When a mysterious parchment about Jesus Christ’s last days surfaces from a cave in the Judean Desert, a young priest must keep it safe. But dark forces around the world want it for themselves…and they’re breathing down his neck at every turn.
Father Michael Dominic is called to Jerusalem after two Israeli boys dig up an ancient clay jar that hides several scrolls dating back thousands of years, including one that could upend the Church—a manuscript penned by Saint Paul the Apostle himself—an explosive parchment that stands to rewrite religious history.
Father Dominic arrives to authenticate the relic, but his plans are foiled when a mysterious secret sect wants it in their clutches. His mission kicks off a breakneck pursuit through the wild bazaars of Cairo and the holy city of Jerusalem in a desperate attempt to keep the relic from enemies who would use it for their own wicked purposes. Can the priest find a way to preserve history and stay alive, or will the forces of evil prevail?
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This is an engaging adventure story that follows, plot-wise, in the footsteps of The Da Vinci Code. Fast-paced and well thought out, there is much here for readers to savor as the story unfolds.
Prose: McAvoy is a skilled writer, offering the perfect balance of action and description interwoven with the narrative. The work is rich in detail and captivates readers' imagination.
Originality: The Jerusalem Scrolls is strengthened by its distinctive characters and multiple settings, making it a truly memorable read.
Character/Execution: Despite the many characters who drift in and out of the story, McAvoy is able to clearly define the primary ones, and readers will find the cast appealing.
Date Submitted: May 01, 2023
McAvoy, as always, makes such discoveries a thrill, as he blends quick, informative passages on religious history with exciting accounts of the retrieving, handling, and interpretation of artifacts— and, inevitably, the scheming of various parties to claim them for themselves. Readers will not be surprised to learn that a millenia old cult mentioned in the freshly found scrolls—the Mithraists, an early rival of Christianity dedicated to the Roman gods of war and the sun—still thrives and is on the hunt. Also in the mix: an American megachurch preacher in his Gulfstream jet, a high-rolling figure who’s presented with a familiar but effective satiric edge.
As Mossad and the Mithraists enter the fray, revelations, betrayals, and bursts of clever action and suspense follow, all presented with crisp professionalism and McAvoy’s customary light touch. The story builds strong momentum without sacrificing the hallmarks of McAvoy’s genre: the sense of awe and of history remains potent throughout, even amidst the cobra attacks, stun gun maneuvers, and occasional flayings. Quality control remains high in this series, and McAvoy plants seeds, after a winning conclusion, for more adventure to come.
Takeaway: This lost-artifact adventure exemplifies the genre with thrills, history, and a sense of awe.
Great for fans of: Steve Berry, Ian Caldwell.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
When you read Gary McAvoy, you are reading quality. This incredibly conscientious fiction author clearly has a passion for theology, and every page – almost every line – seems a showcase for the sheer amount of hard work and research he has put into his writing. I don’t know the cultural or historical accuracy of what he writes, but I am absolutely going to take his every word for it. Whether it is geo-politics, theology, military organizations or papal administration, McAvoy presents as an expert in the subject and, if we’re being frank, this factual minutiae is always the real star of his work, more so even than the mystery stories he weaves – which are themselves pretty impressive.
McAvoy has a formula: present the artefact, introduce the antagonists, tangle together a mystery then throw his beloved protagonists into intrigue and danger – and the danger is perhaps greater in this book than any other in the series to date, as our heroes look as close to breaking point as they have ever been. There is, to some degree, a slightly darker aspect to The Jerusalem Scrolls, as Father Michael Dominic and his friends are pushed to their breaking point, facing brutality previously reserved for more peripheral characters. Whilst the artefact – ancient silver scrolls containing a phenomenal legacy, as well as a well-hidden religious secret – is more valuable than ever before, the book is perhaps not the best in the series. But, as always with my namesake, it is pretty damn good. McAvoy weaves mystery and intellect like few other authors; if you like Dan Brown, you’ll love this. And he is certainly no lesser quality as an author; his attention to detail and writing proficiency are as good as it gets.
