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The Expected One (Magdalene Line trilogy, #1)
by Kathleen McGowan (Goodreads Author)
by Kathleen McGowan (Goodreads Author)
‘What is truth?’
Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the French Pyrenees. These scrolls contained her version of the events and characters of the New Testament and are protected, awaiting the arrival of The Expected One.
‘You have to look very carefully to see it for what it is.’
Maureen Paschal is the author of a book examining the truth about the ill-treatment of women in history. Her subjects include Mary Magdalene and, shortly after being given an unusual ring in a Jerusalem store, Maureen begins experiencing visions. Maureen has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery which has already cost the lives of thousands of people.
Fascination with Mary Magdalene is not new: it predates Dan Brown’s novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by centuries. And, although this novel was not first published until 2005, Ms McGowan says she began working on it in 1989 – 14 years before ‘The Da Vinci Code’ published. So it’s coincidence, then, that some similar terrain is covered - but probably a happy coincidence for Ms McGowan in terms of book sales.
Kathleen McGowan, as I discovered after reading this novel, claims to be descended from Mary Magdalene. In her Afterword to the novel, she states that this novel is based on her life and experiences. So why then is the book published as fiction? And where does Ms McGowan’s version of the facts end, and the fiction begin? I enjoyed parts of this novel, was irritated by some aspects and then was completely frustrated by the author’s Afterword. I wish I’d read the Afterword first: at least then I would have been aware of Ms McGowan’s framework for the novel.
If you are interested in Mary Magdalene, and open to alternate views of Christian mythology, then this novel may appeal.
‘You cannot just pick and choose your messiahs like items in a bazaar.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the French Pyrenees. These scrolls contained her version of the events and characters of the New Testament and are protected, awaiting the arrival of The Expected One.
‘You have to look very carefully to see it for what it is.’
Maureen Paschal is the author of a book examining the truth about the ill-treatment of women in history. Her subjects include Mary Magdalene and, shortly after being given an unusual ring in a Jerusalem store, Maureen begins experiencing visions. Maureen has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery which has already cost the lives of thousands of people.
Fascination with Mary Magdalene is not new: it predates Dan Brown’s novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by centuries. And, although this novel was not first published until 2005, Ms McGowan says she began working on it in 1989 – 14 years before ‘The Da Vinci Code’ published. So it’s coincidence, then, that some similar terrain is covered - but probably a happy coincidence for Ms McGowan in terms of book sales.
Kathleen McGowan, as I discovered after reading this novel, claims to be descended from Mary Magdalene. In her Afterword to the novel, she states that this novel is based on her life and experiences. So why then is the book published as fiction? And where does Ms McGowan’s version of the facts end, and the fiction begin? I enjoyed parts of this novel, was irritated by some aspects and then was completely frustrated by the author’s Afterword. I wish I’d read the Afterword first: at least then I would have been aware of Ms McGowan’s framework for the novel.
If you are interested in Mary Magdalene, and open to alternate views of Christian mythology, then this novel may appeal.
‘You cannot just pick and choose your messiahs like items in a bazaar.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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