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Brian Sadler Archaeological Mysteries #1
The Bethlehem Scroll
FIRST PLACE EVVY AWARD WINNER FOR FICTION!
Three artifacts from the Dead Sea caves.
An eyewitness account of a night of wonders, written on an ancient scroll.
Men who would kill to keep everything secret.
Get your copy today!
Stockbroker-turned-amateur archaeologist Brian Sadler learns about a mysterious parchment written by a child. Knowing it would make him an instant success, Brian turns to a mobster for help to get it. Dealing with the mob means things must go exactly right - or you may lose your life.
You'll keep turning pages as Brian jets from Dallas to New York, London and Egypt, trying to get the world's most important document before others can snatch it.
Buy this book now!
Three artifacts from the Dead Sea caves.
An eyewitness account of a night of wonders, written on an ancient scroll.
Men who would kill to keep everything secret.
Get your copy today!
Stockbroker-turned-amateur archaeologist Brian Sadler learns about a mysterious parchment written by a child. Knowing it would make him an instant success, Brian turns to a mobster for help to get it. Dealing with the mob means things must go exactly right - or you may lose your life.
You'll keep turning pages as Brian jets from Dallas to New York, London and Egypt, trying to get the world's most important document before others can snatch it.
Buy this book now!
- GenresAdventure
395 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2009
291 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Bill Thompson
26 books146 followersIf variety is the spice of life, author Bill Thompson’s life so far has been spicy for sure! Over the years, and in no particular order, he’s been
• an international insurance broker
• a mayor
• head of a state prison board
• a stockbroker
• a newspaper reporter
• a Bourbon Street piano player
• a corporate entrepreneur
• presented to Queen Elizabeth
• in jail (briefly … and wrongly!)
• a goat herder
• a church organist and choir member
• a real estate broker
• a world traveler
• president of an animal shelter
• a husband, father and grandfather
• an observer at a knighting in Westminster
• a fluent Russian speaker
• a passenger on the Concorde
• a caregiver
• a lifetime dog lover
• an award-winning novelist
• an international insurance broker
• a mayor
• head of a state prison board
• a stockbroker
• a newspaper reporter
• a Bourbon Street piano player
• a corporate entrepreneur
• presented to Queen Elizabeth
• in jail (briefly … and wrongly!)
• a goat herder
• a church organist and choir member
• a real estate broker
• a world traveler
• president of an animal shelter
• a husband, father and grandfather
• an observer at a knighting in Westminster
• a fluent Russian speaker
• a passenger on the Concorde
• a caregiver
• a lifetime dog lover
• an award-winning novelist
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 12, 2019
Great read!
I didn’t understand some of the trading lingo, there could have been less of that for me. However, I think Mr. Thompson did a pretty good job of keeping it basic for us laypeople. I did enjoy reading about the origin of the Babylon Scroll. I’ll definitely read more in the series.
I didn’t understand some of the trading lingo, there could have been less of that for me. However, I think Mr. Thompson did a pretty good job of keeping it basic for us laypeople. I did enjoy reading about the origin of the Babylon Scroll. I’ll definitely read more in the series.
August 7, 2018
Disappointing
Three quarters of this book was wasted on establishing the back story of the main character rather than the item in the title. And that was far more than necessary. His love life even less important. The ending was trite and disappointing. And Mr. Thompson, if you read these reviews, coffee was NOT a beverage at the supposed time of Jesus' birth, so no inn keeper would have been serving a Continental breakfast of coffee and pastries to the locals of Bethlehem. A little research goes a long way......
Three quarters of this book was wasted on establishing the back story of the main character rather than the item in the title. And that was far more than necessary. His love life even less important. The ending was trite and disappointing. And Mr. Thompson, if you read these reviews, coffee was NOT a beverage at the supposed time of Jesus' birth, so no inn keeper would have been serving a Continental breakfast of coffee and pastries to the locals of Bethlehem. A little research goes a long way......
June 2, 2019
Um... Kindle Unlimited so take all with a grain of salt, but this was really not well done. Sparse plot. Plenty of deus ex machina (both literal and figurative).
