first sentence: Josh Cohan was feeling spiritually heightened.
rated: 4 out of 5 stars
'The Secret Scroll' is a book I received for review from publicist Lisa Roe.
Archaeologist Josh Cohan has recurring dreams about finding a cave in Israel and a secret within. After having some trouble at work over being given proper credit for a discovery he made, Josh decides to branch out on his own and goes to Jersualem in search of the cave and the secret. He does find the cave, goes inside and finds a jar, containing a scroll. The writing on the scroll is in Aramaic, thought to be the language of Christ.
'I am Yehoshua ben Yosef. In the next two weeks, I will meet my fate. I write this scroll so you will know the truth of who I am and what I preach and believe. I am a prophet with visions of the future and I will write this scroll to prevent my worst fear-that my teachings will be forgotten or worse, that I will be misinterpreted and my message subverted by the teller of lies.
I taught in parables, but even my closest companions had trouble understanding thier true meaning. I write now in a way that the simplest of men and women may understand, yet will touch the hearts of even the brightest minds.
I was born in Nazareth in Galilee during the last year of the reign of Herod the Great.'
Josh believes this scroll to be written by Christ. He takes photos of the scroll then calls the IAA (Israel Antiquities Authority) to report his find. He comes in contact with a man who works at the IAA, Moshe, and from there they begin to try to date the scroll and see if it is authentic. Josh also meets Moshe's daughter, a fellow archaeologist, Danielle.
'He felt an urge to loop his arm in hers. Where was this coming from? Though his heart told him he could trust her, his head told him to stay on guard....Yet he didn't want to stay on guard with Danielle. Every instinct suggested that he cherish this moment, rejoice in her prescence, bathe himself in her light.'
Josh tells no one else about the scroll, but soon after, his room is ransacked and he receives a threatening phone call, the caller demands the scroll. Josh knows his life is in danger over his find. Moshe gives him a bodyguard named Dov, and they learn Josh is also being followed wherever he goes. When Danielle goes missing and Josh's good friend is found murdered, Josh knows this is a life threatening situation, he doesn't know who he can trust.
He learns of a religious cult named the 'Guardians'. This cult claims to be the only true Christians, according to them, everyone else is wrong. And they want the scroll, to destroy it.
Josh figures someone from the IAA is part of this cult, but he doesn't know who it is.
'Josh had asked himself many times over the past few days what he had brought into the world when he discovered the scroll. The consequences had already been more horrible than he could have imagined. But there was no doubt in Josh's mind that the scroll was real.'
This book was great, full of excitement. It is reminiscent of 'Da Vinci Code' and 'Indiana Jones'. You like Josh from the start and the book takes off right away. It's definitely a page-turner, very entertaining. This is the kind of book that if done correctly, would be great on the big screen. It deals with religion and different peoples beliefs and is very well written.
'The existence of evil in the world can be attributed to mankind alone. As long as he wages war, man is a savage, for war is a savage act and is a blockade to enlightement. The day will come when there will be justice in this unjust world. When all people realize their potential, the impossible will happen.'
