The Jerusalem Train
THE JERUSALEM TRAIN is set in China during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905).
Alec Daniloff, veteran of the Spanish-American War, is on the run. He was about to be hanged by two corrupt police officers in Manila. He turned the tables, killing them both. Now he must hide on the docks of Russian-held Port Arthur, Manchuria. The handsome American's inability to back down from any challenge constantly has him in hot water and intrigue.
Uri Lieberman is a secret Zionist who is the second in command at the Russo-Chinese Bank in Port Arthur. He is using his cunning and intellect to steal the Czar's millions and help create the unborn state of Israel.
Sam Ling is Port Arthur's largest importer and exporter. He too, has his eyes on the Czar's treasure, but his motives are far less altruistic. He uses subtle blackmail to recruit Alec Daniloff into one of history's great robberies.
These and dozens of other characters, many historical, populate THE JERUSALEM TRAIN. Two years in the writing, more than fifty books and reference materials went into the research.
The novel recreates long ago battles, blending fictional characters into the dramas real men and women faced during that historical period.
It's the story of two Americans in love in a Far Eastern cauldron of war and intrigue.
The novel will grab you from the first chapter through the heart pounding conclusion.
What People Are Saying About The Jerusalem Train
"Wow! What a neat story! [Dietz] really keeps the reader involved throughout the book, especially in the last few chapters when all the characters come together for the final climax." - Katie Fort
"What a wonderful, wonderful novel. The language simply flows! I can't wait for the movie." - Linda Swisher
"This novel is waiting for an epic movie production. No, wait, even Oliver Stone could not make the movie as good as the book!" - Fred Wernicke
"Because the character development early on in this novel is so well done, the little understood and difficult time period of the Russo-Japanese war is no blockade to the thrilling adventure story that is told. The interaction of several lives moves dramatically towards the explosive conclusion! I can't wait for the movie version." - Marty Kaufman
"I enjoyed the story. [The author's] use of an unknown war was great background. You could tell that he did a lot of research." - Marsha Sicks
"Jon Dietz is comparable to John Jakes. The Jerusalem Train makes history a pleasure. Who would have thought the Russo-Japanese War could be made so interesting." - Bob Olson
"Excellent read! It's just too bad Dietz hasn't written more books. Or has he?" - Jim Myer
"A fascinating way to learn about an important period of history that influenced the course of the 20th Century. A great read!" - Michael R. Friedman
"This book is riveting...you won't be able to put it down. A must read for all." -Heidi Moore
"When a colleague presents you with a book that they have written there may be some reluctance to enter the fray. Even when the colleague is as entertaining and erudite as Jon Dietz, I must confess that I began reading this book with a modicum of trepidation. What if I were bored or confused or angered by his writing? "The Jerusalem Train" sat on my nightstand for several weeks taunting me. Finally I could avoid it no longer and on Monday evening I picked it up with the internal command to give it at least 50 pages before putting it down permanently. Within ten pages I was hooked and ended up spending most of my Veteran's Day engrossed in the tale. In fact, though my normal bedtime is ten p.m., I could not put the book down until I reached its conclusion somewhere around midnight.
Dietz billed his book as a historical romance but I would quibble a bit with that description. In reality, this is an action-adventure novel doused with a healthy quotient of blood and sex. You need not know one whit of history or even be romantically inclined in order to enjoy this novel. The action revolves around a massive stash of gold and the attempts of the protagonists to liberate that gold from the Tsar. The finest achievement of the author is the creation of a cast of memorable characters whose paths will all intersect by the time of the explosive finale.”
- Adam Tebrugge, Attorney, Capital Crimes Division, Office of Public Defender, 12th Judicial Circuit
“If you like reading a good Grisham novel, and you have a solid understanding of 20th Century U.S. history, you cannot help but delight in the literary espousing of this original allegory. It is an interesting page turner that reminds us that incidents we consider history are seldom a clean line of events but rather a cornucopia of interwoven or even isolated occurrences.
As the novel concludes, if you believe you are reading fiction, you will be concerned that a unique or at best an interesting ending is not forthcoming. However, if you realize you are reading mostly fact with fiction for flavor, you understand that the Kennedy assassination remains an unsolved enigma and therefore no precise conclusion is possible.
I did find the book interesting from beginning to end and I would absolutely recommend it to others.”
Fallen Prince
—Wayne Wackowski