I kept seeing other reviews saying if you like James Rollins you’ll like this. I feel like it had the draw of a Rollins book but ended the similarities there rather quickly. I would say if you like authors like James Rollins give this a chance but don’t expect it to be similar.

This is a great story based around the concept of a hidden document that tells of the identity of the anti-Christ. The tactical action scenes are well developed and believable. The anti-hero, Gage, is a troubled man who is trying to leave his past behind with one last attempt at saving his girlfriend and preventing the early emergence of the enemy of Christianity. What keeps this from five stars is Huggins over use of extended conversations that border on speeches.

A 2000 book but still good. Christian, yes, violence, yes, a totally FANTASY friendly FBI yes, but the writer pull sit off. I will look for some more of his titles.

4 stars

What a great read! This is my first James Byron Huggins novel, and I am very surprised that I somehow missed him. I can guarantee this book won’t be my last by this author.

The book has it all: action, adventure, a little romance, high-tech shoot outs, intrigue and a hero named Jonathan Gage who is conflicted and at times, unsure of himself. Gage sneaks in to visit his dying friend Simon. Simon is an elderly priest who with the assistance of a young woman, nursed Gage back to health three years earlier.

Simon begs Gage to rescue his old friend Mordechai and his daughter Sarah. For there are bad people after them; the same people who killed Simon by poison. So begins our adventure. In thrilling scenes, Gage rescues these people, kills bad guys and they make their escape, along with Barto, another person who was on the infamous archeology dig where a manuscript was found. The manuscript is explosive and those who found and translated it know that it can never see the light of day.

Meanwhile, of course, there are a highly organized group of bad guys out to get the manuscript by any means necessary. They seem to enjoy the killing. They too are ex-soldiers and highly trained, as is Gage.

Those of us who read thrillers like this one will recognize the formula. There is really nothing new in this book, it’s just a slightly different premise than others and a hero with a different name. Still, it is a good book, and if the reader likes this genre, they won’t be disappointed. This book is well written and plotted.

I want to thank NetGalley and Wild Blue Press for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read, enjoy and review.