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Stolen Shroud
His faith was in tatters. And after being so close. Professor Mark Eberhart was set to carbon date the Shroud of Turin. He was going to finally find out if this relic was real, and if it could revive his dwindling Christian faith. But the Shroud was stolen right in front of him . . . by thieves who possessed super human powers.
But that’s not the reason for Mark’s sudden crisis of faith. As he and journalist Cora Byron attempted to recover the Shroud, he learned some disturbing news. At the same time he was scheduled to test the Shroud, other scientists were running DNA tests on the supposed lost bones of Jesus—tests which proved that these were, in fact, the real bones of Christ. And that the Resurrection never happened.
But that’s not the reason for Mark’s sudden crisis of faith. As he and journalist Cora Byron attempted to recover the Shroud, he learned some disturbing news. At the same time he was scheduled to test the Shroud, other scientists were running DNA tests on the supposed lost bones of Jesus—tests which proved that these were, in fact, the real bones of Christ. And that the Resurrection never happened.
- GenresFictionChristian Fiction
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2020
73 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 18, 2020
This book is a fantastic thriller! It reminds me of a Dan Brown novel. The Stolen Shroud has action, adventure, and romance. The book is written in a style similar to the hit television series, Lost. Mark and Cora's lives are thrown together in an epic quest to solve the mystery of the Stolen Shroud. This book is fast-paced and riveting. The ending was filled with surprises. I can't wait to read another book by Daniel Westlund.
April 27, 2020
Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: you’re going to want to read Daniel Westlund’s Stolen Shroud. You’re going to want to discover the solutions to the many mysteries presented, and you’re going to want to grapple with the ideas and arguments therein. My concerns, therefore, are more about marketing than quality, but they’re still valid concerns. I don’t want to give away anything, so you’ll have to trust me when I say that you’ll want to read this book, but here’s why I worry it won’t find the audience it deserves:
1. There are some truly tough scenes in here. One in particular nearly stopped me in my tracks – not because it’s poorly written, but rather because it’s extremely disturbing. I don’t mean to accuse the author of anything; I get why the scene was included, and it’s well-handled, but – still – it’s a tough read, particularly for Christian audiences. Definitely not for kids.
2. “Too many notes” – is that a valid criticism? There’s lots and lots of stuff happening here, lots of ideas are being thrown at you. Again, it’s all well done, but I wonder if readers will be able to place this book in their minds. Let me explain by analogy: there may be nothing wrong with a restaurant that serves a French app, a Mexican soup, an Italian pasta, a Thai entrée, and a German dessert, but would you try such a restaurant? Generally speaking, you probably wouldn’t. Same thing here – there are just so many disparate ideas jammed into this novel that I wonder if audiences won’t understand how to think about it and, thus, won’t gravitate towards it.
3. I wonder if it’s too challenging. What I mean is that I think Christians may find it too threatening to their faith while non-believers wouldn’t bother with a Christian book, so it might not have a natural market. In that spirit, let me give you one concrete criticism of the book: it was too generous to the other side. I’m not giving anything away to say that it addresses the alleged problem of Jesus’s so-called family tomb, but let me tell you why I think the book was too easy on the non-believers: it never presented addressed the fundamental statistical problems at the heart of the “Jesus tomb” theory.
Let me illustrate my point by example. Suppose 1000 years from now somebody stumbled upon a tomb in DC that had 10 bodies. One coffin was marked “William,” another “Hilary,” and another “Chelle.” Did you just stumble upon William Jefferson Clinton’s tomb? Well, he was famous as “Bill Clinton,” not “William.” Hillary never spelled her name with one “l,” and Chelsea – as far as I know – has never used the nickname Chelle. And those names are fairly common. Finding three variations of common names in a random group of 10 isn’t very unusual. Then suppose another coffin said, “Jenson, son of William.” But, as far as anyone knows, Bill Clinton doesn’t have a son named Jenson. And what about the next coffin, “George” – could George Stephanopoulos be buried in the Clinton family tomb? I guess, but why? And what about the other unnamed persons? Why are 10 people in Bill Clinton’s family tomb? Get it? The reality here is that these non-believers didn’t find anything at all; rather, they simply ignored all the contrary evidence to fabricate an “extraordinary” coincidence. It’s pretty easy to flip a coin and land on heads four times in a row if you can ignore the six other tosses, including two “tails” – even if you can “explain away” the tails. The critical point here is that Jesus’s followers never called himself the “son of Joseph,” and you’d expect that Jesus’s followers would have mentioned his various titles (just like you’d expect Bill Clinton’s tomb to mention his presidency). Likewise, there’s no reason to think Matthew the Gospelist would have been buried in Christ’s tomb, or that Mary Magdalene would have used that odd variation of her name. Get it? The nonbelievers are creating a “coincidence,” and then calculating the odds of their imaginary coincidence.
In the final analysis, to say that they never found those three names in any other one tomb is false in every sense of that word: since many tombs had bodies with no names, they might have stumbled upon that combination in every single tomb they found without realizing it! Likewise, they didn’t actually find those names in the tomb at issue either; instead, they found versions of those names, which they claimed were “close” enough. But Hilary isn’t Hillary; Chelle isn’t Chelsea, even if they’re pretty close or nicknames.
