Book Review: Nehushtan by William Worley

Nehushtan, a new book by William Worley (and published by Anomalos), begins its´ tale with a caravan of colorful tourists engaged in a tour of pivotal locales in the life of Moses.

You´ve heard of the dismal (yet somehow popular) movie, Snakes on a Plane. Well, one might think at first that Nehushtan is the literary equivalent, Snakes on the Brain. However, you´d be wrong.

Amidst a cast of thrill seekers and well educated travelers who tax the tour guide with their comparable knowledge of the finer points of the expedition, Major Jones joins the group as a seeker of another sort. Jones is in search of a brass serpent, a symbol of healing.

The Major sets out on a jaunt away from the group and when he returns to camp, he and his Arab assistant find an eerily silent scene.

Upon closer examination, Jones discovers a takeover at the campsite. What follows is an exciting showdown.

Jones´ desert companion, Nasir, advances the explorer´s quest with stories gleaned from ancestors. These stories are as old as time and weave an incredible tale of mythos around the legend of the brass serpent.

Visiting a nearby village, the two hear that the original serpent of Moses still exists. Jones reveals that he seeks the power that possesses the healing relic. It is also exposed during his travel that Jones has the skills of a surgeon as he attends to another man´s injuries.

Finally, before the tour ends, Major Jones receives a glimpse of the supernatural Nehushtan, the brass serpent mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible, book of Kings.

Back in England, Jones uncovers the full story of the Nehushtan and its´ seemingly mystical power. At the same time, he finds himself being whisked away on assignment.

Mysterious snakebite deaths seem to be happening inside mines in Northern England. With his wife, Helen, the duo investigates the situation

For me to continue the story would mean that I would have to reveal the biggest part of the book, when the exciting tale takes a right turn into X Files Lane.

OK, here is a little hint: by the time we get to the climax of the book, we find ourselves dealing with creatures. How´s that for a tease?

Nehushtan is a very interesting book that is worth reading. Keep your snakebite kit handy.

Bruce Collins

www.BruceDCollins.com