I highly recommend the entire series, to be honest, if rousing, action-packed mystery suspense thrillers are your cup of tea, and, whilst not essentially important, they are best read in order. Whilst this isn’t the most gung-ho, it is as worthy an entry into the series as any others. And, as for Gary, he just gets more and more hands-on, as if trying to outdo and better his own work ethic and knowledge with every instalment. Perhaps it has reached the point where the occasional tweak in t the formula would be welcomed, and maybe even kill off a major character or two in a major series shock, for I feel that he has plenty of these globetrotting, swashbuckling, academic-based stories left in him; indeed, as many as there are priceless artefacts in the world.
Must read 🏆
A new discovery in the Holy Lands brings Michael Dominic back to explore new history about Christianity’s core, but some are not pleased!
After a number of successful thrillers centred around religious history and antiquities, Gary McAvoy is back with his latest novel. Having been handed an ARC, I was pleased to get an early look at what McAvoy has been planning, as he helps his protagonist, Father Michael Dominic, in yet another adventure that hints at revealing more about the roots of Christianity, with a modern twist. McAvoy is stellar in his delivery and peppers fact and fiction throughout, forcing the reader to pay close attention as they attempt to splice truth from fanciful dream. Surely one of his best novels to date, which will keep series fans rushing back for more!
When two young boys discover a red clay jar in a hidden cave near the city of Qumran, they could not dream of what might be inside. Several scrolls are soon identified as being written by the Essenes two millennia before, depicting events before the Great Jewish Revolt, which includes talk of the Lost Treasures of Solomon, scattered across Jerusalem. All of these discoveries parallel some of the information from the Copper Scroll, found in the Dead Sea region back in 1947. Amongst this new collection is a scroll with writings from St. Paul himself, which could rewrite much of the core beliefs of early Christianity..
After Father Michael Dominic and some of his friends are called to Jerusalem to investigate these scrolls, it becomes clear just how serious things could be. While not on a mission for the Vatican, there is a sense of decorum and Dominic brings all the passion from his past adventures into this one. While Dominic and a long-time friend from his seminary days want to examine the scrolls and learn how the findings could influence Christianity and the Church, there are others in play who have a mission all their own.
A small sect known as the Mithraists—the chief rival to Christianity in the region until the fourth century—wants nothing to do with the scrolls or their findings and takes it upon itself to ensure it is lost forever. A televangelist with personal ambitions arrives in the region to ensure that he alone will bring the news of a new angle to Christianity and house the scrolls in his personal museum. Even the Isaraeli and Egyptian governments weigh in, wanting their piece of the pie. All this while Father Dominic tries to stay one step ahead of those with nefarious intentions.
With action and adventure, peppered with moments of dire trouble and dangerous clashes with those who will stop at nothing for their own outcome, Father Michael Dominic must discover what St. Paul had to say and how it could redefine Jesus and the heart of Christianity into the 21st century. Gary McAvoy does a sensational job in yet another thriller that is sure to leave the reader excited to see where things are going and exhausted from the journey found herein.
When I first discovered the work of Gary McAvoy, I was eager to see how an author would depict something with clear Christian undertones without making it preachy. Not only has McAvoy nailed the thriller genre, but his use of religious and regional history is highly educational without getting ‘soap box sermon-like’. McAvoy wants to educate and show the reader how much we don’t know, which he does through the guise of using Father Michael Dominic’s curiosities for all things historically Christian. There is nothing like a McAvoy story to leave the reader with many questions, as they flip to the back to see just how much is fact and where McAvoy uses creative freedoms.
The narrative flow of this book is not only strong because it points the way, but also because of its rich depiction of all things historical. There is so much to learn about the three Abrahamic religions, as well as the region where it all began. McAvoy imbues his stories with this and helps the reader grasp the intensity of the scrolls’ discovery, as well as the overall impact on many things. Strong characters, each of which flavour the piece in their own way, offer some great contrasts between the differing cultures and mindsets, be it about antiquities in general or regional politics and the possession of sacred knowledge. Plot twists occur throughout and find themselves wrapped in historical events, as well as moments when the thrills are at their highest. McAvoy has a wonderful handle on it all, yet is able to compact things into a quick read that many readers will devour in short order. For those who have yet to discover Gary McAvoy, this is your chance to do so. Start from the beginning to get the proper context and let your imagination soar as you deserve just how little Christianity in 2023 relates to things at the time of its inception.
Kudos, Mr. McAvoy, for another stellar ride through history and proof that there is so much we have yet to truly know about those early days in the Holy Lands.
