Book #1
The Blood Gospel: The Order of the Sanguines
Released On: Jan 01, 2013

In his first-ever collaboration, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins combines his skill for cutting-edge science and historical mystery with award-winning novelist Rebecca Cantrell’s talent for haunting suspense and sensual atmosphere in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as…

THE BLOOD GOSPEL

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators—Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist—are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb’s sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ’s own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. But the enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ’s own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened—until now.

PAPERBACK EDITION + INCLUDES CITY OF SCREAMS: A SHORT STORY EXCLUSIVE

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Critical Acclaim

  • “Their story seamlessly blends modern-day technology with historical intrigue and otherworldly phenomena. The highly original plot combines gripping world-could-end drama with characters who are complex, fascinating and personable.”

    Romantic Times [*4.5 stars out of 5*]
  • “Good escapist reading in the Dan Brown vein. And these writers can write.”

    Kirkus Reviews
  • “Pure genius…The pairing of Rollins and Cantrell has brought the best out of both authors. “The Blood Gospel” is not just a must read, it would be a sin not to read it!.”

    Suspense Magazine
  • “…a rip-roaring good adventure that combines the headlong pace of Indiana Jones with the religious convolutions of The Da Vinci Code…Mr. Rollins and Ms. Cantrell seem to be a writing match made in heaven….This is a thriller of dark subterranean complexity, rather like a rare, vintage red wine.” Dan Brown vein. And these writers can write.”

    Kirkus Reviews Nancy Herkness, NY Journal of Books
  • “This work is all thriller fans would expect from a combination of Rollins and Cantrell: cutting-edge science, ancient history, and a solid gothic mystery plot. Fans of the authors will not be disappointed, and those who lapped up The Da Vinci Code will be clamoring for more in this series.”

    Library Journal [*starred review*]
  • “Irresistible. The DaVinci Code meets vampires.”

    Booklist

FAQ

  • Q. First, how did this book get started?
    A. Jim - The story came about after I viewed a museum exhibit featuring the work of Rembrandt. I was s ... Read More
  • Q. How did you decide who writes what sections?
    A. Jim - It’s one of the best things about collaboration: we each bring a unique skill set to the ta ... Read More
  • Q. How did you work together on the book?
    A. Rebecca - Jim had a lot of stuff already in place—a long outline, the first 150 pages or so, and a ... Read More
  • Q. How do you approach character differently?
    A. Rebecca - Jim is much meaner to them physically. So, once we’ve beaten the crap out of some charac ... Read More
  • Q. How do you collaborate?
    A. Rebecca - Writing a book is a very intimate process. It’s not all “which word goes here” or ... Read More
  • Q. Is it hard to collaborate living so far apart? Does distance ever come into play?
    A. Jim - Distance is a challenge, especially now that Rebecca is in Germany and almost on an opposite d ... Read More
  • Q. Since your book was written by a man and a woman, do you ever get into arguments about whether a woman (or a man) would or wouldn’t say something?
    A. Rebecca - Not really. I used to make a note of it and go ask my husband, but he always agreed with J ... Read More
  • Q. What do you do when you disagree?
    A. Rebecca - This is going to sound weird, but we haven’t really disagreed on much about the book. Or ... Read More
  • Q. What do you do when you get stuck?
    A. Rebecca - For The Blood Gospel, I got stuck less than usual, because Jim can often fix the points wh ... Read More
  • Q. With two authors at work, how do you manage the sex scenes?
    A. Rebecca - Because he blushes too much, which is damn funny to watch if not particularly productive, ... Read More

Media

  • The Blood Gospel Book Trailer
  • Why Collaborate?
  • Genesis of The Blood Gospel
  • Non-Sigma Secret Project Coming
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