By Carolyn McCray

Ever wondered what would happen if you took a historical person, turned him on his ear added some sci-fi elements and plotted it in modern times? Would the story be sophomoric? Could it be interesting? That’s exactly what this talented writer has done and it does work as a good tale.

Be forewarned though, this book is every bit as controversial as The Davinci Code. It takes Judas Iscariot, the one who turned Jesus over to the Romans and makes him into a likeable and understandable human being who relates this narrative. Impossible? No. She’s made it work.

It’s an odd age we live in these days. While many Islamics and Hindus are taking their religious beliefs deeper and deeper to heart, many Christians seem to be paying lips service only and are willing to explore the possibility that much of what they have been led to believe over the centuries may not be complete fact. People in this world are willing to kill because someone printed a cartoon of Mohammed. Fatwas are being placed on the heads of the sacrilegious. Yet Christians seem willing to consider other interpretations. I have no idea what that signifies but it’s a fact.

This book is full of globe-trotting adventure. The CIA is an instigator using a man who calls himself William or Will and his father to investigate some mysterious happenings in the Middle East involving Russians who are trying to find the original Garden of Eden. The plot twist is that things are very much not what they seem. Will is actually Judas Iscariot who has been condemned to live as an immortal until he can find the 30 pieces of silver which he was paid by Rome. His real reason for agreeing to go on this junket is to find the 22^nd piece. It turns out that his “father” is actually his mortal son who has reached middle age.

A Native American beauty who just happens to have a brother who went missing over a year ago in the same area and who might have been kidnapped by the Russians because of his archeological knowledge comes along on their search. She is sent by the CIA to keep an eye on father and son.

A parallel team of soldiers lead by one Sgt. Brandt and his squad of Special Ops agents have followed Dr. Rebecca Monroe who is investigating some ancient bones found buried beneath the Eiffel Tower. These bones are covered with ancient Greek writing which leads them on a merry chase around Europe and the Middle East. Her mentor. Professor Lochum. is also kidnapped by the same Russians to help them find the Garden of Eden. Rebecca needs him to help solve the mystery of the bones and find something even more important than the Holy Grail – the bones of Jesus Christ. She needs to find proof in order to become a believer. The very military, hard-boiled Sgt. Brandt is actually a Roman Catholic from his childhood and believes that Christ ascended to heaven and there could not be any bones to find.

They all meet and team there efforts in a non-stop action-packed tale. This is romance, danger and lots of mayhem crafted with imagination and mystery enough to keep you turning pages to the end. You may find it difficult to swallow the religious parts of the story as they are definitely not what is taught in Church but the tale may just grab you and draw you in with it’s page-turning excitement.