The Rise of Lazarus/ The Brotherhood of Barnabas (The Rise of Lazarus 1 & 2) by BW Jackson-reviews and interview
THE RISE OF LAZARUS
The Rise of Lazarus #1
by BW Jackson
Genre: adult, mystery, thriller, secret society
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Indigo /
Release Date: February 4, 2025
A gripping tale with a simple moral: hope for the future is steeped in knowledge of the past.
Aaron, an indifferent but brilliant student at a small college in New England, is led step by step into a mysterious cave of history. Over the course of several weeks, and through several rounds of storytelling, Aaron learns the fascinating and impossible narrative of a Holocaust survivor named Lazarus from his college professor, Professor Freeman, and his colorful grandfather, Grandpa Moshe.
In the end, Aaron discovers that the story of this intriguing Lazarus figure is much more personal than he ever could have imagined.
••••••
REVIEW:I picked up The Rise of Lazarus on a whim, (I’m trying new genres) honestly, the title alone hooked me, with its biblical echo of resurrection layered over what promised to be a modern mystery.
What I got was something far better, a gripping, story that feels like sitting in on late night conversations with people who’ve lived through history’s sharpest edges. By the end, I was genuinely moved, and wanted the next book straight away.
The story centers on Aaron, a college kid in New England who gets pulled, almost against his will, into a web of storytelling that spans decades, continents, and centuries.
Through his professor and his grandfather Moshe, Aaron hears the “impossible” tale of Lazarus, a Holocaust survivor whose life refuses to stay neatly in the past.
The tale unfolds in these almost fireside style rounds of stories, each one peeling back another layer, each one leaving you itching to turn the page and uncover more.
The reveal is slow, but it builds and builds, and I couldn’t put it down until it was done. We aren’t aware of what’s legend, of what’s memory, and what’s about to happen right now!
Professor Freeman and Grandfather Moshe were great additions to the story, I loved his grandfather, he was funny. I could hear his voice in my head, equal parts mischief and wisdom. 😝
And Lazarus himself… well, without spoiling anything, the way his story intertwines with Aaron’s personal life is the kind of twist that makes you sit back and whisper “no way” when it clicks. 🤐
The book moves between the quiet college campus and the sweeping, sometimes harrowing backdrop of European history, secret societies, and survival against impossible odds!
At just under 200 pages, it’s a quick but immersive read, I finished it in two sittings (work and real life intrude!) and immediately wanted the next installment (Book Two, The Brotherhood of Barnabas, is already calling my name).
Would definitely recommend especially if you’re the historical reader, mixing a little fact with fiction.
Can’t wait to see where Aaron’s journey goes next.
Reviewed by Julie🦋
_______
THE BROTHERHOOD OF BARNABAS
The Rise of Lazarus #2
by BW Jackson
Genre: adult, mystery, thriller, secret society
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Indigo /
Release Date: February 4, 2025
In The Brotherhood of Barnabas, Book Two of The Rise of Lazarus, Aaron wanders even deeper into the hidden workings of the society of Lazarus. But just when Professor Freeman begins to uncover another eerie mystery, he suddenly goes missing, leaving Aaron and Grandpa Moshe and Miriam on a desperate mission to track him down.
Along the way, they encounter the ancient origins of the Brotherhood of Barnabas and the rise of an enemy organization known as the Crimson Ribbon. Dubious clues lure them into a precarious adventure to the Old World, amidst the living history of Lazarus and Tabitha. But their quest is upended when a secret from the past is resurrected, challenging everything they thought they knew about the legend of Lazarus.
•••••••
REVIEW:The Brotherhood of Barnabas delivers a solid follow up that deepens the mystery while keeping the pages turning. I was able to pick up the second book right after the first one, so I could keep everything fresh in my mind…..
Picking up from the first book, Aaron dives further into the shadowy society surrounding Lazarus. And just when they think they have a breakthrough, the professor disappears (kidnapped?)
Aaron, along with his grandfather start a frantic search. Without the professor they seem stuck!
Crimson Ribbon is the society that wants to keep this all a secret, and will do what it can to keep Aaron quiet. The Crimson Ribbon send Aaron on a tense journey to the Old World, where past secrets collide with the present in surprising ways! 😮
What I enjoyed most was the mixing of contemporary characters with historical and legendary elements, and the cliffhanger style chapter endings made it hard to put down.
That said, the pacing occasionally slows (too much info? 🤷🏻♀️) with the ancient lore and secret societies, and some plot threads rely on convenient clues. It works best if you’ve read Book 1, as it continues directly from there.
