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Aiden Leonardo #1
The Secret of Heaven
Biblical clues reveal an ancient truth.
When Lazzaro de Medici is found dead, Professor of Biblical Studies Aiden Leonardo is the prime suspect. He must utilize his knowledge of Scripture to decipher an encrypted letter and find a Lost Bible dating back to the time of Christ. Pursued by the FBI, Chicago PD and a secret organization known only as The Group, Aiden races against the clock to expose the secret of heaven. For hidden within the text is an ancient truth about the most controversial message Jesus left to His disciples.
When Lazzaro de Medici is found dead, Professor of Biblical Studies Aiden Leonardo is the prime suspect. He must utilize his knowledge of Scripture to decipher an encrypted letter and find a Lost Bible dating back to the time of Christ. Pursued by the FBI, Chicago PD and a secret organization known only as The Group, Aiden races against the clock to expose the secret of heaven. For hidden within the text is an ancient truth about the most controversial message Jesus left to His disciples.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2016
About the author
Felix Alexander
18 books148 followersFelix Alexander (1976-Present) is a Mexican-born, American-raised novelist and poet of Spanish, Mexican, and Puerto Rican descent.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include:
* Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems (Forever Poetic series #1)
* The Romantic: A Love Story (Forever Poetic series #2)
* Romantic Musings (Forever Poetic series #3)
* The Book of Danielle (Forever Poetic series #4)
* Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin
* The Secret of Heaven (Book 1 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of Scripture (Book 2 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of God's Banker (Book 3 of the Aiden Leonardo series)
* The Last Valentine (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel)
* The Last Love Letter (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel, book 2)
* Her Punishment (Her Erotic Endeavors series #1)
* Her Awakening (Her Erotic Endeavors series #2)
* Her Seduction (Her Erotic Endeavors series #3)
* A Uniquely Portable Magic, An Order of the Scribes adventure
* Love Letters to Lora (a short story)
Being a third-generation military, after a grandfather and uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, Alexander is proud of his U.S. Army service and grateful for his experience.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself while serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling.
He currently lives in Chicago, IL—to be closer to his children—a son and daughter.
In the evenings, he journeys through the portals of his extensive personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing and pursues the scent of his muse.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include:
* Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems (Forever Poetic series #1)
* The Romantic: A Love Story (Forever Poetic series #2)
* Romantic Musings (Forever Poetic series #3)
* The Book of Danielle (Forever Poetic series #4)
* Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin
* The Secret of Heaven (Book 1 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of Scripture (Book 2 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of God's Banker (Book 3 of the Aiden Leonardo series)
* The Last Valentine (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel)
* The Last Love Letter (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel, book 2)
* Her Punishment (Her Erotic Endeavors series #1)
* Her Awakening (Her Erotic Endeavors series #2)
* Her Seduction (Her Erotic Endeavors series #3)
* A Uniquely Portable Magic, An Order of the Scribes adventure
* Love Letters to Lora (a short story)
Being a third-generation military, after a grandfather and uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, Alexander is proud of his U.S. Army service and grateful for his experience.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself while serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling.
He currently lives in Chicago, IL—to be closer to his children—a son and daughter.
In the evenings, he journeys through the portals of his extensive personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing and pursues the scent of his muse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 11, 2016
I was given this book free in exchange for an honest review.
This book was written by Felix Alexander and is the first in the Aiden Leonardo series. This is a very fast paced book with a lot of action. I appreciate that as a reader because it doesn't give you opportunity to become bored. He also wraps his fiction around certain non-fiction entities and materials, so I found myself stopping often to look up things as the story was unfolding to learn more about their "real life" counterparts. There were many interesting details used in creating this story ~ Biblical history, ancient history, ancient languages, secret societies and all the intrigue that goes along with them - as well as the consequences of being involved in them.
I did find the number of characters difficult to keep up with at first. I also felt that the author took too long to allow the readers to be on a first name basis with many of the characters. Granted, two of them have the same last name and very similar first names so I assume that is the reason. But page after page of having their entire names spelled out each time the story referred to them was distracting and made for an uncomfortable reading experience. When we were finally able to refer to them with just their first name though, it was smooth sailing from there on.
