The Book of Light

Lily Connor #3

by Michelle Blake

Named one of USA Today 's Top Summer Reads.

Episcopalian priest Lily Connor is investigating the authenticity of the Book of Light--a biblical scroll purported to contain the transcribed words of Jesus Christ. But there are those who wish for Jesus' words to remain unknown.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Religion

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 4, 2003

About the author

Michelle Blake, who has also published under the name Michelle Blake Simons, is a poet and writer whose work has appeared in Ploughshares, Southern Review, and other publications. She received a master of fine arts degree from Goddard College and a master of theological studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, and at one time seriously considered becoming an Episcopal priset. Blake teaches at Tufts University and lives near Boston.

Reviews

[Julie Golding Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book with some reluctance, as I'd had a luke-warm reaction to reading the previous two instalments of Boston-area Episcopal priest Lily's adventures. I was pleasantly surprised, though, that this book turned out to be a very good read. However, it did have two irritating characteristics that nearly made me give up on it when I'd barely begun it.

First, the book was narrated entirely in the present tense; e.g., "Lily says...Lily thinks...Tom goes..." The technique was likely intended to bring the reader even more into the story, but it had exactly the opposite effect on me, making the story seem distant and somewhat surreal.

Second, the story line was based on finding a book called "Q," which is purported by many biblical scholars to be the source of the biblical material that Matthew and Luke share, but which is not found in Mark. My first thought was an annoyed, "Oh, great, another DaVinci Code knock-off!" because of the focus on finding a hitherto-undiscovered manuscript. However, the story turned out to take an innovative turn, where liberal-minded Episcopal priest Lily, who had realized in the previous book that she'd essentially lost her Christian faith, came to believe in the authenticity of Q, and through it, in the authenticity of the words of Jesus. As a result, she returned to faith and actually began following the teachings of Jesus in Q, which precipitated previously unimaginable reconciliations between Lily and several others, including her long-estranged mother.

This book was a mystery all right - but no murders occurred. The mystery lay in the misty origins of the book of Q, why it was sent to the characters in the story and by whom, and perhaps most of all, in the renaissance of Lily's faith and subsequent dramatic changes in her life.

[Linda Bellig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of a series about an female Episcopalian priest who struggles with her faith, her mother's desertion and her own alcoholism. It introduced me to the theory of Q which I found fascinating. I liked the theological discussions and found as I read all three books that she was making progress in her faith journey. This book was written in present tense which I tried to ignore because it didn't seem quite right, I would have given it a 5 if not for that. I also found the occasional curse using Jesus's name incongruous. If you love someone, why would you use their name to express disgust or horror? I searched for a new book and did not find one. I hope the author continues the series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a mystery about a female Episcopal priest who solves mysteries in her not-so-spare time. Throw in a little Q source, and I'm hooked.

Seriously, I don't know why there are so many female priest with male cop friend series. (Are Presbyterians and Lutherans not cut out for sleuths?) I do love them though. This one is not terribly believable (my bias--she's a college chaplain in this one, which apparently means that she preaches once a semester, has Sundays off and apparently counsels one homesick first year student--nice gig if you can get it!), but the Q source stuff is fun.

A fun read.

[Nancy Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd in the Lily Connor series. Plot was not just improbable but implausible. Sort of a Lost Gospel story around the "discovery" of scroll of Q. Author doesn't know much about manuscripts or biblical scholars. This is the last in the series published in 2003. I think Blake ran out of improbable plots.

[Jaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery featuring Lily Connor, Episcopal Priest, and a biblical document transcribing words of Jesus. My favorite quote: "The woman at the library--one of the librarians, you mean?" Lily nods. "The queen of librarians. The person from whom all librarians are cloned...." p. 120.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more focused on the religious aspects than the first two books. Expect to think along with read on this one.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoy Lily Connor, the Episcopal priest, as the main character, this plot was just too "out there", I thought. All about the possibility of a lost Q manuscript being found.

[gaudeo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Badly written, with wooden characters and stilted dialogue. Couldn't stomach more than a couple of chapters.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two but still wort the read if you like the genre

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun bibliomystery, kind of cozy. This is part of a series although I don't think all of the series is about books.

[Judy]

It one of those ok books

[Margaret S.]

A fragment of an ancient scroll with ramifications for modern Biblical scholars. A lot of technical information and not-very-appealing secondary characters. I prefer her earlier books.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 2 out of 5]

very thin unbelievable plot

[Karla Huebner]

This mystery involves a recovering alcoholic Episcopalian priest named Lily who, when filling in for a college chaplain on leave, gets drawn into a potentially dangerous adventure regarding a long-lost biblical manuscript. It's not bad, although like other commentators I didn't really care for the present-tense narration. Some writers can make that work, but usually I find it irritating.