The Wolf and the Lamb

Jerusalem Mystery #4

by Frederick Ramsay

It s Passover. Gamaliel, and his physician friend, Loukas, are crime-solving a third time reluctantly. Pontius Pilate has been accused of murder. He denies the crime. If convicted, he might escape death but would be removed from Judea. Those rejoicing urge the Rabban to mind his own business. But Gamaliel is a Just Man which is, as Pilate points out, your weakness and also your strength. Knowing that exonerating the Roman could cost him his position, possibly his life, Gamaliel, as would Sherlock Holmes centuries later, examines evidence and sorts through tangled threads, teasing out suspects who include assassins, Roman nobles, Pilate s wife, rogue legionnaires, slaves, servants, thespians, and a race horse named Pegasus. Unusually, justice triumphs over enmity. Gamaliel is satisfied, High Priest Caiphas is irate, Loukas accepts an apprentice from Tarsus, and few notice the events of what will later be known as Easter. Ramsay s plausible narrative answers some questions which have puzzled Biblical scholars for centuries. Why did Pilate hear the case against Jesus? Why invent a tradition that required one prisoner be released at Passover? Having done so, why offer the most terrifying criminal in the country, Barabbas, as the substitute for Jesus when two better, less dangerous prisoners were at hand? And we ask, why could Caiphas not heed Gamaliel s warnings not to martyr the man?"

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

Dr. Frederick Ramsay was born in Baltimore, the son of a respected teacher researcher and scientist. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia and received his doctorate from the University of Illinois. After a stint in the Army, he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, where he taught Anatomy, Embryology and Histology; engaged in research and served as an Associate Dean. During this time he also pursued studies in theology and in 1971 was ordained an Episcopal priest.

Leaving academia, he tried his hand at a variety of vocations. At one time or another, he served as a Vice President for Public Affairs, worked as an insurance salesman, a tow man and line supervisor at Baltimore’s BWI airport, a community college instructor, and substitute. Finally, he accepted a full time position as a clergyman.

He is now retired from full-time ministry and writes fiction.

Dr. Ramsay is the author of several scientific and general articles, tracts, theses, and co-author of The Baltimore Declaration. He is an iconographer, an accomplished public speaker and once hosted a television spot, Prognosis, on the evening news for WMAR-TV, Baltimore. He currently lives in Surprise, Arizona with his wife and partner, Susan.

Reviews

[John Hanscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 to five; a fascinating novel, combining the events of Holy Week with a murder accusation against Pontius Pilate, solved, improbably, by the Gamaliel found in the Book of Acts. And, this convoluted plot actually works!!!!!!! The only thing some might find objectionable - most know the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John do not coincide in the order of events in Holy Week. The author's research leads him to believe they are both wrong, and all started a day earlier than John. That aside, this was a very good "fill in the blanks" for what occurred during Holy Week and a very plausible - if unprovable - set of events.

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique premise and unique setting in this historical mystery. Pontius Pilate is accused of murdering a political rival during the time leading up to the crucifixion of Christ and calls upon a Jewish Rabbi to find the real murderer and get him off the hook. This is the first time I have read one of Frederick Ramsey's mysteries and I was pleasantly surprised. There are two other Jerusalem mysteries in this series and I think I will take a gander at them also. He takes a somewhat unbelievable story and makes it wholly believable.

[Maggie Anton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in 1st-century Jerusalem in the week leading up to Jesus' death, our sleuth Rabban Gamaliel is ordered by Pontius Pilate to solve a murder that implicates the Roman overlord. I enjoyed the earlier two historical mysteries in the series. However, there was too much focus on what was happening with Jesus and not enough on the mystery. I'm sorry but I cannot recommend it, particularly for my Jewish fan base.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it was the mood I was in, but this one didn't seem to come close to Holy Smoke or The Eighth Veil, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I simply couldn't engage with the attempt to solve the murder or even enjoy the characters and setting as I did with the others. For me it was very dry by comparison and a disappointment.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gamaliel and his physician friend Loukas are reluctantly called to solve a murder. Pontiac Pilate has been accuse of the murder of his rival Aurelius Decimus and all the evidence points to him. Pilate insists that someone has framed him. He thinks his Roman countrymen will not be fair when it comes to justice. He asks Gamaliel, chief rabbi of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of Israel for justice. The Dagger Men start their reign of terror. This all takes place during Passover.

The author ties the novel neatly into Palestine's life during the events leading to Christ's crucifixion. Ramsey is an excellent writer. I enjoyed this mystery immensely.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from Posioned Pen Press.. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Ken Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I "won" a copy from Poisoned Pen Press. Since it is the second in a series and I hadn't read the earlier book, it took 30 pages to get an adequate view on the milieu. I have to admit I truly enjoy historic fiction, and have had an interest in the early Christian era. Ramsay keeps the story flow going well, fills out characters, and makes the plot development intriguing to encourage continued reading. I'll admit to a bit of annoyance with the inclusion of Hebrew text and Latin words without easily translations, none found in the appendix.

It proved an entertaining book, and I enjoyed the plot twists. The mix of historic and fiction were very well done. Not a complex read, I'd recommend for the beach, the train and/or the plane.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Jerusalem Mystery series. The Rabbi Gamaliel is asked to solve a murder by the Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea. An interesting mystery that takes place at the time of the crucifixion of Christ and is used as part of the story. In all honesty it wasn't something I would normally read. As a Christian I like my Bible facts straight from the Bible and I tend to stay away from popular fiction that uses the events from the Bible for their own story purposes.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Wolf and the Lamb, Frederick Ramsay boldly sets his story during the week of Jesus’s crucifixion. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Jerusalem, has been arrested for murder, and he calls upon Gamaliel, Rabban of the Sanhedrin (the highest council of Jewish law) to prove his innocence. Full review for Shelf Awareness.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but I enjoyed the earlier books more. The first and second books in the Jerusalem Mystery series had lots of information about the daily life and the stories were more interesting. I still learned a few new things in this book. Ramsay is very knowledgable and provides accurate details and information.

[Ken Ransom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has taken a familiar cast of historical characters: Ponius Pilate, Caiaphas, Gamaliel, Barabas, Joseph of Arimathea, Judas Iscariot, Jesus of Nazareth, and others; added a murder mystery, with a reluctant crime solver resulting in an intertaining story with a plausible narrative.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

story behind the Gospel Passion narrative.