It was a good book, I don’t think as good as the first, and I’m hoping we don’t have to wait too long for book three. 🤞
If you like mystery/adventure stories with historical/religious undertones and a touch of the eerie, it’s worth picking up.
I’m curious to see where Book 3 takes things!
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Julie B🦋
TRC: Hi BW and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of THE
RISE OF LAZARUS and THE BROTHERHOOD OF BARNABUS
We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell
us something about yourself?
I’m a proud native of Syracuse. I’m one of twelve children born to an American mother
and an English father. I’m a dual citizen of the United States and Great Britain.
I’ve been writing novels and short stories for almost twenty years, ever since I
graduated from college. Three years ago, I finally found a publisher for my first
novel, The Rise of Lazarus. It’s been a long road. Of course, when you start, you
believe you’re going to have immediate success. In hindsight, I can see that the long
road is a rite of passage.
TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?
BW: Without a doubt, my family influenced me most. I was fortunate to grow up in a
household that valued books and ideas. My parents and my older siblings—as the
eleventh born, I had ten of them—read to me all through childhood. We didn’t have a
lot, but our bookshelves were always overstocked and we had stacks of books in every
room. To want to write books seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I assumed
everyone wanted to write books.
TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this
series?
BW: I was extremely naïve when I first started writing. I thought all you had to do was write
the book, as if publishers were just waiting around for you to hand them a manuscript,
the way you hand in a paper in college. I had no clue how much time and work and
prospecting it would take, outside of the writing and editing.
For years and years, I sent out manuscripts all over the place, and I had no real reason
to keep trying. Then, out of nowhere, I caught a break. I sent something to a retired
professor, someone I didn’t know at all. He appreciated my work and generously offered
to put me in touch with an agent. Within a few months, I went from no prospects to a
contract.
TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of THE RISE OF LAZARUS
and THE BROTHERHOOD OF BARNABUS?
BW: The premise occurred to me about ten years ago. I was reflecting on the story of
Lazarus and wondered, if Lazarus already died, why should he die again? What has he
been up to the last two thousand years? That idea led to a short story about a lazy
college student named Aaron and his professor, which became the basis for the novel.
In the series, Aaron learns about this fascinating character from his professor, and then
from his grandfather. That is his introduction to a vast world of little-known history,
including an obscure secret society known as the Brotherhood of Barnabas.
When you take a nibble of history, you suddenly start to realize how much there is, and
how rich it is. That’s what happens to Aaron, albeit in slightly more spectacular fashion.
But one of my big hopes for the series is that it will inspire young people to dig a little
deeper into history.
TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend
researching /plotting before beginning the series?
I like to start with a vague plotline and basic research. I’ve found that the more plotting I
do prior to writing, the more daunting the project becomes. Almost always, my books
take a different direction from my initial conception. If I get too far ahead, the excitement
of discovery goes out of it.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for THE RISE OF LAZARUS series?
BW: Three books for sure. The third book will be out in the next year or so. After that, we’ll
see. Aaron starts out the series as a passive main character. He’s young, and he’s
really just learning from his elders. That’s intentional. I wanted to model that, without
being too heavy-handed. However, I’d like to see Aaron grow into a true main character,
maybe even a hero. I think he has the potential.
TRC: Does religion or spirituality play a role (Minor or Major) in the series?
BW: That’s a great question, and a tricky one, in a way. Religion plays a major role in the
series, without a doubt. The series has a clear biblical foundation. At the same time, all
the books can be read either from a more spiritual perspective or from a more academic
perspective. My father, who had an immeasurable influence on my writing and thinking,
was a history professor and then became a pastor. Those two strains run through the
books.
TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of
mystery and suspense. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you
think some author’s fail?
BW: Oddly enough, I’d say believability is in the boring stuff. You establish trust through
mundane details. If your portrayal of the ordinary sets off alarms, readers will never take the plunge with you into the extraordinary. Readers will reward you for the tedious work
of consistency and plausible dialogue. You have to build up that credit with them.
TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the
process of selecting a book or new series to read?
BW: Fair or not, the cover image plays a huge role. At this point, with the evolution of the
internet and social media, images have probably eclipsed words as the chief form of
basic communication. How many images do we flip through on a daily basis? Without
knowing it, we’ve all became extremely adept at judging books by their covers, so to
speak.
