Tree of Life

ARKANE #11

by J.F. Penn

An ancient manuscript that leads to the Garden of Eden. A seed that can restore the world to nature… but only by destroying humanity in its wake.

When a fragment of an ancient manuscript is stolen from a Jewish library in Amsterdam, ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber discover a conspiracy that stretches back to the days of the Portuguese Empire, and a hidden Order of monks who have protected Eden for generations.

Meanwhile, a radical ecological group seeks the powerful Seed at the heart of the Garden intending to restore the world to its natural state with no thought of the consequences for humankind.

From Lisbon to Macau, the Caribbean and on to Brazil, Morgan and Jake must hunt for the fragments of the manuscript and find their way to the Garden of Eden before those who wish to turn its secret into blood.

The ARKANE action-adventure thriller series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.

Stone of Fire #1 Crypt of Bone #2 Ark of Blood #3 One Day In Budapest #4 Day of the Vikings #5 Gates of Hell #6 One Day in New York #7 Destroyer of Worlds #8 End of Days #9 Valley of Dry Bones #10

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Paranormal, Mystery

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2020

About the author

I'm the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, crime, dark fantasy, horror, short stories, and travel memoir.

Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...

The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."

The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.

The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...

A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.

You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/

I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page

I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.

Reviews

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely follow book series because in my bookish experience, they are rarely equal. It may take a couple of mediocre installment until the real geam of the book is revealed and I don´t have that much time anyway.

The Arkane series by J.F.Penn is my exception. I can´t wait for the next book as from a volume to another, there are always extraordinary adventures in the world of religious fanaticism taking place. It explores the worlds beyond our everyeday life, where religion truths are split into thousands of thruths, offered as take-aways for the daily apocalypse. With every book, there are old secrets and rituals revealed and the race against the machine of the Arkane Institute representatives to stop the world from collapse.

In Tree of Life, the 11th book from the series, Morgan Sierra and Jack Timber are tracing an attempt to recreate/localize the Garden of Eden. The daughter of a mining industrialist who wants to restore the Earth meets a fanatic Christian order who owns a seed that can recreate the Garden in different parts of the world.

The story has complex layers and the plot is spreading in different directions, creating suspense while creating a space for the intellectual and philosophical discussions. ´While Morgan certainly understood the devastation that humans did on the face of the Earth, they also achieved wonderful things in conjunction with nature´. The Garden of Eden is a dream and searching for it on Earth, beyond the simple biblical meaning, was a current concern among the religious orders of the Middle Ages (J.F.Penn offers at the end of the book a vast bibliography of sources she consulted in writing this book, among which Jean Delumeau´s History of Paradise, an excellent reference in this respect). But it might be that the dream is not always replicating a reality, any kind of reality.

In the book, the Garden, which is found this time on the highest peak of Sahand Mountain, in Iran, close to the borders with Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan ´was no manicured lawn with pruned trees and tamed flower beds as depicted in every artistic rendering of Adam and Eve in Paradise. This was an underground rainforest, an abundance of color and growth, teeming with life. This was Nature unbound´.

Tree of Life is skillfully balancing the ideas with the thriller action and there is so many discussions and ideas to think about, from the natural longing of humanity for perfection and peace in the middle of the nature, to the eco-terrorism and religious fanaticism based on obscures references which obliterate, willingly or not, the specific contexts and nuances.

For me this is probably one of the favorite from the series, but I cannot be sure to settle too soon, at least until the next book is coming out.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am somewhat flabbergasted at the idea that Nature (capitalized on purpose) is inimical to mankind. Well, not always, of course. Nature has always been rather a neutral concept and definitely not anti life. But personalized here in prose that evoke revulsion for decay, grubs burrowing such decay, and even eliciting the imagination with the nasty smells that can accompany such really boggled my mind.
Then I have not even started on the Garden of Eden what with the Tree of Life at the very centre of everything.
It took a paradigm shift to get me to accept an inimical Nature aimed squarely at mankind. Yes, there are indeed many people that do belief that mankind is a scourge on earth, a contagious vermin or virus that is destroying earth and... Nature.
And one woman proved to be the mastermind behind abduction, murder, arson, etc. In full pursuit to enter Eden with the sole purpose of activating a Nature in which mankind will indeed perish. And for that, she needs access to the Tree of Life.
I was particularly struch by the coincidence that a woman was the reason mankind was banished from the Garden of Eden. And once again a wonan was purposely trying to re-enter the Garden of Eden...once again to elicit death.
And this is what Morgan Sierra had to cope with. Once again a woman in a position to save mankind.
In the end, Tree of Life by author J. F. Penn proved to be a quick moving and very interesting twist on the dogma we became used to, challenging unbelief innovatively.
Well done.
Enjoy.

