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The Pilate Scroll: New Christian Thriller

The Pilate Scroll by M.B. Lewis

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The Pilate Scroll by M.B. Lewis

The Pilate ScrollAn artifact with untold power. An unlikely protector. Can she prevent the past from being used to destroy the future?

Kadie Jenkins lost her faith long ago. Traveling to Egypt as part of a research team battling a lethal virus, the talented scholar’s already weakened beliefs take a deadly dive when her colleague and mentor is murdered. With the man about to share a shocking finding before he met his demise, Kadie frantically gathers his papers… and barely escapes when the killer returns.

Fleeing by plane and forced into an emergency-landing in Israel, Kadie questions who in her group she can actually trust. And as the murderers close in, she’s stunned to discover they’re all hunting for an ancient relic that could change the course of history…

Will this headstrong academic lean on powers from above to keep the wicked from wreaking havoc on Earth?

The Pilate Scroll is a pulse-pounding Christian thriller. If you like complicated heroines, stunning twists, and divine light shining through the darkness, then you’ll love M.B. Lewis’s breakneck page-turner.

To purchase The Pilate Scroll, click on any of the following links: Amazon | Kindle Unlimited | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Genre: Christian Thriller / Action-Adventure
Published by: Satcom Publishing
Publication Date: April 27th 2021
Number of Pages: 346

ISBN: 1733098917 (ISBN13: 9781733098915)


Guest Post — By the author of The Pilate Scroll

Writing in the Christian Thriller Genre

I think the first question I was asked when I said I wanted to write a Christian Thriller was, “Why?”

I guess the best answer is because I had a story to tell. And I had a message I wanted to get out there. I had wanted to write a ‘clean’ book. One that didn’t have foul language or sexual content. A thrilling action/adventure that could be enjoyed by the whole family.

In 2018, my wife and I went on a trip to the Holy Land with Governor Mike Huckabee’s Blue Diamond Travel group. It was a life-changing experience with the first-class operation that Governor Huckabee produced; the trip was one we will never forget. To see and walk among the places in the Bible that we had only read about was amazing; it was like experiencing the Bible in 3D. While on the trip, I told my wife, “There’s a book in here somewhere. I just have to find it.”

Well, as I like to say, I never found it. It found me.

I’m not sure when or where I got the idea, but once I started to write The Pilate Scroll, I completed the first draft in three months, and finished the book in a year. In the process of writing this book, I had a few points I used to guide me along the way that apply to the Christian Thriller directly, and in fact Christian Fiction in general.  I didn’t want to be chasing the book market, I didn’t want the book to be preachy, and I wanted the book to be Biblically sound.

Regarding chasing the market, I didn’t want to write the book because I thought the Christian market might be an area to make money in. In fact, I kind of expected the opposite. But the point is, I wrote the book because I felt it was a story that needed to be told. Not because I thought I’d make a lot of money from it. Sales have been good. It was a number one best-seller during pre-sale on Amazon and has gone in and out of the top 100, but it’s not enough to cause me to quit my day job. I don’t think writing Christian fiction is a call to make money, it is a higher calling.

I also didn’t want the book to be too ‘preachy.’ By that, I mean I wanted to address the Christian faith in a positive light, without the reader feeling like they were being lectured to. And I think it does that very well, especially when I read some to the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads from non-believers. Some of them really love the book!

And they love it because it’s not too preachy. It addresses the issue of faith in the context of the story and the characters involved. It doesn’t come across as a veiled attempt to sway the reader into converting into Christianity. And it would be foolish to think that was the idea behind the book. But you can get them thinking. I know I did that with The Pilate Scroll, I’ve had too many folks reach out to me to mention it had.

And finally, I wanted the book to be Biblically sound. By that, I mean I wanted the book to reflect Biblical teaching accurately as written in the Bible. I wanted to ensure the sections from the Bible used also fit into their historical context as written in the novel. To do this, I sent the book to several pastors and people passionate about the Bible and their faith. Their feedback was helpful in completing the book.

Like I mentioned earlier, I think writing Christian Fiction, and specifically, the Christian Thriller, is a calling. I’m sure there are plenty of authors out there who have written their book, slapped a ‘Christian label’ on one of the characters, and marketed it as ‘Christian.’ But to each a broad group of readers, it can’t ‘chase’ the market, it can’t be too ‘preachy,’ and it must be Biblically sound.


Excerpt of The Pilate Scroll

Chapter 1

Port Said, Egypt
The Market District

Samuel Jacobson was a dead man. Or at least he thought so. His phone call had been erratic, anxious—almost in a panic.

“Brian, we have to go.” Kadie Jenkins stood and slid her iPhone back in the pocket of her tan 5.11 cargo pants. She grabbed her purse and rose from the table in the back of the tiny restaurant, dragging her nineteen-year-old brother out before they had a chance to order their dinner. The restaurant sat tucked between shops selling hookahs on one side and women’s clothes on the other. The aroma of fresh bread and grilled meats dissipated, replaced by the pungent scent of car exhaust and camel dung.

“It’s only a fifteen-minute walk back to the hotel,” Kadie said. “I bet we can make it in ten.”

