The Sacred Bones by Micheal Byrnes © 2007 Simon & Schuster Ltd. ISBN 9781847370112. Paperback. Mystery/Thriller. 448 pages. $7.99 US [ Purchase ] Source: Amazon purchase.
Synopsis: At the crossroads of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths, an ancient artifact is stolen from a long-hidden vault located directly beneath Jerusalem’s Temple Mount . . .
With the violent theft leaving thirteen Israeli soldiers and policemen dead, and the Palestinians up in arms over the desecration of sacred grounds, the tension between the two groups is dangerously high. Jerusalem is a stick of dynamite and the fuse has been lit. . . .
Across the Mediterranean in Italy, American forensic scientist Charlotte Hennesey has been hired by the Vatican to examine the contents of a newly discovered archeological treasure: a two-thousand-year-old ossuary containing the bones of an unidentified, crucified man—the first complete skeleton of a crucifixion victim ever found. Together with Italian anthropologist Giovanni Bersei, Charlotte makes startling forensic and genetic discoveries that lead her to wonder—could these be the bones of Jesus Christ?
With the situation in Jerusalem veering out of control and the malevolent eye of Vatican security expert Salvatore Conte watching her every step, Charlotte puts two and two together. She knows that if the mortal remains of Christ are indeed in the burial box, the implications—for history and science, for religion and the Church—are frighteningly vast. And even more immediate is the question of whether the Vatican will allow the information—and Charlotte—to see the light of day.
Review: I had bought this book ages ago and just never could find the time to read it, thinking “okay another Da Vinci Code wannabe” and really, I’ll read it some other time when I’ve run out of books to read. Well yesterday (February 3) I decided, what the heck, I need a diversion. I could not believe I waited so long to read it. First, let me say that I am a stickler when it comes to mysteries based on history. I like them to be as accurate as possible and this guy knows the material he is writing about.
The incident of excavating under the Temple Mount really happened, the tensions between the Palestinians and the Israelis at that time were very well documented, and the way the author used that was genius. His knowledge of Islam is amazing, and not condescending, and his knowledge of Roman Catholicism is good too. His knowledge of pagan connotations is great, as well! The way he worked the story going between the Vatican, Palestine, and France at the time of the Inquisition of the Knights Templars was amazing.
The story does start slow, but quickly picks up pace. And let me tell you right now it has a second part after it already out in print called The Sacred Blood, which I hope to read next so stay tuned…
4 out of 5 stars.
