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Some say Demiel ben Yusef is the world's most dangerous terrorist, personally responsible for bombings and riots that have claimed the lives of thousands. Others insist he is a man of peace, a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God. His trial in New York City for crimes against humanity attracts scores of protestors, as well as media and religious leaders from around the world.
Cynical reporter Alessandra Russo heads to the UN hoping for a piece of the action, but soon becomes entangled in controversy and suspicion when ben Yusef singles her out for attention among all other reporters. As Alessandra begins digging into ben Yusef's past, she is already in more danger than she knows—and when she is falsely accused of murder during her investigation, she is forced to flee New York.
On the run from unknown enemies, Alessandra finds herself on the trail of a global conspiracy and a story that could shake the world to its foundations. Is Demiel ben Yusef the Second Coming or the Antichrist? The truth may lie in the secret history of the Holy Family, a group of Templars who defied the church, and a mysterious relic stained with the sacred blood of Christ Himself.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Cynical reporter Alessandra Russo heads to the UN hoping for a piece of the action, but soon becomes entangled in controversy and suspicion when ben Yusef singles her out for attention among all other reporters. As Alessandra begins digging into ben Yusef's past, she is already in more danger than she knows—and when she is falsely accused of murder during her investigation, she is forced to flee New York.
On the run from unknown enemies, Alessandra finds herself on the trail of a global conspiracy and a story that could shake the world to its foundations. Is Demiel ben Yusef the Second Coming or the Antichrist? The truth may lie in the secret history of the Holy Family, a group of Templars who defied the church, and a mysterious relic stained with the sacred blood of Christ Himself.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2013
56 people are currently reading
866 people want to read
About the author
Linda Stasi
11 books30 followersLinda Stasi is a popular and well-read author, and columnist/critic for the New York Daily News, who has also been an on-camera co-host with Mark Simone on NY 1 TV’s What a Week for the past ten years.
Linda is also a frequent on-camera guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, CNN, Good Day New York, Fox News, MSNBC, etc. and has appeared on The View, and countless other talk shows.
Brash, funny and opinionated, the acerbic Stasi has authored six books and won numerous awards including “Best Columnist” by the Newswomen’s Club of NY, “Best Humor Columnist,” and “Woman of the Year: 2006” by the Boys Town of Italy.
Her first novel, novel, “The Sixth Station,” ( Forge Books) was published in early 2013. The completion of which took five years, two mountain climbs in France, a drive alone through three countries with an exorcist priest from the Vatican, a week with monks, two days of interviews with a cloistered nun in the mountains of Manoppello, Italy, and – voila! – one lost relic found and one novel completed.
Book of Judas is her second novel and features beloved protagonist Alessandra Russo.
Linda is also a frequent on-camera guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, CNN, Good Day New York, Fox News, MSNBC, etc. and has appeared on The View, and countless other talk shows.
Brash, funny and opinionated, the acerbic Stasi has authored six books and won numerous awards including “Best Columnist” by the Newswomen’s Club of NY, “Best Humor Columnist,” and “Woman of the Year: 2006” by the Boys Town of Italy.
Her first novel, novel, “The Sixth Station,” ( Forge Books) was published in early 2013. The completion of which took five years, two mountain climbs in France, a drive alone through three countries with an exorcist priest from the Vatican, a week with monks, two days of interviews with a cloistered nun in the mountains of Manoppello, Italy, and – voila! – one lost relic found and one novel completed.
Book of Judas is her second novel and features beloved protagonist Alessandra Russo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
December 31, 2012
To be honest, I made it to pg 66 (the end of Chapter 6) and as I started Chapter 7 I realized that this book was going nowhere, fast. There was a lot of back & forth, a ton of unnecessary detail, too many cliches in too short a timespan, the main character was 1 dimentional and annoying as a character can be. The "BLOW THINGS UP" event: a kiss from the accused-terrorist, which consumes about 5 pages, and the immediate follow-up is not a round-the-world run from bad people a la _The DaVinci Code_ but a run from the site of the court proceedings to a catholic church that just happens to have a conveniently available & easily accessible secret tunnel that'll take the main character to within a block of her apartment building. I realized that I was already almost a third of the way through this book, and the author was still trying to make a whole lot of nonsense into a story. When the main character started throwing a temper tantrum at her editor because he rewrote an "article" (really, more like a diary entry in a 14 year old's diary) containing the main character's account of "the kiss", I realized that spending any more time on this book would be a waste for me, when I have so many more interesting reads on my "to be read" list. I'm glad I received this book as an ARC through my job and didn't have to spend any money on it. The premise sounded interesting. Too bad the athor was going nowhere with it.
August 19, 2025
Extremely pleasantly surprised at how good this novel was. Addictive, well-written and well-researched, I couldn’t put it down—literally, found myself reading it at the beach, in the pool, in the car, at the restaurant, in bed, in company, at night… Excellent book. I picked it up randomly years ago for almost nothing at a charity shop and packed it for the summer even more randomly, and I’m so happy I did. Can’t wait to get my hands on the next volume now.
(Small note, obviously: Free Palestine, from the river to the sea, in our lifetime. The Zionist themes in the book were credible and well integrated to the fiction, but in 2025, it’s important to take a step back and reconnect with reality once in a while. Even when your protagonist is a semi-brainwashed American Iraq veteran, and you’re dealing with Judeo-Christian history. Even then)
(Small note, obviously: Free Palestine, from the river to the sea, in our lifetime. The Zionist themes in the book were credible and well integrated to the fiction, but in 2025, it’s important to take a step back and reconnect with reality once in a while. Even when your protagonist is a semi-brainwashed American Iraq veteran, and you’re dealing with Judeo-Christian history. Even then)
August 16, 2013
Stasi, new to the fiction scene, brings much attention to herself with this novel. Tackling not only the intricacies of active narration and dialogue, but also the nuances of acerbic wit, fact-embedding, and keeping the plot moving, she is able to entertain the reader from the get-go and keep their attention throughout. A storyline torn from the genre of Dan Brown or Sam Bourne, Stasi layers some interesting ideas as she introduces a plethora of characters, whose personas weave themselves together nicely. When an international terrorist, hated by all, is brought to face criminal charges at the United Nations, there is a small faction who professes his innocence. While ‘spawn of Satan’ seems to fall off the lips of many, no matter their religious or cultural background, others refer to him as the ‘Second Coming’. Stasi is able to build on this and use an unsuspecting reporter as her vessel to tell this action-filled tale. From New York to Turkey and even into the small towns of France and Italy, Stasi takes the reader on a biblical (not religious) ride the likes that few will have experienced before.
I thoroughly enjoy books with a religious twist to them. I cheered when Dan Brown caused the Vatican to freak out and applaud anything that Sam Bourne (or Tom Knox, or even James Becker) put out, for they try to look at religion and its sacred beliefs and question what was written. They ask the sometimes needed questions around interpretation and force the reader (those well versed in the Bible as well as those who paid attention while eating crayons in Sunday School) to think outside the box. I never finish one of their books (and in this I include Stasi) feeling inculcated with religion, as though I should see the light and convert my friends and neighbours for fear of the heathens being left behind. Stasi does that throughout the book, offering up some far-fetched ideas that, I suppose, could hold fact to them. It left me to think and surely the Vatican to bang their heads against the relic desks they use.
Stasi also brings a strong wit to her writing. This is not some super religious woman who is racing to save the world and Christianity in particular. Our main character is so full of humour, sarcasm, and wit that it keeps the reader laughing throughout. Perhaps this is one of the best things, as some of the plot content can be a little dense at times. It is also ‘real’, for lack of a better word. People feel and people react in certain ways. The language is what you would expect (there is no ‘gosh golly gee’ in any portion of the dialogue) and the inner voice that our main character battles with is less another being and more her inner conscience asking her to wake up and smell the coffee.
Kudos Madam Stasi for an excellent book to begin your fiction career. I hope we can expect more, of this or another genre. I am waiting with much interest.
I thoroughly enjoy books with a religious twist to them. I cheered when Dan Brown caused the Vatican to freak out and applaud anything that Sam Bourne (or Tom Knox, or even James Becker) put out, for they try to look at religion and its sacred beliefs and question what was written. They ask the sometimes needed questions around interpretation and force the reader (those well versed in the Bible as well as those who paid attention while eating crayons in Sunday School) to think outside the box. I never finish one of their books (and in this I include Stasi) feeling inculcated with religion, as though I should see the light and convert my friends and neighbours for fear of the heathens being left behind. Stasi does that throughout the book, offering up some far-fetched ideas that, I suppose, could hold fact to them. It left me to think and surely the Vatican to bang their heads against the relic desks they use.
Stasi also brings a strong wit to her writing. This is not some super religious woman who is racing to save the world and Christianity in particular. Our main character is so full of humour, sarcasm, and wit that it keeps the reader laughing throughout. Perhaps this is one of the best things, as some of the plot content can be a little dense at times. It is also ‘real’, for lack of a better word. People feel and people react in certain ways. The language is what you would expect (there is no ‘gosh golly gee’ in any portion of the dialogue) and the inner voice that our main character battles with is less another being and more her inner conscience asking her to wake up and smell the coffee.
Kudos Madam Stasi for an excellent book to begin your fiction career. I hope we can expect more, of this or another genre. I am waiting with much interest.
December 16, 2012
What a pleasant surprise! The description of this book caught my eye and sounded like something I would like, I just didn't know how much I would enjoy this fast-paced, detailed read!
