The Holy Conspiracy
by Kristi Saare Duarte
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Pub Date Sep 16 2020 | Archive Date Sep 16 2020
Conspicuum Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
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Description
Erased from history—the forgotten story of how Jesus’s brother led his disciples in a bitter battle of faith against the Apostle Paul, the founder of Christianity.
Haunted by the brutal execution of Jesus, his brother Yakov is desperately trying to piece together the fragments of his broken life. Dwelling in constant fear of persecution, he cowers in lakeside Galilee where the Romans rule with bloodstained hands. When the other disciples elect him as their new leader, Yakov refuses at first. He has no desire to put his life at further risk. Until Mary Magdalen suggests that they form a secret society in the shadows of the Jerusalem Temple, and Yakov reluctantly agrees.
Shortly after their move to Judea, an affluent tentmaker from Tarsus named Saul approaches Yakov with a wild tale that Jesus has risen from the dead as the long-awaited Messiah. The disciples protest: their beloved teacher Jesus was a humble man, not a god. And they witnessed his execution, they even entombed his body. But Saul just scoffs at their objections and insists that only his version of Jesus as the Savior is true.
Now Yakov, Mary Magdalen, and the others must fight to keep Jesus’s credo of oneness with God alive. But how can these poor, uneducated disciples stand victorious in an arena of treachery and deceit, where the rich and powerful always prevail?
Spanning three decades, against a backdrop of increasingly violent Roman rule, THE HOLY CONSPIRACY is a tour de force of good versus evil from one of our most inspirational new authors.
A Note From the Publisher
Ebook ISBN: 9780977180756
Advance Praise
“Wow! What a fascinating concept. The story is compelling, but more than that, the story is incredibly easy to read and the author has done a tremendous job of highlighting the characters and communal environment of early Palestine. In a world where women were second-class citizens and their opinions of no interest to men, Mariamne comes across as a strong, powerful, intelligent, and deeply loving woman, who was easy to identify with. Her tangled and confusing relationship with James was definitely the highlight of this tale. I don’t often give a novel the status of teaching us about 'real' history but this story certainly raises and, in some cases, answers some fascinating questions about the birth and growth of one of the world’s preeminent religions. A truly thought-provoking and satisfying read and one that encourages me to seek out more works from this author.” (5 Star Review)
--Grant Leishman, Readers' Favorite
“The Holy Conspiracy is a fascinating and illuminating historical reconstruction that takes us vividly into the world of Jesus’ first followers. We witness a fledgling community – James, Mary Magdalen, and Peter -- honoring Jesus (Yeshua)’s teachings while getting on with the demands of daily life. We witness their fears, their hopes, their challenges and struggles. Paul, a man who never met Jesus, appears on the scene with a very different message – just how different is made clear as James and Paul try to find common ground. The reader will come away from this easy-to-read remarkable work with a far better understanding of just what was at stake.”
--Barrie Wilson, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies, York University, Toronto. Author of How Jesus Became Christian; Searching for Messiah.
Marketing Plan
• Articles for Online and Print Media Outlets
• Ongoing Social Media Marketing
• Blogger Outreach
• Podcast Interviews
• YouTube Videos
• Ads in BookBub. Amazon, etc.
• Articles for Online and Print Media Outlets
• Ongoing Social Media Marketing
• Blogger Outreach
• Podcast Interviews
• YouTube Videos
• Ads in BookBub. Amazon, etc.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780997180749 |
| PRICE | $14.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Patrick C, Reviewer
The start of Christianity is the story of this interesting and fast moving story. Ms Duarte has crafted a very likely account. I was drawn to it because of the animosity I have read and heard may have existed between Paul and James, and others. I read with great interest as reasons for many possibilites were given with a human story line that makes them all part of us. A very possible story. But then who knows?
Jeannie L, Reviewer
Let me start off by saying I was every Sunday School teacher's nightmare. I asked too many questions, pointed out the discrepancies and contradictions and just wouldn't blindly accept, "That's just the way it is." I always needed to know why and I was always confused by the contrasting character of God between old testament and new testament and why there were several different stories of the crucifixion and so many other things. This book answered so many questions that I had always had and it explained so much. So in addition to thanking the author for all the time she must have put into this book, I also want to thank her for the other resources at the back of the book. So this book was about what happened with some of the disciples after Jesus's crucifixion. I loved the way these characters were portrayed. They weren't larger then life, they weren't perfect to the point of unattainability. They were ordinary people with fears and low self confidence and wondering if they were doing the right thing. They were ordinary people which makes them more real then any cookie cutter creation of perfection. It was well written and easy to follow. It was fast paced and spanned several decades. This was a good book. I would like to leave a warning though, there are some adult scenes in this book, so may not be appropriate for young readers or those opposed to that type of imagery in your reading.
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