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Book Summary and Reviews of The Jericho Deception by Jeffrey Small

The Jericho Deception by Jeffrey Small

The Jericho Deception

by Jeffrey Small

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  • May 2013, 396 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

At the intersection of science and spirituality lies the human mind. The Jericho Deception is a psychological adventure into the interplay of mind and spirit, science and religion, mystery and mysticism.

A mysterious death in a Yale lab, a secret facility hidden in the Egyptian desert, a desperate chase through the ruins of pharaohs: all linked together by a psychological experiment that promises to expose the innermost workings of the human mind and soul.

Ignoring the skepticism of his Yale colleagues, neuro-psychologist Dr. Ethan Lightman has dedicated his professional career to developing the Logos, a device that induces mystical experiences of the divine in his subjects through the use of electro-magnetic brain stimulation. After the mysterious death of his mentor in their Yale lab, Ethan is suspended from his research and teaching duties. Distraught, he uncovers a coded message written by his mentor on the night of his death that leads him to discover that the foundation funding their Logos project is a covert front for the CIA.

Questioning his future, Ethan jumps at a cryptic invitation from the foundation's head to meet in person. He boards a private plane that whisks him to a remote desert in Egypt where he is brought to The Monastery, a secret religious training camp run by the CIA. Ethan is shocked to learn that the CIA is using his device, the Logos, to reprogram Islamic fundamentalists into Christians in a covert operation they refer to as Project Jericho. Asked to fix a flaw in the Logos that turns certain subjects psychotic, Ethan must decide whether to continue research that could plunge the Middle East into a religious war if it is discovered or to give up on his life's work and possibly his own life.

Ethan makes his fateful decision after he befriends a Muslim doctor, falsely imprisoned as a suspected terrorist. Their escape leads to a harrowing chase through a Bedouin desert camp in the dead of night, a violent confrontation with his mentor's murderer in the majestic ruins of an ancient temple in Luxor, and a final resolution with the deputy director of the CIA's covert operations in bustling market in Cairo. Along the way, Ethan discovers that the Logos also holds the key to understanding a mysterious mystical experience he has suppressed from his past.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"A cool premise compensates for the low stakes of Small's stand-alone religious thriller, his second after The Breath of God." - Publishers Weekly

"This one pushes the envelope to the edge and beyond, captivating with plausibility and imagination. A gritty thriller - with plenty of meat on its bones." - Steve Berry, New York Times best-selling author of The King's Deception

"The Jericho Deception spins out a brilliant, plausible premise into a ripping good novel, brimming with excitement, imagination, vivid settings and personable characters. Highly recommended." - Douglas Preston, #1best-selling author of The Monster of Florence

"The Jericho Deception is a blisteringly original, wondrously structured descent into a literal and figurative hell. Jeffrey Small's stellar tale of murder, treachery and international daring-do breathes new life into the moribund religious thriller genre as it blends science seamlessly with superstition. A high-tech Da Vinci Code on steroids, only better written." - Jon Land, bestselling author of Pandora's Temple

"Chock full of fascinating insider detail, The Jericho Deception is a thrilling roller-coaster ride into the beauty and darkness of the human mind. With muscular prose and a high quotient of believability, you'll be riveted watching scientists, politicians, and spies vie for control of the Logos machine. Send out for food. You won't want to stop reading." - Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Spies

This information about The Jericho Deception was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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John P. (Boca Raton, FL)

A battle of religion, culture and the mind
A very fast paced race between Islamic culture, the theory that religious belief can be modified and the salvation of our universe depends on that change will keep you turning pages.
Logos, from the Greek culture is the instrument of change and the battle of wits between several groups including the CIA will keep you moving from their headquarters, a monastery in the middle of the dessert and Yale University.

Paula W. (Sarasota, FL)

"Logos" - in the beginning was the Word....
Although I began "The Jericho Deception" with some misgivings, the first few chapters drew me in so deeply --- I just couldn't put it down. Recipe --- put in some terrorists, an explosion, a quest to be able to "give " people an experience with God -- "up close and personal", thugs on steroids, an top-secret underground facility, a righteous Muslim, an old, beloved Jewish mentor, a "sorta" agnositic hero --- then add an "unsolvable" code, a cute and brainy assistant and MONKEYS (!!!) - who could possibly resist this unusual and intriguing scientific, philosophical mystery. Not me!!!!

Jim S. (Austin, TX)

The Jericho Deception
Jeffrey Small's new novel the Jericho Deception is a fascinating story of neuroscience research into the effects of a machine called the Logos that might potentially turn religious zealots into pliable individuals. Unfortunately the machine falls into evil hands. Ethan Lightman, a physician researcher, has developed the machine with his mentor who is murdered and the machine stolen. This leads Ethan away from Yale to the desert near the Nile river. This is an exciting story of intrigue, love, and violence. I would recommend this book to all interested in mystery, action and thriller categories. I also look forward to reading Mr. Small's debut novel "The Breath of God".

Kathy M. (Neptune Beach, FL)

a pleasant surprise
When I received "The Jericho Deception" I was not sure at all how I was going to feel about reading this. The description sounded very highbrow and I was sure that the subject matter was going to be a struggle to read. However, I loved this book. It was a fascinating subject about the possibility of producing religious visions and ecstasy and as in all good thrillers the misuse of this knowledge. I had been looking for a 'can't put down read' and this was it. It would make for a great beach or vacation read. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Daniel A. (Naugatuck, CT)

The Jer1ch0 Decept10n
Question: What do you get when you combine these items - 1. A machine that taps into your seeing-God part of your brain, 2. The CIA, and 3. The Middle East?
Answer: A fascinating story with many twists and turns with plausible situations and memorable characters that just maybe would make you lose some sleep or a meal or two because you want to keep reading. Recommended for fans of mystery, suspense and thrillers.

Mary R. (San Jose, CA)

Could there be a God Spot in our brains?
The Jericho Deception is a multi-faceted novel about the discovery of a way to turn on the God Spot in the brain and how that discovery becomes a military tool for brainwashing people. The book is fast paced and the characterizations are vivid. You can't help but grow to love Ethan and Rachel and worry if Mousa will be saved. Just when you think you have it figured out, there's a twist in the story. It had me guessing right up to the last page, with a possible hint of a sequel. I can definitely see this as an action film.

...16 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Jeffrey Small

Jeffrey Small is the author of the award-winning bestseller, The Breath of God. Small's critically acclaimed debut novel won the Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal for Best Fiction and was hailed as "a thought-provoking masterpiece" by RT Book Reviews, "visionary fiction" by Library Journal, and "a fast-paced adventure" by Kirkus.

A popular speaker on religion and spirituality, Small holds degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Oxford Universities. He lives with his wife and daughter in Atlanta.

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