A gripping thriller and a profound spiritual journey that reveals the greatest story never told!
Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the rocky foothills of the French Pyrenees, a gospel that contained her own version of the events and characters of the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, these sacred scrolls could be uncovered only by a special seeker, one who fulfills the ancient prophecy of l'attendue—The Expected One.
When journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so secret, so revolutionary, that thousands of people have killed and died for it. She becomes deeply immersed in the mystical cultures of southwest France as the eerie prophecy of The Expected One casts a shadow over her life and work and a long-buried family secret comes to light. Ultimately she comes face-to-face with Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Judas, and Salome in the pages of a deeply moving and powerful new gospel, the life of Jesus as told by Mary Magdalene.
CONTAINS NEW, UNPUBLISHED MATERIAL FROM THE ARQUES GOSPEL.
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"Compelling tale of life of Jesus & Mary Magdalene, leading up to and after the crucifixion and of the Magdalene continuing the teachings. The book weaves the story lines of present day descendants with those of Jesus and Mary, and what they deal with in keeping the teachings alive against all odds."
— Donna (5 out of 5 stars)
“Highly provocative, with plenty of what-ifs in the history of early Christianity…Keenly imaginative.”
— USA Today“Riveting.”
— People“A tour de force…Profoundly moving…Full of love and pathos.”
— San Antonio Express-News“Sure to be a big summer hit…Highly recommended.”
— Library JournalCaptivating . . . controversial . . . enchanting . . . courageous . . . Kathleen McGowan delivers the truth against the world!
— Betsy Chasse, producer, What The Bleep Do We Know?It took a tremendous amount of courage to write this book. . . . Its portrayal of biblical characters is hauntingly, disturbingly real. I will be forever grateful to Kathleen McGowan for giving me a huge push forward on my spiritual journey by opening me up to a deeper vision of the Divine.
— Reverend Jeffrey J. Bütz, author of The Brother of Jesus and The Lost Teachings of Christianity" This is not the type of book I usually read/listen to, but I was drawn into the story immediately and carved out as much listening time as I could get in. I am looking forward to moving onto the next book in the series -- The Book of Love. I am a fan! "
— Sue, 6/6/2018" Actually, my rating should be about 3 1/2 stars. Interesting premise and good research behind the story. A tad predictable, sort of Da Vinci Code"ish. And if the author doesn't know how to spell words in French, she shouldn't throw the French phrase in! "
— Linconter, 2/19/2014" One of my top fave books this year. I thoroughly enjoyed this book for both the history and the fiction. "
— Debby, 2/15/2014" I read this because I adore religious conspiracy theories, but this was just meh. "
— Danielle, 2/12/2014" It took me awhile to get going on this book, but it got better and better. A little mystery, romance and spirituality. "
— Sandy, 2/4/2014" The first in her series of books regarding Mary Magdalene. Surprised to find that the story is based on undisclosed facts the author will not reveal - hence this is a work fiction. There are more books to come "
— Maura, 1/29/2014" This book was recommended to me as a friend and I loved it! Could not put it down. I am not particularly religious but found myself questioning my beliefs after reading this book. It is beautifully written and very, very interesting. "
— Dot, 1/19/2014" If you enjoyed The DaVinci code, you'll probably like this novel too. "
— Lianne, 1/9/2014" Very intriguing and fast paced...kind of makes you question what you know about history. "
— Jen, 12/3/2013" Not exactly unreadable, but close. A potentially interesting plot is made silly through (bad) plotting. Poorly written. One of those books that means to be intricate and clever, but is confusing and irritating instead. "
— John, 11/21/2013" Another author climbing aboard the the Da Vinci Code band waggon, this book carries on the theme of The Bloodline. Nothing new here. It is a bit predictable, never the less an entertaining read. "
— Robyn, 8/31/2013" This is a really interesting work of historical fiction based on Mary Magdalene.It was intriguing.... "
— Angela, 8/1/2013" Not my usual kind of book .. and I am not sure how it ended up on my library list .. that said, I did learn some interesting things. I googled many of the art referenced and got to see some great famous paintings that I was not familiar with .. "
— Denise, 7/4/2013" Such an interesting perspective on Mary Magdeline, her life and relationship to Jesus "
— Dariece, 6/26/2013" Really interesting. Have read others in this genre and really enjoyed the book. "
— Beth, 4/18/2013" riding the wave of hype and dan brown trends. "
— Emma, 4/3/2013" This book had too much. There were too many characters; too many plots; too many different settings. The female lead is just a victim of genetics & circumstances, not a heroine. Dan Brown has nothing to worry about. "