I won't give any spoilers, but I will say that I enjoyed the adventure of this story and the pace at which it progressed. Once you step in, you're in for a bit of a wild ride, so hang on tight.
This book was written by Felix Alexander and is the first in the Aiden Leonardo series. This is a very fast paced book with a lot of action. I appreciate that as a reader because it doesn't give you opportunity to become bored. He also wraps his fiction around certain non-fiction entities and materials, so I found myself stopping often to look up things as the story was unfolding to learn more about their "real life" counterparts. There were many interesting details used in creating this story ~ Biblical history, ancient history, ancient languages, secret societies and all the intrigue that goes along with them - as well as the consequences of being involved in them.
I did find the number of characters difficult to keep up with at first. I also felt that the author took too long to allow the readers to be on a first name basis with many of the characters. Granted, two of them have the same last name and very similar first names so I assume that is the reason. But page after page of having their entire names spelled out each time the story referred to them was distracting and made for an uncomfortable reading experience. When we were finally able to refer to them with just their first name though, it was smooth sailing from there on.
I won't give any spoilers, but I will say that I enjoyed the adventure of this story and the pace at which it progressed. Once you step in, you're in for a bit of a wild ride, so hang on tight.
May 23, 2016
*Ebook copy for free by booktasters in exchange for an honest review*
This book came to me as a surprise. I have not read a book of this genre before, so I did not know exactly what to expect. The plot caught me from the beginning because religion has always been a very controversial topic and, believer or not, the fact is that it has a lot of material to work with.
With that said, I will start the review.
"The Secret of Heaven" tells the story of Aiden Leonardo who, after the death of his mentor and friend Lazzaro, is involved in the search of the Lost Bible. With everyone chasing after him, Aiden will have to find this mysterious object that, legend says, contains a secret capable of destroying the world order because it reveals the truth about religion.
It is a book very light. At first, at least in the first hundred pages, it is a bit difficult to follow because it doesn’t hook completely. You do not understand very well who is Aiden or what happens, you just know he is in danger and should run. However, when you pass that part, the situation begins to reveal and the book involves you in an incredible way to the point that you can finish it in two or even one day.
Yes, I will not deny that it can become somehow heavy and dense. There are many elements and religious stories told in almost every page and can be quite complex to understand all the information without having to read it twice. However, among all, I think the plot keeps you intrigued enough to obviate this.
Despite all this, I could not identify with any character. I found them very flat with cero development. Each has a specific role, which works for the book and the plot, but I don’t think readers can connect with hem. There’s some information but basically nothing is known of them, not even of the main character (except of the big secret revealed at the end). The names can be changed and there would be no difference at all because nothing distinguishes them.
3 stars because certainly you're going to enjoy “The Secret of Heaven” if you like this kind of books. Maybe the characters are not well developed but the plot is interesting, the ideas raised in the book are quite attractive, and I will certainly continue it.
___________________________________________
*copia virtual gratis provista por booktasters en cambio de una reseña honesta*
Este libro llegó a mí como una sorpresa. No he leído un libro de este género antes, así que no sabía exactamente qué esperar. La trama me captó desde un primer momento porque la religión siempre ha sido un tema bastante controversial y, seas creyente o no, lo cierto es que posee mucho material con el cual el autor puede trabajar.
Con eso dicho, empezaré la reseña.
“The secret of heaven” relata la historia de Aiden Leonardo quien, después de la muerte de su mentor y amigo Lazzaro, se involucra en la búsqueda de una biblia pérdida. Con todo el mundo persiguiéndolo, Aiden tendrá que encontrar este misterioso objeto que, se dice, contiene un secreto capaz de destruir el orden mundial al revelar la verdad sobre la religión.
Es un libro muy rápido de leer. Al principio, al menos en las primeras cien hojas, resulta un poco difícil de seguir porque no te logra enganchar por completo. No entiendes muy bien quién es Aiden o qué sucede, solo sabes que está en peligro y que debe correr. No obstante, cuando pasas esa parte y la situación se empieza a revelar, el libro te absorbe de una manera increíble al punto de poder terminarlo en dos o incluso un día.
Sí, no voy a negar que “The secret of heaven” se puede volver pesado y denso. Existen muchos elementos e historias religiosas que se cuentan en casi todas las páginas y puede ser bastante difícil registrar toda la información sin tener que volver a leerla dos veces. No obstante, entre todo, creo que la trama te mantiene lo completamente intrigado como para obviar este detalle.
A pesar de todo lo anterior, no logré identificarme con ningún personaje. Me parecieron muy planos y sin desarrollo alguno. Cada uno cumple con un rol en específico, lo cual funciona, pero no logras conectar con ninguno. Si bien existen algunos datos que logran diferenciarlos, prácticamente no se sabe nada de ellos, ni siquiera del protagonista, salvo por el gran secreto al final. Bien podrían cambiar los nombres y no habría cambio alguno, ya que no hay nada que los distinga.
Doy 3 estrellas porque sin duda te vas a entretener si te gustan esta clase de libros. Puede que los personajes no estén bien desarrollados, pero la trama es interesante, las ideas que plantea el libro son bastante atrayentes, y sin duda voy a continuarla.
April 4, 2016
"Think of the greatest ideas that have changed the world...Each survived the deaths of the men behind the movements, proving that with profound knowledge comes great sacrifice.” - Barceló
If you like conspiracy theories, secret societies, fast pace and non-stop action plot, or simply a fan of novels that unfolds like a movie, you're likely to enjoy The Secret to Heaven. The story kept me reading to find out the secret of the lost Bible. Once I got past the multitude of characters and changing perspectives (which was a little disorientating for me), I found the biblical references intriguing and the writer's representation of today's society thought provoking. While reading, I think it's important to remember that the story is a work of fiction, religious views expressed by the characters should not to be taken literally. The story is about the hunt for the lost Bible, which holds a secret so great that people would kill or die to protect or expose it. The story references different religious texts and looks at humanity's struggle between truth and power. There is also familiar character-types e.g. the cool professor, knowledgable reporter, hateful but powerful magistrate, sassy female characters, corrupt detective wanting redemption and geeky funny sidekick, all with different motives. It's a plot-driven first novel, I look forward to a more in depth exploration of the secret and further character development in subsequent novels.
Other interesting quotes:
“To understand life, one must know the consequence of death.”
“No creature possesses a greater capacity for deception than humanity, professor.”
Philosophers have argued for centuries that humans invented gods, and in line with that thinking, it stands to reason that humans invented demons and the Devil.”
“To what end?” Marquez finally spoke.
“To blame someone else for their imperfections.”
If you like conspiracy theories, secret societies, fast pace and non-stop action plot, or simply a fan of novels that unfolds like a movie, you're likely to enjoy The Secret to Heaven. The story kept me reading to find out the secret of the lost Bible. Once I got past the multitude of characters and changing perspectives (which was a little disorientating for me), I found the biblical references intriguing and the writer's representation of today's society thought provoking. While reading, I think it's important to remember that the story is a work of fiction, religious views expressed by the characters should not to be taken literally. The story is about the hunt for the lost Bible, which holds a secret so great that people would kill or die to protect or expose it. The story references different religious texts and looks at humanity's struggle between truth and power. There is also familiar character-types e.g. the cool professor, knowledgable reporter, hateful but powerful magistrate, sassy female characters, corrupt detective wanting redemption and geeky funny sidekick, all with different motives. It's a plot-driven first novel, I look forward to a more in depth exploration of the secret and further character development in subsequent novels.
Other interesting quotes:
“To understand life, one must know the consequence of death.”
“No creature possesses a greater capacity for deception than humanity, professor.”
Philosophers have argued for centuries that humans invented gods, and in line with that thinking, it stands to reason that humans invented demons and the Devil.”
“To what end?” Marquez finally spoke.
“To blame someone else for their imperfections.”
April 2, 2016
Professor of Biblical Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago Aiden Leonardo has arrived at the home of the man who has always treated him as a son to find disgraced, investment banker Lazzaro de Medici, dying. Before he dies, he gives Aiden an encrypted letter concerning a lost Bible.
