The Sacred Cipher

A couple of you told me how good The Sacred Cipher was and you did not miss your mark in saying that I would like it. Like it!? I LOVED it!

Typically, I’m not a big fan of suspense/action/intrigue type of books. I used to like such things a great deal until I finished up my time working in a District Attorney’s office and at that point I had pretty much had my feel of danger, mystery and intrigue! Somehow, having children also made me more wary of stories involving murder. And yes, The Sacred Cipher does have all of the above, however, it’s tastefully and well done (even though it’s more bloody than I’d like in parts)! I’ve seen this book compared to Brown’s DaVinci Code, but I haven’t read that so I cannot compare it for you at all.

This book opens up with theologian Charles Spurgeon locating an ancient scroll that is shrouded in mystery. The scroll itself then disappears for a hundred-ish years and makes its appearance again in New York City. A group of five guys are trying to decipher the scroll’s message and that proves difficult because it is written in an ancient and obscure (i.e., dead) language. It becomes obvious that there are others in the world who would wish the men not to discover the message of the scroll and their very lives, and the lives of their family, are put in danger.

The Sacred Cipher is spell binding. I would lump it more in the category of “clean read” rather than “Christian fiction” although it is that. I didn’t walk away with the impression that author Terry Brennan was trying to share the Bible with me (although that personally wouldn’t have bothered me if he had). One of my chief complaints about Christian fiction is that it is presented in such a squeaky clean manner that I find it hardly believable. Brennan does a good job talking about the Christian faith amidst bombings and gunfire. He has written believable characters, some with strong moral values and others who are around for comedic relief. Between the five guys trying to unlock the scroll’s mysteries, there is a nice balance. I’d recommend this book to just about anyone in a heart beat because it’s just clean, good fun. And yes, if they made a movie out of it, I would watch it.

This book is a winner and I know I’m not alone in saying so. Nor should I be. Brennan did his job well and deserves a little recognition for it.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.