The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden Book Review

About the Book:

When American grad student and military veteran Joshua Bennett arrives in Amman, Jordan, he expects academic adventure—not a deadly race for an ancient secret. At the heart of the mystery lies the Copper Scroll, a cryptic Dead Sea artifact rumored to reveal the location of a legendary treasure hidden in the Judean desert.

But the deeper Joshua digs, the more perilous the quest becomes. Coded messages, shadowy figures, and a centuries-old conspiracy draw him into a world where every answer leads to new questions—and every ally could be an enemy. With a silent watcher in the library, a priest and a rabbi with secrets of their own, and a warning slipped into his backpack—“The shepherd’s path is not for the faint-hearted”—Joshua is thrust into a high-stakes chase across the Middle East.

As Mossad agents, Templar knights, and ISIS operatives close in, Joshua and his unlikely allies must unravel clues, dodge deadly rivals, and confront a truth that could shake the foundations of history. The journey will test his courage, convictions, and heart—because some secrets refuse to stay buried.

My Review:

This is an action packed adventure. I liked Joshua's commitment to uncovering the secrets associated with the Copper Scroll. I liked the hint of possible romance as he meets and enlists Noa to go on the search with him. But it soon becomes clear there are forces who do not want new discoveries to come to light. People who do not want more evidence supporting the reality of Jesus, such as ISIS, are vicious in their attacks to prevent the archaeological work. I was surprised to see a contemporary group of Templars to be one of those forces, desiring to keep any artifacts for themselves, trying to return their order to influence and glory. One discovery leads to another and then another, people trying to stop them dogging their every move.

There is some interesting historical background included, such as about Masada. The search takes readers to many locations in the Holy Land. The descriptions are suitable but could have been more full and encompassing. Teeguarden's writing style changes with the pace of the action, sometimes using incomplete sentences to match the intensity of the plot. I found some of the places with that writing style hard to follow. Some of the dialogue was written that way, choppy.

This is a good book for readers who like an Indiana Jones type of adventure with the possibility of new artifacts being discovered, giving more insights into the reality of the life of Jesus and those who followed him.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Nicholas Teeguarden is an award-winning author, devoted Christian, husband, father, and U.S. military veteran. Hailing from small-town Oklahoma, his global military service lends depth and authenticity to the vivid, action-driven world of The Copper Scroll: The Masa Chronicles: a gripping Christian thriller and recipient of the Christlit Award. You can find out more at https://nickteeguarden.com/

Independently published, 230 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through BookSirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)