The Evidence (Mars Hill Classified, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)In The Evidence, Austin Boyd creates a story that is of truly universal proportions. John Wells, the story's protagonist/astronaut, watches from space as the U.S. is attacked by terrorists. In the months following the attack, John develops a radical theory about who was behind the attack and how it was performed. Since his ideas run contrary to the government's plans, he must find an ally down on earth to act as his feet before the U.S. military becomes too involved in a military attack against the wrong country. The scale and impact of the terrorist attacks are extreme, but the story doesn't really take off until NASA starts receiving signals from Mars. The country then becomes obsessed with the possible discovery of alien life.
The broadness of this story is its most remarkable feature. It spans across several years and takes place in such exotic locations as Greece, Space Station Alpha, Mars, and at least a dozen places in North and South America. However, an overabundance of minor characters causes confusion and makes it hard to become immersed in the rich, detailed settings.
John's relationship with his wife Amy governs his actions throughout the book. He is presented with unique challenges when he is separated from her and confined with other women while in space. His devotion to Amy is a good example of Christianity to his predominantly unbelieving fellow crew members.
While many of the relationships between the characters feel contrived because of the labored and overly formal dialogue, one relationship that does come across well is between John and Sergei, one of his crewmates. When the two are floating in space while performing a repair on the station, Sergei's suit malfunctions, allowing them only minutes to get back inside before he runs out of oxygen. John's faith compels him to attempt a daring and dangerous rescue mission to try to save the life of his friend.
None of Boyd's characters are predictable. From the prophetic preacher to the villain from the South, each brings a unique feeling to the scenes in which he appears. But because there are so many characters, it is often difficult to keep track of what role each plays. Also, the male characters are weakened by their use of macho one-liners and other cliches.
The character of John Wells is constantly torn between going back into space or staying home with his family. This tension drives the book, because John is always making decisions based on what he thinks God is calling him to do. As far as John's beliefs go, some readers may disagree with his stance on alien life. He argues, and provides some support for the claim, that there is no indication in the Bible that denies the possibility of finding life on another planet.
The Evidence is the first book in a new series. As such, I expected that there would be some loose ends, but I was surprised at how unresolved the story felt when it ended. Boyd hits on many compelling ideas and writes in a very readable way, but don't expect a standalone epic. Hopefully, book two will provide some answers for those who chose to continue with this series, but, being more than 400 pages long, The Evidence will leave most readers who are not die-hard space enthusiasts exhausted and without any sense of completion. -- Devin B. Wieland, Christian Book Previews.com


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