The remarkable Christian woman. The one invited to find again The Holy Cross.

Helena was once a woman of wealth and of good position. Now, divorced and fighting her demons of bitterness, she enters the seemingly dangerous way into the enemies´ land, with the mission which is either suicidal or the true holy mission. To find The True Cross - the one on which Jesus died. And to bring the good news of the Edict of Milan, the agreement to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire.
But...using the human eyes and logic, this is impossible. And yet, as her pilgrim progresses, the hearts are changing deeply. This might be the sign and the miracle for the weary one of us.

The storytelling is masterful. The story itself is remarkable - the pilgrim of one woman, tested and blessed to see the real proof, in the body of cross and the bodies and hearts changed. The storytelling backs this story well, offering the heart-wrenching touch of light and hope through the darkness - and every one of us knows the darkness and longs for that hope and light.
Well done.
Recommended.
Applause. I was deeply touched.

While said all that and meaning it, I need to say my two coins about the historical details, in hopes of education - namely Roman soldiers drinking tea from mugs? If something, then water from their waterskins.
But this is just a nitpicking, because the novel is truly, truly good.

Oh my goodness, what a fantastic read. I never doubt if a Bunn book will be good, and this one definitely rates a reading by everyone. It was elevating to my spirit to read about a Roman woman being used by God to accomplish His will in Judea to help all the christians who were being so horribly persecuted by Rome. Bunn's writing helped paint pictures in my head so I could see exactly what he was telling me through written words. I could hardly put this book down.

Empress Helena was a woman who life would forever be linked with the Holy Land and the Crucifixion, in the sense that she reputedly discovered the True Cross.

So, knowing so much, I was looking forward to reading Bunn's novel on Helena. Its short - less than 200 pages - but it certainly packs a lot into those pages. Helena's story is spell-binding - you are captivated by her courage, you endure her hardships and struggles, and celebrate her triumphs. A reader can easily posit themselves in Helena's shoes (or rather, sandals). The reader never loses interest - and Helena's story, courtesy of Davis Bunn's, still resonates long after it is finished. I read this back in August 2015 - and the story is as fresh in my mind today as if I had just set it aside.

Over the years, I have enjoyed one Davis Bunn book after another and this latest entry does not disappoint. Davis is a master storyteller and his ability to tell an ancient tale in a contemporary style regularly leaves readers wanting more. In The Pilgrim, we are introduced to Helena, mother of the famed Roman emperor Constantine, who travels to the Holy Land to fulfill her own destiny and help others to do the same. The charm of The Pilgrim is how Davis takes a timeworn story sitting on the edge of our collective memory and breathes new life into the tale through his flowing, almost lyrical prose. This is a concise, well-told tale that likely will inspire you to seek your own purpose in life.

his is a great book! It's fiction based on factual history and it makes the story come alive! It was such a great read that I decided to do additional research after reading the book because I found the story fascinating. I never heard of this story before reading The Pilgrim and believe me, Davis Bunn does the story justice. As always, he brings the characters to life in your mind and you can't put the book down. Highly recommend The Pilgrim.