Van R. Mayhall Jr.

I received an e-copy of this story for an honest review.
I was thoroughly engaged with this story; so much so that I read it in one sitting. (Well with a few breaks, here and there, for sustenance and the bathroom.) The mystery appealed to the questioning, puzzle-solver in me, while the suspense appealed to the thrilling action-lover. And, there were times when I would have to go outside to contemplate what I had just read, because it would make me question what I have known (or is it not show more known?) about the Holy Scriptures.
Even though the author says in his Afterword "Every work of fiction intersects at some level with fact." and you know this is a fictional story, it makes you wonder: What else is out there that hasn't been found yet? Who else in our past has something that is half-known or half-acknowledged about themselves? Or worse, been accused of something that they did not do? And, how would it impact our world (and lives as we know it) if something is found that completely blows our knowledge out of the water? show less

First I'd like to thank NetGalley for letting me have this book in exchange for an honest review. I started the book a little torn. I wanted to read it due to it's apolcalyptic theme but I was also wary due to it's being listed as a religious work of fiction. I've not had much luck in the religious fiction area but this was vastly different. It was definitely based on the bible and the characters were very well versed in the history of the book of Revelations. I was just afraid that it would show more seem overtly religious. I really enjoyed this book. I was first a bit tickled to find that the main character Dr. Cloe LeJeune was from Louisiana (which I am). So the local references to places in New Orleans made it seem more personal.
The story is based on the returning of Evil to the world as foretold by the Bible. Dr. LeJeune is specialist in ancient languages who has been working on scrolls found that could possible be written between Jesus and the apostles. Things that she is discovering in these texts seem to be coresponding to the worldwide spread of violence, plauges, and death. Meanwhile there are seven people from all over the world who have been approached by the same man who hands them a business card with the numbers 1-7 on them. They then all have an overwhelming compulsion to travel to New Orleans. Inevitably these people all find each other to prepare for the greatest battle in 1000 years.
This book was action filled, smart characters and it would seem there will be more to their stories in future books. show less

This was a quick read that kept me interested from beginning to end. Being Catholic, I enjoyed how the author wove bits of the Bible throughout the book, including some very interesting discussions around the Gospels. I was afraid the book would "preach" religion at the reader, but it didn't at all. It only talked about how the verses discussed were relevant to the story, which also helped move the plot along. The characters were well written and the plot was engaging. The settings were show more described quite well, also.

All in all, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to continuing with the series.

5/5 stars. show less

Dr. Clotile Lejeune, scholar of ancient languages, and her son J.E., return from Seattle to her hometown of Madisonville, Louisiana, after the murder of her estranged father. Thib's death appears to be the the result of a break-in, and he managed to shoot the intruder when the intruder shot him. But the police can't identify the dead intruder, and it's not immediately obvious what he was after.

Things get stranger when Clotile, J.E., and Thib's parish priest, Father Aloysius, attend the show more reading of Thib's will. The house has been left to the parish, to support charitable work, except that Clotile is to take any items she wants from the house first. The one specific bequest to Clotile is an ancient oil jar, that Thib found in a cave in Tunisia during World War II. He's left a letter telling her the story of the jar--and it quickly becomes clear that the jar is what the intruder was after. He didn't find it and clear out before Thib awoke and they had their fatal encounter, because Thib had become alarmed by an attempt to buy the jar from it and moved it to the church for safekeeping.

And he wanted Clotile, whose career he had followed, to find out the secrets of this jar bearing the name of Judas Iscariot, in Greek.

Of course Clotile accepts the challenge. And of course, despite the murder of her father, she has only the dimmest idea of just how dangerous this will become.

This is a very solid thriller built around an intellectual puzzle, some speculative history, and smart, strong, complex characters, including a nicely challenging and evil villain.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. show less