And why would Bill Clinton be buried in DC rather than Arkansas or New York? That is, why is a poor Nazarene's tomb found in a wealthy part of Jerusalem? To make this “family tomb” theory work, you have to assume Jesus was rich (and nobody knew it) and that everyone else in Jesus’s family died in Jerusalem, but why? Jesus’s alleged son certainly wasn’t associated with the Church, so why would he have hung around Jerusalem to be buried there? Indeed, if the Church was hiding his existence, shouldn’t they have sent him away?
Now, to be clear, none of these marketing problems mean you shouldn't enjoy this
book; these are marketing issues more than anything, so you should get
behind this book, which is really a great example of where I think
Christian fiction needs to go - putting the Christian front-and-center
without compromising the quality of the fiction. But I know it's
going to be a challenge to persuade audiences to give works like this
a try. Here's hoping this great book gets the results it deserves!
1. There are some truly tough scenes in here. One in particular nearly stopped me in my tracks – not because it’s poorly written, but rather because it’s extremely disturbing. I don’t mean to accuse the author of anything; I get why the scene was included, and it’s well-handled, but – still – it’s a tough read, particularly for Christian audiences. Definitely not for kids.
2. “Too many notes” – is that a valid criticism? There’s lots and lots of stuff happening here, lots of ideas are being thrown at you. Again, it’s all well done, but I wonder if readers will be able to place this book in their minds. Let me explain by analogy: there may be nothing wrong with a restaurant that serves a French app, a Mexican soup, an Italian pasta, a Thai entrée, and a German dessert, but would you try such a restaurant? Generally speaking, you probably wouldn’t. Same thing here – there are just so many disparate ideas jammed into this novel that I wonder if audiences won’t understand how to think about it and, thus, won’t gravitate towards it.
3. I wonder if it’s too challenging. What I mean is that I think Christians may find it too threatening to their faith while non-believers wouldn’t bother with a Christian book, so it might not have a natural market. In that spirit, let me give you one concrete criticism of the book: it was too generous to the other side. I’m not giving anything away to say that it addresses the alleged problem of Jesus’s so-called family tomb, but let me tell you why I think the book was too easy on the non-believers: it never presented addressed the fundamental statistical problems at the heart of the “Jesus tomb” theory.
Let me illustrate my point by example. Suppose 1000 years from now somebody stumbled upon a tomb in DC that had 10 bodies. One coffin was marked “William,” another “Hilary,” and another “Chelle.” Did you just stumble upon William Jefferson Clinton’s tomb? Well, he was famous as “Bill Clinton,” not “William.” Hillary never spelled her name with one “l,” and Chelsea – as far as I know – has never used the nickname Chelle. And those names are fairly common. Finding three variations of common names in a random group of 10 isn’t very unusual. Then suppose another coffin said, “Jenson, son of William.” But, as far as anyone knows, Bill Clinton doesn’t have a son named Jenson. And what about the next coffin, “George” – could George Stephanopoulos be buried in the Clinton family tomb? I guess, but why? And what about the other unnamed persons? Why are 10 people in Bill Clinton’s family tomb? Get it? The reality here is that these non-believers didn’t find anything at all; rather, they simply ignored all the contrary evidence to fabricate an “extraordinary” coincidence. It’s pretty easy to flip a coin and land on heads four times in a row if you can ignore the six other tosses, including two “tails” – even if you can “explain away” the tails. The critical point here is that Jesus’s followers never called himself the “son of Joseph,” and you’d expect that Jesus’s followers would have mentioned his various titles (just like you’d expect Bill Clinton’s tomb to mention his presidency). Likewise, there’s no reason to think Matthew the Gospelist would have been buried in Christ’s tomb, or that Mary Magdalene would have used that odd variation of her name. Get it? The nonbelievers are creating a “coincidence,” and then calculating the odds of their imaginary coincidence.
In the final analysis, to say that they never found those three names in any other one tomb is false in every sense of that word: since many tombs had bodies with no names, they might have stumbled upon that combination in every single tomb they found without realizing it! Likewise, they didn’t actually find those names in the tomb at issue either; instead, they found versions of those names, which they claimed were “close” enough. But Hilary isn’t Hillary; Chelle isn’t Chelsea, even if they’re pretty close or nicknames.
And why would Bill Clinton be buried in DC rather than Arkansas or New York? That is, why is a poor Nazarene's tomb found in a wealthy part of Jerusalem? To make this “family tomb” theory work, you have to assume Jesus was rich (and nobody knew it) and that everyone else in Jesus’s family died in Jerusalem, but why? Jesus’s alleged son certainly wasn’t associated with the Church, so why would he have hung around Jerusalem to be buried there? Indeed, if the Church was hiding his existence, shouldn’t they have sent him away?
Now, to be clear, none of these marketing problems mean you shouldn't enjoy this
book; these are marketing issues more than anything, so you should get
behind this book, which is really a great example of where I think
Christian fiction needs to go - putting the Christian front-and-center
without compromising the quality of the fiction. But I know it's
going to be a challenge to persuade audiences to give works like this
a try. Here's hoping this great book gets the results it deserves!
