The Papyrus Document

The Papyrus Document
Michael Cole
Foremost Press
ISBN: 0-9748921-5-7
Fiction, Thriller
Reviewed by Kevin Aguanno

Dr. Natalie Rowe, a researcher at the Smithsonian Institute, receives a request for a meeting from a noted Pakistani academic. Upon meeting him, he passes her an ancient scroll and asks her to keep it safe and to pass it on to his son in case anything should happen to him. While I would have trouble resisting the temptation to peek at the scroll, Natalie manages to do so, until its rightful owner is killed in an explosion in his hotel room.
What unfolds from there is a thrilling archaeological mystery that takes Natalie and the son of the slain academic to an ancient tomb that may hold the body of a Muslim prophet, or the body of Jesus who may have survived the crucifixion and lived out the remainder of his life in hiding in India.
The secret scroll contains evidence that will shock the Christian world and settle once and for all some long-held theories on the fate of Jesus.
Reminiscent of The DaVinci Code, this book is well-written with solid characterization, a credible and compelling plot, and a good pace that carries the reader along with the story. While reminding the reader of Dan Brown’s work, this book clearly stands on its own merits. I highly recommend this book as a good weekend read.