He needs to follow the clues and find this last message that Christ left his disciples. The secret of Heaven. But he isn't the only one looking. The Group, a shady group at best, is looking to destroy that very secret and the lost Bible.
Running from the Chicago PD and The Group, Aiden isn't sure who to trust. With the aid of his fiancé Dr. Miriam Levin—a cultural anthropologist and a professor of historical archaeology along with their friend Nagi, a philologist, religious historian and an eccentric cryptographer, Aiden soon realizes the Lost Bible was written by the only disciple who walked with Jesus and had his gospel omitted from Scripture.
Lazzaro's own son is working but with who? Aiden or The Group? Nothing is what it seems and no one is who they say they are. It's a wonderful puzzle we get to unravel with Aiden and Miriam and Nagi, who was one of my favorite characters in the book!
The action starts on page one and doesn't let up. It may be a work of Fiction, but a lot of it resonated with me, so much so that I kept saying out loud, "That's exactly what I thought"!
The characters are all well developed and complex, as is the subject matter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much so that I read it all in one sitting and then had to call a friend to tell him about it! I'm really glad this is only Book 1 in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
He needs to follow the clues and find this last message that Christ left his disciples. The secret of Heaven. But he isn't the only one looking. The Group, a shady group at best, is looking to destroy that very secret and the lost Bible.
Running from the Chicago PD and The Group, Aiden isn't sure who to trust. With the aid of his fiancé Dr. Miriam Levin—a cultural anthropologist and a professor of historical archaeology along with their friend Nagi, a philologist, religious historian and an eccentric cryptographer, Aiden soon realizes the Lost Bible was written by the only disciple who walked with Jesus and had his gospel omitted from Scripture.
Lazzaro's own son is working but with who? Aiden or The Group? Nothing is what it seems and no one is who they say they are. It's a wonderful puzzle we get to unravel with Aiden and Miriam and Nagi, who was one of my favorite characters in the book!
The action starts on page one and doesn't let up. It may be a work of Fiction, but a lot of it resonated with me, so much so that I kept saying out loud, "That's exactly what I thought"!
The characters are all well developed and complex, as is the subject matter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much so that I read it all in one sitting and then had to call a friend to tell him about it! I'm really glad this is only Book 1 in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2017
Finished reading: August 22nd 2017
"The truth must be understood. Not solely for the purpose of being accepted, but for humanity as a whole to achieve enlightenment."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
May 3, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive an e-book copy of The Secret of Heaven direct from the author Felix Alexander in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Professor Aiden Leonardo and him trying to deal with the aftermath of his best friend's death and trying to work out why he died. I don't want to say to much about the actual story because there are lots of twists and turns and reveals and I really don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I do want to say how well written the book is and how intelligent the story is. The writing flows beautifully and though a lot of language is used that you wouldn't come across often in your day to day life, it works within the confines of the story.
The Secret of Heaven is definitely more of a plot driven book and some of the characters do become a little muddled as they have no defining personality. Hopefully going forward in the series, there will be some more character development as there are some hints at really interesting back stories that I would certainly like to learn about. There is plenty of action in the mean time to keep you going and the story is very fast paced so you don't have too much time to miss the characters.
My only real problem with the book was that I genuinely think I've missed the significance of the big reveal and outcome. I just don't see how it could really affect anything, but that may very well be a problem with me rather than the book. I think I got lost in the understanding of the meaning of a lot of the bible quotes and what they would mean in context with everything else going on. This doesn't change the fact that I enjoyed reading the book, it just means that I probably missed out on the shocked feeling you should have when things are all put together.
Overall I did enjoy the book and it was certainly a fast and easy read, so I would definitely recommend this to people. In particular people who are fans of Dan Brown (there's even mention of a Professor Langdon) or conspiracy theories and secret societies.
This review was originally posted on my blog http://lifeofanerdishmum.blogspot.co.uk/
The story follows Professor Aiden Leonardo and him trying to deal with the aftermath of his best friend's death and trying to work out why he died. I don't want to say to much about the actual story because there are lots of twists and turns and reveals and I really don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I do want to say how well written the book is and how intelligent the story is. The writing flows beautifully and though a lot of language is used that you wouldn't come across often in your day to day life, it works within the confines of the story.
The Secret of Heaven is definitely more of a plot driven book and some of the characters do become a little muddled as they have no defining personality. Hopefully going forward in the series, there will be some more character development as there are some hints at really interesting back stories that I would certainly like to learn about. There is plenty of action in the mean time to keep you going and the story is very fast paced so you don't have too much time to miss the characters.
My only real problem with the book was that I genuinely think I've missed the significance of the big reveal and outcome. I just don't see how it could really affect anything, but that may very well be a problem with me rather than the book. I think I got lost in the understanding of the meaning of a lot of the bible quotes and what they would mean in context with everything else going on. This doesn't change the fact that I enjoyed reading the book, it just means that I probably missed out on the shocked feeling you should have when things are all put together.
Overall I did enjoy the book and it was certainly a fast and easy read, so I would definitely recommend this to people. In particular people who are fans of Dan Brown (there's even mention of a Professor Langdon) or conspiracy theories and secret societies.
This review was originally posted on my blog http://lifeofanerdishmum.blogspot.co.uk/
July 2, 2016
This book had me from the very first page! It is full of mystery, history, suspense, and conspiracies. I had a little trouble at first keeping the characters separated, but as the story goes on it is a lot easier to keep them sorted. I love that it had me constantly guessing who could and could not be trusted. Being a person with a great interest in history (and an archaeologist in training) I really appreciated the research. The main character (Aiden) is totally likable. My most favorite part about this book is that it does not come right out and tell you who the bad guy is. You have to take the bread crumbs you were given and put two and two together to reach a conclusion. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because 1) I couldn't put it down and 2) it made me have to use my thinker! :) If you are interested in historical mysteries, conspiracies, National Treasure, or Dan Brown novels then this book is definitely for you!
April 24, 2016
I got this book through booktasters (http://twitter.us12.list-manage.com/s...)
First of all thank you for letting me read the book. I really love that the book has from beginning till the end quite realistic dialogues. I do love more dialogue based books. In my honest opinion these days’ books have too much monologues. I think the author Felix Alexander will write amazing books in the future. I could see the author development in the book. He developed in his writing skills as well as in a structuring the story line.
For me honestly the beginning is very confusing. As a reader you like: what? Did is missed something?
It’s quite difficult to get into to book. After a while I connected somehow with Aiden. Before I don’t know his world seemed so off for me, because I was too new in his world.
I do think the changes in the book happen really fast that’s gets better at the end but for me the book is not very well explained or let’s say there could be more story in the book which could be more explained.
For me the book gets very clever (I do not say that very often because I Am usually...'how lame' ' why is everyone so stupid?'). Some moments were quite shockers to me and I love shockers. I do love conspiracies.
I do hate actually that the book has quite a cliché beginning and till the end I feel like in a bad Italian mafia movie from time to time. You could say that’s the charm of the book but the whole idea and the research in the book is in my opinion quite clever and well thought out so I can say the story should be more unique in the dialogues. I feel from time to time influence from other people (but that’s maybe just me).
As I first started this book I was: oh no please do not get lame like „the girl in the train" ( was a recent book I read and disliked so much I still have a trauma). But I would recommend the book if someone needs a quick read and wants to read something not that mainstream.
I don’t want to spoil the storyline, because I think if you write too much about it, it will spoil the whole book kinda. The book has not that many pages so I will not go too much into the storyline (I never do in my reviews, because I personally do not like to read such reviews):
But I want to write to book got very interesting to me as he lost something else. For me I was kinda surprised and the whole book got more interesting for me and I do love the professor and Nagi quite interesting characters.
But the sentences like: “It’s what Lazzaro wanted" is kinda cheesy .... such cheesy sentences are in this book from time to time.
English is not my mother tongue but I can definitely say if some sentences seem off or the Grammar is not that on point.
I think the author need to improvement on his writing skills. The dialogues are natural, but sometimes they are so cliché from the word choices it seems off to me. Also, I think he can improve in describing the storyline better and what happens more around his characters so you can connect a bit more and the more he writes out sentences he will improve in his writing skills. (My feeling)
I hope I was not that mean but I think I read worse books this year and I can say "the secret of heaven" is better than some bestsellers or hyped books these days. Maybe not with that well written out sentences and the vocabulary seems sometimes quite limited. All in all I enjoyed reading the book.