May 24, 2020
This novel has so many different aspects to it that it is hard to do it justice in a short review. It contains a large cast of characters, whose stories are followed partly through flashbacks, partly in the present—and all grab one’s attention and interest. It deals with the Shroud of Turin, an object of enduring fascination in the Christian world. It explores issues of personal faith and of church practice which all Christians are bound to have experienced at times. It highlights hypocrisy and fraud in the church. It looks with sensitivity at the plight of those below average intelligence in society, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Yet at its heart it’s a hard science fiction novel, involving scientific concepts that are central to understanding and following the plot.
For all these reasons it is a remarkable achievement, and it held my interest and attention throughout. Its honest examination of the intellectual doubts many thinking Christians face, and the hard, uncomfortable truths of hypocrisy among Christian leaders—combined with an unpredictable and fascinating plot—make it a book to be recommended to Christians in this day and age.
Having said that, I must confess that the one thing I find myself unable to say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At times the tension as the plot built up compelled me to keep turning the pages; the characters were well-depicted and I could identify with them; the plight of the victims was poignant; yet somehow full enjoyment eluded me. Why?
As I’ve considered this I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, and perhaps others, the book left too much to the reader to work out for him or herself. In the early chapters the constant jumping to and fro between present and past was often confusing. You were sometimes left to deduce who the new viewpoint character of a scene was from relatively small hints. After the early chapters, it became progressively harder to remember who some the many characters were; and one fairly important character was only introduced more than a third of the way through the book, adding to the burden of memory.
But most importantly, the periodic long sections of academic argument—thinly disguised as a character’s thoughts—required concentrated effort to follow, and tended to pull me out of the story. Quite frankly, I didn’t understand some of the scientific concepts at all, which left me confused at the end. It was a surprise ending (which I appreciated), but I found myself unable to work out exactly what had happened—which, as you can imagine, was rather a let-down! It was obviously considered self-evident from the previous explanations; but for me it was not.
I can therefore strongly recommend this book to Christians with a scientific background, and to others who wish to expand their horizons in that direction. Not taking my own problems with the ending into account, but in view of some of the other matters I’ve mentioned, I would give it a rating of 4.5.
For all these reasons it is a remarkable achievement, and it held my interest and attention throughout. Its honest examination of the intellectual doubts many thinking Christians face, and the hard, uncomfortable truths of hypocrisy among Christian leaders—combined with an unpredictable and fascinating plot—make it a book to be recommended to Christians in this day and age.
Having said that, I must confess that the one thing I find myself unable to say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At times the tension as the plot built up compelled me to keep turning the pages; the characters were well-depicted and I could identify with them; the plight of the victims was poignant; yet somehow full enjoyment eluded me. Why?
As I’ve considered this I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, and perhaps others, the book left too much to the reader to work out for him or herself. In the early chapters the constant jumping to and fro between present and past was often confusing. You were sometimes left to deduce who the new viewpoint character of a scene was from relatively small hints. After the early chapters, it became progressively harder to remember who some the many characters were; and one fairly important character was only introduced more than a third of the way through the book, adding to the burden of memory.
But most importantly, the periodic long sections of academic argument—thinly disguised as a character’s thoughts—required concentrated effort to follow, and tended to pull me out of the story. Quite frankly, I didn’t understand some of the scientific concepts at all, which left me confused at the end. It was a surprise ending (which I appreciated), but I found myself unable to work out exactly what had happened—which, as you can imagine, was rather a let-down! It was obviously considered self-evident from the previous explanations; but for me it was not.
I can therefore strongly recommend this book to Christians with a scientific background, and to others who wish to expand their horizons in that direction. Not taking my own problems with the ending into account, but in view of some of the other matters I’ve mentioned, I would give it a rating of 4.5.
May 18, 2020
One of my biggest criticisms of Christian fiction is that writers either focus on the spiritual aspect without the story, or the story aspect and lose the spiritual aspect. It's hard to do both effectively. I think Daniel Westlund has done a pretty good job with both with Stolen Shroud.
As I said, Westlund does a reasonable job of including spiritual values in a story with strong science fiction elements, and credible science in a Christian story. That's not easy to do. The story starts off with, as the title says, the theft of the Shroud of Turin. From there, it gets really, really complex.
One would think the story would orbit around the theft and the nature of the shroud, etc. But it spends more than half the book in flashbacks. And that's where the story kind of loses me.
There are a lot of characters in this story, and a lot of threads to follow. Each of the main characters, which there are several, have storylines of their own. And each of them have backgrounds that have to be told. It all makes sense in the end, but because it seems like every other chapter we are jumping back to recount another story from the past, it gets hard to keep a stream of thought going.
One other complication is that Westlund tells one character's viewpoint in first person, present tense, while all the others are in third person, past tense. I'm sure there's some rationale for his approach here, but it doesn't seem to work for me.
As I said, the story has a lot of good merits: good science, great spiritual truths and good characterization. But there is a lot of confused structure that made me struggle with the story.
As I said, Westlund does a reasonable job of including spiritual values in a story with strong science fiction elements, and credible science in a Christian story. That's not easy to do. The story starts off with, as the title says, the theft of the Shroud of Turin. From there, it gets really, really complex.