I had various artsy-fartsy ideas for my first book cover. I love all the depictions of
Lazarus in painting. In the end, I had to remember that the point of the cover was to
present an image that could, in an instant, create curiosity and accurately tell readers
what they were getting themselves into. A Giotto fresco or a Rembrandt etching was not
going to do that, as much as I loved looking at them.
TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the
characters?
BW: If the writing is good, the characters are in charge. Otherwise, the puppet strings are
visible everywhere. It takes a lot of care to make sure your characters are fully formed,
including spending time with them outside of the writing. Once they take shape, you
oppose them at your own peril.
TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they
experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer
must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this
endeavor?
BW: The key, as a writer, is experiencing the emotions along with your characters. If you’re
not experiencing them, how can you expect a reader to experience them? My wife can
always tell when I’m deep into a story because I start to get a distant stare. I’m living
half the time in this other world.
In my opinion, writers fail when they try to force a character or a plotline into a story.
Readers can sniff it out. A valid critique of my work may be that I don’t have a wide
array of characters. But I’d rather write the characters I know convincingly—that’s hard
enough as it is—than try to complete some imaginary checklist of characters.
TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the
storyline direction? Characters?
BW: I rarely listen to music while writing, and generally only if I’m attempting to block out
noise, in which case I’ll put on classical music. I find music distracting.
My wife is a soprano, and so I at least try when I can, out of respect for the artform, to
listen to music when I listen to music. That’s not meant to be snooty! If you turn the
tables, I wouldn’t want someone, for instance, to read one of my books while watching
television.
TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?
BW: An author dashes off brilliant lines in the morning and then goes off to carouse with
intellectuals and other socialites.
No.
The daily life of an author is extremely boring. Most people wouldn’t want to be a writer
for a day, or even a few hours. You sit at a desk, wringing the words out, and you’re not
allowed to leave until you’re done. And what you have when you’re done is mostly
garbage, which you’ll eventually have to sift through, painstakingly. You’re never
satisfied. But if you’re a writer, this is what you love.
TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?
BW: I am an unofficial member of the Syracuse China Turn-Over Club, which means I
constantly turn over dishes and mugs to check if they are Syracuse China. I would love
to get an official invitation someday. The process is mysterious.
TRC: On what are you currently working?
BW: I’m currently working on The Cave of Cleopas, book three of the Lazarus series. I’m in
the middle of rewriting some of the final chapters, and I’m excited with how things have
opened up. It’s very satisfying when you begin to see what you’ve written with clear
eyes, and know where changes are needed. For me, that tends to be a long process.
Otherwise, I’m always writing short stories or scribbling poetry or jotting down notes for
other manuscripts. I have a folder of novels I regularly circle back around to.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
BW: I want to thank you again. The world of books is in flux, and has become more and
more fragmented, but the type of work you’re doing at The Reading Café is what helps
hold us all together.
I also hope people will take a chance on the Lazarus series. In my early twenties, I
worked in Washington for a few years. One simple rule for politicians is that you need to
ask people to vote for you. You can’t just present yourself and your positions and cross
your fingers that they’ll vote for you. I’m finding the same is true in publishing. And so, even though it makes me uncomfortable, I ask you, if you’re reading this: Will you
please buy my books?
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food
Cheese
Favorite Dessert
Wafer Cake
Favorite TV Show
Jeopardy
Favorite Sport
Soccer
Last Movie You Saw
My Dinner with Andre
Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark Chocolate
Secret Celebrity Crush
Marion Cotillard
Last Vacation Destination
London
Do you have any pets?
Not at the moment. I grew up with a standard poodle and I aspire to have a standard
poodle. I’m a one breed man.
Last book you read
Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote
TRC: Thank you BW for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on
the release of your new books.
Merren:The Good Life gets its name from a British TV show from the 1970s that followed the fortunes (and comic misfortunes) of a couple who seek to become self-sufficient. The Year of the Fox is the first of several novels that tell the story of women seeking a change from an urban-led lifestyle to a rural one. In this first book, the main character, Nancy, is on the rebound from a humiliating break-up and makes an impulsive decision to buy a large property near the Southern Alps. She has little experience with country living and livestock raising, and her sometimes clueless approach leads to hilarious misadventure and, ultimately, triumph. At its heart, The Year of the Fox is about female empowerment.
I suffered awfully once again when writing Tap Rack Bang. There were a number of scenes in which young children were in danger, and suffering in complete and bewildering terror. I remember being so afraid and alone at times as a child, so I had to relive those memories writing those scenes. I suppose having a vivid recollection aids me in writing these scenes as truthfully as possible. Blackshaw readers will be the ultimate judges of this.
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