June 18, 2020
What does trading on Wall Street have anything to do with ancient artifacts?
A boy in ancient bethlehem witnesses something so surreal he writes it down and hides the scroll in a cave.
Brian is a trader looking to move up in the world and make some cash. Unfortunately he gets caught up with a mob boss and barely escapes trouble with the feds and trouble with the mafia. Instead, he gets a promotion which he suspects might be orchestrated by the mob boss, but he also thinks he’s a lucky guy.
Soon he is involved with an antique shop and has a mysteious client wanting a stolen artifact.
This story is great for fans of James Rollins, with the same archeological interests, but with a stock broker twist.
A boy in ancient bethlehem witnesses something so surreal he writes it down and hides the scroll in a cave.
Brian is a trader looking to move up in the world and make some cash. Unfortunately he gets caught up with a mob boss and barely escapes trouble with the feds and trouble with the mafia. Instead, he gets a promotion which he suspects might be orchestrated by the mob boss, but he also thinks he’s a lucky guy.
Soon he is involved with an antique shop and has a mysteious client wanting a stolen artifact.
This story is great for fans of James Rollins, with the same archeological interests, but with a stock broker twist.
September 15, 2019
First of all, this was an excellent story with an engaging plot. I really enjoyed it.
But .......
It is very difficult to write, even more difficult to write well. The book read much like an early draft. It was choppy, too fortuitous, too easy .... too unpolished for a final release. The story was great, but the writing was sub-par, though the story was excellent. I will read the next book in the series.
The final ending .... well, that too, while very intriguing, could have been revealed better.
The author has quite an imagination and I want to read all of these books.
But .......
It is very difficult to write, even more difficult to write well. The book read much like an early draft. It was choppy, too fortuitous, too easy .... too unpolished for a final release. The story was great, but the writing was sub-par, though the story was excellent. I will read the next book in the series.
The final ending .... well, that too, while very intriguing, could have been revealed better.
The author has quite an imagination and I want to read all of these books.
June 11, 2019
Held my attention till 3:00 AM
This is the first book that I have read by Bill Thompson, but it won't be the last. It held my attention from page 1 to the end. I could not put the book down until I had finished it and ordered the 2nd book in the series. It made for much better reading than my usual post apocalyptic reading. I compare Mr. Thompson's writings favorably with Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series.
This is the first book that I have read by Bill Thompson, but it won't be the last. It held my attention from page 1 to the end. I could not put the book down until I had finished it and ordered the 2nd book in the series. It made for much better reading than my usual post apocalyptic reading. I compare Mr. Thompson's writings favorably with Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series.
July 6, 2019
Enjoyable novel about archeology and the process of acquisition
I just finished reading the Bethlehem scroll book written by Bill Thompson. I enjoyed reading it as I am very interested in archaeology. It was well researched and was on a subject speculated about for two thousand years. Thanks for the introduction to your writing, it is the first, but not the last of the books I will read written by this author.
I just finished reading the Bethlehem scroll book written by Bill Thompson. I enjoyed reading it as I am very interested in archaeology. It was well researched and was on a subject speculated about for two thousand years. Thanks for the introduction to your writing, it is the first, but not the last of the books I will read written by this author.
June 5, 2025
This was a fun and engaging archaeological mystery that felt like a mix of Indiana Jones and The Da Vinci Code, but with a financial twist. Brian Sadler isn’t your typical hero—he starts out as a stockbroker and finds himself drawn into something much bigger after a chance discovery. The historical layers, especially around the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls, added a sense of depth and grounded the story in real-world intrigue.
April 28, 2019
If you think this book is about a ‘Bethlehem Scroll’ or about archeology or even about anything remotely resembling any of these things well then you will be sorely disappointed. As was I. It is about a sleazy stock broker who makes consistently bad choices trying to make an easy buck by working with a mobster. If you like that sort of thing then enjoy! I don’t and I didn’t.
May 27, 2019
Insure of the plot
This book was too devious for me to understand, so many twists and turns, I got lost trying to figure out if any character in the story was honest, ethical, worthy of admiration, anything. Will read another to discover whether I want to read any other books by Thompson. Sorry.
