Enjoying this book? Help it get discovered by casting your vote!

Must read 🏆

Eminently engaging and uber absorbing. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a historical fiction tome as much as this one! Masterful!

Synopsis

The Feast of Shavuot is approaching, and Jerusalem is on high alert. It has been a mere fifty days (what the Greeks call a Pentecost) since a tumultuous Passover. Unbeknownst to each other, three travelers are making their way to Jerusalem for the festival where their lives will be forever changed when they encounter the Disciples of Jesus of Nazareth in the square beneath the Upper Room.

The Disciples of Jesus of Nazareth are about to rock the world of three unsuspecting pilgrims, who are all making their way to Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot. Lucius, the brother of Simon the Cyrene, Cadmus, a friend of Pontius Pilate, and Mikaela, a simple Judean potter; each of them has their own purpose for the journey - yet none of them are prepared for the intense spiritual transformation they will experience when they reach the courtyard beneath the Upper Room.

In The Wind That Did Not Blow, readers will be transported to a time and place of great turmoil and faith and will be captivated by the lives of these characters as they face unexpected revelations and come together in the name of love.

Lace up your sandals and step back into first century Judea as you join three different characters on their way to Jerusalem in this uber absorbing and captivating historical fiction tome by Tim Doppel.


Told through the eyes of three characters with unique backgrounds, the story shows how each character’s life journey intertwines and leads them to a group of first century Jesus followers known as The Way and a camp outside old Jerusalem.


The three main characters are Lucius of Cyrene, brother of Simon (biblically literate readers will get the reference), Cadmus, and Mikaela.


Lucius is a “sicarii.” He’s dedicated to freeing Judea from under the oppressive boot of Rome. He also wants revenge against the Romans for the death of his innocent brother Sufian by Roman sword.


Cadmus is a well-to-do friend of Pontius Pilate. Cadmus travels to Jerusalem to confront a servant he suspects of malfeasance. He finds a big surprise instead.


Mikaela of Judea (Lydda) is a young mother of four and a pottery vendor. Her husband, Tavee, is a follow of the Rabbi Jesus. Is the rabbi the promised Messiah? Or is he just another prophet or good man “teaching simple things to simple people”? The author allows you to draw your own conclusions as the story unfolds.


Meanwhile, the action shifts seamlessly and expertly from Roman to Cyrene to Sicarii and Zealot to disciple and pottery maker. And from Judea to the Temple Mount to the Praetorium to the marketplace to Galilee, Capernaum, and the Upper Room and vicinity.


There’s also the festival of Shavuot.  The Valley of Hinnom. Pilate. The Sanhedrin. Shabbat. Living bread. Mary Magdala. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Tip (throwin' this in for free): Don’t read this book on an empty stomach. The descriptions of Middle Eastern fare will have you drooling (don’t ask how I know that).


Saturated in history, the story includes the Roman version of society: “Rules, taxes, fear, death” and those who are determined to fight Rome to the end. Oh, and the title? That’s explained. You’ll just have to wait for it.


Structurally sound, supple, and exceptionally well-crafted, the story is undergirded by strong writing that pulls you in from chapter one and doesn't let go until the final page. The setting and characters practically leap off the page. You can almost feel the dry heat of summer. Taste the pomegranates and figs. Feel the breeze scudding off the Great Sea. Hear the bellow of donkey and camels. The narrative has a "You Are There" quality to it that puts you right in the thick of things.


Finally, The Wind That Did Not Blow is a work of fiction based on fact. It’s a little The Chosen. A little Ben Hur. A touch of The Robe. All eminently engaging. Moreover, there’s so much tenderness in this book. It’s a love story within an historical fiction story. Those who know what to look for will recognize same. Speaking of which, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a historical fiction tome as much as I did The Wind That Did Not Blow. I missed lunch to finish this book and read it cover-to-cover in one sitting. I didn’t want it to end!


Wait. Is that the howl of a Simoom windstorm or… something else?


Maranatha!

Reviewed by

Lifelong bibliophile. Library Board Member. Select book reviews featured on my blog and Goodreads, etc. I'm a frank but fair reviewer, averaging 400+ books/year in a wide variety of genres on multiple platforms. Over 1,600 published reviews. Still going strong!

