Secret of the Shroud [Paperback]

Pamela Binnings Ewen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

A frightened apostle in AD 33, a tragic child in the 1950s, and a slick, twenty-first century church leader are all linked by the secret of the Shroud of Turin, the purported burial cloth of Jesus-and by something more. 

Wesley Bright, a corrupt, media-savvy clergyman, is out to destroy the Christian church of the God who abandoned him in his boyhood. Likable and entertaining, Bright keeps his motives well hidden. But as he seeks revenge, leading the church toward unknowing destruction, the mysterious Shroud of Turin stands in his way. Strange characters and clues emerge like shadows limned in mist as the most recent discoveries on the Shroud connect the pieces of a fascinating puzzle. When Wesley learns the ancient secret, he’s forced to confront a terrible choice: keep the secret—and the power, wealth, and fame he’s won over the years—or expose it . . . and lose everything.

At stake is one thing: absolute truth.

Acclaim for Pamela Binnings Ewen's previous novel, The Moon in the Mango Tree

"Pamela Binnings Ewen wrote this richly detailed novel based on the experiences of her grandmother, who lived in Siam and Europe during the Roaring Twenties . . . a thought-provoking and enjoyable story, difficult to put down. Highly recommended."

Historical Novels Review

"For an all too brief time, readers will find themselves living in another time, another place . . . this fiction is a kind of gift."

The New Orleans Times-Picayune

"Ewen is a talented writer, and this is a strong addition to Christian fiction."

Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pamela Binnings Ewen practiced law for twenty-five years before following in the authorial footsteps of relatives such as James Lee Burke (The Tin Roof Blowdown) and Andre Dubus III (The House of Sand and Fog). She lives in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433671158
• ISBN-13: 978-1433671159
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,024,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love...carousels and bells and balloons, the smell of fresh cut grass, and clover in the morning wet with dew. Green and white and dappled light, shifting shadows on a hot summer's day. Rain at night. Ribboned moonglow on the waters of a bay.

And you, dear readers!

Pamela Binnings Ewen--that's me--lives just 20 minutes north of New Orleans, across Lake Pontchartrain in a river parish of pine woods, steamy moss-laden swamps, and artists, writers, dreamers. This is an extension of New Orleans, the part you've probably never seen. It's Walker Percy country.

I'm a New Orleans Lady and a reformed lawyer. Faith On Trial was my first book and I wrote it out of compulsion as one who'd been a skeptic about religion for most of my adult life. The '60's, Ayn Rand, vague answers...all turned me into a seeker of meaning and purpose. It took over ten years to research and write that book. I put Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on trial, and they won.

My life changed as a result. Faith is my compass now. I exchanged partnership in the international law firm of BakerBotts L.L.P. for a career writing full time. Take a look at my website and check out my books--past, present, future. The Moon in the Mango Tree is based on the true story of my grandmother's life in the 1920's, the jazz age. She lived in Siam, Paris, Lausanne, Rome, and was forced to choose between two things she loved. Walk Back The Cat is a story of power and revenge, a choice between good and evil, and a secret of the Shroud of Turin. The latest research on the Shroud provides the key. (One thing lawyers are good at is research!) Check out my blog on the Shroud in Turin during the 2010 exhibition in May.

See you on the other side of the mirror! Pamela. (pamelaewen.com.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Suspense, December 4, 2010

By 

L. Brandau - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret of the Shroud (Paperback)

Following a childhood tragedy and feeling abandoned by God, a bitter Archbishop Wesley Bright has led the Christian church in the wrong direction. He is a charismatic leader preaching a gospel absent of absolute truth. Everything he has sought to destroy is now challenged by a scrap of cloth.

I have never had an interest in the Shroud of Turin, but I have to admit after reading this book, I understand why so many people find it fascinating.

I enjoyed each of the characters and their unique perspective to the story. I especially liked the way the story blended three points in time, from the time of Christ, the 1950s, and the near future.

The story starts with a shocking tragedy that scarred a child's heart and filled him with guilt for life. As shocking as the event was, a similar incident happened in Chicago a few years ago.

The author uses an impressive blend of scientific information and history so that the characters could bring this historical article to even the hardest of hearts. I really enjoyed Secret of the Shroud and would recommend it for those who like suspense/mystery novels with a moral storyline.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic quest for truth!, January 14, 2011

By 

izzie downs - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret of the Shroud (Paperback)

I am an avid reader of all genres, and am highly impressed with this author. The way that she uses her descriptions, mixed with obvious intelligence, is fascinating and makes for a page-turning read. I will definitely read anything that I can get my hands on by her. In a literary world where so many authors' styles seem to blend together, she is truly a diamond in the rough!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Absolute truth..., September 25, 2010

By 

K. L. Haschke "Kmama" (South Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret of the Shroud (Paperback)

In recent years I haven't been much of a fiction reader anymore. I read so much literature with the kids that I tend to gravitate toward non-fiction for my personal reading. I've had several novels on my "to-review" shelf that publishers have sent me and I finally decided to dive into one.

Secret of the Shroud by Pamela Ewen looked interesting to me. I've found the Shroud of Turin intriguing for a long time, since I read several books and wrote a paper on it years ago. This novel uses the Shroud as the catalyst for a confrontation between truth and relativism in the life of a corrupt clergyman named Wesley Bright.

Wesley is a bitter man, determined to destroy traditional Christianity since he felt abandoned by it after a tragedy in his childhood. As a public figure, his viewpoint about the Shroud is in demand when it goes on display in New York City. While attempting to brush up on his knowledge about it in order to discredit it, the information he and his assistant learn makes him more and more uncomfortable.

I found the first half of the book a little bit slow moving, but I enjoyed the way the scientific and historical facts about the Shroud were woven in later in the book. In my final analysis, I'd say I found the book entertaining but not compelling. The writing was decent but not fantastic. If you enjoy historical suspense novels in the spirit of The Da Vinci Code (but from a Christian perspective) or if you're interested in the Shroud and other Christian relics, you'll probably find it a fairly enjoyable read.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for providing a review copy to me.