The story opens with Alessandra Russo, an experienced reporter being awakened by her boss to head out immediately to a breaking story of epic proportions. Immediately, you pick up on Alessandra's attitude, feisty with a strong personality, headstrong, independent and a little worn out from life. Her narration of the story is entertaining on many levels!
Most believe that Demiel ben Yusef is the world’s most dangerous terrorist, responsible for the deaths of thousands around the world. Others believe he is a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God, a man of peace. Currently he is on trial for "crimes against humanity" and refuses to defend himself. For some reason, in the motorcade on its way to the UN, ben Yusef kisses Alessandra, out of all the people there, whispering something in her ear. Of course, with all the world-wide coverage, questions are raised about her relationship with him.
Alessandra starts out on a quest for answers, is ben Yusef the Son of the Son of God or are fanatics just finding another craze to follow? Her journey for answers takes her around the world, finds her becoming public enemy number one, accused of murder, being warned not to trust anyone.
She must discover, is ben Yusef who his followers say? Is he really the anti-Christ? Who is behind this secret society trying to help Alessandra? Who is trying to stop her?
From the first page, the writing was intense, there was a fevered pitch to the action and it was obvious that the author has done a LOT of homework in finding a lot of facts to blend into this tale. By the end, you will find yourself asking if this is all a possibility.
This ARC edition has been provided by Netgalley and AMG Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Alessandra Russo, an experienced reporter being awakened by her boss to head out immediately to a breaking story of epic proportions. Immediately, you pick up on Alessandra's attitude, feisty with a strong personality, headstrong, independent and a little worn out from life. Her narration of the story is entertaining on many levels!
Most believe that Demiel ben Yusef is the world’s most dangerous terrorist, responsible for the deaths of thousands around the world. Others believe he is a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God, a man of peace. Currently he is on trial for "crimes against humanity" and refuses to defend himself. For some reason, in the motorcade on its way to the UN, ben Yusef kisses Alessandra, out of all the people there, whispering something in her ear. Of course, with all the world-wide coverage, questions are raised about her relationship with him.
Alessandra starts out on a quest for answers, is ben Yusef the Son of the Son of God or are fanatics just finding another craze to follow? Her journey for answers takes her around the world, finds her becoming public enemy number one, accused of murder, being warned not to trust anyone.
She must discover, is ben Yusef who his followers say? Is he really the anti-Christ? Who is behind this secret society trying to help Alessandra? Who is trying to stop her?
From the first page, the writing was intense, there was a fevered pitch to the action and it was obvious that the author has done a LOT of homework in finding a lot of facts to blend into this tale. By the end, you will find yourself asking if this is all a possibility.
This ARC edition has been provided by Netgalley and AMG Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2012
OMG! This is book is a MUST read! I should have been traipsing around amusement parks with my child in Florida during my holiday - instead I was holed up with this thriller and could not put it down!
Some of the best novels are written by journalists and this one knocks it out of the ball park. Meticulously researched, the premise that a world-terrorist on the scale of Osama Bin Ladin - or perhaps even bigger - may not be who the world religious leaders have come together to crucify as well as nations during his trial in front of the world, may in fact be who millions of his social networking followers believe him to be - a leader of peace and love and from Jesus's blood - is fascinating and Stasi weaves so much fact with her fiction that I began to question...could it happen? What does organized religion hide from us in the name of God?
It may be controversial. It may raise more questions than you expected. But there is no doubt the story will keep you engaged!
The race for best books of 2013 has begun!
Some of the best novels are written by journalists and this one knocks it out of the ball park. Meticulously researched, the premise that a world-terrorist on the scale of Osama Bin Ladin - or perhaps even bigger - may not be who the world religious leaders have come together to crucify as well as nations during his trial in front of the world, may in fact be who millions of his social networking followers believe him to be - a leader of peace and love and from Jesus's blood - is fascinating and Stasi weaves so much fact with her fiction that I began to question...could it happen? What does organized religion hide from us in the name of God?
It may be controversial. It may raise more questions than you expected. But there is no doubt the story will keep you engaged!
The race for best books of 2013 has begun!
April 3, 2013
From Goodreads.com:
Some say Demiel ben Yusef is the world’s most dangerous terrorist, personally responsible for bombings and riots that have claimed the lives of thousands. Others insist he is a man of peace, a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God. His trial in New York City for crimes against humanity attracts scores of protestors, as well as media and religious leaders from around the world.
Cynical reporter Alessandra Russo heads to the UN hoping for a piece of the action, but soon becomes entangled in controversy and suspicion when ben Yusef singles her out for attention among all other reporters. As Alessandra begins digging into ben Yusef’s past, she is already in more danger than she knows—and when she is falsely accused of murder during her investigation, she is forced to flee New York.
