Thanks to Black Rose Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for my honest review.

Unlike many, I was sorely disappointed in this book. The premise about a rare Biblical discovery was intriguing, as was the way the author shifted back and forth from present day to 90 AD to follow John Mark in his attempt to finalize what would be known as the Gospel of Mark. And for the first 30% of this book the story went OK, and then it hit a huge wall!!! Chapters that rambled, a plot that was easily figured out and all in all I felt more bored than excited by this book. Not for me, even though I have a huge interest in Biblical Archeology.

This is one of my favorite books of historical fiction. I learned a great deal about the early days of Christianity from this book, prompting me to conduct my own research about early Christianity. All of the historic information contained in The Last Page is consistent with what I have learned in my own studies. The sections that are clearly part of the novel and not part of history are also well designed and fit with the historical background. I really appreciated the character development of Mark, giving readers an insight to the challenges he faced while writing the Gospel and how he might have wrestled with decisions he had to make. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed The Lost Page. Stories along the lines of Da Vinci Code etc., are always a treat. This book is well researched and the plot lines well thought out. It bounces between the beginnings of Christianity and today, with just enough truth woven into the fictional story. A great read.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion in this review is solely my own.

I loved this book with it’s unique combination of past and present. A religious topic without being preachy.

When archaeologist Chris Jordan is recalled from a dig in the Americas by his old me tor in Scotland, he never imagines he has ready been signed up for a trip to Syria to track down a missing page from one of the synoptic gospels of the New Testament. They already have the rough draft of the original writer's unfinished texts. But what will the missing element reveal to the world about Christianity?

Accompanying him is scholar Kate Ferguson, a widow, where Chris Jordan is divorced.

The story follows in tandem with that of Mark as he tries to find a suitable place to write up a fair copy of his experiences. He finds a female companion too, Miriam, the daughter of Peter. Time is running out for them, as the Romans are looking for followers of this subversive new sect.

So, romance is slowly-but-surely rearing its head, as the one party seeks to unearth what was written a whole millennium before. What the latter are planning to do in smuggling this precious document out of Syria is of course theft too, but then, as with Mark, they are spurred on by a higher mission.
the nature of the resurrection itself. Mark is keen to bear witness to the miracles he witnessed, whilst insisting on the importance of faith, as he continues to seek those who did meet a resurrected Jesus. Interesting, Mark never has anything to say about the kind of person the human Jesus he ate and worked and slept alongside.

In other words, this novel adheres to the idea that Christianity truly was a unique evolutionary step, because the resurrection was bodily, not literal. In this respect, this book is in part a polemic against Gnostics, or for whatever other elements may undermine the purity of the original message. Perhaps more simply, the writer wishes to convey the idea that faith and spiritual truths don't come as part of a gimmick - the writer does convey his own wisdom there.

There is no real violence or confrontation, but enough nail-biting suspense where Chris and Kate have to deal with officials and other bodies as they negotiate a hostile country and terrain.

Overall, The Lost Page will be a treat for Christians of any stripe most of all, whether or not there is any credence to any rumours of Mark having written any further, more mystical tracts. This writer still prefers the meat-and-potatoes approach to the business of keeping the faith. Other readers may enjoy it for the low-key thriller it is, with its elements of restrained romance.

After reading the synopsis I expected something else to be honest. Archaeologist Christopher Jordan and ancient manuscript expert Kathryn Ferguson are brought together by famed New Testament scholar Andrew Stewart of Edinburgh, Scotland. On a research expedition to Maaloula, Syria, Stewart stumbles across an ancient scroll,
Okay, maybe I only saw expedition, Archaeologist and ancient manuscript.
While I was in for an Indiana Jones ride something else was revealing. New Testament times!
To me it was more of an education on faith, but only in the beginning. Further in the book I started to get interested in the story because of the history I was not familiar with at all. The weaving of the past and present is well done. I love a well done alternate between past and present.
The Lost Page is “must read” for any evangelical, traditional, or progressive Christian who bases their faith on Biblical accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and teachings. For non believers I would not immediately recommend it.

Book is about archeologists who find the originally written gospel of Mark. The archeologists find a copy of the gospel and work out where the original may be hidden. They travel to Syria and discover the original gospel in Mark's handwriting.

Was skeptical starting this book as it felt a little forced. Morris did an impressive job blending enough pieces of the puzzle to draw me in and finish this in basically a sitting.

While the characters lacked some depth and the plot was very straight forward it was still an enjoyable read

I was unable to read this book on my mobile.

Not sure what happened with it


This isnt the first time

The Lost Page is a thrill ride between the ages, between the time of the foundation of Christianity and modern day research of the beginnings. The very well written book sucks the reader in to both eras and leave the reader wanting more. One of those books that has been read way too fast and awakes the wish for a continuation.

A very enjoyable book. The story parallels 2 archaeologists in the 21st century in search of the missing ending to Mark's gospel in worn torn Syria, to Mark fleeing the Romans in Syria while he writes the end of the gospel. It's fast paced and doesn't get bogged down in too much theology. The characters do discuss whether the resurrection was physical or spiritual but it is not preachy and is an important part of the characters. I'm an atheist and read the book as an Indiana Jones style adventure and thoroughly enjoyed it.. Great story telling.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.