The Reincarnationist by M J Rose

Title: The Reincarnationist
Author: M J Rose
ISBN: 9780778325765
Publisher: Mira/2007
Pages: 491

While Josh Ryder is taking photographs, a bomb explodes almost killing him. He survives but he has flashes of memories about the start of early Christianity. These thoughts trouble him as he cannot understand what those mean. Most of these memories are about a woman, he remembers as Sabina and violent end to his near and dear ones. He is unable to understand how the past is related to his present.

Meanwhile Gabriella Chase has discovered a small tomb with the skeleton of a woman and some stones, which is somehow related to Josh's past. Now those stones are wanted by almost everyone, those so called upholders of Christianity and also those who can go to any length to get hold of those memory stones, even kill, which they do. Josh can feel the dead call out to him and protect something or someone but he has no inkling of that. He tries his best to understand the past and how it is connected with his present but he can't fathom the depth of his flashes.

Going back and forth, the reader is taken into ancient Rome as well as present and wishes to know about Sabina and her relationship with Josh, in their past lives. M J Rose has made a work of fiction so much realistic that we believe Sabina existed. And Josh has been reincarnated through the ages, saving and protecting anyone who needs his protection. And we also want the memory stones to work so as to bring the dead from the past communicate with us.

We are left with questions like can it happen, this reincarnation over the centuries. As a Hindu, I do believe in it and the book made sense to me. This works so well as mystery and a historical novel. The romance might not be in the present times but Sabina and Josh/Julius's love transcends time in terms of centuries. And I thought the ending is befitting too.