrected and these folks' trials and how they deal with it--how can you get work if you are officially dead? how do you escape being taken advantage of?--form a large part of the book. As well as Moshe's efforts to win his wife back. There is also a sub-plot about a young man who believes he is Elijah, sent to bring on the Second Coming. Except that he messes up, winds up in the hospital and tries to convince a young woman to help him with his mission. This is the first book in a series and I am glad for that because that thread of the story is hanging at the end of the book.

I don't know who might like this book. I did because I found the story so out of the ordinary. But as I said, it isn't really a "mystery", it isn't a thriller, I can't quite put my finger on where it falls. Jewish folklore fable perhaps? I will definitely read the next book though because I want to find out about whether Eli, the young man who thought he was Elijah, returns to his mission and how the resurrections eventually get resolved (if they do.) ...more

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Sep 14, 2017 Debbie Young rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Interesting premise. A man "wakes up" in a cemetery 2 years after his death. More follow. the story takes place in Jerusalem and as it progresses we meet a Rabbi who risks everything to help the "resurrected", the Rabbincal Council who declares them evil and a syndicate that takes advantage of them.

The story builds nicely but falls off a cliff at the end with no clear answers. But, surprise, there is a sequel coming. Maybe then.....

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Feb 14, 2018 Boundless Book Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, beth-s-reviews, christian

This story holds true to its title! This kind of afterlife is much unexpected, and the unexpected continued throughout the entire story. It was hard for me to get into at first, but once I was in, I was hooked.

I loved the uniqueness of this particular afterlife and the twists that kept me guessing.

Overall, I loved the book and felt it’s a good read. I give An Unexpected Afterlife: A Novel a strong 4 Boundless Stars. I only wish it would have captured my interest from the beginning.

...more

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Feb 28, 2017 Linda Zagon rated it it was amazing

I would like to thank author Dan Sofer for an ARC of “The Unexpected Afterlife” by Don Sofer for an honest review.
The genres of this book are Fiction, Adventure, and Satire.
I find that the author has written a unique intriguing, and entertaining story.
I really like the way Dan Sofer describes his flawed characters who also seem complex and complicated.
The story opens at Mount of Olives Cemetery where Moshe Karlin awakes stark naked. Moshe is confused and makes his way home to find his wife and ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Yael Shahar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jewish-fiction

Three times daily, we Jews praise God for “reviving the dead”. The thing is, no two Jews are likely to agree on what it means. Some, following the prophet Ezekiel, prefer to think of it in metaphorical terms—the resurrection of Jewish national life out of the ashes of the past. Others see it in more literal terms. I’ve tackled one interpretation of this enigmatic tradition in Returning. But Dan Sofer presents an altogether different—and utterly delightful—view of the rabbinic traditions ...more

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Oct 24, 2017 Vera mallard rated it really liked it

STORY-LINE AN UNEXPECTED AFTERLIFE BY DAN SOFER:
Moshe Karlin's life has taken an unusual turn. After waking up naked and alone in the Mount of Olives Cemetery, Moshe thinks it's the day after his birthday party. However, he finds two years have passed and unbelievably he was dead and buried. Unable to understand what has happened, he consults with his local advisor, Rabbi Yosef. Rabbi Yosef has a totally different take on Moshe's resurrection.

Moshe finds he has lost his wife to his best friend ...more

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Feb 17, 2018 Ray Foy rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have problems with this book, yet it doesn’t suck. It is a technically well-crafted story in that dramatic arcs keep the tension building in all 68 chapters, but it contains themes and allusions that don’t sit well with me.

The premise of the story is that people are returning from the dead (which seems to be the de’jour plot device these days). They appear in cemeteries, naked (reborn; new start), with little or no memories of their deaths. Some remember their previous lives and some don’t. I have problems with this book, yet it doesn’t suck. It is a technically well-crafted story in that dramatic arcs keep the tension building in all 68 chapters, but it contains themes and allusions that don’t sit well with me.

The premise of the story is that people are returning from the dead (which seems to be the de’jour plot device these days). They appear in cemeteries, naked (reborn; new start), with little or no memories of their deaths. Some remember their previous lives and some don’t. Moshe Karlin, an Israeli, is one of these returnees. He “awakens” in a field near the old section of Jerusalem. From there we follow his confusion and attempts to rationalize what is happening to him. When he discovers the truth of his resurrection, we follow his attempt to recover his previous life. In the process, he is helped and befriended by Rabbi Yosef, and makes friends with other resurrectees.

The story morphs into a thriller, with Moshe and his friends running from Russian slavers. Their plights are complicated by “terrorists” and suicide bombers. A love triangle even develops, though not all its members are aware of it.

