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Livingstone Chronicles #2
Hidden in Time
Rift in Time #2: Hidden in Time follows the search for the Ark of the Covenant. Adam Livingstone's team successfully removes and transports Noah's Ark down Mt. Ararat while the world watches in awe.
512 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2000
16 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Phillips
250Ìýbooks599ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 27, 2021
Synopsis: Adam Livingstone, a modern-day "Indiana Jones," and his friends are hot on the trail of the well-known Biblical artifact, the Ark of the Covenant. What he doesn't know is that there are forces of evil who will stop at nothing to ruin him, whether by murdering him or making him claims look like a hoax! Worse yet, upon finding what seems to be the Ark, it turns out to be a replica! Will Adam and friends ever find the real Ark of the Covenant, or will the forces of evil prevail in disproving both him and the Bible?
Story: 4.5/5
This novel reads like an action flick, which is a feat in of itself. Despite its length, it's one of those books that will grip you until the last page. Plenty of suspense, adventure, and peril await you in this book.
Writing: 4/5
What Michael Phillips did well in his previous novel, Rift of Time, he does well again in this sequel. The formatting was a bit choppy--seriously, a prologue before every section?--but it still drew me in.
Conclusion: Michael Phillips is best-known for his historical fiction, but this book proves that he is not a one-trick pony. Those who like reading about Biblical archaeology will definitely enjoy this, though it would help to read the previous novel, Rift of Time, first.
Score: 4.5/5
Story: 4.5/5
This novel reads like an action flick, which is a feat in of itself. Despite its length, it's one of those books that will grip you until the last page. Plenty of suspense, adventure, and peril await you in this book.
Writing: 4/5
What Michael Phillips did well in his previous novel, Rift of Time, he does well again in this sequel. The formatting was a bit choppy--seriously, a prologue before every section?--but it still drew me in.
Conclusion: Michael Phillips is best-known for his historical fiction, but this book proves that he is not a one-trick pony. Those who like reading about Biblical archaeology will definitely enjoy this, though it would help to read the previous novel, Rift of Time, first.
Score: 4.5/5
November 21, 2022
I am so frustrated with this author � he can’t decide whether he wants to be Indiana Jones or Dan Brown or Norman Vincent Peale� Ack!
It’s fiction. He’s trying really hard to make you believe that his fiction is plausible � but he can’t stop preaching long enough to tell his story. It gets so muddled up between the life-changing power of prayer and the Bible (fine � write a book about that � sell it to the “Guideposts� crowd) and the evil-incarnate Knights Templar (his view) and his Americanized view of the British class struggles and self-doubting females that it is almost mind-numbingly irritating. He gets in enough actual history to save it from a 1 or 2 star rating, but it’s like wading upstream through silt to get there.
Plus � his brand of “Christianity� is the kind that drove me away from church forever� the totally arrogant notion that the “faithful� and their prayers is the only thing that saves other people from evil situations. That is just the height of ridiculousness � do they really believe that God wouldn’t notice that one of his faithful was in trouble if some pastor’s wife in New Hampshire didn’t drop everything in the middle of the street and start praying for the person she senses is in trouble? Even the tone of the prayers is based in such an arrogance that it still shocks me. In my poor humble view, prayer helps the individual feel closer to god � not the other way around. These people make it look like God actually needs them to point out where he should focus his attention. Stupid. Arrogant. There is also a subtle prejudice against women, Muslims, Jews, educated people, pretty much anyone who might possibly not agree with his point of view (poor misguided fools, etc.) that is nearly intolerable.
It’s doubly frustrating because the premise of the novel (the NOVEL) is really interesting and has great potential as a page-turner. He presents plausible historically-based theories for yet unexplained or undiscovered artifacts, sites and events. Every good suspense / intrigue / chase novel needs bad guys and setbacks and tense situations (he has these). Every good romance needs a good breakup and makeup (he even has these). But in the end, he leaves a plethora of loose ends � he wraps up his favorite character plot lines in about 4 pages at the very end (cheap trick), but leaves all his bad guys hanging or unmentioned. He spent so much time developing their badness and the complexity of their network that it would seem the reader deserves to know what happened to them. Perhaps he’s leaving this cast of evil in the ether so he can use them again in a subsequent installment, but hey � it’s been 16 years and no third book, so --- hmmm�
I guess at the end of the day, my religious focus is so far afield from that of the author that I’ll never really love anything he writes� and it’s a good reminder to me of why I can’t stand being around people like him � but what a wasted opportunity!
It’s fiction. He’s trying really hard to make you believe that his fiction is plausible � but he can’t stop preaching long enough to tell his story. It gets so muddled up between the life-changing power of prayer and the Bible (fine � write a book about that � sell it to the “Guideposts� crowd) and the evil-incarnate Knights Templar (his view) and his Americanized view of the British class struggles and self-doubting females that it is almost mind-numbingly irritating. He gets in enough actual history to save it from a 1 or 2 star rating, but it’s like wading upstream through silt to get there.
Plus � his brand of “Christianity� is the kind that drove me away from church forever� the totally arrogant notion that the “faithful� and their prayers is the only thing that saves other people from evil situations. That is just the height of ridiculousness � do they really believe that God wouldn’t notice that one of his faithful was in trouble if some pastor’s wife in New Hampshire didn’t drop everything in the middle of the street and start praying for the person she senses is in trouble? Even the tone of the prayers is based in such an arrogance that it still shocks me. In my poor humble view, prayer helps the individual feel closer to god � not the other way around. These people make it look like God actually needs them to point out where he should focus his attention. Stupid. Arrogant. There is also a subtle prejudice against women, Muslims, Jews, educated people, pretty much anyone who might possibly not agree with his point of view (poor misguided fools, etc.) that is nearly intolerable.
It’s doubly frustrating because the premise of the novel (the NOVEL) is really interesting and has great potential as a page-turner. He presents plausible historically-based theories for yet unexplained or undiscovered artifacts, sites and events. Every good suspense / intrigue / chase novel needs bad guys and setbacks and tense situations (he has these). Every good romance needs a good breakup and makeup (he even has these). But in the end, he leaves a plethora of loose ends � he wraps up his favorite character plot lines in about 4 pages at the very end (cheap trick), but leaves all his bad guys hanging or unmentioned. He spent so much time developing their badness and the complexity of their network that it would seem the reader deserves to know what happened to them. Perhaps he’s leaving this cast of evil in the ether so he can use them again in a subsequent installment, but hey � it’s been 16 years and no third book, so --- hmmm�
I guess at the end of the day, my religious focus is so far afield from that of the author that I’ll never really love anything he writes� and it’s a good reminder to me of why I can’t stand being around people like him � but what a wasted opportunity!
March 7, 2009
This book takes up where "Rift in Time" left off. Adam, Juliet and the whole gang are back for more of Adam's adventures and ideas. Will he get Noah's ark off the mountain? And what is up with The Ark of the Covenant? Is it the real thing? Has it been destroyed? Alot of action in this book, with Adam getting himself into one dangerous situation after another. I really enjoyed it, though I'm waiting for a third............ Mr. Phillips, I want a wedding!!!!!!!!! That is my only complaint. Compared to "Rift" I think this one could have used a bit more romance.
January 18, 2016
This book is along the vein of Dan Brown's works (The DaVinci Code, Inferno) but is written from a Christian archeologic perspective. It's not as fast paced as Brown's works but does create a lot of tension in many of its scenes.
I appreciated the historical and archeological information provided in the text and also liked the teamwork aspect that was stressed throughout. I also liked that Adam Livingstone and other members of his team were willing to give "outsiders" who had "hurt" them second chances when the person demonstrated a changed life.
I appreciated the historical and archeological information provided in the text and also liked the teamwork aspect that was stressed throughout. I also liked that Adam Livingstone and other members of his team were willing to give "outsiders" who had "hurt" them second chances when the person demonstrated a changed life.
July 17, 2010
This addition to the Rift in Time series seems less plausible than the first book. Both books speak to fantastical events, but Hidden in Time was somewhat less engaging. The author moved the plot to his endgame with what I regard as only a surface-treatment of character and story development.
An ok read to escape into. The strength of the book is the concluding chapers which point to the future climax of history.
An ok read to escape into. The strength of the book is the concluding chapers which point to the future climax of history.
November 18, 2008
Great historical lesson wrapped into the lives of some unrealistic characters.
February 12, 2011
I like this series but was more entertained by the first book. This series is about an english archeologist that seeks artifacts from biblical times to prove the truth of the bible.
July 3, 2013
Really liked this book. Was a little wordy in technical sections but easy to skim without losing content. Hit home on some important spiritual truths. Rekindled my enjoyment of reading Jeremiah.
February 5, 2016
A good novel about Noah's Ark. Lots of history and archaeology.
February 7, 2017
This was the 2nd in a 2 part series. I enjoyed both of them the creativity of the author.
April 14, 2021
I loved the first book in Michael Phillips "Livingstone Chronicles" and looked forward to reading this book.
However, it was not as good as the first. Adam Livingstone's enemies - and there were a number - were unbelievable and some almost funny when they were supposed to be sinister. The plot did not have the organic nature of the first book and felt forced. Instead of taking a story and allowing the message to flow naturally from it, this book felt like the message had the story shoved into it.
However, it was not as good as the first. Adam Livingstone's enemies - and there were a number - were unbelievable and some almost funny when they were supposed to be sinister. The plot did not have the organic nature of the first book and felt forced. Instead of taking a story and allowing the message to flow naturally from it, this book felt like the message had the story shoved into it.
January 26, 2025
Can’t recommend highly enough!
Heart pounding action with Christian characters (not all start out as Christians) and scripture based plot. Although this book is fiction I ended up checking parts against my Bible and learned a lot of things I didn’t pay much attention to earlier. I highly recommend this book for all, whether you are Christian or not, the plot in itself will is riveting.
Heart pounding action with Christian characters (not all start out as Christians) and scripture based plot. Although this book is fiction I ended up checking parts against my Bible and learned a lot of things I didn’t pay much attention to earlier. I highly recommend this book for all, whether you are Christian or not, the plot in itself will is riveting.
March 2, 2025
I didn't enjoy this book. The plot was not plausible. I enjoy Michael Phillips historical fiction books. I have read three of his book that were not in the historical fiction genre and they fall flat. This was one of those books and it will be my last my Michael Phillips in this genre.
April 9, 2019
A sort of Christian Indiana Jones type novel. Adam is looking for the lost Ark of the Covenant.
April 6, 2020
A good story once again
As a story that combines both theology and archeology, this is wonderful. The well done drawings bring this story to life. Excellent!
As a story that combines both theology and archeology, this is wonderful. The well done drawings bring this story to life. Excellent!
February 18, 2024
DNF. Extra preachy disguised as an adventure novel.
September 23, 2020
Like the style of writing. The numerous characters off the main story line were a little difficult to keep straight but otherwise enjoyed the booked greatly.
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