I want to thank the author for letting me read his book and the twitter account Booktasters.
First of all thank you for letting me read the book. I really love that the book has from beginning till the end quite realistic dialogues. I do love more dialogue based books. In my honest opinion these days’ books have too much monologues. I think the author Felix Alexander will write amazing books in the future. I could see the author development in the book. He developed in his writing skills as well as in a structuring the story line.
For me honestly the beginning is very confusing. As a reader you like: what? Did is missed something?
It’s quite difficult to get into to book. After a while I connected somehow with Aiden. Before I don’t know his world seemed so off for me, because I was too new in his world.
I do think the changes in the book happen really fast that’s gets better at the end but for me the book is not very well explained or let’s say there could be more story in the book which could be more explained.
For me the book gets very clever (I do not say that very often because I Am usually...'how lame' ' why is everyone so stupid?'). Some moments were quite shockers to me and I love shockers. I do love conspiracies.
I do hate actually that the book has quite a cliché beginning and till the end I feel like in a bad Italian mafia movie from time to time. You could say that’s the charm of the book but the whole idea and the research in the book is in my opinion quite clever and well thought out so I can say the story should be more unique in the dialogues. I feel from time to time influence from other people (but that’s maybe just me).
As I first started this book I was: oh no please do not get lame like „the girl in the train" ( was a recent book I read and disliked so much I still have a trauma). But I would recommend the book if someone needs a quick read and wants to read something not that mainstream.
I don’t want to spoil the storyline, because I think if you write too much about it, it will spoil the whole book kinda. The book has not that many pages so I will not go too much into the storyline (I never do in my reviews, because I personally do not like to read such reviews):
But I want to write to book got very interesting to me as he lost something else. For me I was kinda surprised and the whole book got more interesting for me and I do love the professor and Nagi quite interesting characters.
But the sentences like: “It’s what Lazzaro wanted" is kinda cheesy .... such cheesy sentences are in this book from time to time.
English is not my mother tongue but I can definitely say if some sentences seem off or the Grammar is not that on point.
I think the author need to improvement on his writing skills. The dialogues are natural, but sometimes they are so cliché from the word choices it seems off to me. Also, I think he can improve in describing the storyline better and what happens more around his characters so you can connect a bit more and the more he writes out sentences he will improve in his writing skills. (My feeling)
I hope I was not that mean but I think I read worse books this year and I can say "the secret of heaven" is better than some bestsellers or hyped books these days. Maybe not with that well written out sentences and the vocabulary seems sometimes quite limited. All in all I enjoyed reading the book.
I want to thank the author for letting me read his book and the twitter account Booktasters.
June 30, 2016
A world of the ultra-rich, ultra-intellectual, law enforcement of the highest caliber, secret societies and… Angels?
A murder, a chaotic scene, the pieces start to fall into place and you are hooked. This is a well crafted adventure full of factual information on ancient texts, law enforcement techniques, the city of Chicago and… Angels? It gets somewhat weighty in all the scriptural references and puts forth an argument that may not sit well with a traditional Christian who does not wish to hear contradictory perspectives.
There is a search for “The Lost Bible”, which is not actual lost but stolen. The gospel of Barnabas does exist. The dilemma; its wide spread propagation and the threat that its propagation supposedly holds. Of course encrypted messages and invisible ink are involved. Lots of twists and turns with a steady unraveling of what each character is up to. Things are not as they appear.
I found this educational. The historic reality of the debate over ‘Jesus as God’vs. ‘Jesus as man’ is convincingly conveyed as the origins of the vicious conflict between Christianity and Islam. I enjoy such intellectual investigations into these topics. Then my mind was really blown when, looking at the title again, I realized that this is the first in a series. Wow! Where to next?
If you enjoy this intellectual train of thought, learning more about biblical and religious history with a peppering of the philosophers and spirituality (Angels?) then this may be the book, the series, for you.