The author, Dan Sofer, does know his dramatic structure and carries the reader along with the suspense of “what’s happening” until he reaches the thriller part. The plotline weakens there because it just doesn’t fit well enough with the story told to that point. It involves present day slavers and seems just another attempt to dump on the Russians. I’m seeing that a lot in current drama. I take it as the latest fad that I expect pleases our oligarchs. I don’t think there was as much of this even at the height of the first cold war.

There is a significant subplot that doesn’t really intercept with the main plot, but seems to be a foreshadow for later novels. It concerns a man who believes himself to be the prophet Elijah returned to Earth to herald the Messiah’s second coming. He’s been appearing throughout the centuries, but the Second Coming has always failed to launch for one reason or another. He runs into complications this time as well, including falling for a human. I actually found this subplot more interesting than the main story.

I also found it interesting to read a story set in current-day Jerusalem, showing it as a “livable” place. We see Jews and Arabs getting along at the common level below the political radar, and the story would have been better if Mr. Sofer had stayed with that. Instead, he moved into the political stereotypes that I suppose are required for patriotic Israeli storytelling. It’s probably much like patriotic American storytelling requires belief in “American exceptionalism.” I know many readers will take exception to my analysis here. If so, then enjoy the book, but this is how I see it.

An Unexpected Afterlife is a technically well-told story that held my interest for the most part, at least enough to finish it. Tension and suspense are kept high until it morphs into a thriller that mostly doesn’t work. In the end, it reveals itself as a Jewish religious piece. That’s not to pan it, however. If you like Jewish fiction you’ll probably like this, much as devout Christians often like Christian fiction. What I don’t care for, are the intimations of “crazy Arabs” with no consideration for their political positions (or acknowledgment that they have any). There’s also the depiction of Russians as mafiaosoes dealing in slaves and drugs (and basically everything evil). That’s not to say there’s no Russian mafia, but it smacks of reinforcing the current fad of Russians being the bad-guys-de’jour to support the neo-cold war being pushed on us.

My biggest problem with An Unexpected Afterlife is that it can’t decide what it wants to be: mystery, thriller, religious fiction? Elements of these genres are there and not well-blended. Mr. Sofer is a capable writer and his Dry Bones series seems to be successful. He’s just philosophically too far apart from me to earn any greater recommendation. ...more

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Mar 23, 2017 Sheila Carsins rated it it was amazing

Splendid book. It's a valuable morality play. It brings it all home to me, to see how differently people choose to live their lives. The wonderful main character Moshe, discovers that what he originally thought was a perfect life, wasn't so perfect, and that he'd unknowingly wasted his first life and neglected what truly matters in life. After his incredible "rebirth," he slowly, painfully, but eventually, realizes where his priorities should have been the first time through his life. The rest ...more

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May 09, 2018 Kristin rated it really liked it

Seems at first like a strange book for a Catholic to read, right? It was actually really intriguing and educational for me and I enjoyed it enough to really want to read the sequel (though not SO much that I’ve already read it)! I’m not sure whether a Jewish person would say the same, but I didn’t have any religious qualms with it (say, like how I won’t read Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code because I have no interest in reading what I consider to be blasphemous things about Christ). Rather, for me, the Seems at first like a strange book for a Catholic to read, right? It was actually really intriguing and educational for me and I enjoyed it enough to really want to read the sequel (though not SO much that I’ve already read it)! I’m not sure whether a Jewish person would say the same, but I didn’t have any religious qualms with it (say, like how I won’t read Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code because I have no interest in reading what I consider to be blasphemous things about Christ). Rather, for me, the book served to educate me a bit on Jewish theology and thought.

When Moshe comes back from the dead he ends up staying at the home of a local Rabbi, who is convinced that Moshe (and others in his situation) herald the coming of the Messianic era. He says, “The Messianic Era. We believe that the End of Days will see the Resurrection of the Dead, the return of Elijah the Prophet, and the revelation of the Messiah-King, son of David.” (Loc 290) A lot of what the Rabbi then does, in terms of hosting Moshe, engaging with his Rabbinical colleagues/superiors, etc., assuming it is factually-based, sheds a lot of light on Jewish culture and religious organization – which, admittedly, I know little to nothing about.

I was struck by the similarities with Catholicism, though I’m not sure why – after all, Christ was Jewish and His Church descended from Judaism. I noted while I was reading that the Rabbi broke bread and gave it and wine to his guests, just as Christ did at the Last Supper. The Rabbi’s explanation of life after the Resurrection–at least in terms of the healing of the body–is very similar to Catholic teaching. I also noted that the explanation given for trust put in the “leading Rabbis of the generation” (Loc 2364) is strikingly similar to the Catholic Magisterium – we believe that the Holy Spirit guides the leaders of the Church to the right conclusions and therefore we trust in their authority.

