Knowing I was going to be laid up recently I had been on the lookout for a new fiction book. I don’t remember how I came to find out about this new series but I’m glad that I did. I have been wondering if I’d find a series to enjoy as much as I loved Gods and Kings… and this is looking promising.

The series is The Wives of King David by Jill Eileen Smith. The first book is Michal and whilst it is fiction I did gain a deeper insight into the life, times and culture of this era. I still don’t understand how David had many wives but this book gave me some thoughts to ponder.

The author’s research for The Wives of King David series was broad and in-depth, spanning Bible commentaries, Bible encyclopedias, Bible dictionaries, archaeological magazines, books on manners, customs, and life and times of the Old Testament eras. She searched websites for Bible places, Hebrew words, and interesting tidbits, studied maps and photos of Israel, made idea boards where she “cast” models and actors into the novel’s starring roles to help her “see” her characters, read books on women of the Bible, Bible cookbooks, and tried some of the recipes. As a final research tool, she traveled with her husband to Israel, giving her a final hands-on feel for the place.

I don’t know about you but that sounds like a *living book* to me!

I’d not read much about Michal before (unlike my studies of Abigail) but this book has gotten me into the word again. Funny, isn’t it… how facts when placed in a novel can really make a story come alive.

Interested in reading the first chapter? Head to the books website: Michal and download Chapter 1.

Suffice to say that I’m reading through the books of Samuel whilst I wait for the next book, (Abigail) to arrive.