On the run from unknown enemies, Alessandra finds herself on the trail of a global conspiracy and a story that could shake the world to its foundations. Is Demiel ben Yusef the Second Coming or the Antichrist? The truth may lie in the secret history of the Holy Family, a group of Templars who defied the church, and a mysterious relic stained with the sacred blood of Christ Himself.
My Thoughts:
There is not a whole lot you can say in a review for this book without major spoilers, so I will make this short and sweet. If you like Dan Brown, I think this book will be right up your alley. I’ve never been huge on religious books, but the older I get, the more I like to add them in once or twice a year to expand on the genres I am reading.
Whether you like books based on religion or not, this is a fast paced thriller that will have you turning the pages quickly. I read this book in two days and couldn’t get enough. There were multiple times that I gasped while reading because I couldn’t believe what was going on. Granted, it does get a little unrealistic at times, but what do you expect when you have a journalist trying to answer questions that are thousands of years old? It’s obviously not going to be easy.
I loved Alessandra’s character. I can always relate to journalists, and live vicariously through those who go on the story of a lifetime.
And I absolutely give a high five, thumbs up, and fist bump to Stasi for the obvious countless hours worth of research she put into this novel. And believe me, if I ever head to Europe again, I am adding some of the locations in her novel to my “must see places.”
I give The Sixth Station 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
Some say Demiel ben Yusef is the world’s most dangerous terrorist, personally responsible for bombings and riots that have claimed the lives of thousands. Others insist he is a man of peace, a miracle worker, and possibly even the Son of God. His trial in New York City for crimes against humanity attracts scores of protestors, as well as media and religious leaders from around the world.
Cynical reporter Alessandra Russo heads to the UN hoping for a piece of the action, but soon becomes entangled in controversy and suspicion when ben Yusef singles her out for attention among all other reporters. As Alessandra begins digging into ben Yusef’s past, she is already in more danger than she knows—and when she is falsely accused of murder during her investigation, she is forced to flee New York.
On the run from unknown enemies, Alessandra finds herself on the trail of a global conspiracy and a story that could shake the world to its foundations. Is Demiel ben Yusef the Second Coming or the Antichrist? The truth may lie in the secret history of the Holy Family, a group of Templars who defied the church, and a mysterious relic stained with the sacred blood of Christ Himself.
My Thoughts:
There is not a whole lot you can say in a review for this book without major spoilers, so I will make this short and sweet. If you like Dan Brown, I think this book will be right up your alley. I’ve never been huge on religious books, but the older I get, the more I like to add them in once or twice a year to expand on the genres I am reading.
Whether you like books based on religion or not, this is a fast paced thriller that will have you turning the pages quickly. I read this book in two days and couldn’t get enough. There were multiple times that I gasped while reading because I couldn’t believe what was going on. Granted, it does get a little unrealistic at times, but what do you expect when you have a journalist trying to answer questions that are thousands of years old? It’s obviously not going to be easy.
I loved Alessandra’s character. I can always relate to journalists, and live vicariously through those who go on the story of a lifetime.
And I absolutely give a high five, thumbs up, and fist bump to Stasi for the obvious countless hours worth of research she put into this novel. And believe me, if I ever head to Europe again, I am adding some of the locations in her novel to my “must see places.”
I give The Sixth Station 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
April 30, 2013
The Sixth Station by Linda Stasi
Dan Brown meet Sandra Brown. This is a novel of the 2nd Coming. Alessandra Russo has a Manhattan size chip on her shoulder and a mouth most truck drivers would be ashamed of having. She despises hypocrisy and authority equally. She finds herself caught up in a millennium old religious conspiracy.
Demiel ben Yusef is either Satan incarnate or the Son of God. Alessandra finds herself trying to discover which.
This book had a fast pace incongruent with it’s thought provoking premise. It has the hallmarks of a major best seller with intrigue, secret societies, age old vendettas and modern violence. Ms. Stasi adroitly uses historic underpinnings to provide plausibility to her story. Her plot encourages skepticism even while reading. I found myself Googling things to see what was fact and what was fiction.
I think Ms. Stasi clearly points out that religious conflicts have the potential for being the most destructive of wars. The book is a captivating read that alludes to historic conspiracies that force you to ponder. Ms. Stasi makes no attempt to pander to the sensitivities of those who may be offended by her irreverence. This book will no doubt offend some.
This is an action adventure mystery that must be read.
I highly recommend.
Web Site: none found
Dan Brown meet Sandra Brown. This is a novel of the 2nd Coming. Alessandra Russo has a Manhattan size chip on her shoulder and a mouth most truck drivers would be ashamed of having. She despises hypocrisy and authority equally. She finds herself caught up in a millennium old religious conspiracy.
Demiel ben Yusef is either Satan incarnate or the Son of God. Alessandra finds herself trying to discover which.
