Synopses & Reviews
In the desert near Jerusalem, an archaeologist is murdered after he uncovers stunning evidence in a Dead Sea scroll about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The two-thousand-year-old parchment containing enigmatic references to not one but two messiahs is stolen before it can be fully translated.
In Rome, a charismatic American priest with long-hidden secrets is elected pope, setting off widespread panic among some of the faithful who question whether he is the anti-Christ or the world’s new savior. As the conspiracy over the scroll explodes into a political and religious standoff, two people find themselves on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of unknown assassins in their search for truth.
Archaeologist Jack Cane and Israeli police inspector Lela Raul must solve the mystery of the Second Messiah and uncover the real secret behind the message of Jesus before they are permanently silenced and the scroll and its contents are forever lost to humanity.
Review
“Dan Brown meets Tom Clancy—Glenn Meade sure knows how to get your pulse racing. I was gripped from page one. Whether
The Second Messiah is fact or fiction is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure—it’s one heck of a thriller. You know you’re in safe hands with Glenn Meade—
The Second Messiah is a rollercoaster of a thriller that lifts the lid on the inner workings of the Vatican and leaves you wondering just how much of the fiction is actually fact.”
—Stephen Leather, author of Nightfall Praise for Glenn Meade's other work:
"Meade's research is so extensive yet unobtrusive . . . that it is often easy to forget you're reading fiction and not history. This a completely riveting thriller in the tradition of the Day of the Jackal. A white knuckler!"
—The Washington Post "Glenn Meade writes scenes as though they were shot from a gun, and the impact as you turn each page is often just as powerful."
—Florida Times "A writer of powerfully built and skilfully executed plots. Immerse yourself in his intricately woven intrigue and explosive action, and enjoy them thoroughly!"
—Oleg Kalugin, former head of the KGB's First Directorate "Fast, sly and slick, his thrillers deliver the goods—tension, action, plot twists—until the smoke finally clears."
—Booklist
Review
"Dan Brown meets Tom Clancy--Glenn Meade sure knows how to get your pulse racing.
Review
Praise for Glenn Meade's other work:
"Meade's research is so extensive yet unobtrusive . . . that it is often easy to forget you're reading fiction and not history. This a completely riveting thriller in the tradition of the Day of the Jackal. A white knuckler!"
Review
"Glenn Meade writes scenes as though they were shot from a gun, and the impact as you turn each page is often just as powerful."
—Florida Times
Review
"A writer of powerfully built and skillfully executed plots. Immerse yourself in his intricately woven intrigue and explosive action, and enjoy them thoroughly!"
Review
"Fast, sly and slick, his thrillers deliver the goods—tension, action, plot twists—until the smoke finally clears."
Review
“A thrill a minute. A cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown. Thriller readers will love this book.”
Review
"The Irish-born author (Snow Wolf) teeters on the edge of genius and sacrilege with this thriller about a subject known since the time of Christ. When archeologist Jack Cane discovers ancient documents that point to the existence of another messiah, he also quickly finds out that both Israeli and Catholic authorities have reason to possess, or suppress, such documents. Racked with the pain of personal loss, he meets up with an old friend, Lela, who is part of an Israeli police team investigating multiple crimes, including a cold case involving the possible murder of Cane's parents—also archeologists—20 years earlier. Some who have avoided Christian fiction or only dipped in will find this departure from the mold refreshing, even while some regular readers of Christian fiction may find certain passages revolting. Fans of Davis Bunn or Dan Brown won't bat an eye at Meade's unblinking look at the Vatican and the religious secrecy that fuels such novels. With a plot that screams, a controversial edge, and characters with attitude and something to prove, this has all the makings to be the next Da Vinci Code."
Review
“Tell Dan Brown to move over! It’s Glenn Meade’s turn.” Bookseller from Books - & - Co. (Dayton, Ohio)
Review
"Reading similarly to both a Thoene novel and The Da Vinci Code, bestselling author Meade's
Review
"This novel is a Da Vinci Code-type thriller, but it’s far more. The secret scrolls and chases are standard thriller fare, but deftly handled. Some of the characters are particularly captivating, especially the new Pope, a true follower of God who’s tormented by his past and struggling with the future of the Church. This suspenseful book is well worth reading."
Review
"Written in the mold of The Da Vinci Code—sans all the erroneous claims (thankfully)—bestselling author Glenn Meade’s latest geographical thriller, The Second Messiah, keeps readers on the edge of their proverbial seats with multiple plot twists."
Review
"Meade knows how to entangle, and untangle, an exciting array of characters and plots guaranteed to keep the reader hooked . . . a talented storyteller, he sets the scene quickly before taking off on a rollicking ride that keeps the pages turning. It’s a hard book to put down."
Review
“Reads at a breathtaking, frantic pace from beginning to end. . . . A daring work of fiction that will have people talking.”
Review
“Tell Dan Brown to move over! It’s Glenn Meade’s turn.”
Review
“Deftly orchestrated. . . . One long, twisty, breathless chase. . . . Tough to put down”
Review
“Rich in period detail, crisply plotted and paced.”
Review
“Meade knows how to turn on the adrenaline.”
Review
“A tremendous sense of dramatic action and page-turning excitement culminating in a riveting, thought-provoking climax.”
Review
“Another literate and suspenseful thriller from an estimable storyteller who proves that beginner’s luck had nothing to do with his impressive debut.”
Review
“Dan Brown meets Tom Clancy—Glenn Meade sure knows how to get your pulse racing. I was gripped from page one. Whether The Second Messiah is fact or fiction is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure—it’s one heck of a thriller. You know you’re in safe hands with Glenn Meade—The Second Messiah is a rollercoaster of a thriller that lifts the lid on the inner workings of the Vatican and leaves you wondering just how much of the fiction is actually fact."
Review
"Reading similarly to both a Thoene novel and The Da Vinci Code, bestselling author Meade’s The Second Messiah will keep readers on the edge of their proverbial seats . . . The Second Messiah reads quickly and will hold the reader’s attention with its many plot twists. In the story, Meade also addresses the problem of suffering in an insightful comment from the pope. Fans of fiction tied to news headlines will enjoy this geopolitical thriller. Recommended for readers of Joel C. Rosenberg."
About the Author
Glenn Meade was born in Finglas, Dublin in 1957. Several of his novels have been international bestsellers, translated into more than twenty languages, and have enjoyed both critical and commercial success. He worked in the field of pilot training for Aer Lingus for many years and as a journalist for the Irish Times. He now writes full time.