[HornFan2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance copy from J.F. Penn, for my honest review and I also ordered it from amazon.com. Something I like to do to support my favorite authors and especially when I read advance copies from them.

No spoilers! Absolutely addictive, J.F. Penn's writing style just sucks you in, your right their in the action, on the edge of the seat cheering that Morgan, Jake, Martin and the rest of the Arkane crew to defeat evil and it's a read that you don't want to see end.

Her writing is so well researched, like all the historical sites she adds into the storyline, can she ever add all the right elements to make her story that much better and what an imagination she has.

With the Tree of Life, you have two intertwining storylines that beautifully meshes into one storyline, the legendary good verse evil theme, felt Penn told what could have been a complex story into a simply told imaginative read, overloaded with twist and turns, seasoned perfectly with suspense and best of all she transports into the pages as your reading this one.

Morgan, Jake and Martin, along with the support characters really makes this one so good, definitely my favorite read of 2020, one element that makes her writing so good, is how she bring the characters good or bad too life, blending real history, with supernatural and her imagination.

I don't read a lot of books in the supernatural genre, but absolutely love how J.F. Penn mixes historical sites into her Arkane Series books, that alone makes it worth while to read, you always learn something new and highly recommend.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arkane book#11

An ancient manuscript that leads to the Garden of Eden. A seed that can restore the world to nature ...but only by destroying humanity in its wake.

Wow ...sound spooky.... it is. Ms. Penn t takes us on an imaginable journey to Eden with Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber her two protagonists. This chilling and pulse-pounding suspense drama takes us from Lisbon to Macau to the Caribbean and to Brazil on a hunt for fragments of an ancient Portuguese manuscript stolen from a Jewish library in Amsterdam.

“Tree of Life” is a highly imaginative account that delves into religion with knowledge and seamlessly weaves beliefs, geography and culture into a lively and dynamic plot. Once again the setting is magical, scary and mythical. The author knows how to phrase her ideas with haunting effects to imprint in our mind pictures only she can do. A tad of improbability chiseled into her mystery is not a bad idea in order to captivate us and she does that expertly. Her magic touch is fluid and very visual...and her kick-ass globetrotting protagonists keep you so stitched to the story you forget where you are....fast-paced, spooky but interesting story hard to forget...well-done as usual Ms. Penn

The author has graciously provided this book for an honest review.

[Julie Cordiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree of Life is a real page-turner, the latest adventure for Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber in which they have to track down a map that shows the Garden of Eden. The sinister undertones really grabbed me and I couldn't wait to find out where the trail would lead to. As usual, JF Penn has created immersive prose which engages all your senses, and in a year when I've really missed my holidays, this provided a real sense of escape. It's a truly global story, and I take my hat off to the author for the level of research it must have involved.

The ending was unexpected but it suited the story so well and left a sense of wonder at the possibilities suggested by this imaginative novel. Not just an entertaining read, but a book that engages you, educates you and makes you think differently.

I was delighted to receive an advance copy of the book, and this is an honest review of my reactions to the story.

[Michael Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of Ms. Penn’s books and have enjoyed them all. It is obvious that she does a lot of research and travels to many cities to catch the local flavors and descriptive elements that make me feel I’m walking the streets with the characters. She has a knack for blending religion, history, literature, art, science and creative license in an easy-to-read style that pulls me in and keeps me engrossed.

