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The Invisible Thread
When a Spanish priest learns of a skeptical organization's PR stunt to replicate the Shroud of Turin, Graham Eliot becomes part of his plan to counteract the bad publicity with a new revelation about the Shroud's authenticity. And the revelation relies on Graham secretly photographing the Shroud as well as the Sudarium of Oviedo-a relic believed to be a cloth wrapped around the head of Jesus as he died on the cross.
On the day Graham is to begin, the project is canceled without explanation, and a video of him calling the Shroud a fake and accusing the church of hiding something appears online. To defend his reputation, Graham must rely on the help of his eccentric translator as well as the skeptic who posted the video. But the alliance is shattered when a death occurs during the skeptic's annual convention in America-and Graham's graduate student is the one suspected of the murder.
On the day Graham is to begin, the project is canceled without explanation, and a video of him calling the Shroud a fake and accusing the church of hiding something appears online. To defend his reputation, Graham must rely on the help of his eccentric translator as well as the skeptic who posted the video. But the alliance is shattered when a death occurs during the skeptic's annual convention in America-and Graham's graduate student is the one suspected of the murder.
266 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 25, 2023
A Well Woven Tale
“The Invisible Thread”, the fourth installment in Doug Powell’s Graham Eliot series, is a bit of a departure from his earlier novels, and in my opinion a welcomed one. In the previous books, Graham Eliot came across as an Indiana Jones parallel, and face it, there is only one Indiana Jones. In the present tale, the previous thriller elements are largely gone, but the suspense and mystery are thick and riveting, and that puts Eliot in his own category apart from Jones, who, while immensely entertaining, is often implausible. You don’t have to suspend reason to enjoy this protagonist.
Centered on an investigation into the famous Shroud of Turin and a lesser known alleged relic, the Sudarium of Oviedo, Powell uses the facts, controversies, history and misinformation about these supposed relics of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ to both entertain and inform. As he reveals, there actually is a lot more to these artifacts than common knowledge allows. A key example, important to the plot (and not a spoiler), is the problem of the British Museum’s 1988 carbon 14 dating of the Shroud that supposedly demonstrated conclusively that it was of medieval origin. As it turns out, that resolution is a gross and perhaps careless oversimplification. Powell does not go into all the issues, but just enough to cement his premise of the need for further research. One interesting fact that Powell doesn’t include, but which has a parallel to his plot, is the million-dollar challenge made by documentary film director David Rolfe to the British Museum in 2022 to duplicate the kind of image found on the Shroud. That challenge goes unanswered. The Shroud is an unsolved and fascinating mystery.
Powell points out the influence the image on the Shroud began to have centuries go on depictions of Christ. Coincidentally, I read “The Invisible Thread” while on a cruise to Iceland where I spotted an example of that fact immediately in the statue of Christ in Reykjavik’s iconic Lutheran Church of Hallgrimur.
Finally, Powell weaves into his story a number of theological, apologetic, and philosophical observations that you won’t find with Indiana Jones or perhaps any suspense novels. I read very little fiction, and all that I do is purely for enjoyment, but I actually found myself highlighting several things in this very readable and enjoyable book for their intellectual value. That in itself makes “The Invisible Thread” a standout.
“The Invisible Thread”, the fourth installment in Doug Powell’s Graham Eliot series, is a bit of a departure from his earlier novels, and in my opinion a welcomed one. In the previous books, Graham Eliot came across as an Indiana Jones parallel, and face it, there is only one Indiana Jones. In the present tale, the previous thriller elements are largely gone, but the suspense and mystery are thick and riveting, and that puts Eliot in his own category apart from Jones, who, while immensely entertaining, is often implausible. You don’t have to suspend reason to enjoy this protagonist.
Centered on an investigation into the famous Shroud of Turin and a lesser known alleged relic, the Sudarium of Oviedo, Powell uses the facts, controversies, history and misinformation about these supposed relics of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ to both entertain and inform. As he reveals, there actually is a lot more to these artifacts than common knowledge allows. A key example, important to the plot (and not a spoiler), is the problem of the British Museum’s 1988 carbon 14 dating of the Shroud that supposedly demonstrated conclusively that it was of medieval origin. As it turns out, that resolution is a gross and perhaps careless oversimplification. Powell does not go into all the issues, but just enough to cement his premise of the need for further research. One interesting fact that Powell doesn’t include, but which has a parallel to his plot, is the million-dollar challenge made by documentary film director David Rolfe to the British Museum in 2022 to duplicate the kind of image found on the Shroud. That challenge goes unanswered. The Shroud is an unsolved and fascinating mystery.
Powell points out the influence the image on the Shroud began to have centuries go on depictions of Christ. Coincidentally, I read “The Invisible Thread” while on a cruise to Iceland where I spotted an example of that fact immediately in the statue of Christ in Reykjavik’s iconic Lutheran Church of Hallgrimur.
Finally, Powell weaves into his story a number of theological, apologetic, and philosophical observations that you won’t find with Indiana Jones or perhaps any suspense novels. I read very little fiction, and all that I do is purely for enjoyment, but I actually found myself highlighting several things in this very readable and enjoyable book for their intellectual value. That in itself makes “The Invisible Thread” a standout.
September 26, 2024
The Invisible Thread by Doug Powell is a gripping and thought-provoking mystery, blending historical intrigue with modern skepticism. The novel centers on Graham Eliot, who becomes entangled in a high-stakes mission to defend the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin after a video surfaces falsely accusing him of calling the sacred relic a fake. Powell crafts a fast-paced story, filled with unexpected twists, including a murder at a skeptic’s convention that threatens to destroy Graham’s reputation further.
The narrative effectively weaves together themes of faith, science, and conspiracy, creating a rich, multilayered plot that keeps readers engaged. With well-developed characters and a balanced mix of suspense and intellectual exploration, this book will appeal to fans of religious history and mystery. While it has garnered few ratings, The Invisible Thread shows promise as a deeply engaging thriller.
The narrative effectively weaves together themes of faith, science, and conspiracy, creating a rich, multilayered plot that keeps readers engaged. With well-developed characters and a balanced mix of suspense and intellectual exploration, this book will appeal to fans of religious history and mystery. While it has garnered few ratings, The Invisible Thread shows promise as a deeply engaging thriller.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews