The Rebel Christian is always on the lookout for great Christian fiction. Bringing good quality entertainment to the Body of Christ is my passion but this week I’ve been lost for words. I had mixed feelings when Westlund first presented his novel to me and after reading through it, I’m still not sure how I feel about it.

First, let me give you a run down of the story. Stolen Shroud is a mix of literary fiction and action thriller—its actually a really good combination and works well with the style of narration. Readers follow Mark, our snarky protagonist who has a hard time grasping the truth, whether its believing in the Word of God or believing there are super powered terrorists interested in the shroud as much as he is.

The story is told from Mark’s point of view and is full of intelligence and wit. The action hits the ground running and doesn’t stop until the very end—that’s the kind of thriller I like to read! Watch as Mark chases after the shroud, hitting bumps and dodging enemies as he comes face to face with his faith and fears. What’s so important about this mysterious shroud and how does it tie into the recovered bones of Christ Jesus? Westlund pulls you into this adventure on page one, before you know it, you’ll be searching for a sequel.

Now, I liked the writing in this book. It was very good and pulled you in right away; I think Westlund could have benefitted from a second read-through with an editor, but the quality of writing was excellent. The action and the fantasy elements were thrilling but it sometimes felt like I was reading through a comic book instead of a novel because of the way Westlund said things like crash! or thud! and even whack! Maybe it will work for some, but it wasn’t my cup of tea as far as action sequences go.

I thought it was smart to tell the story from Mark’s POV, but it was also like a double-edged sword in the fact that I didn’t like Mark at all. Most protagonists these days are just like Mark: quick-witted, snarky, and very unlikeable. I don’t know what’s up with Tony Stark remakes in action thrillers, but I am very tired of the super smart, super witty, super annoying male protagonists that keep getting dumped into my lap. Maybe that was attractive in, like, 2009, but ten years later I’ve moved on. It also didn’t help that Mark cursed more than I would have liked. I’m an adult, I can handle foul language when I need to, but I don’t like seeing it in “Christian” writing. You can tell an interesting and believable story from the perspective of a character who is unsaved or has lost their faith without including curse words. I prefer cleaner writing, but to each their own. Again, I didn’t see major curse words and the foul language wasn’t every other word, but it was enough for me to mention it here as a warning to other readers.

The last thing I did not enjoy about the story was a huge part of the plot; the mystery surrounding the confirmed bones of Christ Jesus. As a Christian, I know Christ was resurrected after He was crucified, that means there are no bones to be left behind and discovered centuries later. If some scientist locates the remains of Christ does that means the resurrection never happened? And if the resurrection never happened, can we really call Christ the Son of God—our Savior?  

Now, I know this is fiction, so it isn’t meant to be taken in reference to the Bible as 100% truth. Authors are allowed a sense of creative expression—even when they are writing from a religious perspective. But I think there is a thin line between creative expression and misrepresentation. While I certainly enjoyed the story and I believe Westlund only took advantage of his creative ability with the upmost respect to the Christian faith, I must admit, despite the story being purely fiction, I did not like some of the concepts explored in the plot.

All that being said, Stolen Shroud was not my cup of tea, but it certainly has charming elements any reader will enjoy. Christian and secular readers will fall for Mark’s unique charm and enjoy the adventurous ride as we fight our way to the truth. Each page is packed with intelligent writing and shocking creativity. I hope you give this book a chance.

*The Rebel Christian received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*