— Colleen, 9/19/2012" Interesting premise and storyline but this one didn't catch my interest enough to stay with it. "
— Laurie, 7/19/2012" If you liked Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code, you will love this. You can't put it down! "
— Chex, 6/25/2012" An interesting story on the life of Mary Magdeline and her relationship with Jesus and as a disciple. This is the first book in a trilogy. I am intrigued enough that I plan to read the next two books. "
— Pam, 6/23/2012" i learned to see anything from the other side "
— Nanaku, 6/9/2012" Not to bad. It had a slow start but it picked up a bit of a thriller too. "
— Jennfier, 11/30/2011" I loved this book. Regardless of the controversy surrounding Mary Magdalene's role in the life of Christ, His story, as depicted by the author through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, was in no way compromised. Thought provoking and a page turner. "
— Tracie, 10/22/2011" Another Da Vinci Code like book. This one focuses much more on the religion though. I believe it is the first in a series of books. One strange aspect, though, is that the author truly believes in everything she has written. "
— Moira, 8/19/2011" Just another in a long line of Divici Code-like books. I actually can't decide if I liked it or not. "
— Bekah, 7/17/2011" I thoroughly enjoyed these books. I Love novels in historical settings. The chapter that pertained to the week of the crucifixion of Jesus was very moving! "
— Delene, 7/2/2011" Similar to The Eight by Katharine Neville. Check it out. Now there is a sequel out called "The book of love". "
— Audrey, 4/22/2011" Possible the only genre worse than pseudo-historical fiction is pseudo-religious-historical fiction, in particular anything centering about the life of Joshua of Nazareth (The Christ). This book gets a 2 only because it is very well written. "
— Ryan, 4/21/2011" I loved The DaVinci Code. This book is better, much better. "
— faeriecrone, 4/20/2011" Not nearly as good as it could have been. The writing was rather wooden and the characters didn't come alive. "
— Jeanne, 4/18/2011" I enjoyed this book tremendously -- tho written as fiction, there are many things that rang true for me.. it's about a journalist who is drawn into the Mary Magdalene legends. I'm looking forward to McGowan's next book. "
— Angelica, 3/22/2011" I love any book that celebrates red heads and mythology or religion. Add to that McGowan's ability to move seamlessly from current day to ancient times and you've got a real treat. Don't forget mystery, intrigue and romance. A great (quick) read from start to finish. "
— Angela, 3/15/2011" Wow - what an intriguing new perspective on the Origins of Jesus and Mary... "
— Claire, 3/9/2011" I was really excited about this book as I am interested in the role of women in the Christian, especially Catholic faith. It reminds me of the fast pace and excitement of the Dan Brown books. Knowing it was the first in a trilogy, I looked forward to the sequels. uh oh. "
— Shari, 3/7/2011" The Expected One is a novel for all women. Women that was misunderstood, like Mary Magdalene. This novel have similarities with The Da Vinci Code. But I find it less offending when it comes to religious aspects. "
— Louis, 3/6/2011" I thoroughly enjoyed these books. I Love novels in historical settings. The chapter that pertained to the week of the crucifixion of Jesus was very moving! "
— Delene, 2/4/2011Kathleen McGowan’s books have developed an international cult following since her debut novel, The Expected One. Her unique style of historical fiction combines unprecedented field research with inspired storytelling. She is also a dedicated activist, and commits a portion of her time and royalties to organizations that protect women and children from the horrors of human trafficking and sexual slavery. She has teamed up with the Emancipation Network and Made by Survivors to fund and participate in programs which provide shelter and safety for victims of abuse and raise awareness of this global epidemic. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and sons.
Linda Emond is an award-winning actress of stage, film, television, and audiobook narration. Her performances on Broadway earned her nominations for the Tony Award in 2003 and 2012 and for the Drama Desk Award in 1997 and 2002. She was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award for her roles in plays at theaters in Chicago. Her film credits include roles in Julie & Julia, Dark Water, and Across the Universe, among others. Her television credits include such series as Elementary, The Good Wife, and Law & Order: SVU, as well as movies such as A Dog Named Christmas. She has narrated dozens of audiobooks, winning four Earphones Awards and being named a finalist four times for the prestigious Audie Award. In 2011 she was named by AudioFile magazine as a Best Voice in Mystery & Suspense for her reading of Flash and Bones.
Linda Stephens is a seasoned audiobook narrator whose readings include Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, which won an AudioFile Earphones Award and was a finalist for the Audie Award for Best Narration.