If you're looking for an action packed thriller from the Dan Brown school of mystery mash ups with more than a smattering of Indiana Jones thrown in - this is for you.
It's a wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed: a lot of stuff is blown sky high, but the stakes are even higher in an archeological cat and mouse that spans most of Europe and even a bit of Asia. Exotic locations, colourfully described, sinister opponents, dynamic heroes, mysteries hidden at the roots of Christianity and spanning the millennia as well as the occasional thought provoking twist giving a fresh look at the life of our savior make for an absolutely riveting read that will keep you glued to the reading device of your choice.
Enjoy! I did. ( )

Can't get through it. ( )

3.5. The premise is intriguing at the same level as Dan Brown. Even better for those who enjoy alternate interpretations of the life of Christ. What I had a difficult time with was the destruction of religious artifacts that had managed to survive for a couple of thousand years prior to the events of this novel. Makes one glad it is fiction after all! Will continue with the series. ( )

Loved it!! Think.. DaVinci Code meets Bad Boys (movie.. Will Smith? You know..) Packed with action, history, a little flirting, science and lots of pokes at religious controversy that would make my super-religious grandma disown me for suggesting it. Loved it.. ( )

"30 Pieces of Silver" is an action-packed thriller of a controversial nature. A real page turner, it incorporates history, geography, and religion in a book reminiscent of Dan Brown, Steve Berry, and James Rollins.

The story begins with a Christian suicide bomber at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The bombing uncovers a cache of skeletons, and it is determined that one of them is the remains of John the Baptist. Written on the bones is a story in ancient Greek that will lead to more remains. The State Department's Anti-terrorism division sends Sergeant Vincent Brandt and his four man special ops team to the Ecuadorian jungle to extract genetic anthropologist Dr. Rebecca Monroe, who is participating in a ritual involving her being tied to a stake with a anaconda wrapped around her. She was trying to prove herself worthy in order to obtain DNA samples to test a hypothesis she had developed. Sergeant Brandt's team rescues her right before the end of the ritual, angering Dr. Monroe. She was resisting the extraction until sergeant Brandt mentioned the name of her ex-professor/lover, Dr. Archibald Lochum. Dr. Lochum is trying to find the remains of Jesus to prove his hypothesis that Jesus was not resurrected as the bible states. But a secret organization known as the Knot has been tasked with preserving the remains of thirty people who were buried with silver coins over their eyes. These thirty were supposedly in on a secret that was fabricated at the base of the cross, and the Knot was formed at the same time.

The remains found in Paris lead the team to Budapest, where more skeletons lead the team to Istanbul and finally to Rome. They were constantly harassed by the Knot, lead by the unique team of Tok and Petir. Sergeant Brandt suspects one of his team is a double agent, as the Knot seems to know his every move. Along with the action, a romance begins between sergeant Brandt and Rebecca, adding more difficulties to Brandt's mission. The climax takes place in Rome where the member of Brandt's team working for the Knot is revealed and Rebecca finds the secret the Knot had been trying to keep.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was full of action and plot twists, making it hard to put down. I do not agree with the secret revealed at the end, but the story was excellent and makes the reader think. If you enjoyed "The Da Vinci Code," you will enjoy "30 Pieces of Silver." As stated earlier, the book is highly controversial and speculates an alternate view of the main premise of Christianity. If you do not like alternate views of Christianity, then steer clear of this book. ( )