Brian stumbled behind her as they hurried along dusty streets. They turned into the souk, or open-air market, the brick-laid section of the market that was pedestrian-only this time of night. While many of the shops had their “roll-up” metal security doors pulled down, the market bristled with life.

Vendors waved items in their faces, children tugged on their pant legs, and beggars held their palms up hoping for a handout. Her eyes studied everyone who came close, gauging their intentions in a moment’s glance. She was one of only a few women in the market not wearing a hijab.

“Kadie slow down,” Brian said. His breathing came deep and awkward, despite being a regular participant in the Special Olympics.

“Sorry, Brian. We could get a cab at the other end of the market. But by the time we find one, describe our hotel, and negotiate a price, we could walk to the hotel.” While she relished the exercise, she worried her pace was too much for him. He was fit for a young man with Down syndrome, but she moved swiftly.

Their team had been in Egypt for almost three weeks. Starting in Cairo, the small group of seven from GDI, the Global Disease Initiative, had been scouring the city for clues to an ancient cure. Their quest had led them from the United States to Cairo, then to Port Said. Their four days here had not yet proven fruitful.

The goosebumps on her skin reminded her of Samuel’s phone call. His message was brief yet concise: his life was in danger because he knew what they were really searching for. What did he mean? Their team was one of four positioned across the Middle East in search of their goal. Now, for some reason, Samuel questioned what that was.

GDI had been contracted by the United States government to locate an ancient cure for an even older virus—the hantavirus. Kadie researched the topic before they left for Egypt. Rodents generally spread it, and this strain was a particularly virulent “Old World” virus that had proven resistant to modern medicine.

The Central Intelligence Agency learned that ISIS weaponized the hantavirus in aerosol form and planned to unleash it across the West. The virus was known at the CDC to cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, blurred vision, back and abdominal pain, and intense headaches known to bring a grown man to his knees. Later, those exposed would experience shock, low blood pressure, kidney failure, and vascular leakage—all in all, a nasty virus to thrust upon any population. The logistics involved in treating the virus were obvious.

The unique thing about the “Old World” hantavirus, was that it had predominantly appeared in Europe and Asia. GDI discovered that the virus had been eliminated in the Middle East, which was odd, as rodents were prevalent throughout the region.

Through one of their many connections, GDI learned of a legendary cure developed in ancient Israel around 30 A.D. The virus had a different name back then, but the symptoms were the same. The cure was a simple combination of plants and minerals. The formula was stored in a vase with Aramaic writing on the side and lay hidden for millennia. That was why she was here. Kadie was fluent in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic. The executive vice president for the Science and Technology Division of GDI had contacted her personally, telling her she was “uniquely qualified” for this job. Kadie was enthralled to join the team when the offer came.

Samuel was in his early sixties, and he and Kadie had struck up a friendship at the beginning of their journey. He became her mentor and father figure, occasionally giving her advice on what to do with her career. Samuel was the team’s expert on carbon dating. His equipment was state-of-the-art, but other than testing its functionality the day after they arrived, he hadn’t used it. So, what did he discover? What did he know that was worth killing for?

Halfway to the hotel, she mumbled something she shouldn’t have as she pulled out her phone and dialed. Her eyes darted toward her brother.

“Do not c-cuss,” Brian said between heavy breaths.

Brian. Her moral compass there to steer her back on course. She squeezed her brother’s hand. Brian always kept her grounded. What would she do when he was gone? But he was here now, and she needed to make sure he would be safe, something she had done for him since the day he was born.

“Sorry, Brian. I just remembered I need to call Curt. He’s probably on his way to the restaurant to meet us.”

“He is probably s-still wor—king.” Brian’s eyes darted back and forth. His speech impediment that made his ‘r’s sometimes sound like ‘w’s wasn’t nearly as bad as it was when he was younger, and his stutter only showed up when he was nervous.

Kadie grimaced. Curt didn’t answer his phone. He was GDI’s security man and the only full-time employee on their team. Kadie left a message, telling him she was sorry, but she had to leave the restaurant. They’d talk later.

Next, she called Samuel. He didn’t answer either. She slipped her phone back in her cargo pocket and glanced at her brother. He was doing all he could to keep up with Kadie and avoid the distractions of the numerous shops in the marketplace. Gasping, his jaw jutted forward, brow furrowed, and his eyes bulged. He had been reluctant to leave the restaurant; he must be starving. She had to plead with him to get him to budge.

“We did not stay—for food. I am hungry,” Brian said.

“I know. I’m sorry. I am, too.” Her eyes darted back and forth in search of something they could eat. A few moments later she smiled. Near the end of the market, a vendor baked and sold bread. They stopped next to the giant metal oven that extended back into a yellowing mud-brick building. The bread rolled out of the front like doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, and two men placed the warm food on a rack woven out of sticks to cool. Her limited vocabulary in conversational Arabic helped her in situations like this. Kadie bought two loaves of Aish Baladi, an Egyptian flatbread made with whole wheat flour, similar to a pita. Handing the bag of bread to Brian, they continued on their way.

