Unholy Night
Seth Grahame-Smith
Read by Peter Berkrot

Hachette Audio
April 10, 2012 / ISBN: 1611133947
Historical Fiction / Alternate History / Audiobook (Unabridged) / Audio CD / Run Time: 9 hours, 50 minutes
Amazon

Reviewed by Jo Rogers

Balthazar, a man history records as one of the three wise men to visit the child Jesus, is the central character in Seth Grahame-Smith's book, Unholy Night.However, it paints a different picture of Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. In this story, the three were thieves who never met until shortly before the birth of Jesus. They joined to escape from a Judean prison before they were to be beheaded. Balthazar asked for three priests to comfort them before their execution. They tied up the priests and took their clothes. On the run and hunted by Herod's soldiers, they headed for Jerusalem.

However, the Judean soldiers were getting too close to them, so they detoured to Bethlehem. Where they decided to hide themselves and their camels in a stable. No one would look for them there. They surprised Mary as she was feeding baby Jesus. Joseph attacked them with a pitchfork, and they reached an uneasy truce.

Balthazar and his new friends left the next morning for Jerusalem. On the road, they met the Judean army, who rode right by them, even though one had looked right at them. Surprised, Balthazar turned back to see what could be more important than catching him, the Antioch Ghost. He saw the soldiers killing all the boys from two years old down.

This book was well-written, with familiar characters in decidedly unfamiliar roles. It's a what-if version of Biblical history. Kudos to Mr. Grahame-Smith for that! There's nothing better than a good yarn, and this is one. Though the story messes with the Bible, and that left me a bit uncomfortable, it is a good story, well-retold. Listen to Unholy Night and see for yourself.

Reviews of other titles by this author

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter [book] [audio 1] [audio 2]