On a hill overlooking the Aegean Sea in Turkey, an international team of archeologists discovers a stone box that first-century Jews used to rebury their dead. The box's Aramaic inscription: Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Sophia Altay, the beautiful French-Turkish archeologist who heads the team, tries to keep the discovery secret until she can authenticate the ossuary. She knows that people will kill to obtain the relics-and to suppress the box's other contents, documents that could alter Western history.

Joseph Travers, an American sent to Turkey to evaluate the archeological dig, soon finds himself pulled into the web of betrayal, reprisal, and violence. In his journey through Istanbul's mosques and palaces, the archeological sites around ancient Ephesus, and, ultimately, the strange and mystical terrain of Cappadocia, he comes to understand the epochal meaning of the bone box.

Readers' Favorite: "This story takes you on an incredible and dusty journey from Istanbul to ancient Ephesus, Izmir, and Cappadocia, blended with Christianity, archaeology and Islam, described with accurate detail to bring the story alive....Jay Amberg is a master of description and intrigue...the plot and characters are believable and interesting....keeps you guessing through each and every chapter. A cross between The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) and The Sign of the Cross (Chris Kuzneski) this is an 'un-put-downable' book of the highest quality."

San Francisco Book Review: "A mystery of biblical proportions right down to the very last page. As the story unfolds, the characters' histories, weaknesses, and ambitions are brought to light through their interactions with one another: the lies they tell, the crimes they are willing to commit, and the truths they are willing to confide only to the right person at the right time. And yet, as Joseph and Abrahim put themselves in harm's way to protect what has become so precious to them, we wonder: What truths are some people willing to die for?"

Self-Publishing Review: "A fast-paced religious thriller that will make many question not just their religious beliefs, but their personal beliefs as well....

"What helps this story hit all the right spots, is Amberg's ability to bring not just the characters to life, but Turkey as well. His descriptions make it easy to visualize, smell, and almost touch the objects in question....Amberg not only sets the scenes, he does it with ease making the reader nearly feel at home in an exotic land.

"Of course the reader can't feel completely at ease since this is a thriller. It would ruin the fun to know right from the beginning all the good and bad guys. All the characters are nuanced, and at times, everyone's motives are questioned....the characters are battling their own personal demons. Most of the turmoil is boiling under the surface, adding to the tension. Who and what will explode creates anxiety adding layer upon layer of intrigue and suspense.

"The lingering questions of what's real and what isn't keeps the reader invested in the story. It's not just the mystery about what's inside the ossuary and if the artifacts are authentic. There are other factors that play a huge role...Politics, religion, sexuality, culture, deceit, greed, and prejudices turn this thriller into a page-turner. There's a need to find out what will happen with the bones and letters, but there's also a desire to know what will happen to the characters.

"...By the end of the novel, one feels that maybe the contents of the ossuary weren't the most important aspect of the story. They get the ball rolling, but it's the actions that they set in motion that are integral...The stories within the story demand attention and remind us that one event can be perceived rightly or wrongly from several perspectives."
About the Author: Award-Winning Finalist, Thriller, 2015 Readers' Favorite Book Award Contest
Award-Winning Finalist, Thriller, 2015 National Indie Excellence Awards
Award-Winning Finalist, Thriller/Adventure, 2015 International Book Awards

KIRKUS REVIEWS
www.kirkusreviews.com
A novel of danger and adventure about an archaeological discovery that threatens to rewrite biblical history.

Amberg's...thriller takes readers to Turkey, where Joe Travers, a former Motorola executive, visits an archaeological site funded in part by his friend's foundation. Joe finds the project riven by conflicts between Sophia Altay, the Turkish-French lead archaeologist, who quickly wins him over; Leopold Kirchburg, the Austrian project director with a considerable ego; and Charles Lee, who represents right-wing foundations that provide much of the financial support. The archaeologists discover an ossuary containing relics and documents that could substantially change humanity's understanding of early Christianity.

The search for the ossuary's contents-which were hidden by Sophia's devoted assistant, Abrahim-drives much of the book's plot. Scenes of beatings, killings, and chases are punctuated by moments of extreme emotion; for example, at one point, Joe is "already in a quandary, the balance between the breathtaking beauty of the day and the sordid affairs of men not at all clear"; at another, Abrahim's "blood boils-the Janissary blood, the blood of his lost ancestors, the wanderers and cave dwellers alike."

In Joe, Amberg offers a narrator who's a keen observer, which allows the story to blend archaeological intrigue with a sharply drawn portrait of urban and rural Turkey. There are some clever turns of phrase, as when Joe notes that a document displayed on a computer screen is "illuminated in a way that would shock medieval monks." ...The author keeps the tension high...as Joe rushes to sort out everyone's motivations and loyalties. Readers will be too caught up in unraveling the plot to wonder about the unanswered questions regarding the ossuary's contents.

A...well-written, fast-paced thriller that follows in the footsteps of The Da Vinci Code and Indiana Jones.