A copper on the run in Italy (The First Apostle - James Becker)

Member Name: MeganFF

Product:	The First Apostle - James Becker
Date:	06/11/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: face paced, intriguing plot laced with historical conspiracy

Disadvantages: religion does play a large role

Mr M waxed lyrical about this book, and practically forced me into a chair to read it.

Religious themes are generally not my kind of thing, as I'm yet to find one that makes any sense to me. But his persistence paid off. I picked the book up, and began reading.

When Jackie Hampton hears a noise in the night while alone in the Italian villa as it's being refurbished, she gets up to investigate and winds up dead. Mark Hampton calls his friend Chris Bronson for moral support for the journey from London to Rome, and all that comes after.
But when Chris, being an active police detective, reads the report into Jackie's 'accident', things start to spiral out of all control. A stone reading "here lie the liars" is found in the living room. But what does it mean? And why did Jackie die for two intruders to read it?
A pursuit from London to Italy ensues, and clues are found that lead him back to the beginnings of Christianity.

Although this starts with a chapter in Roman times, this book is very definitely modern in time, pace and style. It is fast and fascinating. The questions it poses are right to the heart of faith, and although the artefacts are fiction, the historical events and characters are real. It's an interesting mixture, and it gives it a feeling of possibility. Could it really happen?

But what is more likely, is that some movie person somewhere will discover this novel and turn it into a film. The way it's written makes it very easy to watch the film roll in your head as your eyes scan the text in the book.

It could be lumped onto the same shelf as The Da Vinci Code, with the similarities of Christian belief and potential secrets that would change our modern world forever. I'm not sure if that would do this book a disservice or if it would be the right thing. I think you will have to read it and make up your own mind.

And that's why I like it. It's not often I'll say that Mr M was right (don't want him getting a big head) but on this occasion he was spot on

Summary: Religious conspiracy meets modern day criminality