One would think the story would orbit around the theft and the nature of the shroud, etc. But it spends more than half the book in flashbacks. And that's where the story kind of loses me.
There are a lot of characters in this story, and a lot of threads to follow. Each of the main characters, which there are several, have storylines of their own. And each of them have backgrounds that have to be told. It all makes sense in the end, but because it seems like every other chapter we are jumping back to recount another story from the past, it gets hard to keep a stream of thought going.
One other complication is that Westlund tells one character's viewpoint in first person, present tense, while all the others are in third person, past tense. I'm sure there's some rationale for his approach here, but it doesn't seem to work for me.
As I said, the story has a lot of good merits: good science, great spiritual truths and good characterization. But there is a lot of confused structure that made me struggle with the story.
April 12, 2020
Stolen Shroud written by Daniel Westlund is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and exciting book to read. Apparently, it's the author's debut novel that combines a religious theme with science fiction and mystery. The storyline is well researched, fact-filled but also imaginative and well presented. The pace is fluid and never boring. I'm looking forward to the author's future novels. No doubt, Westlund is a rising star in the art of storytelling.
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May 10, 2020
Stolen Shroud
is an action-packed Christian thriller that delves deep into apologetics.
How does that work together? Somewhat awkwardly.
Westlund balances the fast action, shooting guns, super human powers, and scientific race (and espionage) with meandering passages on doubt and faith, hard-sell preaching, and tragic backstories. Throwing Mark Eberhart, an ex-youth pastor, together with Cora Byron, a hardcore atheist, means that there's no place in the novel where faith doesn't come up as an issue or an argument. The good thing about this is that their respective faith journeys seem both flawed and believable--just like our convoluted, complex, and constantly shifting beliefs. The bad thing about it is that it sometimes feels just a tad too forced. Still, if you're a fan of such discussions, I think you'll find some very interesting discussions in here.
The narrative style takes some getting used to, especially as Mark's narrative voice is snarky, a little jaded, and sometimes almost comic-book style. It flows well, however, and keeps a strong pace. My biggest annoyance with the book is the POV and its lack of consistency. While the majority of the book is written in first person, with Mark Eberhart as the main narrator, Westlund fits in short flashback chapters from Mark, Cora, Raj, and Stuart's POVs. These are marked in the chapter headings, so that's clear enough, but flip between first and third person for no discernible reason. In the later part of the book, the narrative jumps between POVs without any chapter, or even scene, breaks--I'm not sure if it's a formatting issue in the ePub I received or just something that was overlooked in the editing. [edit: I've been informed that this is a formatting issue that's been fixed! yay!]
Where Westlund excels is in the creation of his characters. Each one of them has an intricately crafted backstory, all rather tragic, and related in great detail, that fleshes them out. It feels like Westlund knows his characters intimately and is able to make you empathise with them (somewhat) even when they're being idiots because you've been brought to understand where they're coming from. In this case, the flashbacks did serve their purpose, despite their initial clunkiness, especially when he ramps it up at the end to a spectacular reveal/twist.
Overall, Stolen Shroud has an impressive vision and scope but, unfortunately, suffers a little from poor execution.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
How does that work together? Somewhat awkwardly.
Westlund balances the fast action, shooting guns, super human powers, and scientific race (and espionage) with meandering passages on doubt and faith, hard-sell preaching, and tragic backstories. Throwing Mark Eberhart, an ex-youth pastor, together with Cora Byron, a hardcore atheist, means that there's no place in the novel where faith doesn't come up as an issue or an argument. The good thing about this is that their respective faith journeys seem both flawed and believable--just like our convoluted, complex, and constantly shifting beliefs. The bad thing about it is that it sometimes feels just a tad too forced. Still, if you're a fan of such discussions, I think you'll find some very interesting discussions in here.
The narrative style takes some getting used to, especially as Mark's narrative voice is snarky, a little jaded, and sometimes almost comic-book style. It flows well, however, and keeps a strong pace. My biggest annoyance with the book is the POV and its lack of consistency. While the majority of the book is written in first person, with Mark Eberhart as the main narrator, Westlund fits in short flashback chapters from Mark, Cora, Raj, and Stuart's POVs. These are marked in the chapter headings, so that's clear enough, but flip between first and third person for no discernible reason. In the later part of the book, the narrative jumps between POVs without any chapter, or even scene, breaks--I'm not sure if it's a formatting issue in the ePub I received or just something that was overlooked in the editing. [edit: I've been informed that this is a formatting issue that's been fixed! yay!]
Where Westlund excels is in the creation of his characters. Each one of them has an intricately crafted backstory, all rather tragic, and related in great detail, that fleshes them out. It feels like Westlund knows his characters intimately and is able to make you empathise with them (somewhat) even when they're being idiots because you've been brought to understand where they're coming from. In this case, the flashbacks did serve their purpose, despite their initial clunkiness, especially when he ramps it up at the end to a spectacular reveal/twist.
Overall, Stolen Shroud has an impressive vision and scope but, unfortunately, suffers a little from poor execution.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 31, 2020
A Brilliant Premise From a Promising New Author
This author has crafted an intriguing story filled with suspense, heart, humor, and wit. The premise is absolutely brilliant. Using scientific and technical details, he convincingly suggests that by manipulating quantum physics, humans truly could obtain superhuman powers, an aspect that makes a seemingly implausible story theoretically possible.
