‘There is an ancient practice among Jews of imagining what might have been going on “behind the scenes” of the biblical story as a means of deepening people’s understanding and appreciation of it. This way of retelling Bible stories is known as Midrash, and Jacob the Son is an outstanding contemporary example of it. Roger Harper masterfully helps readers get on the inside of what biblical characters were thinking, feeling, and experiencing, and in so doing, he helps readers to not merely read the biblical story, but to experience its transforming power!’

Greg Boyd

Founder and Leader of Woodland Hills Church, Minnesota, Professor of Theology and Author. 

Imaginative re-telling

The author draws on verses from Genesis chapter 25 to Genesis chapter 28 to give us a pacey and entertaining account of Jacob’s early life, struggles and relationships with his parents and his brother Esau. I loved the intriguing idea of “Midrash” or filling in explained in the book’s introduction; the author cleverly and convincingly “fills in” and builds on the biblical story, raising thought provoking questions about faith and perseverance, loyalty and trust.
Jacob’s mother Rebecca is especially appealing as a character and is brought to life via entertaining dialogue with her husband Isaac and sons. What will happen next? The author promises a trilogy which will complete the re imagining of Jacob’s story. I will definitely want to read the next books in the series.

AF on Amazon UK

Jacob Lives!

Most people will know something of the Biblical Jacob from Joseph/Dreamcoat but few these days will have read the Genesis original. Even for those of us who absorbed the story in our younger days, Roger Harper does a remarkable job of breathing life into ancient characters. What was sketchy is given a detailed context, fleshing out brief references to stimulate our understanding. I particularly liked the accounts of farming and digging wells in the rocky, challenging landscape of Palestine, a context essential for presenting Jacob in a real world. The book is fluently written, making very comprehensible a world from past millennia, as if about our neighbours down the road.

Robert on Amazon UK

An excellent and thought provoking read

I enjoyed reading Jacob The Son. Even though this story is based in ancient times it very much reflects some significant contemporary themes and in doing so brings alive the ancient biblical characters. I guess that's the reality of human nature, all things change and nothing changes. The deeper insight that Roger provides through the characters into the biblical narrative makes for an entertaining and also thought provoking read. I look forward to the second and third instalments.

Richard on Amazon UK

Fun and thought provoking.

A Bible story brought to life. This book is an easy read with some lovely touches of humour. It is fun to see the relationships between the characters grow and develop. At the same time it caused me to pause and question. What was life like back then? Have family dynamics and relationships changed over the centuries? Deception! What about faith? Can we hear God today? I’m looking forward to the next book in the trilogy. It is rare to find a book that is both entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommended.

Marshall on Amazon UK

Brilliantly imaginative and faithful to scripture!
I was quickly absorbed into the world Jacob and his family inhabited. The context is well researched and the relational interactions got me thinking deeply about these important biblical stories! Can't wait for the sequel!

Adam and Karina Martin on Amazon UK

Brings an old Testament story to life.

I enjoyed Roger's imaginative development of the story of Jacob. It was good to have the actual story as the basis for the book but then be inspired to think about how Jacob and his family might have felt and possible thoughts. A very enjoyable read. It would be good to read the next one in the series when it's available.

D. Rosewell on Amazon UK

Interesting read.

Rogers book adds warmth and background to a well known story. A story of God moving through His people.
A good well written novel.

Heather on Amazon UK

Thank you so much Roger for your depiction of some of the earliest chapters of the Bible in your book ‘JACOB the SON’.  You transported me back in time to reveal, with great insight, the life and times of Jacob from a youth to a young leader. I dwelt with him and his people in tents under the stars, I could smell the spices, feel the heat and I shared their hopes, dreams and anxiety.  Can’t wait for the sequel.  Very well done. 

Di D

An engaging read

I really enjoyed reading this retelling of the story of Jacob. It was light but true to the story in the Bible. It explored personalities and relationship dynamics that made the reading experience richer. I highly recommend.

Rebecca on Amazon UK

Gentle entertaining read that inspires you to follow your inner guidance

This is a gentle, highly readable novel, telling how a family won its right to live in wild country surrounded by tribes similar to their own. There was one big difference between them and their neighbours. They believed that God had uniquely called them and guided them how best to develop the land; when to use discussion backed up by hard work, and when to walk away; when to be assertive and when to await the next opportunity. I enjoyed the interaction of the characters, especially the influence of the women. It is a retelling and amplification of one of the most important people in the Biblical book of Genesis. I look forward to reading the next volumes in the trilogy. In its gentle way, I hope it will encourage people to develop their own awareness of their own inner guidance. Our time and place may appear different, but people are the same and the world just as real.

Philip Tyers on Amazon UK

An excellent read

I really enjoyed reading this book. Nice to have the characters brought to life and to follow the familiar story in an entertaining way.

(Another) Rebecca on Amazon UK

This novel features the biblical patriarch Jacob, based on the text in Genesis chapters 25 to 28, from Jacob’s birth through to his vision of the heavenward ladder.
I read it through as a novel, without checking back to Genesis. But as soon as I had finished I looked at those chapters of Genesis – to see which details I had forgotten, and what our author had added! There is a good deal of imaginative amplification here, mostly plausible to me, though a scholar of the relevant period could pass better judgement.
I usually have more than one book on the go, and in parallel with this I have been reading one of the Jack Reacher thrillers by Lee Child, as well as Paula Gooder’s story of Lydia. ‘Jacon the Son’ does not have the pace or intrigue of Lee Child’s series of novels. It does, however, have more action than Lydia! Of that book, the final third is commentary, justifying the narrative details from biblical or archeological scholarship. Harper does not give us such commentary, but a three-page introduction explaining some of his choices.
Two more novels are promised; I look forward to reading them.

I Tarrant on Amazon UK