Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll by Ace Collins

Does an original scroll written by Joseph—the earthly father of Jesus—reveal evidence that Christ's birth was not divine? An unlikely hero, history professor Jefferson Burke is tapped by circumstance to find the lost Biblical text that could alter the course of the world. This action-adventure story will have believers and doubters alike hanging on every twist and turn as two men race across the globe, with the foundation of Christianity hanging in the balance.



Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll is a mystery as old as the Christian church wrapped in a modern-day thriller.


Though an unwilling hero, professor Jefferson Burke's intellectual curiosity pits him against the powerful Bruno Krueger in a race to find a 2000-year-old scroll that calls into question the divinity of Christ and could shake the foundation of Christian faith, upsetting the balance of power in the modern world. Their deadly quest spans the globe, involving officials from the Vatican, CIA and FBI agents, British royalty, a Hollywood actress, and modern terrorists.


This classic battle of good vs. evil will hook believers and doubters alike. The uncertainties raised by the very existence of the elusive scroll will have every reader questioning the basis of their faith and wondering what would happen if certain fundamental truths suddenly were proven untrue.

Artfully and thoughtfully told, this is the kind of action-packed adventure story that will keep loyal Ace Collins readers—and increasing legions of new fans—coming back for more.

My review:
Ace Collins has written books in all sorts of categories, and in the last couple of years has tried his hand at fiction, with great results. His first fiction attempt, Farraday Road and the sequel, Swope's Ridge were great and enjoyable reads in the Christian suspense genre'. This book falls under suspense/mystery/intrigue, but reads like an Indiana Jones adventure. The end result is a terrific read.

My one disappointment: I felt more could have been done with the faith of the two main characters. It is obvious that Burke holds no Christian profession, and his female counterpart most likely does not. I know everything can't be tied up with a neat conversion at the end of the book, but I am hoping if there are more books, the faith element will be explored more.

All in all, a great book, and I recommend it.

About the author:

Ace Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog’s Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, He continues to publish several new titles each year, including a series of novels, the first of which is Farraday Road. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

Author Website: http://www.acecollins.com/


Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll is available from Zondervan Publishing. Thanks to Zondervan for the review copy.