This book had a fast pace incongruent with it’s thought provoking premise. It has the hallmarks of a major best seller with intrigue, secret societies, age old vendettas and modern violence. Ms. Stasi adroitly uses historic underpinnings to provide plausibility to her story. Her plot encourages skepticism even while reading. I found myself Googling things to see what was fact and what was fiction.
I think Ms. Stasi clearly points out that religious conflicts have the potential for being the most destructive of wars. The book is a captivating read that alludes to historic conspiracies that force you to ponder. Ms. Stasi makes no attempt to pander to the sensitivities of those who may be offended by her irreverence. This book will no doubt offend some.
This is an action adventure mystery that must be read.
I highly recommend.
Web Site: none found
May 15, 2013
Alessandra Russo is a newspaper report. She along with a bunch of other reporters are covering one of the biggest stories. Terrorist, Demiel ben Yusef is being tried at the United Nations. Upon his arrival Demiel stops right in front of Alessandra and kisses her. With just one kiss Alessandra’s life is changed forever. Now she is on the run.
Usually I try to stray away from books that focus mainly on religion and this also includes fiction books. One because I have my own beliefs and two because sometimes I found these types of books to be boring with too much detail spent on the explanations. This was not the case with this book. From the word “go” there was lots of high intensity action. Alessandra was a strong, female heroine. I even found the details about the religious aspects to be interesting.
An extra bonus was at the back of the book was a piece titled “Hard to Fathom Facts”. This is where Linda shared some true facts like for example fact: Father Heinrich Pfeiffer, official advisor for the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage, declared the Volto Santo in Manoppello to be the true image of Jesus. Looking forward to what Linda comes out with next. The Sixth Station is a thrill ride of a read!
Usually I try to stray away from books that focus mainly on religion and this also includes fiction books. One because I have my own beliefs and two because sometimes I found these types of books to be boring with too much detail spent on the explanations. This was not the case with this book. From the word “go” there was lots of high intensity action. Alessandra was a strong, female heroine. I even found the details about the religious aspects to be interesting.
An extra bonus was at the back of the book was a piece titled “Hard to Fathom Facts”. This is where Linda shared some true facts like for example fact: Father Heinrich Pfeiffer, official advisor for the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage, declared the Volto Santo in Manoppello to be the true image of Jesus. Looking forward to what Linda comes out with next. The Sixth Station is a thrill ride of a read!
February 3, 2019
I got this book for free through goodreads first reads. Thank you!!!
Okai so when I first read the description for this book I must not have noticed the god part. So when I started reading this I was not happy. I wasn't happy because books about god and what not just are not my thing. But I was pleasently surprised.
I really liked this book. It kept me wondering what will happen next. I think the author carried out the story pretty well. But there is one thing I don't like. It felt like things kept being repeated and sometimes there was just a bit too much detail. But overall I liked the book. I think some people will like it and other wont at all.
This book was completely original or at least to me it was. I have never read anything like it. The character were good. There is only one other thing I don'y like about the book. Which is the end. I really want to know what happened to Pantera. I wish we could have found out :( lol but it was a good book and I would recommend it to people.
Okai so when I first read the description for this book I must not have noticed the god part. So when I started reading this I was not happy. I wasn't happy because books about god and what not just are not my thing. But I was pleasently surprised.
I really liked this book. It kept me wondering what will happen next. I think the author carried out the story pretty well. But there is one thing I don't like. It felt like things kept being repeated and sometimes there was just a bit too much detail. But overall I liked the book. I think some people will like it and other wont at all.
This book was completely original or at least to me it was. I have never read anything like it. The character were good. There is only one other thing I don'y like about the book. Which is the end. I really want to know what happened to Pantera. I wish we could have found out :( lol but it was a good book and I would recommend it to people.
February 27, 2013
I marked this "read" but I didn't really get very far into it before I quit. Interesting plot, I would have liked to have known how it turned out, but the writing was so amateurish that it was a chore to read.
March 19, 2013
This book was billed as similar to the Da Vinci Code, so I was eager to read it. I was disappointed. The overall premise was too incredible to believe, the author jumped around too much and I found it hard to follow.
October 14, 2017
Really it’s a good 3.5 Stars for me. It kept me interested and has me very much looking forward to book 2 in this series.
January 6, 2013
I was so excited when I started Linda Stasi's newest novel The Sixth Station (Forge 2013). Her voice is wonderful, personal and believable, Her first person narrative pulled me in immediately, putting a human face on the world of journalists who often seem to wallow in a reputation less about seeking truth and more about the 'at all costs' rejoinder to that mantra. Here, Stasi's main character is a struggling journalist who has had some bad breaks, was out of work for too long and really needs her current gig (who can't relate to that?). The plot is a Dan Brown look-alike, but I'm open to those. There have been a few I loved (i.e., the Pandora Prescription).
But somewhere around page 44, the plot meandered from 'believable though extreme' to just 'extreme'. By page 125, it had found its new over-the-edge path.
Let me back up a bit. Alessandra Russo, struggling forty-something journalist, finds herself plopped smack in the middle of the story of a lifetime when she is asked to cover the trial of a world-renowned terrorist. Her first day, something (no spoiler) makes Ali the story as much as the man reputed to have killed thousands. When events lead to Ali being fired and wrongly accused of murder, she is forced to flee and seek answers to a two-thousand year old puzzle. Intertwined with this is timeless and current question: Is the civilized world ready to convict a man of heinous crimes when he denies his guilt and his followers claim he is the modern-day Jesus?
Spoiler:
What if they posit he is a clone of Jesus Christ?
Still fine to this point. Extreme plots are what make many thrillers tick. But then Stasi made a few errors. One is more a writing stylization--she foreshadows a lot of the action in the book. It's a technique some authors use to keep you reading. They want you to know that while things might look calm (not a trait you want in a thriller) right now, there's danger in the future. I can ignore that if the writer is fresh and substantive, which Stasi is.
Then, she made another mistake: She made Ali unlikable. The more Ali got into this mystery, the more flippant, disrespectful, and judgmental this woman with her spotty journalistic background became--toward people she should listen to. It's not that I disagreed with her. My mind was open, waiting, curious, but I pick my mentors carefully, and a woman with an attitude and a personal agenda didn't seem like a good choice.
Books rarely survive if readers don't like the main character.
Over all, if you like an extreme plot, a Brown on steroids, and can forgive Ali both her chosen profession and her inability to see where the facts lead her, you'll enjoy this book. Me, I had to give it a three stars.
But somewhere around page 44, the plot meandered from 'believable though extreme' to just 'extreme'. By page 125, it had found its new over-the-edge path.
Let me back up a bit. Alessandra Russo, struggling forty-something journalist, finds herself plopped smack in the middle of the story of a lifetime when she is asked to cover the trial of a world-renowned terrorist. Her first day, something (no spoiler) makes Ali the story as much as the man reputed to have killed thousands. When events lead to Ali being fired and wrongly accused of murder, she is forced to flee and seek answers to a two-thousand year old puzzle. Intertwined with this is timeless and current question: Is the civilized world ready to convict a man of heinous crimes when he denies his guilt and his followers claim he is the modern-day Jesus?
Spoiler:
What if they posit he is a clone of Jesus Christ?
Still fine to this point. Extreme plots are what make many thrillers tick. But then Stasi made a few errors. One is more a writing stylization--she foreshadows a lot of the action in the book. It's a technique some authors use to keep you reading. They want you to know that while things might look calm (not a trait you want in a thriller) right now, there's danger in the future. I can ignore that if the writer is fresh and substantive, which Stasi is.
Then, she made another mistake: She made Ali unlikable. The more Ali got into this mystery, the more flippant, disrespectful, and judgmental this woman with her spotty journalistic background became--toward people she should listen to. It's not that I disagreed with her. My mind was open, waiting, curious, but I pick my mentors carefully, and a woman with an attitude and a personal agenda didn't seem like a good choice.
Books rarely survive if readers don't like the main character.
Over all, if you like an extreme plot, a Brown on steroids, and can forgive Ali both her chosen profession and her inability to see where the facts lead her, you'll enjoy this book. Me, I had to give it a three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2013
It's history on a collision course with current affairs. Could Jesus Christ emerge in Manhattan after being cloned from a speck of blood? Is it a miracle or a monstrosity? That's the fascinating premise of this fun, thrill-packed tale. It starts with a mysterious kiss. Reporter Alessandra Russo is thrust into chasing the story of the millennium and takes you along for a wild ride. She's like no other heroine you've met: down-to-earth with a healthy appetite and a self-deprecating humor. She cracks jokes. Stasi keeps you guessing about the motivations of a great bunch of characters that Russo gets embroiled with along the way. The Sixth Station is rich with ancient lore and loaded with surprises. Thoroughly entertaining!
January 16, 2013
I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of this book. I'm an avid reader with one rule. If the book doesn't draw me in by the end of chapter two, I put it down and never open it again. The Sixth Station drew me in after chapter one. As a person who spent most of her life living in NY, I felt as if the main character was someone I knew. She's tough, sassy and smart. I think Linda Stasi did a good job of developing her lead characters: some familiar, some exotic, all original. It's a thriller that keeps you guessing from beginning to end. It makes you want to keep turning the pages to see what's going to happen next. I became so lost in the story that before I realized it, I finished the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
April 3, 2014
I read this because it was on some critic's "books to read list." Wish I remembered which critic so I won't follow their advice again. It's an interesting premise to re-tell the New Testament in a modern setting, with cloning, GPS, astronomy, geo-politics, etc. It's just that this book doesn't do it well. The switching back and forth of who was a "good guy" and who was a "bad guy" was exhausting, and only added confusion to the story. If you need to kill time on an airplane ride, this would be fine. If you are looking for depth of characters and something that will make you think (or at least remember the characters for longer than a plane ride), find another book as this isn't it.
January 11, 2014
I wanted to read this book as I'm a fan of Linda Stasi's TV Review in the New York Post. Alessandra Russo, like Ms. Stasi, comes across as a quick-witted, street-smart reporter with a terrific sense of humor and no-nonsense attitude! As much as I enjoyed the storyline, I was very impressed with the historical background, which I believe took Ms. Stasi several years to research. However, all that work pays off, and I hope this is the first of many novels from her. Readers of this novel are in for one helluva ride, and I very much look forward to seeing THE SIXTH STATION - The Movie!
January 4, 2013
I could not put it down- from the first page it draws you in.
I am a huge reader and this was so different and exciting....it was really a pleasure.
It is one of those books that stays with you for days- and you are sorry when its over!
The characters were so life like I felt like I had new friends- and they are characters I hope to see in future books...like we do Alex Deleware and Dr.Scarpetta.
The plot had me guessing from beginning to end- and the final ending was a real shocker.
I will say no more to give it away- but it is a must read
I am a huge reader and this was so different and exciting....it was really a pleasure.
It is one of those books that stays with you for days- and you are sorry when its over!
The characters were so life like I felt like I had new friends- and they are characters I hope to see in future books...like we do Alex Deleware and Dr.Scarpetta.
The plot had me guessing from beginning to end- and the final ending was a real shocker.
I will say no more to give it away- but it is a must read
January 17, 2013
Linda Stasi's The Sixth Station is quick paced, fun, and informative all rolled into one. I had to write a review after reading some of the other ones . Like her or not, the main character is intriguing, abrasive, feisty and fun also rolled into one. The entire time I read this book all I kept thinking was what a great movie it would make. Stasi's exciting writing style tells a great story and you read it as if you were in a theater plowing through a bucket of popcorn. You can't stop. You can't put it down. Great read!
January 10, 2013
Gripping, amusing, fast-paced adventure inspired by tragic and terrifying current events and religious history. Written by a reporter who knows what it feels like to be on the run in great looking shoes! From the steps of the UN to the Vatican and so many hot spots in between, this suspenseful novel creates a memorable character, move over Dan Brown
January 2, 2013
I Won a Signed copy of this book as a Goodreads.com first read. It was a very controversial read and very well written and researched. I truly enjoyed reading this intriguing adventure. Kudos to Lind Stasi for not only delivering a wonderful story but an educating experience.
December 17, 2013
Fast paced, easy read, riding the coat tails of Dan Brown. It started out well enough, and got me interested, but fizzled out towards the end. Like a well made dinner, the dessert was predictable and a let down.
December 27, 2012
"The Sixth Station" is suspenseful and well-researched but also a really fun, funny read. Well done, Linda Stasi!
January 10, 2013
Riveting! A real nail biter laced with history, politics, religion .... And romance! Can't wait to see the movie version...... Who will play Alessandra Russo? This is a must read!
November 28, 2019
Šmankote babičko čaruj. No to byl ale omyl. Kombinace všeho špatného.
Takže za prvé. Knihu jsem vyhrála už v březnu Knihách Dobrovský, kdy šlo o knižní poklad.
Naivka jsem se radovala.
Jenže, ta obálka je absurdně zavádějící. Komu jsem ji ukázala, myslel si to samé, co já, historický román. EEE. Ani náhodou. Už anotace mi zkrabatila čelo. Když jsem to zkusila číst, začala jsem úpět.
Kniha má takovou obálku, protože dotyčný hrdina, jedna z postav důležitých, je označována, nebo se i označuje, za nového Spasitele. Ehmmm.. a to už je náznak jednoho průseru.
Pak se to provalí, protože je to typicky americká kniha.Každým coulem. Jejich styl psaní, smýšlení, život, pohledy, které jsou jakoby spadlé z Marsu. Je to naprosto odlišné od reálného evropského života. To je bod jedna. Bod dva.. klasika... když Američan tvoří nepřítele. Kdysi to byli Vietnamci, pak Rusové a teď bubáci s turbany na hlavě. Vše je takové vyhrocené, manipulativní, politické, šilené, hnusné.
Má to být thriller... je to thriller, ale ne v tom dobrém slova smyslu. Ani kdyby to byl film, tak bych se na to nedívala.
Má to skoro 500 stránek a jediným plusem bylo, že to je napsáno takovým lehkým svižným stylem. Je to takový jednoduchý způsob psaní.
No, takže já tuhle knihu odhazuji v dál a už ji nikdy nechci vidět.
Takže za prvé. Knihu jsem vyhrála už v březnu Knihách Dobrovský, kdy šlo o knižní poklad.