Synopsis

The Feast of Shavuot is approaching, and Jerusalem is on high alert. It has been a mere fifty days (what the Greeks call a Pentecost) since a tumultuous Passover. Unbeknownst to each other, three travelers are making their way to Jerusalem for the festival where their lives will be forever changed when they encounter the Disciples of Jesus of Nazareth in the square beneath the Upper Room.

The Disciples of Jesus of Nazareth are about to rock the world of three unsuspecting pilgrims, who are all making their way to Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot. Lucius, the brother of Simon the Cyrene, Cadmus, a friend of Pontius Pilate, and Mikaela, a simple Judean potter; each of them has their own purpose for the journey - yet none of them are prepared for the intense spiritual transformation they will experience when they reach the courtyard beneath the Upper Room.

In The Wind That Did Not Blow, readers will be transported to a time and place of great turmoil and faith and will be captivated by the lives of these characters as they face unexpected revelations and come together in the name of love.

Prologue


Outside of the City of Jerusalem, Fall, AD 33


The fire crackled and sparked as Lucius added a log to the blaze. Glowing embers rose into the air in such a number it seemed as if they were vying with the stars in the clear, fall sky. The air felt cool compared to the hot days in the Judean hills around Jerusalem.

Little rain had fallen over the past few months—not unusual in itself, but it added to the feeling of parchedness that everyone in the camp felt, day in and day out. All yearned for grain and meat from the Valley of Jezreel and the seaside valleys. A continuous diet of bread, grapes, olives, pomegranates, and figs was getting old. A fresh lamb would be a delicacy.

The camp lay in a small valley outside the walled city of Jerusalem; it housed over a thousand people. Most were Jews who had come from other areas of Judea and Galilee for the Festival of Shavuot and stayed because of their conversion to the teachings of Jesus. As the camp was within walking distance of Jerusalem, many others, who also were Followers of the teachings of Jesus, lived in the city.

The original apostles of Jesus went into the city and to the Temple to preach almost every day. The movement grew as Jesus’ teachings were spoken boldly and truthfully. Members shared their belongings for the good of the people, and no one went hungry or cold.

The seven men who sat around the fire on this cool autumn night said little. They were tired after another long day serving the needs of the camp residents. Despite appearances, they were very close and valued each other’s friendships. They each had a distinctive look about them, as if they had come from a different part of the world—and indeed, they had.

Ezra, the chatty one of the group, broke the silence. “I’m going to have to search for more tents tomorrow. It seems we are running low.” A merchant and broker of fine goods, he worked for Cadmus the Roman as his agent in Judea. He was a resourceful man with many contacts and knew how to find the supplies and food the camp needed from other merchants in the area.

“We added ten new families today,” said Thaddaeus. “Only two bothered to bring their own tents. I was lucky to find others who would take them in tonight.” Tall and thin, with a close-cropped beard and curly hair that he kept cut just below his ears, Thaddaeus walked with a slight limp, as a result of a childhood accident. In the three years that Jesus had been their rabbi, Thaddaeus had helped to keep things organized. He also helped plan events and arrange lodging for the Followers of Jesus as they traveled throughout the region. Now, Thaddaeus served the camp in an administrative role.

“You mean Magdala found them a place, don’t you?” corrected Simon. Stocky and strong, Simon had been forced to carry the cross of Jesus in the procession to Golgotha on that fateful day. It had profoundly affected him.

They all smiled and nodded. Mary of Magdala, one of Jesus’ closest friends, had taken it upon herself to become the “manager” of the camp. Nothing happened in the camp without her knowing about it. All the men were smart enough not to argue with her decisions.

“How many does that make now?” asked Tavee, a farmer and merchant from the Judean valley town of Lydda near the Great Sea. Along with his wife, Mikaela, they created unique pottery that they sold in the marketplace of Jerusalem.

Thaddaeus replied, “By my count, we have over 600 tents with over a thousand men, not counting women and children. I do not know how we continue to feed them all.”

“By the grace of God,” replied Andrew, brother of Simon Peter. All grew solemn and stared into the fire.