This is another fast-paced, globe-trotting adventure for ARKANE agents Dr. Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, as they try to locate the Garden of Eden and prevent bad actors from obtaining a powerful Seed to re-form the earth, which could endanger all human life. As usual, our protagonists attract trouble everywhere they go, so can they work safely through it all and still complete their mission? This was hard to put down, and I missed some sleep as a result. I highly recommend this book and the series. I received an ARC – this review is my honest opinion – and I bought a copy of the book on release to support this great writer.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best action-packed ARCANE thriller!!!
When I finished Tree of Life, I felt like I had gone on a two continent multi-country tour with two people who have a tendency of finding trouble at every stop, not to mention getting involved in more hair-raising activities than is good for my blood pressure. As usual Joanna Penn has crafted a story filled with architectural and geographical details that make you feel like you are standing on the street, or inside the building right alongside each character in the story. To say I enjoyed Tree of Life would be a massive understatement, there are parts of this story that still have me wondering if maybe, just maybe they may be possible. After all none of us were around for mankind’s expulsion from Eden. For fans of the ARCANE series this is a must read, for those readers new to this series, grab a copy and settle in for the ride of your life, and then start reading all the rest of the ARCANE series. I received an Advance Reader Copy of Tree of Life and chose to provide this review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding book about ARKANE. Wherever and whenever they have to solve a mystery, it gets done. This time it’s something big. Received a complimentary copy and reviewed because this is a must read.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, this very talented author takes us on a quest which will result in the world being saved, or maybe not, from a previously unknown evil. The Tree of Life is located in the Garden of Eden, and much of mankind has always believed that this is simply a Bible story about a benevolent place with a benevolent tree and an evil snake. Not so true.... as we find out in this thriller. A multi-billionaire’s daughter with a warped view of mankind, the environment, and mankind’s place in the world, is out to obtain a secret and let it loose into the world; and a secret Order of Monks guarding this horrendous secret for thousands of years will stop any attempt to find it. A horrendous terrorist act destroys a church and kills scores of people. ARKANE is called in to discover who is behind it and shut them down. Morgan and Jake are working with researchers who have uncovered a clue. Through their inquiries, and as more clues are uncovered, Morgan and Jake are not only targeted by the Monks protecting the secret; they are clashing with the rich woman and her mercenaries at the same time trying to find the secret at all costs. Once again the author takes us to incredible locations around the world, weaving them flawlessly into the story. Another enjoyable adventure thriller in this series. I am looking forward to the next to come.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been so long since the last ARKANE novel, but it was worth the wait. Morgan and Jake are together again and both are healthy and ready for adventure. A fire at a Jewish library starts a search to find the Garden of Eden that leads Morgan and Jake around the world. An enemy from the Jake's past shows up and caused the team some problems and increases the urgency of the search. The ARKANE novels are always filled with well written and interesting characters with a fast paced suspense plot and this one is no different. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.

[Philip Garside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read. Good to see my favourite Arkane character, Martin, featuring prominently.

[Paul Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best book in the series. When I started reading this book I got through it faster than I have any book in a while. I am usually a slow reader but this book was different. I enjoyed everything about it. While reading I realized I was halfway through and it didn’t even feel like I should be. Thank you to J.F. Penn for keeping me interested and the story going through a journey I enjoyed.

[Reva Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved following ARKANE agents Morgan and Jake around the world as they search for the four pieces of a map to the Garden of Eden created in the early sixteenth century by new Christian converts to give the Jewish community in Portugal some bargaining chips with the Inquisition that was torturing and killing millions. Now rich and powerful eco-fanatics are killing to acquire these little known scraps stored in Jewish libraries of learning around the far-flung old Portuguese Empire. Lives are on the line, races between the agents and the fanatics to cities on the other side of the world, innocents involved and kidnapped by a secret brotherhood protecting the garden, and of course the final showdown at the gates of the hidden garden itself. The thrilling but usual excitement of Penn's story of following clues from history to solve today's mystery, relying on both the known and newly revealed! If you love travel or learning from old manuscripts or the mysterious cycle of life and death or the constant decisions between good and the evil that seems so good, you'll enjoy this ARKANE novel.

[Michele Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

And yet again, J.F Penn has gifted us with an 'unputdownable' action-packed, historically/mythological/religious provocative book that was exactly what I needed during another 'lockdown'. While I can't go anywhere or do much of anything at the moment, I certainly felt like I was taken along 'for the ride' with Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, as they searched for the 'Tree of Life' - yep, THAT 'Tree of Life'.