Naivka jsem se radovala.
Jenže, ta obálka je absurdně zavádějící. Komu jsem ji ukázala, myslel si to samé, co já, historický román. EEE. Ani náhodou. Už anotace mi zkrabatila čelo. Když jsem to zkusila číst, začala jsem úpět.
Kniha má takovou obálku, protože dotyčný hrdina, jedna z postav důležitých, je označována, nebo se i označuje, za nového Spasitele. Ehmmm.. a to už je náznak jednoho průseru.
Pak se to provalí, protože je to typicky americká kniha.Každým coulem. Jejich styl psaní, smýšlení, život, pohledy, které jsou jakoby spadlé z Marsu. Je to naprosto odlišné od reálného evropského života. To je bod jedna. Bod dva.. klasika... když Američan tvoří nepřítele. Kdysi to byli Vietnamci, pak Rusové a teď bubáci s turbany na hlavě. Vše je takové vyhrocené, manipulativní, politické, šilené, hnusné.
Má to být thriller... je to thriller, ale ne v tom dobrém slova smyslu. Ani kdyby to byl film, tak bych se na to nedívala.
Má to skoro 500 stránek a jediným plusem bylo, že to je napsáno takovým lehkým svižným stylem. Je to takový jednoduchý způsob psaní.
No, takže já tuhle knihu odhazuji v dál a už ji nikdy nechci vidět.
April 10, 2018
Thought-provoking and unique, this is a crossover between a historical thriller and a supernatural who-done-it. It is well plotted, and presents some interesting scenarios, but does not, ultimately, provide an AHA! moment. According to the notes included at the end of the novel, it is based on some pretty far-out notions, and it manages to paint the Catholic church and its founders, along with a host of fundamentalist so-called Christians, in less than flattering colors. It will probably not sit well with ardent believers, not because it questions the origins of Christianity but because it interprets them differently. The heroine of the piece is a mixed bag - an unexpected, reluctant protagonist who is more likable for being so unlikely for the role. Though I enjoyed it well enough, I do have one bone to pick; I don't like endings which never quite happen, and, in this one, there is too much left hanging. All in all, rate 3 stars, and maybe a bit more for posing some interesting questions for a confirmed agnostic like me.
January 8, 2025
Wow, that was.... not good. I found this book because I wanted to read about the cross relic (broken and scattered after the crucifixion). It started out great: Alexandra was an intriguing reporter with a sarcastic wit and there is a terrorist on trial. But a few words come to mind to describe how the story evolved: ad-hoc, disjointed, lackluster, and confusing. The basic premise is that Jesus was cloned, he is now on trial in New York for terrorist crimes he didn't commit, and the protagonist is framed and on-the-run for a murder she didn't commit. The only way she can absolve herself is to find the remaining blood of Jesus somewhere in Italy.
The major flaw this story suffers from is: there is antagonist and it's written in the 3rd person only following the protagonist. We don't need to read about what Alexandra ate or what she wears unless it moves the story along and it doesn't. The sarcasm also gets dull and no longer funny. Meh....
There are a ton of Davinci Code facts throughout that are interesting but this is exposition just for exposition's sake.
The major flaw this story suffers from is: there is antagonist and it's written in the 3rd person only following the protagonist. We don't need to read about what Alexandra ate or what she wears unless it moves the story along and it doesn't. The sarcasm also gets dull and no longer funny. Meh....
There are a ton of Davinci Code facts throughout that are interesting but this is exposition just for exposition's sake.
December 18, 2024
Whoa! Hold on to your hat!
Just the facts stated will blow your mind, couple them with this fictional story and you have a wild ride that takes you from an American courtroom to a terrifying flight through European mountains and noted historical landmarks dating back to the beginnings of Christianity. I couldn’t put this down, was devastated to reach the ending (which was EPIC) and I’m just pausing to write this before beginning the next in the series.
Just the facts stated will blow your mind, couple them with this fictional story and you have a wild ride that takes you from an American courtroom to a terrifying flight through European mountains and noted historical landmarks dating back to the beginnings of Christianity. I couldn’t put this down, was devastated to reach the ending (which was EPIC) and I’m just pausing to write this before beginning the next in the series.
May 4, 2017
This book is written by a catholic about catholic things. I am not a catholic. Apparently a very icon-based religion where "things" have a spirituality all their own. An interesting story but too much use of obscure issues for those unfamiliar with the religion. Would appeal to those who enjoyed Rosemary's Baby and the Da Vinci Code series.
January 28, 2018
What a bizarre, but intriguing, tale. There is a unique yet feasible premise, and a fast-moving story reminiscent of a Dan Brown novel. Yes, I love Dan Brown novels. There was some suspension of disbelief necessary, yet well worth it for the overall story and conclusion. I'll read more Alexandra Russo novels, since this was #1. I really want #2 NOW!
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