A pair of books for TWOsday

The Lost Page: An Archaeological Thriller ~ by Joe Edd Morris, 2021, thriller, 259 pages

An unforgettable story of two courageous couples who risk everything for truth.  Amid a revolution, archaeologist Christopher Jordan and ancient manuscript expert Kathryn Ferguson travel to Syria in search of the original scroll of Mark's Gospel. 

Paralleling their quest is the story of the evangelist's escape with the scroll from the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., his struggles to complete the manuscript, and his journeys and efforts with the daughter of Peter the Apostle to protect and save it for the ages.  For both couples, time is running out and enemies are closing in.

This literary thriller explores the hard questions:  Did Mark intentionally omit the resurrection story, leaving it shrouded in mystery?  Or did it become detached and lost forever?  Discover the answer in The Lost Page.

The Lost Gospel: An Archaeological Thriller ~ by Joe Edd Morris, 2021, thriller, 281 pages

Join archaeologist Christopher Jordan and ancient manuscript expert Kathryn Ferguson on another heart-pumping adventure through the Middle East in their quest to save two recently discovered jars containing early Christian documents.  With an American Fundamentalist student determined to keep the jars in Christian hands and a Hezbollah kidnapping attempt in retaliation for their earlier heist of Mark's original gospel, Chris and Kate must navigate treacherous waters to succeed in their mission.

But that's not all — Israeli and Palestinian antiquity authorities are also vying for ownership of the jars, escalating tensions in this international recipe for war.  As Chris and Kate race against time, their story is interwoven with the fascinating tale of the original lost sayings of Jesus, the Q Gospel.  You'll be captivated by the author's creative imagining of how the Gospel came to be composed and his efforts to save his lifetime work.

The Lost Gospel is a gripping sequel to The Lost Page, filled with rich historical detail, transporting readers between modern and ancient biblical times.  Will Chris and Kate overcome their formidable obstacles to reach thrilling conclusions?  I don't remember where I heard about these books, and I haven't read (or even bought) them . . . yet.