Clearly this author researched the subject of the Shroud of Turin thoroughly. Details concerning the Shroud are fascinating, many of which I was previously unaware of, even though I have studied the Shroud extensively. This novel also makes other compelling arguments for Christianity but doesn’t shy away from telling both sides of the story.
Not only does this author tell the main story thread, but he also gives compelling backstories to explain the rationale for the characters’ actions. I found the back stories just as compelling and suspenseful as the main storyline.
Congratulations to the author for an outstanding debut novel. I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
This author has crafted an intriguing story filled with suspense, heart, humor, and wit. The premise is absolutely brilliant. Using scientific and technical details, he convincingly suggests that by manipulating quantum physics, humans truly could obtain superhuman powers, an aspect that makes a seemingly implausible story theoretically possible.
Clearly this author researched the subject of the Shroud of Turin thoroughly. Details concerning the Shroud are fascinating, many of which I was previously unaware of, even though I have studied the Shroud extensively. This novel also makes other compelling arguments for Christianity but doesn’t shy away from telling both sides of the story.
Not only does this author tell the main story thread, but he also gives compelling backstories to explain the rationale for the characters’ actions. I found the back stories just as compelling and suspenseful as the main storyline.
Congratulations to the author for an outstanding debut novel. I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
July 26, 2020
Stolen Shroud by Daniel Westlund is a fast-paced thriller with Christian and science fiction overtones. As the book’s title promises, the story is about the stealing of the famous Shroud of Turin that many believe to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ. An average guy named Mark is the sole witness to the stealing of the shroud. He and a beautiful reporter named Cora try to recover the shroud but it isn’t long before they end up in all kinds of trouble at the hands of some very powerful people. The story is told by alternating scenes from the modern-day effort to recover the shroud to flashbacks that reveal how Mark, Cora, and a few other key characters got mixed up in the whole circus of events.
The Stolen Shroud works extremely well on several levels. I’ve never been a big fan of flashbacks in a story, especially when they are used as extensively as they are in Stolen Shroud. However, Daniel Westlund is a master at making each scene from the past interesting enough to stand on its own. As the book goes on, the flashbacks build on each other and add a crucial understanding of the present-day story. I was also thrilled to see the Christian faith was handled with such honesty and truth. The shroud, after all, is a relic that potentially has great meaning for Christians. It seemed natural to me when the main characters grappled with what it all means. The discussions between Mark and the non-believing Cora surrounding the validity of Christianity were interesting and real, and never felt tacked on to support one side or the other. I also liked the addition of some science fiction elements that helped to keep the story fun and unpredictable. Stolen Shroud will appeal to Christian readers and atheists, shroud believers, and shroud doubters. I found it to be a solid thriller with strong characters and a wild and crazy plot. I highly recommend Stolen Shroud.
The Stolen Shroud works extremely well on several levels. I’ve never been a big fan of flashbacks in a story, especially when they are used as extensively as they are in Stolen Shroud. However, Daniel Westlund is a master at making each scene from the past interesting enough to stand on its own. As the book goes on, the flashbacks build on each other and add a crucial understanding of the present-day story. I was also thrilled to see the Christian faith was handled with such honesty and truth. The shroud, after all, is a relic that potentially has great meaning for Christians. It seemed natural to me when the main characters grappled with what it all means. The discussions between Mark and the non-believing Cora surrounding the validity of Christianity were interesting and real, and never felt tacked on to support one side or the other. I also liked the addition of some science fiction elements that helped to keep the story fun and unpredictable. Stolen Shroud will appeal to Christian readers and atheists, shroud believers, and shroud doubters. I found it to be a solid thriller with strong characters and a wild and crazy plot. I highly recommend Stolen Shroud.
May 15, 2020
Disclaimer: I mostly give 5-star ratings in my reviews because authors find it hard enough to make a living without dealing with savage reviews and Amazon's ranking system. I should also state that I obtained my copy for free in exchange for a review. I am not a qualified literary critic, so I will not be reviewing the literary quality of the book. Still, you can easily judge that for yourself by clicking "look inside" on Amazon. Just a heads up before you do though, the story jumps from the present to the back story repeatedly and may seem awkward at first but give it a chance because the back story is crucial to the character arcs.
Be that as it may, I aim to give potential readers a good idea of whether this book is for them.
Let's start with who it is not for; it is not for young children or people who don't like edgy Christian fiction (e.g. Ted Dekker). There are some heavy themes, but the book deals with painful truths honestly.
Who should enjoy the book
Westlund, Daniel writes "left-brained, deductive thinkers/ over-thinkers are the main people with whom this book resonates." I feel that is a fair assessment, Christians who like edgy Christian fiction/ Sci-Fi and apologetics should at least find it interesting if not enjoyable.
Open-minded people who aren't Christians (or those who have drifted away) may enjoy it as well.
Themes in the book include the shroud (obviously), genetics, science, the singularity, relationships, forgiveness, Church politics and dealing with a crisis of faith.
Bottom line: An interesting story for those who are open to edgy Christian sci-fi/adventure.
Be that as it may, I aim to give potential readers a good idea of whether this book is for them.
Let's start with who it is not for; it is not for young children or people who don't like edgy Christian fiction (e.g. Ted Dekker). There are some heavy themes, but the book deals with painful truths honestly.
Who should enjoy the book
Westlund, Daniel writes "left-brained, deductive thinkers/ over-thinkers are the main people with whom this book resonates." I feel that is a fair assessment, Christians who like edgy Christian fiction/ Sci-Fi and apologetics should at least find it interesting if not enjoyable.
Open-minded people who aren't Christians (or those who have drifted away) may enjoy it as well.
Themes in the book include the shroud (obviously), genetics, science, the singularity, relationships, forgiveness, Church politics and dealing with a crisis of faith.
Bottom line: An interesting story for those who are open to edgy Christian sci-fi/adventure.
February 9, 2021
I was attracted to this book by the title because I do enjoy stories involving Christian artifacts and with a hint of supernatural. I now know the meaning of being ‘blinded by science’ as this is very much a Science fiction story and often I hadn’t much of an understanding on the explanations of the science involved. However, I understood enough to understand what Hawk was doing and it was, quite frankly, frightening.
This was a very original piece of work; I quickly became involved with the story right at the beginning with the action taking off straight away. I liked Mark, was sympathetic to his problems and wanted him to succeed in his quest. However, it was much more complicated and dangerous than he ever imagined. The story was told cleverly with chapters going back in time to provide the background to what was happening in the present, although I admit to beginning to be a bit fed up with keep going back in years by chapter 32! However, I didn’t have to last out much longer at that point, but I did indeed, see the necessity of all the information gradually being revealed in the back in time chapters.
The only thing I will say is that I thought the end resolving of the dire situation was a little weak, but I honestly don’t know how else he could have done it. Although perhaps sometimes a simple thing can be the solution to what seems like an insurmountable problem?
All in all I enjoyed this book and know that it’s one that will stay with me for a long time, as there were so many facets to it, a lot of depth, which can’t be explained or understood unless one reads the book.
This was a very original piece of work; I quickly became involved with the story right at the beginning with the action taking off straight away. I liked Mark, was sympathetic to his problems and wanted him to succeed in his quest. However, it was much more complicated and dangerous than he ever imagined. The story was told cleverly with chapters going back in time to provide the background to what was happening in the present, although I admit to beginning to be a bit fed up with keep going back in years by chapter 32! However, I didn’t have to last out much longer at that point, but I did indeed, see the necessity of all the information gradually being revealed in the back in time chapters.
The only thing I will say is that I thought the end resolving of the dire situation was a little weak, but I honestly don’t know how else he could have done it. Although perhaps sometimes a simple thing can be the solution to what seems like an insurmountable problem?
All in all I enjoyed this book and know that it’s one that will stay with me for a long time, as there were so many facets to it, a lot of depth, which can’t be explained or understood unless one reads the book.
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April 14, 2020The premise of this book-villains with superpowers stealing a prized artifact-is an interesting mix of Michael Crichton's 'Timeline' meets X-men meets the Shroud of Turin. Being a big action-adventure fan, this is what I was most looking forward to when reading this book. Unfortunately, I found that the numerous BACKSTORIES woven into the plot put an undue focus upon vile subjects to the point of being disturbing. And yes, I use the word "vile". As a Christian, one does not go through life living in "Pollyanna-land"; one is aware of the things that take place in our world, good and bad, and we do not live with our heads stuck in the sand. At the same time, when writing "Christian" literature, it is not necessary or even appropriate to wallow in such things. Child abuse, human trafficking and bullying someone to the point that they commit suicide are VILE. I can appreciate an attempt by any author to create an "overcoming all odds and personal grief"-type story, but I felt this book focused too much on the other side, which lent nothing to the overall plot. I was looking forward to giving this book a 5-star rating, and am disappointed in not being able to do so. It's obvious the author put a great deal of scientific and historical research into his book, and as a fellow author, I respect that.
February 15, 2020
Enjoyable Christian Thriller
The Rebel Christian is always on the lookout for great Christian fiction. Bringing good quality entertainment to the Body of Christ is my passion but this week I’ve been lost for words. I had mixed feelings when Westlund first presented his novel to me and after reading through it, I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
First, let me give you a run down of the story. Stolen Shroud is a mix of literary fiction and action thriller—its actually a really good combination and works well with the style of narration. Readers follow Mark, our snarky protagonist who has a hard time grasping the truth, whether its believing in the Word of God or believing there are super powered terrorists interested in the shroud as much as he is.
Read my full review at The Rebel Christian!
*The Rebel Christian received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The Rebel Christian is always on the lookout for great Christian fiction. Bringing good quality entertainment to the Body of Christ is my passion but this week I’ve been lost for words. I had mixed feelings when Westlund first presented his novel to me and after reading through it, I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
First, let me give you a run down of the story. Stolen Shroud is a mix of literary fiction and action thriller—its actually a really good combination and works well with the style of narration. Readers follow Mark, our snarky protagonist who has a hard time grasping the truth, whether its believing in the Word of God or believing there are super powered terrorists interested in the shroud as much as he is.
Read my full review at The Rebel Christian!
*The Rebel Christian received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 30, 2020
“Stolen Shroud” is the first book in The Reconversion series, written by Daniel Westlund, cyber security engineer. This novel is middle length, it has a bit more than three hundred pages.
It is the first book I read from this author but it will not be the last; I liked his writing style very much and apart from that I am eager to know how this series will continue. This Christian novel has a good mysterious plot. It is well developed and caught my attention from the very beginning. Moreover, characters are well depicted and developed.
The main character, Mark, is experiencing a crisis of faith (who hasn’t at one point in our life?) and this is even worse after a DNA test recognizes that the bones of Jesus are real, which means that resurrection never happened.
There is a good mixture of suspense and Christianity in this novel. I am giving it four out of five stars and I am definitely going to recommend reading it to everyone, but especially to those that like the suspense genre. I enjoyed this novel very much and I want to keep on reading the rest of the series to know what is going to happen next.
It is the first book I read from this author but it will not be the last; I liked his writing style very much and apart from that I am eager to know how this series will continue. This Christian novel has a good mysterious plot. It is well developed and caught my attention from the very beginning. Moreover, characters are well depicted and developed.
The main character, Mark, is experiencing a crisis of faith (who hasn’t at one point in our life?) and this is even worse after a DNA test recognizes that the bones of Jesus are real, which means that resurrection never happened.
There is a good mixture of suspense and Christianity in this novel. I am giving it four out of five stars and I am definitely going to recommend reading it to everyone, but especially to those that like the suspense genre. I enjoyed this novel very much and I want to keep on reading the rest of the series to know what is going to happen next.
June 8, 2020
Daniel Westlund's "Stolen Shroud" is a well-written, character-rich speculative fiction story centered around the ancient, intriguing relic known as the Shroud of Turin, said to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. The story is grounded by fleshed-out characters who all have their own unique voices and motivations. Westlund does a superb job of weaving a fantastical story with sci-fi and philosophical underpinnings while.keeping the story grounded. The novel also has a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion which definitely crosses over into speculative territory on a grand scale.
The story takes place in the present with interchanging chapters linked to the characters' pasts. This might slow the story for some; however, the characters are quite interesting making for satisfying reading. Still, there were moments while I read and finished a present day chapter and began reading a "yester-year" chapter that it felt like the story's flow/momentum was slowed. But I believe most readers will look past this as the characters are interesting enough to make the back-pedaling worthwhile.
I recommend "The Stolen Shroud" by capable author, Daniel Westlund.
The story takes place in the present with interchanging chapters linked to the characters' pasts. This might slow the story for some; however, the characters are quite interesting making for satisfying reading. Still, there were moments while I read and finished a present day chapter and began reading a "yester-year" chapter that it felt like the story's flow/momentum was slowed. But I believe most readers will look past this as the characters are interesting enough to make the back-pedaling worthwhile.
I recommend "The Stolen Shroud" by capable author, Daniel Westlund.
March 27, 2020
What an amazing read! It left me breathless. This book is a great debut for Daniel Westlund. The summary along with the cover had me absolutely intrigued.
It was very easy to read and fall into the book from the first chapter. The suspense was in every moment of the story and kept me glued to the end.
This narration was insane in the best possible way. The plot is fast-paced, the characters are clever and the setting is surreal enough to live in the realms of sci-fi. I found myself holding my breath at several times when the protagonist was in danger. It was impossible to put it down. I had to continue reading to know what will happen.
What an exciting thriller this book proved to be! It is well worth the reading. I highly recommend this one if you're keen on something unusual brimming with suspense that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
It was very easy to read and fall into the book from the first chapter. The suspense was in every moment of the story and kept me glued to the end.
This narration was insane in the best possible way. The plot is fast-paced, the characters are clever and the setting is surreal enough to live in the realms of sci-fi. I found myself holding my breath at several times when the protagonist was in danger. It was impossible to put it down. I had to continue reading to know what will happen.
What an exciting thriller this book proved to be! It is well worth the reading. I highly recommend this one if you're keen on something unusual brimming with suspense that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
March 28, 2020
One of the most revered and controversial relics of Catholic faith is the shroud of Turin. In history, various scholars and researchers have made scientific claims for and against the authenticity of the shroud. In this book, Professor Mark Eberhart is on of those researchers who has the rare access to the shroud to confirm its authenticity with some new methods. Mark is having a crisis of faith as the shroud is stolen from in front of him by supernatural means as well as reports coming in that the resurrection of Jesus may never have happened.
This is a thriller with a Christian theme setting, taking some of that worlds mysteries and utilizing them to tell a compelling story, a.la The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. A intriguing plot, interesting and complex characters and a race to solve the mystery all comes together in this exciting new book!
This is a thriller with a Christian theme setting, taking some of that worlds mysteries and utilizing them to tell a compelling story, a.la The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. A intriguing plot, interesting and complex characters and a race to solve the mystery all comes together in this exciting new book!
April 1, 2020
A compelling reading
This is an interesting religious reading with a complicated plot. “Stolen Shroud” -The Reconversion Series Book 1 was written by Daniel Westlund. Apart from author, he is a cyber-security engineer. This is his first published book.