There is a fascinating discussion by scientists in a hospital setting about having obtained “scientific proof” that all people descended from a single female. It would be fascinating if such proof actually existed! It was a great reminder, though, of science being part of mankind’s search to understand the world that God created, and that, therefore, no person of faith should ever fear science nor see science and religion as incompatible.

These are the lasting impressions I had of the book, but all of these insights gained were wrapped up in a compelling narrative with relatable, realistic characters. I was invested in Moshe’s survival and his efforts to win back his wife, as well as the life of the “reluctant prophet” described in the book blurb. I was also struck by the all-too-realistic exploitation of the resurectees (is that a word?) by criminal elements out to profit only themselves.

All this is to say: it’s an enjoyable and realistic read that also caused me to think and to learn, which is what I love in a book. It was entertaining AND edifying!

Four stars!

Many thanks to author Dan Sofer for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! ...more

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Aug 16, 2017 Gayle Pace rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, suspense

MY THOUGHTS
(You Only Live Twice?) I wasn't really sure if I would enjoy this or not but I'm glad I decided to read it. It's a mixture of characters who have a depth to them. They aren't simple characters. They are very complicated which makes them interesting. The author gives you characters that you want to understand and get to know. The characters are more realistic since they are far from perfect, they have their baggage. There are quite a few characters that are a support for each other. MY THOUGHTS
(You Only Live Twice?) I wasn't really sure if I would enjoy this or not but I'm glad I decided to read it. It's a mixture of characters who have a depth to them. They aren't simple characters. They are very complicated which makes them interesting. The author gives you characters that you want to understand and get to know. The characters are more realistic since they are far from perfect, they have their baggage. There are quite a few characters that are a support for each other. Moshe Karlin has been dead for about two years, yes dead, but he awakens and finds he is in Mount of Olives Cemetery, completely naked. He then finds his way to his home and his wife, but when he gets there, his wife and best friend are in bed together. Moshe finds himself alone, with no home, and no wife. So he seeks out the one who buried him, Rabbi Yosef hoping to get some answers. He now knows he will never have his wife back since she soon is to marry his best friend, or who was his best friend, and on top of that, his business is gone. He has nothing. Why has he returned from the dead? Moshe is given a second try at life and he certainly knows it won't be easy. But he realizes he hadn't made his first life meaningful, made some bad choices and didn't take to heart what was most important. He wants to make this second life better, but can he do that? But he soon finds that he isn't the only one who has returned from the dead. There are others. The author gives you interesting characters, each with their own personalities. You get a bit of the Russian Mob, problems in the city's government, suspense, mystery and a look at the beliefs and structure of Judaism. A variety of things that the author has molded together to bring a good story of hope. But there is also the struggle of coming back form the dead for a second chance at life. Adjusting is difficult. It all lies in how a person decides to live their life. Everyone chooses differently.

The book will tug at your heart strings, in both directions. Heart warming and heart breaking. Does everyone deserve a "do over" or a "Mulligan" better known as a second chance? Take time to read this book and decide if you would deserve or even want a "second chance". Would you learn from the mistakes in your first life and do things completely different in your second life.? Some would, some would not. Some would change the things they did wrong, the wrong choices. Some would throw away the second chance, probably as they did the first. Everyone has to make the choices that affect their lives by themselves at the end, no one can do it for you. If you choose wrong, it's on you, no one else. What would you do?

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily decided to review it.

...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Bella Reads and Reviews rated it it was amazing

Complex, interesting characters in a most unusual situation. Moshe Karlin wakes up lying on the dirt in a cemetery, naked and alone, with no recollection of how he came to be there. Before long he learns the alarming truth: he died two years before.

Without going into the plot or the outcome, let me simply say that this novel grabbed my attention from the get-go with all its possibilities, and it was a great read. In addition to being highly creative in his premise, Sofer gives us humor and ...more

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Oct 22, 2017 Gordon Long rated it really liked it

A new twist on an old plot: what would you do if you woke up and found out you were dead? Would you take it as a chance to start over, or would you make a desperate attempt to get back what you lost? Moshe Karlin is given this opportunity, but despite the promise of the title, the results are pretty predictable. He decides to take up where he left off two years ago and everything falls apart from that point. If nothing goes wrong, where’s the fun?

