2 Stars
I will admit that I was sucked in by the comparisons to Dan Brown. While I’m not a huge fan of his work, I am interested in the subject matter. For over two thousand years, scientists and researchers have been trying to prove or disprove the existence of Jesus Christ and the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection. So when I read the description for this book, I knew I had to pick it up. Especially when the description comes with a huge warning label calling the book “an extremely controversial religious/historical thriller.” Come on, who can resist bait like that? Obviously not me.
Rebecca Monroe is working on a theory that there is a “genius” gene caused by good radiation that can explain away God and other theories of creation. She’s pulled away from her research by a Special Ops team that has been sent to bring her in after a bombing in Paris brings her old professor out of hiding (back from the dead?) for the discovery of a lifetime and one that could rock the foundations of Christianity.
From there, we’re off on a wild chase across continents while Rebecca and the team are ambushed, shot at, bombed, electrocuted, chased and put through one unbelievable scenario after another as they go from one clue to the next. The clues are left on ancient bones inscribed in ancient Greek. Bones that are believed to have belonged to some of Christianity’s most sacred people. John the Baptist. James, brother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene. All seem to be pointing to the final resting place of Christ. Not only that, but the bones are telling a different story about the Crucifixion than the one that the Bible has been telling the faithful for over two thousand years. As they are trying to uncover the secrets the bones are trying to tell them, they are being hunted down by The Knot. The Knot is trying to keep these secrets safe because if the truth ever got out, it has the power to destroy everything.
I really, really wanted to like this book. But I just couldn’t. Too much of it was so far-fetched that it was almost laugh out loud ludicrous. Most of the characters were just completely unlikable and there was just very little authenticity in 90% of the characters and their interactions. I can totally two opposing forces fighting for power and having lots of intense action scenes, but the fights should be believable and make some logical sense. Can you see a person jumping from a boat travelling at 100 miles per hour onto a bridge and suffering absolutely NO injuries? Especially a professor with absolutely NO training?
And the contrived romance angle? Give me a break.
The stars were solely for the twist near the end. If you’re a quick study, you’ll actually figure it out well before Rebecca does and for a Christian, it’s definitely what most would call sacrilegious. The best passages of the book were the looks back into history and how the author imagined the interaction between Jesus and his followers. The rest of the time you’re jumping from one absolutely unbelievable situation to the next. Since this is a work of fiction, and not a very good one, it shouldn’t rock your faith too much. I think this would have less impact than even the Dan Brown books.
IsThisBookForMe 