It is a controversial reading about a man whose faith is at stake and after fulfilling a special task, this will shake even more. Mark Eberhart is a professor who must test whether the face of Jesus appears on the Shroud of Turin or not. Throughout this process he discovers something that makes his mindset change.
It is a short and well-developed book which kept my attention throughout the reading. It is so well-written that engages you; the story is captivating. I really enjoyed it! I think that it is a good book, not only for believers but also for those people who are not religious. I thoroughly recommend it!
April 7, 2020
Stolen Shroud by Daniel Westlund is the first in his Reconversion series. This novel finds Professor Mark Eberhart sitting in the Sistine Chapel with a group of about 200 people when The Shroud of Turin is stolen. The supernatural events that allow a priest to hypnotize a room full of people keep the reader guessing as to what he will do next. Mark pairs up with Cora Byron, a journalist, to uncover the secrets within the theft.
Daniel Westlund spins a fascinating story that will keep the reader glued to the Stolen Shroud. The history of the Shroud of Turin is interesting, leaving the reader guessing as to its authenticity. The story flips periodically into the history of Mark and Cora to reveal how their past affects their outlook on religion. Overall, this novel was spellbinding. The bizarre events add to the mystique and thrill to find the truth.
Daniel Westlund spins a fascinating story that will keep the reader glued to the Stolen Shroud. The history of the Shroud of Turin is interesting, leaving the reader guessing as to its authenticity. The story flips periodically into the history of Mark and Cora to reveal how their past affects their outlook on religion. Overall, this novel was spellbinding. The bizarre events add to the mystique and thrill to find the truth.
August 14, 2020
Very Readable
This is an engrossing story in which the God of Abraham, the Trinity is real and the one and only God. If that excited you, read this book. You are in for a treat. I myself find the idea disturbing. God, as imagined by the bible, is more of a psychopath.
I am not an atheist by any means. I consider myself a created being. Created by God, as all brings are. God is not a high and mighty being, removed from us by His purity, unable to join with us because of sin. He is so close to you right now, as close as your breath.
Fortunately, the ability to enjoy this story does not rest on the necessity of believing in Jesus, but in the suspense of disbelief, which is very easy because it is so well executed, in my humble opinion.
This is an engrossing story in which the God of Abraham, the Trinity is real and the one and only God. If that excited you, read this book. You are in for a treat. I myself find the idea disturbing. God, as imagined by the bible, is more of a psychopath.
I am not an atheist by any means. I consider myself a created being. Created by God, as all brings are. God is not a high and mighty being, removed from us by His purity, unable to join with us because of sin. He is so close to you right now, as close as your breath.
Fortunately, the ability to enjoy this story does not rest on the necessity of believing in Jesus, but in the suspense of disbelief, which is very easy because it is so well executed, in my humble opinion.
Read
August 4, 2020very interesting premise and a fast paced start. However the constant back and forth into various time periods became confusion and often didn't provide a necessary basis for the story line. The story took a whole different direction then was quickly and conveniently (and unsatisfactorily) wrapped up.
I hoped for a better plotline tied more closely to the Shroud.
I will give this author another chance because i liked his writing style, but this one fell short for me.
I hoped for a better plotline tied more closely to the Shroud.
I will give this author another chance because i liked his writing style, but this one fell short for me.
March 16, 2020
Excellent reading and very well researched!
Excellent well researched reading. There's something in this entertaining book for everyone (skeptic and true believer, alike). I found this book to be thought provoking and very entertaining.
Excellent well researched reading. There's something in this entertaining book for everyone (skeptic and true believer, alike). I found this book to be thought provoking and very entertaining.
June 11, 2020
Been getting into fiction books lately with a more Christian center lately, and surprised at what's out there. I love the twists and turns, and didn't like Mark very much who is the main character, and the author took quite a few liberties with the Resurrection.
March 29, 2020
Great book!
This book does a great job of riding the wave of pace and detail. The dialogues are good and good character development.
This book does a great job of riding the wave of pace and detail. The dialogues are good and good character development.
March 30, 2020
Excellent book by a creative and thoughtful author. Daniel artfully tells a story of the stolen shroud, a true page turner!
July 2, 2020
Too preachy
The story started out really interesting. But it went to more religious motifs than I cared for. You may like it though.
The story started out really interesting. But it went to more religious motifs than I cared for. You may like it though.
July 31, 2020
Very Interesting
This book is fast paced with lots of twist and turns that you never see coming. Love Christian literature. Can’t wait for his next book!!!
This book is fast paced with lots of twist and turns that you never see coming. Love Christian literature. Can’t wait for his next book!!!
November 16, 2020
We are proud to announce that STOLEN SHROUD by Daniel Westlund is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
January 5, 2022
I sure some would enjoy this, I did not. Very convoluted.
June 11, 2020
Stolen Shroud is by far the best Christian thriller in recent memory. Nothing about the story is vanilla, shallow, or naive. This is a tour de force of very real and mature struggles with faith and skepticism packaged inside a gripping science fantasy rollercoaster. Magic, love, and gritty adventure are seamlessly interwoven into a high-tech, philosophical, far-reaching narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Not to be missed if you want to witness the cutting edge of Christian affirmation and entertainment.
Not to be missed if you want to witness the cutting edge of Christian affirmation and entertainment.
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