This book was too devious for me to understand, so many twists and turns, I got lost trying to figure out if any character in the story was honest, ethical, worthy of admiration, anything. Will read another to discover whether I want to read any other books by Thompson. Sorry.
May 8, 2021
The parts of this book set in Bethlehem were very well written and a fascinating read. But most of the book was about the main character''s rise to wealth through greed and skirting the edges of legality. I found him hard to like. And what a silly ending. If the world wasn't ready for the scroll to be seen, it would never have been found in the first place.
January 31, 2018
I was disappointed by the book. I had read another book by the author and really liked it. There was very little archaeology in thia story. It was more a bunch of shady money deals done by a morally challenged lead character.
November 12, 2018
The Christmas Story
When I first started reading it swept me up. This is a great mystery, but at the heart of it, it is the retelling of The Christmas Story from a humble shepherd boy's point of view. This story is a great thrill ride and I enjoyed every minute of it.
When I first started reading it swept me up. This is a great mystery, but at the heart of it, it is the retelling of The Christmas Story from a humble shepherd boy's point of view. This story is a great thrill ride and I enjoyed every minute of it.
December 21, 2019
Loved this book! Bill Thompson is a master of archaeological mystery. I highly recommend all of his books. I have read several to date, and have not been disappointed. He keeps the story interesting (I don't ever skim over sections, I savor every word).
February 14, 2020
I love Archaeological Mysteries especially dealing with Biblical Times. I really enjoyed the Brian Sadler "The Bethlehem Scroll" book. I have downloaded book #2 of this series and look forward to reading it.
July 9, 2021
Interesting read.
I enjoy books that contain historical highlights. I have to say the ending surprised me. Makes me wonder how a second book might develop. Details of the story were nicely intertwined.
I enjoy books that contain historical highlights. I have to say the ending surprised me. Makes me wonder how a second book might develop. Details of the story were nicely intertwined.
February 10, 2025
Very Good Read
For any lover of anything historical mixed in with a little God Father mixed in with a little wonder. This book has it ALL, and will have you on the edge of your seat!
For any lover of anything historical mixed in with a little God Father mixed in with a little wonder. This book has it ALL, and will have you on the edge of your seat!
November 2, 2018
Broker, Mob and an ancient scroll
This is an intriguing story about the first hand account of a shepherd boy that met the Baby Jesus and the adventure of a man finding it.
This is an intriguing story about the first hand account of a shepherd boy that met the Baby Jesus and the adventure of a man finding it.
December 30, 2018
Fantastic Book
I really couldn't put it down. So many cliff hangers and the possibility of The Bethlehem Scrolls. Lost a lot of sleep on this one and can't wait for the next one.
I really couldn't put it down. So many cliff hangers and the possibility of The Bethlehem Scrolls. Lost a lot of sleep on this one and can't wait for the next one.
June 3, 2019
Interesting series hopefully it will cover lots of different periods.
August 30, 2019
A story of man's failure to learn
An opportunity of greed, deceit and infidelity.
Mr. Thompson is a wonderful story teller I couldn't put it down. Great!
An opportunity of greed, deceit and infidelity.
Mr. Thompson is a wonderful story teller I couldn't put it down. Great!
November 12, 2022
blah
Not what I expected. Barely any archaeological reading and mostly hot sex , and a lot of runaround don’t think I’ll read anymore
Not what I expected. Barely any archaeological reading and mostly hot sex , and a lot of runaround don’t think I’ll read anymore
September 14, 2024
I changed my 4 to a 3 after I thought about it. The ending wasn't as good as his other books. It held my attention in parts of the book, but other parts it wasn't as good.
August 23, 2025
it had a promising start but took too much time building the back story
June 18, 2020
What a fun ride!
I study a lot of history so I needed a pleasure book, Bill Thompson has provided that. I was unsure at first but after.4 books I am a fan!
I study a lot of history so I needed a pleasure book, Bill Thompson has provided that. I was unsure at first but after.4 books I am a fan!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews