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The Judas Testament
Dr Sharanskii uncovers an ancient scroll hidden in the vaults of the Lenin Library. He sends a plea for help to an Irish friend, Dr Jack Gould. It is only when Gould arrives in Moscow to translate the parchment that he realizes it contains the thoughts and beliefs of Jesus written in his own hand.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 1997
7 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Easterman
49 books58 followersA pseudonym used by Denis M. MacEoin (aka Jonathan Aycliffe).
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 4, 2015
Its not that this book is badly written or even that it is uninteresting, its just too much last minute rescues, stunning coincidences, cross and double-cross.
A little reminiscent of the DaVinci code, non-stop, barely plausible action by books end.
Had it shown its true self earlier on I would probably have abandoned.
A little reminiscent of the DaVinci code, non-stop, barely plausible action by books end.
Had it shown its true self earlier on I would probably have abandoned.
January 7, 2017
I remember this book as one of the first for me in a long while. Took it on vacation for my parents' 25th anniversary. I hadn't read a book for some time and chose this because of the suspense and curiosity it was about. In fact, it reminds me of the 'Da Vinci Code' type novels full of intrigue.
A professor learns of a scroll believed to have been written by Jesus Christ. Antiquity collectors, spies, and religious groups are anxious to get their hands on this because of its value. The professor meets a woman who is the daughter of the man who knows about this scroll, and possibly its whereabouts. The professor searches for this scroll, all the while with people after him so they can take it from him should he get his hands on it. And they're more than willing to kill for the precious scroll.
I'm looking forward to buying this book again so I can read it. Haven't read it since 1990 and it's a predecessor to the popular Dan Brown novels. Really one of the first of its kind where it broaches the subject of religious mystery. It's full of suspense and intrigue, and action. A real page-turner.
A professor learns of a scroll believed to have been written by Jesus Christ. Antiquity collectors, spies, and religious groups are anxious to get their hands on this because of its value. The professor meets a woman who is the daughter of the man who knows about this scroll, and possibly its whereabouts. The professor searches for this scroll, all the while with people after him so they can take it from him should he get his hands on it. And they're more than willing to kill for the precious scroll.
I'm looking forward to buying this book again so I can read it. Haven't read it since 1990 and it's a predecessor to the popular Dan Brown novels. Really one of the first of its kind where it broaches the subject of religious mystery. It's full of suspense and intrigue, and action. A real page-turner.
April 16, 2020
Un argumento muy bien hilado, interesante y con el transfondo de la identidad real e histórica de Jesús de Nazaret. Intrigas vaticanas, rusas y románticas. Está bien que Estados Unidos no aparezca por ningún lado del libro.
September 17, 2007
I felt like a kid reading Harry Potter. So entertaining.
January 4, 2014
A strong plot with great characters and well written - A real page turner
August 6, 2021
Plafonierele clipiră, după care se stinseră. În secunda următoare prinse viaţă un proiector din spatele încăperii. Câteva clipe ecranul mare de proiecţie se umplu cu diferite numere, apoi încăperea fu inundată de muzică şi pe ecran apăru imaginea unei zvastici, căreia, în scurt timp, îi luă locul silueta unui vultur german şi cuvântul Wochenschau.
Imediat ecranul se umplu de embleme înfăţişând acelaşi vultur, care purta de data asta o zvastică cu ghirlandă între gheare şi, dedesubt, un drapel pătrat pe care se găsea o a doua zvastică şi cuvintele Deutschland Erwache. Sunet de cizme mărşăluind. Chipul lui Adolf Hitler, cu gura exprimând hotărâre şi îndârjire, apoi o filmare de la distanţă, arătându-l sus pe o tribună înaltă, între aripile larg desfăcute ale unui vultur gigantic. Hitler trecea în revistă o paradă a vânătorilor de munte. Camera de luat vederi îşi modifică poziţia şi prinse în obiectiv parada avioanelor de vânătoare de deasupra, siluetele inconfundabile ale unor Messerschmitt, urmate de avioanele Me 163, cu aripi îndreptate spre spate. Majoritatea oamenilor care urmăreau imaginile nu văzuseră niciunul din cele două tipuri de avioane în acţiune, cu toate că mulţi dintre ei văzuseră desene ale prototipurilor.
Din nou un prim-plan al Führer-ului. O expresie victorioasă acum, plină de satisfacţie nedisimulată. Încet înapoi, încet înapoi, braţul întins în salutul hitlerist, din nou înapoi, după care o imagine generală a tribunei şi a construcţiei în faţa căreia aceasta fusese înălţată.
Imediat ecranul se umplu de embleme înfăţişând acelaşi vultur, care purta de data asta o zvastică cu ghirlandă între gheare şi, dedesubt, un drapel pătrat pe care se găsea o a doua zvastică şi cuvintele Deutschland Erwache. Sunet de cizme mărşăluind. Chipul lui Adolf Hitler, cu gura exprimând hotărâre şi îndârjire, apoi o filmare de la distanţă, arătându-l sus pe o tribună înaltă, între aripile larg desfăcute ale unui vultur gigantic. Hitler trecea în revistă o paradă a vânătorilor de munte. Camera de luat vederi îşi modifică poziţia şi prinse în obiectiv parada avioanelor de vânătoare de deasupra, siluetele inconfundabile ale unor Messerschmitt, urmate de avioanele Me 163, cu aripi îndreptate spre spate. Majoritatea oamenilor care urmăreau imaginile nu văzuseră niciunul din cele două tipuri de avioane în acţiune, cu toate că mulţi dintre ei văzuseră desene ale prototipurilor.
Din nou un prim-plan al Führer-ului. O expresie victorioasă acum, plină de satisfacţie nedisimulată. Încet înapoi, încet înapoi, braţul întins în salutul hitlerist, din nou înapoi, după care o imagine generală a tribunei şi a construcţiei în faţa căreia aceasta fusese înălţată.
July 6, 2023
L'étude de manuscrits et de papyrus dans une bibliothèque universitaire prestigieuse pourrait passer pour un travail de tout repos. Jusqu'à sa rencontre avec un certain Stefan Rosewiez, énigmatique personnage dont la somptueuse demeure irlandaise recèle une collection unique de textes anciens, le docteur Jack Gould en était persuadé.
Une autre relecture. Pas mauvais mais il s’est fait bien mieux depuis.
2,5*
Une autre relecture. Pas mauvais mais il s’est fait bien mieux depuis.
2,5*
July 11, 2021
Easterman se maneja a la perfección por este género.
Atrapa al lector, y lo sumerge en una trama que se va complicando más y más.
Es posible que muchos encuentren el desenlace rocambolesco... pero creo que ese giro dota a la obra de una capacidad inédita para seguir sorprendiendo en cada página.
Atrapa al lector, y lo sumerge en una trama que se va complicando más y más.
Es posible que muchos encuentren el desenlace rocambolesco... pero creo que ese giro dota a la obra de una capacidad inédita para seguir sorprendiendo en cada página.
May 17, 2023
M'ha sorprés, pel títol creia que parlaria més d'història, i si, el papir del testament és al centre del relat. Però hi trobem espionatge, morts, traïcions, contarspionstge, amor, amistat ... El recomano de manera efusiva
May 24, 2017
Reservo una estrella para aquellos libros que dejo de leer, pero que además no recomiendo.
Un libro excesivamente largo, con un protagonista mal caracterizado, y lleno de historias inconexas.
Un libro excesivamente largo, con un protagonista mal caracterizado, y lleno de historias inconexas.
December 12, 2019
Libro que ha estado genial, ya que combina el poder, las conspiraciones, diferencias entre religiones, etc
October 28, 2023
En realidad es un 3,5. Es endiabladamente entretenido, pero siento que la historia se alarga un poco de más.
February 16, 2025
First read thsi book in the 90s when it came out. Still as good as ever
February 20, 2012
I listened to this book while driving across the country. It was one of the worst audio book decisions I have ever made. The idea sounds exciting: a scroll is found that was written by Jesus of Nazareth and it will shake the christian world. A scholar gets wound up in a plot to destroy the document and action and adventure ensues. the problem is that the author's attempts to create excitement and tension are bland and predictable. The good guys are thwarted at every turn, ad absurdum. I don't even think the author knows how the bad guys, former Nazis, are able to catch up with the group that are trying to protect the scrolls. Unless you are a big fan of the genre I don't recommend this book
September 21, 2012
from Acknowledgements (author)
"If nothing else, I hope this exercise in fiction may help alert a few more readers to the betrayal of trust committed after the war by political and religious leaders here and in the United States, and now brought to light by the their efforts and those of other writers. There is, sadly, less fiction in these pages than any of us might like."
This genre is not one of the ones I dip into much, but I believe this to be one of the better ones! ('This is the sort of book that mega-seller Jack Higgins might hope to write when he grows up.' The Times)
Enjoyable, believable characters, thought provoking ... good grammar :)
Would recommend as worth reading.
"If nothing else, I hope this exercise in fiction may help alert a few more readers to the betrayal of trust committed after the war by political and religious leaders here and in the United States, and now brought to light by the their efforts and those of other writers. There is, sadly, less fiction in these pages than any of us might like."
This genre is not one of the ones I dip into much, but I believe this to be one of the better ones! ('This is the sort of book that mega-seller Jack Higgins might hope to write when he grows up.' The Times)
Enjoyable, believable characters, thought provoking ... good grammar :)
Would recommend as worth reading.
April 25, 2015
Easterman's work is always okay. Decent read, and as entertaining as any other formulaic stories of this ilk. Overall this work was thin in depth: The premise was fine, but never ever developed or explored nearly as much as it could be, or as much as the storyline about the protagonist was. Every aspect fell a little short - without throwing in spoilers, virtually every theme or subplot was insufficiently developed in this story.
I kept reading, waiting for it to improve, but it never did. Instead it just meandered along like a weak made-for-TV movie with a novice director at the helm: Not worth turning off, but not something you'd repeat.
I kept reading, waiting for it to improve, but it never did. Instead it just meandered along like a weak made-for-TV movie with a novice director at the helm: Not worth turning off, but not something you'd repeat.
May 4, 2015
Synopsis: A controversial scroll that was in the hands of the Jews until WWII is finally unearthed in the Lenin Library in Moscow, Russia. The different groups that are trying to get their hands on the scroll instigates an International conspiracy between British Intelligence, a Nazi German group and a group of scholars.
My Review: The book was based on an interesting premise, but there were large parts of the book that felt like the story was forced. Just a little too much unbelievable things for me to give this book more love.
My Review: The book was based on an interesting premise, but there were large parts of the book that felt like the story was forced. Just a little too much unbelievable things for me to give this book more love.
July 18, 2011
If you have a passing interest in Judeo-Christian history, gnostic gospels, World War II, Nazis, the Cold War, the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, and are something of a conspiracy theorist, this is a pretty cool summer read.
June 12, 2009
listened in my car. Just a little too slow and too detailed for me.
February 22, 2008
This was a fun book, a good page turner. Before "The Da Vinci Code," there was "The Judas Testament."
November 7, 2010
Good fun thriller with Nazis and Catholic Church conspiracies galore.
December 11, 2010
not bad not great and not bad. plods along pleasingly enough
June 30, 2011
Yet another “Secret Scrolls” thriller.
April 5, 2015
A friend of mine loaned me this book and wanted my opinion. I thought this book was well written. From the first paragraph; I was hooked. I would recommend this book!
July 30, 2015
Interesante thriller con movimientos neonazis aristocráticos de por medio, y un par de buenos giros argumentales.
Me recordó a "Los niños del Brasil".
Me recordó a "Los niños del Brasil".
April 17, 2008
I read this one before the DaVinci Code 'fever' and enjoy it a lot.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews