The 13th Apostle [Mass Market Paperback]

Richard F. Heller (Author), Rachael F. Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2007

THREE SOULS. TWO THOUSAND YEARS. ONE TRUTH.A worldwide conspiracy thriller for the millions of fans of The Da Vinci Code who’ve been left thirsting for more…Just one man can crack the code to the greatest mystery the world has ever known – if he survives…36AD:Micah – Jesus' friend, trusted confidant, and the 13th Apostle – inscribes a message, upon which mankind's fate would one day be determined.Present day:Internet forensic specialist, Gil Pearson, is recruited to decipher an ancient diary and reveal Micah's hidden message, which may lead to the most mysterious of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Working with the enigmatic Sabbie Karaim, Gil becomes embroiled in an international mystery spanning two thousand years, and for which others would gladly give their lives – or, more willingly, take his.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Hellers, a husband-and-wife team known for their health titles (The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, etc.) make a thrilling fiction debut in this fast-paced, well-researched adventure, a foray into Da Vinci Code–style papal mystery. American cybersleuth Gil Pearson, a semifamous antihacker, gets tapped to help translate an ancient copper scroll that's meant to lead to a fabulous treasure. Accompanied by striking, strong Sabbie Karaim, a translator and former Israeli military operative, Gil travels to Israel, where he's introduced to the dangerous conspiracy that surrounds the scroll, and soon realizes the perilous position he's gotten himself into; apparently, the scroll contains not just a treasure map but the truth about the life and death of Jesus. As rival factions try to claim the scroll for their own agendas (to protect Christianity, to destroy Christianity, etc.), Gil and Sabbie head on a breakneck quest around the globe trying stay one step ahead of their pursuers while teasing out the secrets of the age-old document. A satisfying, well-structured entry into the still-hot subgenre, the Hellers have a definite crowd-pleaser on their hands—assuming it doesn't get buried in a saturated market. (Aug.)
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Review

“A satisfying, well-structured entry into the still-hot subgenre, the Heller’s have a definite crowd-pleaser on their hands.” (Publishers Weekly )

“...a thrilling fiction debut in this fast-paced, well-researched adventure...” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Thus edition (July 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061239852
• ISBN-13: 978-0061239854
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,326,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Copper Scroll of Lost Opportunity, October 26, 2007

By 

Alex Tang "the reader" (Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 13th Apostle (Mass Market Paperback)

Richard and Rachael Hiller (2007), The 13th Apostle, New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Among the most sacred of texts it is written:

In each generation there are born thirty-six
righteous souls who by their very existence,
assure the continuation of the world.

According to Abraham's Covenant, once each
millennium, God shall return to earth and count
among the many, those who remain righteous.

Were it not for these tzaddikim, the righteous ones,
who stand in God's judgment, mankind's fate would
be grave and certain peril.

These traddikim have no knowledge of each other,
Neither have they an understanding of their own
singular importance. As innocents, they remain
unaware of the critical consequences of their
thoughts, their faith, and their deeds,
Save for one.

To this tzaddik alone is granted knowledge
of his position, for to him is trusted the
most sacred of tasks.


I have always enjoyed reading conspiracy thrillers especially those involving religious antiquity. That is why I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code enormously and also the Indiana Jones movies and novels (yes, there are novels). This book promises two premises; one, the legend/tradition of the worthy tzaddikim, and two, the story of the thirteenth apostle. Unfortunately the authors were not able to bring these two interesting ideas into play effectively to hammer out a good religious conspiracy thriller. The story telling was choppy with too much detail given to the scroll. It also suffers by imitating the writing style of the Da Vinci Code. The character development was poorly done. For example Gil, the leading male character is at times very intelligent and at other times to be incredibly stupid. It was a fair attempt for a first novel. My rating for this book is one star.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Laughable, August 16, 2007

By 

T. N. (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 13th Apostle (Mass Market Paperback)

I forced myself to go on reading until Sabbie gave the translation of that copper scroll, and that was how far I could put up with this lame thriller. What has been painstakingly written on an ancient copper scroll reads like a bad modern narrative, lengthy and full of superfluous details, absolutely unbelievable for an ancient document intended to impart such important knowledge. And can you believe that an ancient scroll had this opening line: "Thirty-three years before the Cruxification, Southwest of Jerusalem, main route to Hebron and Egypt"? Does it sound any different from the opening line in Chapter 1 of the thriller itself: "Present day, Day One, early evening, the New York City Grille"? I feel cheated, but I should have noticed that the authors are diet book authors!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Got to chapter 47 and quit., August 17, 2007

By 

Michael A. Stevens - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 13th Apostle (Mass Market Paperback)

One of the worst books I've ever read. The dialog between the characters was boring and the plot was suspect. I rarely throw a book away, but I couldn't take it anymore. Save your money and do NOT buy this book.