And as per usual, my imagination was pushed and pulled and exercised by the idea - what if?
Penn does this so effortlessly with her stories -blend fact, religion, myth, history and fiction and roll them all together to force us to think of 'possibilities'.

I happily went from Lisbon to Macau, the Caribbean and Brazil in search for the Garden of Eden, and thanks to Penn's wonderful descriptive devices used in her narrative, I too was concerned for the 'secret', and certainly didn't want it to get into the wrong hands.

If you want to go on an 'adventure' in your 'lockdown lounge-wear', then THIS IS IT!

Can't recommend it enough for those who love thrilling, adventurous, highly-imaginative, historically-inspired, and 'timely' thought-provoking reads.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book number eleven in the ARKANE series and it was fantastic. I zoomed through the pages like a rocket. This is a page-turner indeed.

Our friends, Morgan and Jake, are once again using their knowledge and detection skills to find four jigsaw pieces of a manuscript that, put back together, show the location of the Garden of Eden, which has always been looked after by an order of monks. In the wrong hands, the manuscript would sign the death knell for humankind on Earth, but certainly not in the way the reader is thinking.

I really don't want to spoil this story for anyone, but I will say that you may have a different view of Mother Nature and the Bible story of original sin after this! I've read a great deal of books and I've never come across an idea as unusual and, frankly, mind blowing as this.

Absolutely wonderful tale with excellent writing, worldbuilding and characterisations as only JF Penn can. Enjoy!

I chose an early copy of this which I then voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.

[Carol Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan and Jake Timber are at it again trying to restore the balance of the world. Years ago a manuscript was torn into 4 pieces and spread around thus hoping to protect the world from trying to find the Garden of Eden if there is such a place? One part of the manuscript was stolen from a Jewish library in Amsterdam and the agents have been tasked with finding this but another eco group decided to look for and bring all four pieces together and doing this will then restore balance to the world? Why was it torn into 4 pieces to start with and been protected for millennia?
With all Penn novels, you get excitement intrigue as well as a history and geography lesson the description of areas and buildings, etc bought to life in words. A great story although it is fiction and sometimes it does make you think what could and what if there was such a garden of Eden where would it be What would it look like.?

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the ARKANE series. This one involves a map that had been divided into four pieces and each piece was hidden in a different place. The map is purported to show the way to the Garden of Eden. But why is the way to this biblical paradise such a secret? Is it really a place that will bring good to humankind or is it a biological weapon they will bring mankind to an end and leave nature in charge of the world? Morgan and Jake don't have the answer but they must do their best to collect the four pieces of the map before it fails into the wrong hands. Jake will face an old enemy, one innocent woman will be murdered, another will be kidnapped. Join the adventure, but don't stand too close to the Tree of Life because it bites.

I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree of Life J. F. Penn

Is the Garden of Eden paradise lost? A myth of well hidden fact? Man is destroying Earth. The eco system is slowly dying. Overpopulation, disease, famine, war. The keepers of this mythical garden and very powerful people who are aware of this and are willing to take drastic measures to stop this. Return Earth to its original state of harmony. Plant life , animals in nature with out having to worry about the destruction humans bring to the environment. A balanced environment will bring drastic changes to the world as we know know it. This is another amazing read by J.F. Penn paced with historical facts and legends which this author is well known for. Another stupendous read. J.F. Penn has the gift of the Golden pen. Enjoyed immensely!!

[Michael Mardel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree of life by Joanna Penn gets 5 stars for her ingenuity with Morgan and Jake travelling the world, mainly Portuguese, in search of manuscript fragments. There is intrigue and violence and places I haven’t visited except for Lisbon where I had taken a photo of the ruins of Carmo Convent in 1975 which a forebear had designed, I think. He was Carlos Mardel and the name Charles has continued down but not to me. So you could say I am biased towards anything Portuguese.
Penn’s latest story will keep you page turning to see if Morgan and Jake succeed against murderous odds. And you have to read it to find out if they survive and find the tree of life.

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Arkane book in a row where I enjoyed the simple act of reading the prose. JF Penn said she was changing style to suit audiobooks. I have found the last two even more pleasurable to read, so I think this is working.

The plot is typical Arkane, with clues to the location of the Garden of Eden scattered around the world. Morgan and Jake, working together again, race a rich eco-warrior to find the clues and enter the secret garden. However, it is not as expected and they must save the human world from destruction.

It is even easier to recommend this book with its audio inspired words. I received an ARC copy of this Arkane novel for an honest appraisal.

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-paced adventure where Morgan and Jake travel the world to save it from catastrophe.

I liked the vivid descriptions of each destination and the history of the people and the map they hid.

I liked the differing points of view regarding Nature and the fanaticism involved – Morgan’s level-headed approach and her interesting choice at the end is quite brilliant.

I loved the scenes in the Garden and the various fight-scenes were well-crafted.

There were too many instances of head hopping, though. Jake and Morgan, the bad guy, the bad woman, another bad guy, the tech guy, a hostage – it got a bit much.

Another must-read for readers of theology-based thrillers.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tree of Life" by J.F. Penn is the eleventh book in the ARKANE thriller series. This gripping adventure follows Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, ARKANE agents, as they race to uncover the secrets of an ancient manuscript. The manuscript is said to hold a map to the Garden of Eden and the Seed at its heart—a Seed with the power to rekindle life from death. Their journey takes them across the globe, from Portugal to Brazil, Amsterdam, and the Caribbean, as they face an eco-warrior group determined to use the Seed to create a "perfect" world, even if it means destroying humanity. Packed with action, historical intrigue, and supernatural elements.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Following suit with the rest of this series, this is a top-notch thriller with plenty of intriguing action. Like the others, this one is pretty violent, well researched, and very interesting. It's a pretty quick read and doesn't give a lot of background into the characters, so it's probably best to read at least some of the series prior to this one.

I hope this series continues. This book is an excellent addition and I'm grateful that I got to read it. Thanks!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic book in the ARKANE series. Fast and furious, with a chase around the globe to track down pieces of a map that may lead Morgan and Jake to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. As always, there are opponents that are not always what they seem, and death is an inevitability in Ms. Penn's books.
The story does not pause for breath and neither will you. A history lesson, a geography lesson, a theology lesson, a masterclass in how to write an erudite thriller that you can't put down.

[Kevin Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Excellent Adventure!

As usual Ms Penn has created a wonderful scenario of what could happen if nature was left unchecked. One thing I really love is the research put into her books which bring them to life. For instance I did not know how much Portugal put into the slave trade. It is amazing that Portugal was able to transport ten times the number of slaves brought to America by the rest of Europe combined! No wonder Brazil is such a multicultural country. Keep up the good work!

[Anita Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever dreamed of finding the garden of Eden? What is there is a map to finding it and a ruthless heiress is not ashamed to kill for pieces of the map? Morgan and Jake are off to a whirlwind adventure once again. Jake has to face an old colleague again who is out to kill him and make him pay for the accident that scared the villain. Another amazing book delivered by an author that never fails to provide her readers with adrenaline filled novels.

[Normand Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I received the book free from the author, the thoughts expressed here are my own. How about a trip to Amsterdam, Portugal, Macau, New York, Turkey, India, Jamaica, France, Brazil, Norway, Iran (not necessarily in that order) with plenty of action, all the while searching for the "Tree of Life" in the "Garden of Eden". If you want all that, then do read this book - a fabulous adventure with the ARKANE team.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Nature a good thing? What if someone will do anything, including murder, to make sure that humanity is wiped off the earth so Nature can take over. An ancient manuscript that leads to the Garden of Eden and the tree of life are at the center of all of this. Jack and Morgan, with the rest of ARKANE, must do all in their power to stop that from happening. Fascinating read, keeps you on the edge of your seat. I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the fact that the novel made me think about the Garden of Eden and made me question what I thought to be true. Maybe the Garden was not good for the human race and the fact that we are no longer allowed in is to our advantage. I have now read three of Penn's novels and my main criticism is that they are too short. They always leave me wanting more. I discovered her novels through her podcast which I love. I highly recommend her podcast for people who want to write.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tree of Life (ARKANE Book 11), my seventeenth read from author J.F. Penn. Captivating, with well-developed characters coupled with an outstanding suspense story-line with its intricately woven twists and turns. Penn, as always, does a good job with her character development; you can like and/or hate these characters. "I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."(RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).