The fascinating part of this novel, though, is ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Puspanjalee Dutta rated it really liked it

AN UNEXPECTED AFTERLIFE by Dan Sofer is the first book of the Dry Bones Society. It chronicles the journey of Moshe Larkin after he found in unfavorable conditions.
Moshe is back from death only to find that his wife is living with his best friend, forgotten by his daughter, a bankrupt business, no money, no food, no shelter and above all, no identify at all.
In his journey to get back his own life, Moshe makes some unexpected undead friends, found alias with a Rabi and some narrow escape from ...more

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Aug 26, 2017 Julia rated it it was amazing

An Unexpected Afterlifeby Dan Sofer is a novel set in Israel and concerns the end times. As the reader begins to ask questions, they are drawn into the story from the start.
Dan Sofer writes with an easy style that is endearing to the reader. With comprehensive descriptions, the reader 'experiences' life in Israel and is completely caught up in the action.
I thought it was a very clever plotline which reminded me of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel.
The novel prompted questions from me - what is ...more

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Oct 25, 2017 Peg rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, satire

An Unexpected Afterlife is an intriguing satire that takes place in Israel, during the end times.

Moshe Karlin was shocked when he woke up in a cemetery, nude. He assumed that he was the unlucky victim of a prank. Moshe had no idea that he’s been dead for two years. That important tidbit of information would be made clear, though, by his wife’s frantic screaming, and her new lover, kicking Moshe out of his own home. The afterlife was not what Moshe thought it would be, not even close. There were ...more

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Oct 17, 2017 Wall-to-wall books - wendy rated it really liked it

4.5 Stars!

What a fantastic, crazy ride that was. This book made me smile. It was a fun and very interesting story. There are so many ways to describe this book and they all contradict each other. Can a Biblical book that is based on history be fantasy or somewhat paranormal? But that's what is was really. Well whatever words you use to describe it - it was great!

It takes place in Jerusalem and is full of history and Jewish tradition. Great characters with excellent character development. There's ...more

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Oct 09, 2017 Teresa Collins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am not sure what I was expecting, even after having read the book description, but this story wasn't it. I guess I expected more fantasy and mysticism and difficult to understand religious ceremonies. Instead, what I got was a truly lovely story; a fantasy I must admit from my point of view because that's not what Revelation in my Bible says will happen when the Messiah returns. However, overlooking the differences in the religious thought; the characters were so well developed that I came to ...more

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Oct 23, 2017 Rachelle Poblete rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-club

Full review in our blog:

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Writing was wonderful - the plot was fresh and the pace was good. The author’s way of describing anything and everything is very clear. The novel was set in Israel and I have gotten a glimpse of their culture, beliefs and places through this book. The characters were also well written, with their own flaws and emotional baggage. It was very easy to empathize with them. I also like the occasional insert of humor in its pages.

An ...more

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Jul 12, 2017 Jeffrey Hatcher rated it really liked it

The book rates five stars on originality which is tricky for a story that falls into the time -travel genre. The bureaucratic overtones give great irony - though they probably make the book enjoyable only to adults. Sofer appears to poke fun at religion generally by hinting that mortals, with their myriad rules, haven't too much of a clue about a hereafter. Not being Jewish, I have the suspicion that there may be a good amount of subtle humor that I have missed as well.

Though the title is ...more

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Sep 15, 2019 Carol Burt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Love this book

I just love this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series. It's the kind of book that poses the question, "what if?" And then proceeds to answer it in a wonderfully entertaining way.

The writing is excellent and I didn't have any of my usual aggravating moments when I run across an awkward sentence or a typo. It is professionally written and edited, so it's smooth reading. And delightful!

I read An Unexpected Afterlife quickly because I couldn't put it down. There are ...more

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Jun 27, 2018 Susan S rated it it was amazing

Absolutely the best book I have read this year, maybe decade. An unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion to The Dry Bones Society journey. I give this book 5 Stars (because they do not have Ten Stars option).
While I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion, I have also purchased it. This book (and series) have earned top billing in my library and I have recommended it to everyone I know..
It is filled with everything you could want in a book, intrigue, action, ...more

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Nov 30, 2018 Samantha Henthorn rated it it was amazing

What a lovely book. Moshe wakes up after what he thought was his fortieth birthday party. Unfortunately he was very much mistaken and soon realises he has walked into an unexpected afterlife. It is two years later, everything has changed his wife is now in a relationship with his best friend, and his daughter doesn't recognise him. A Rabbi comes to his rescue and he discovers he is not alone, he died but has been resurrected without a navel, as have the other members of the dry bones society. ...more

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About Dan Sofer

Dan Sofer

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Dan Sofer won the 2016 Best Book Award (category: religious fiction) for his debut novel, A Love and Beyond ("A mysterious crime. A ruthless secret society. And a desperate bachelor...")

His romantic adventures and magical satires explore Jewish lore and legend on the streets of modern-day Jerusalem.

His new novel, An Unexpected Afterlife, hits the shelves March 28, 2017. (Available for pre-order on ...more