Cross Found: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 4)

by Rick Chesler

A TANGIBLE LINK TO A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY

IN THE RACE TO DISCOVER A LEGENDARY BIBLICAL ARTIFACT, OMEGA TEAM ENCOUNTERS THE SINGLE MOST VALUABLE SECRET OF ALL TIME...

IN THE 4TH INSTALLMENT OF THE BESTSELLING OMEGA FILES SERIES, THE TEAM COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH A MENACING NEW FOE...

Jerusalem, A.D. 33

As Jesus is crucified, a skilled craftsman discreetly conceals a meticulously crafted wooden box within a nearby cave. After a tragic misunderstanding, its location is lost to the past.

Present-day Afghanistan

When former US Navy specialists Carter Hunt and Jayden Takada join forces with acclaimed archaeologist Dr. Madison Chambers, they expect a routine transfer of artifacts from a desert excavation site to a city museum. Instead, they plunge into the shadows of a vast black market antiquities operation. But there's more at stake than just preserving a radical Taliban faction seeks fragments of the fabled True Cross of Jesus, believing that uniting them will bestow unparalleled might.

From the treacherous mountain caverns of Kandahar to the hallowed halls of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the sunken hulk of a Russian destroyer deep in the Black Sea, the Omega Team's pursuit is fraught with peril. With each relic they secure, the snare of danger tightens around them.

PRAISE FOR THE OMEGA FILES SERIES
★★★★★ Chesler has done it again. Keeping a story concept like El Dorado fresh and unique is no small feat, and he has more than accomplished it. GOLDEN ONE is an entirely new look at a favorite legend, all wrapped in an enticingly fast-paced package. Do not miss this!« – Nick Thacker, USA Today Bestselling author of the Harvey Bennett Thrillers

★★★★★ I love the fast pace and interesting characters, some history and some myth. Can't wait for the next exciting adventure.« – Reader review on ARK FOUND

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

About the author

Author of over 30 novels, Rick Chesler holds a Bachelor of Science in marine biology and can often be found diving, boating or traveling to research his next thriller idea. A former contractor for the U.S. Deptartment of Commerce and the State of Hawaii, he now lives in South Florida with his family, at the edge of the Bermuda Triangle. Visit him online at twitter.com/rickchesler, facebook.com/rickchesler, or rickchesler.com.

SERIES:
ATLANTIS GOLD: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 1)
ARK FOUND: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 2)
GOLDEN ONE An Omega Files Adventure (Book 3)
CROSS FOUND: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 4)

JURASSIC DEAD (co-authored):
Jurassic Dead
Jurassic Dead 2: Z-Volution
Jurassic Dead 3: Ctrl-Z

OUTCAST Ops:
Game of Drones (co-authored)
The Poseidon Initiative
African Firestorm (co-authored)
Red Ice (co-authored)
Watchlist (co-authored)
Shadow Gov (co-authored)

TARA SHORES THRILLERS
Wired Kingdom
kiDNApped
Solar Island

DANE MADDOCK ORIGINS (co-authored)
Splashdown
Electra
Amber
Treasure of the Dead
Dane Maddock: The Tomb

OGMIOS TEAM ORIGINS (co-authored)
Lucifer's Machine

STANDALONE NOVELS:
Edit: A Prehistoric Thriller
Manuscript 512 (releasing Fall 2018)
Hawaiian Punch (co-authored)
Uncontacted
DMZ: A Dinosaur Thriller
The Tank
The Flat: A Novel of Supernatural Horror (co-authored)
The Yeti (co-authored)
Landing Party
Sawfish
Luna
Hotel Megalodon
Blood Harbor: A Novel of Suspense

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read the rest of the series and enjoyed them. But in this book I didn’t even get past the prologue of Jesus’s crucifixion without finding glaring historical mistakes. The author maybe an expert on marine biology and things related, but he obviously didn’t do his research on Biblical matters. Other than that, it’s a pretty exciting story.

1st problem: Jesus did not make a sound when placed on the cross. Isaiah 53:7. “…he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought before the mob to slaughter,…, so he opened not his mouth.’ This is an Old Testament prophecy that he fulfilled on the cross. He was silent through the scourging by the soldiers, the trial and carrying the cross, so why would he suddenly cry out? He spoke a few times but that’s not the same as ‘screaming in anguish or agony’.

2nd problem: Peter didn’t become a saint and called St. Peter until centuries after the crucifixion in 1588 AD by the Catholic church only, not all Christians. Plus he wasn’t even at the crucifixion. Only the disciple John was there along with his mother Mary and other women. Peter was at the High Priest’s house denying his Lord.

Present day Afghanistan. Archaeologist Dr Madison Chambers finally gets to excavate an ancient temple after it’s been bombed during post-war fighting and discovers an underground chamber.

Meanwhile Carter Hunt and Jayden Takada wait nearby to support secure transport of any finds. Until they are attacked and they decide to follow the trail of a determined terrorist.

Footnote: 1) I’m pretty sure I’ve read this before. But I can’t find any record (which I keep through Goodreads) of having read it. Maybe I didn’t finish for the above reasons. Therefore I scanned though and yes I’ve read it.

Fave scenes: stealing the truck, the opening in the floor, flying with Graham and the two Russians.

[Kat (Ginger Bibliophile on YouTube) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but I started skimming about 1/3 of the way through. I loved the first 3 books of the series and was excited when I found out there was a fourth, but it came off lecturing and preachy at times, and the whole attitude of “let’s just let the terrorists go, one of these times we’ll find em and there won’t be the possibility of a single bystander” was just idiotic. Not to mention supposedly best of the best military guys not recognizing that the movies lie about things that go boom just made me roll my eyes til I could see out the back of my head. There was a cliffhanger in the epilogue begging for another book, but if it continues like this one did, maybe stop after 3. Though if you love religious history with a bit of action, this is probably the best book ever written for you.