Secret of the Shroud

by Pamela Binnings Ewen

A frightened apostle in AD 33, a tragic child in the 1950s, and a slick, twenty-first century church leader are all linked by the secret of the Shroud of Turin, the purported burial cloth of Jesus-and by something more. 

Wesley Bright, a corrupt, media-savvy clergyman, is out to destroy the Christian church of the God who abandoned him in his boyhood. Likable and entertaining, Bright keeps his motives well hidden. But as he seeks revenge, leading the church toward unknowing destruction, the mysterious Shroud of Turin stands in his way. Strange characters and clues emerge like shadows limned in mist as the most recent discoveries on the Shroud connect the pieces of a fascinating puzzle. When Wesley learns the ancient secret, he’s forced to confront a terrible keep the secret—and the power, wealth, and fame he’s won over the years—or expose it . . . and lose everything. At stake is one absolute truth.

Acclaim for Pamela Binnings Ewen's previous novel,  The Moon in the Mango Tree

"Pamela Binnings Ewen wrote this richly detailed novel based on the experiences of her grandmother, who lived in Siam and Europe during the Roaring Twenties . . . a thought-provoking and enjoyable story, difficult to put down. Highly recommended."

Historical Novels Review

"For an all too brief time, readers will find themselves living in another time, another place . . . this fiction is a kind of gift."

The New Orleans Times-Picayune

"Ewen is a talented writer, and this is a strong addition to Christian fiction."

Publishers Weekly

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christianity, Religion, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2010

About the author

After practicing law for many in Houston, Texas, Pamela Binnings Ewen turned to writing. She lives in Mandeville, Louisiana near New Orleans. She is the author of The Moon in the Mango Tree, and five other books. Based on a true story, The Moon in the Mango tree was awarded the 2012 Eudora Welty Memorial Award by the National League of American Pen Women.

Pamela's newest novel, The Queen of Paris, will be released April 7, 2020 by Blackstone Publications. This electrifying story, based on the real life of Coco Chanel during WWII as the Nazi's occupied Paris, reveals the underside of the celebrated icon, as has never before been fully told. The Queen of Paris is available for Pre-order now.

Pamela's other novels are Dancing on Glass (a Single Titles Reviewer's Choice award), Chasing the Wind (a Top Pick for RT Reviewers), An Accidental Life, and Secret of the Shroud. She also wrote the non-fiction best-seller Faith on Trial, now in second edition.

Pamela has served on the board of directors of Inprint (Houston, Texas), The Tennessee Williams Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana) and on the advisory board of the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society (New Orleans). She is President of the Northshore Literary Society located in St. Tammany Paris, Louisiana. In 2009 Pamela received the President’s Arts Award from the Cultural Commission of St. Tammany Parish as Literary Artist of the Year.

Reviews

[Chickadee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to choose one word to sum up this book, I’d probably say “intense”.

The first page caught me completely off guard and although for most of the book I wasn’t sure where the story was headed – I was compelled to keep reading and find out! The story weaves in and out between New York City and Jerusalem, 33 AD. Although there are a variety of characters, the story primarily focuses on the educated, arrogant and very disturbed Archbishop, Wesley Bright.

Wesley is determined to prove that traditional Christianity is nothing more than obsolete theories. He also believes that his leadership is strong enough to modernize Christianity and make it more relevant to the twenty-first century. (Sounds like something you’d read in today’s news!)

Wesley considers Jesus a “myth” and is incensed by the attention that the Shroud of Turin is receiving. As the story intensifies, Wesley is obsessed with proving that the Shroud is fake and in the process he becomes willing to go to any length to maintain his status and power. This book is a mixture of suspense and intrigue – definitely a page turner! This was the first book of Pamela’s that I’ve read and I think it will be a successful re-release.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book was a little slow, but seemed to get more interesting the more I got into it. With the author shifting back and forth from present to past, it made reading a little clumsy and felt like I was reading two separate stories.

The author gave glimpses into the past of Christ and his burial. The storyline is linked to the Shroud of Turin. Wesley Bright, who at a young age, feels abandoned by God and that certain adults had lied to him, wants revenge. He ends up being a clergyman who is set out to destroy the Christian church. He is driven by revenge, a lust for power, and greed.

While trying to disprove the validity of the Shroud, he learns that what he felt was a lie, might be more likely the truth. He wrestles with whether to keep it to himself or come clean.

The idea of the story was interesting, the characters developed, but felt that it lacked depth. I was hoping for more.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In recent years I haven't been much of a fiction reader anymore. I read so much literature with the kids that I tend to gravitate toward non-fiction for my personal reading. I've had several novels on my "to-review" shelf that publishers have sent me and I finally decided to dive into one.

Secret of the Shroud by Pamela Ewen looked interesting to me. I've found the Shroud of Turin intriguing for a long time, since I read several books and wrote a paper on it years ago. This novel uses the Shroud as the catalyst for a confrontation between truth and relativism in the life of a corrupt clergyman named Wesley Bright.

Wesley is a bitter man, determined to destroy traditional Christianity since he felt abandoned by it after a tragedy in his childhood. As a public figure, his viewpoint about the Shroud is in demand when it goes on display in New York City. While attempting to brush up on his knowledge about it in order to discredit it, the information he and his assistant learn makes him more and more uncomfortable.

I found the first half of the book a little bit slow moving, but I enjoyed the way the scientific and historical facts about the Shroud were woven in later in the book. In my final analysis, I'd say I found the book entertaining but not compelling. The writing was decent but not fantastic. If you enjoy historical suspense novels in the spirit of The Da Vinci Code (but from a Christian perspective) or if you're interested in the Shroud and other Christian relics, you'll probably find it a fairly enjoyable read.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for providing a review copy to me.

[Linda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following a childhood tragedy and feeling abandoned by God, a bitter Archbishop Wesley Bright has led the Christian church in the wrong direction. He is a charismatic leader preaching a gospel absent of absolute truth. Everything he has sought to destroy is now challenged by a scrap of cloth.

I have never had an interest in the Shroud of Turin, but I have to admit after reading this book, I understand why so many people find it fascinating.

I enjoyed each of the characters and their unique perspective to the story. I especially liked the way the story blended three points in time, from the time of Christ, the 1950s, and the near future.

The story starts with a shocking tragedy that scarred a child’s heart and filled him with guilt for life. As shocking as the event was, a similar incident happened in Chicago a few years ago.

The author uses an impressive blend of scientific information and history so that the characters could bring this historical article to even the hardest of hearts. I really enjoyed Secret of the Shroud and would recommend it for those who like suspense/mystery novels with a moral storyline.

I hope you will stop by http://www.bookvisions.blogspot.com to see more of my reviews.

[Julie Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wesley Bright is a bitter man bent on destroying the church and the people that he feels let him down as a young boy. Seeing his brother thrown off of a roof by young thugs, being disappointed at the judge that didn’t give them enough punishment and not getting satisfactory answers from the young priest that saw the whole thing sets Wesley on a course of destruction.

Wesley becomes the archdiocese of the Apostolic Church and is bent on changing the false ideals of Christianity. When the Shroud of Turin comes to New York Wesley sees it as an opportunity to further debunk Christianity.

The story is told from different characters in the book. It was interesting how the author even went back to the crucifixion comparing and interchanging Wesley and Peter(who denied Jesus 3 times).

The Secret of the Shroud was interesting but sometimes I got bogged down in all of the technical stuff.

[Ray Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book after a dry but interesting book on the beginnings of modern Botany. It was a easy, quick and interesting book. I especially like the information in the shroud. I think the author could had done a better job in the afterword detailing the newest information and perhaps identifying any liberties she took with the facts. One of the reasons I find historical based novels fun is that you usually get to learn a lot about how people viewed the facts at the time but later get a update of what was real and what was not. If it isn't clear it leaves me kind of. Suspicious of all the facts.

[Judy Benvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're at all interested in the Shroud of Turin, this is an excellent book. The flip-flopping in time took a bit to get used to, but the story line included many facts about the research and history of the Shroud. I checked on-line and the book is based on fact. Good characted development.

[Margaret Chind]

*Thanks to Julie Gwinn of B&H for sending me a copy.*

[Sandy Juergens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Jeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had some very interesting details added to it. It is, of course, about the shroud of Turin and an archbishop who seeks to destroy the validity of it. It gives his background and explains why he has the views that he does. All in all, a very interesting read with a good ending.