“Well, a bit of good bartering never hurts either,” joked Ezra, and they all chuckled.

“Andrew, is the leadership aware of the increasing anger towards us among the Council in the city?” Simon asked. “From what my sources are telling me, Stephen has really stirred up the Pharisees and the Elders. This is more serious than when you and Peter embarrassed them earlier this summer. I don’t know how much more they are going to take. There is one Pharisee in particular—Saul—who appears to be looking for a fight. We need to be cautious.”

Andrew was silent as the group stared at him expectantly. They knew that as Simon Peter’s brother, Andrew was a part of the inner circle of the leadership of The Way. He would know of any plans. “Our situation here is not permanent, that much we know. We will rely on God’s wisdom and mercy to guide us,” he said.

The men gazed into the fire and pondered what he meant.

“Allow me to say,” said Cadmus, “that I find it almost implausible that we are here at all. None of us would have guessed we’d be around this fire a year ago. The circumstances that have led us to be here tonight, sharing this time, are truly remarkable.” Cadmus was clearly out of his element here. A Roman Patrician and importer, he was more accustomed to fine dining than a bonfire. Even so, somehow he fit in with this group. Cadmus wore his mahogany brown hair short on the sides but longer and wavy on top. He endured shaving every day, as the elite of Rome was fond of appearing clean-shaven.

“Lucius, in any other setting, you’d be trying to kill me with that big knife of yours.”

“You have no idea, Roman,” cracked Lucius with a twinkle in his eye. The brother of Simon, Lucius had a rough look about him, as well as he should have. A man of the desert, he had fought the Romans in any way he could since childhood. Lucius spoke gruffly and lowly when he did speak, which was seldom. One disagreed with Lucius at their own peril. “Fortunately, you have wine.”

“And a lot of it!” Cadmus said hastily, with a smile.

The mood lightened instantly as the group relaxed, trusting in the friendship they all felt for each other.

“Say, Cadmus,” asked Simon. “Just how did a Roman become a part of our group?”

“Oh, come now, you have heard this story many times over.”

“Perhaps. But I’m still suspicious. Convince me once more,” Simon quipped with a gleam in his eye.

Everyone laughed as Cadmus reached for the jug of wine.

“You’re all going to need to fill up. This takes a while. Oh, and Lucius… put another log on the fire.”


No activity yet

No updates yet.

Come back later to check for updates.

4 Comments

Lisa Henson@kristinel, after reading your review, I've got to check out this book! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
12 months ago
Kristine L.Best wishes on your launch, Tim!
0 likes
about 1 year ago
Tim Doppel@kristinel Thank You!
12 months ago
Omkar Manohar“The Wind That Did Not Blow" by Brian J. Cummings is an immersive journey into the human psyche, set against the backdrop of a coastal town ravaged by a merciless storm. At its core, the novel is a masterful exploration of grief, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of the human heart. Through the eyes of protagonist Jack, readers are invited to experience the tumultuous aftermath of the storm, which serves as a metaphor for life's unpredictability and the inevitability of change. Jack's personal struggles mirror those of the community at large, as they grapple with the physical and emotional wreckage left in the storm's wake. Cummings' prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the coastal landscape and capturing the raw intensity of human emotion. Each character is rendered with depth and complexity, their inner turmoil and external conflicts adding layers of richness to the narrative. At its core, "The Wind That Did Not Blow" is a story about the power of resilience and the capacity of the human spirit to endure even the most devastating of losses. Through Jack's journey of self-discovery and healing, the novel offers a message of hope and redemption, reminding readers that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light. Overall, "The Wind That Did Not Blow" is a poignant and deeply affecting novel that will resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of hope in the face of adversity.
0 likes
12 months ago
About the author

Tim Doppel is a part time author, as comfortable at the keyboard as he is working in his landscape. Tim Doppel has a diverse range of talents and experiences. Tim’s passion for writing is evident through his industry-related articles and his faith-based programs. view profile

Published on February 13, 2024

Published by

40000 words

Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆

Genre:Historical Fiction

Made with Reedsy
Learn more
Reviewed by