The dust of the market peeled away as they rounded the corner, and their hotel came into sight. Well-lit against the black sky, it sat on the edge of the water where the Suez Canal merged into the Mediterranean Sea. An outdoor restaurant sat to her left; the numerous tables had their umbrellas open, lit candles centered on each table. To her right, a small mosque lay nestled amongst other buildings. This street was far less crowded than the souk.

“What do you think about Curt?” Her chestnut-brown hair bounced as she slowed her pace so Brian could keep up. She needed a conversation to take her mind off Samuel.

“He is okay.” Brian looked away when he answered. Kadie knew what that meant. Brian’s instincts on people were spot on, and he wasn’t very fond of Curt. She wasn’t sure why; she was still trying to figure him out herself. Curt was a few years older than her. He was handsome, dashing, and brave—former Delta Force. There was something to be said for that.

They entered the newly renovated hotel, leaving the Third World atmosphere behind them. Kadie sighed as they weaved through the crowded lobby and lumbered up the stairs to their room on the second floor. She dropped Brian off in their room before she went to check on Samuel.

“Don’t leave,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Okay.” Brian moved to the couch and pressed the big green button on the television remote.

Kadie closed the door; the hairs on the back of her neck bristled, and her heartbeat raced higher than usual. She hurried down the hall to Samuel’s room. Inside, she heard a loud crash and the sound of something hitting the wall, followed by a solid thud.

That’s not good, she thought.

Kadie tried the door handle. Locked. She pulled a small FOB out of her pocket. It was called a Gomer, a new device that opened almost any electronic lock. It had wreaked havoc on the hotel industry, but she had picked one up back in the States knowing she’d be living in hotels abroad for three months.

She was hesitant to use it. She shouldn’t just barge into his room. Then came a second thud, followed by a muffled cry.

Kadie swiped the FOB across the lock and pushed hard against the door. The door cracked open about two inches and abruptly stopped; the chain secured on the inside.

“Samuel?” She peered through the gap; a body lay on the floor. Oh my, he’s had a heart attack. Kadie lowered her shoulder and bulldozed the door. It started to give way. On the second try, the chain burst free from the wall and the door flew open.

Kadie gasped. In the center of the room, a large man stood over Samuel’s body, wearing a faded brown futa, the traditional Yemini male shirt, and black pants. A black keffiyeh covered his face, with only his eyes exposed.

The man stood over Samuel, the bloody knife in his hand dripping on the floor.

***

Excerpt from The Pilate Scroll by M.B. Lewis. Copyright 2022 by Michael Byars Lewis. Reproduced with permission from Michael Byars Lewis. All rights reserved.


M.B. Lewis — Author of The Pilate Scroll

The Pilate ScrollMichael Byars Lewis is an Amazon #1 International Bestselling Author, and his books have also been on the Bestseller lists on Barnes and Noble Nook and Kobo platforms.

The author of the award-winning Jason Conrad Thriller series has been on numerous author panels at writer’s conferences such as Thrillerfest, The Louisiana Book Festival, The Pensacola Book and Writers Festival, and Killer Nashville. ​ A 25-year Air Force pilot, he has flown special operations combat missions in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan in the AC-130U Spooky Gunship. Michael is currently a pilot for a major U.S. airline. ​

A proud Christian active in his community, Michael has mentored college students on leadership development and team-building and is a facilitator for an international leadership training program. He has participated as a buddy for the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Night to Shine” and in his church’s Military Ministry program. Michael has also teamed with the Air Commando Foundation, which supports Air Commando’s and their families’ unmet needs during critical times. ​

While his adventures have led to travels all around the world, Michael lives in Florida with his wife Kim.

To learn more about Michael, click on any of the following links: www.MichaelByarsLewis.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @MichaelByarsLewis, Instagram – @michaelbyarslewisFacebook – @mblauthor


Visit all the stops on the tour!

The Pilate Scroll

03/15 Review @ flightnurse70_book_reviews
03/16 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
03/17 Showcase @ Nesies Place
03/17 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
03/18 Interview @ Quiet Fury Books
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03/20 Interview @ A Blue Million Books
03/21 Showcase @ The Book Divas Reads
03/24 Interview @ I Read What You Write
03/25 Guest post @ Author Elena Taylors Blog
03/25 Showcase @ Brooke Blogs
03/29 Review @ sunny island breezes
03/30 Review @ Reading Is My SuperpPower
04/03 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
04/03 Showcase @ The Authors Harbor
04/04 Review @ Splashes of Joy
04/05 Review @ Cover To Cover Cafe
04/06 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty
04/06 Review @ Pat Fayo Reviews
04/07 Review @ Celticladys Reviews
04/08 Review @ rozierreadsandwine
05/23 Review @ Just Reviews
05/23/ Podcase interview @ Blog talk radio


Elena Taylor is the author of All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio book format at all your favorite bookstores and on-line retailers.

For more information on All We Buriedclick on the link here to visit the home page.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator 2020

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery 2020

Elena Hartwell

Author and developmental editor.

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Wendy B

    Thanks for the great guest post! This sounds like such an interesting book!

    1. Elena Taylor

      It’s always so interesting to hear what writers are inspired by.

    1. Elena Hartwell

      Great to have you visit!

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