Why four stars? This is no work of literature. Some may call it formulaic. Too many typos in the back end of the story. The characters ‘purse their lips’ far too often, to the point of becoming annoying. I found many of the secondary characters far more personable than the central characters and there was name confusion. Political correctness peeps out at the corners.
The ending makes a profound statement on the central characters as upstanding people but may have you asking, “Why didn‘t he…?”
A murder, a chaotic scene, the pieces start to fall into place and you are hooked. This is a well crafted adventure full of factual information on ancient texts, law enforcement techniques, the city of Chicago and… Angels? It gets somewhat weighty in all the scriptural references and puts forth an argument that may not sit well with a traditional Christian who does not wish to hear contradictory perspectives.
There is a search for “The Lost Bible”, which is not actual lost but stolen. The gospel of Barnabas does exist. The dilemma; its wide spread propagation and the threat that its propagation supposedly holds. Of course encrypted messages and invisible ink are involved. Lots of twists and turns with a steady unraveling of what each character is up to. Things are not as they appear.
I found this educational. The historic reality of the debate over ‘Jesus as God’vs. ‘Jesus as man’ is convincingly conveyed as the origins of the vicious conflict between Christianity and Islam. I enjoy such intellectual investigations into these topics. Then my mind was really blown when, looking at the title again, I realized that this is the first in a series. Wow! Where to next?
If you enjoy this intellectual train of thought, learning more about biblical and religious history with a peppering of the philosophers and spirituality (Angels?) then this may be the book, the series, for you.
Why four stars? This is no work of literature. Some may call it formulaic. Too many typos in the back end of the story. The characters ‘purse their lips’ far too often, to the point of becoming annoying. I found many of the secondary characters far more personable than the central characters and there was name confusion. Political correctness peeps out at the corners.
The ending makes a profound statement on the central characters as upstanding people but may have you asking, “Why didn‘t he…?”
June 11, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for a detailed review.
This story is a tale of betrayal, intrigue, and action. It has great character development and surroundings descriptions. I've never been to Chicago or traveled abroad. The way Chicago is described (buildings, traffic, weather,etc) fits well and piqued my interest in Illinois.
I love strong female characters (especially ones that are written well) and was happy to find a few. Miriam and Susan can hold their own. Miriam is proficient in Wing Chun and smart. Susan is clever in her line of work. I feel like there is humor sprinkled through out the story. Scripture is mentioned as part of the story. Some authors use that too much or too little in their work. Felix Alexander didn't. I think every mention helped to form and advance the plot. It was refreshing and not overbearing or boring.
Proofreading is needed, I found some typos and sentence structure errors. Not a lot though. In my opinion the beginning, the middle, and the end were well written and entertaining. The Secret Of Heaven is book 1 in a series. I very much appreciated that the ending doesn't leave the reader frustrated. I like book series but don't like ones that end abruptly with out some sort of closure. That leaves the reader little choice between reading the next book or frustration. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
This story is a tale of betrayal, intrigue, and action. It has great character development and surroundings descriptions. I've never been to Chicago or traveled abroad. The way Chicago is described (buildings, traffic, weather,etc) fits well and piqued my interest in Illinois.
I love strong female characters (especially ones that are written well) and was happy to find a few. Miriam and Susan can hold their own. Miriam is proficient in Wing Chun and smart. Susan is clever in her line of work. I feel like there is humor sprinkled through out the story. Scripture is mentioned as part of the story. Some authors use that too much or too little in their work. Felix Alexander didn't. I think every mention helped to form and advance the plot. It was refreshing and not overbearing or boring.
Proofreading is needed, I found some typos and sentence structure errors. Not a lot though. In my opinion the beginning, the middle, and the end were well written and entertaining. The Secret Of Heaven is book 1 in a series. I very much appreciated that the ending doesn't leave the reader frustrated. I like book series but don't like ones that end abruptly with out some sort of closure. That leaves the reader little choice between reading the next book or frustration. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
June 16, 2016
I could not put it down. Seriously: Suspense is one of the books greatest traits. Intelligent entertainment is another ability the author has down to a fine art. I checked several times and found out that he knows his business. So…two out of three is not bad.
This leaves you with the one disappointment I couldn’t come to terms with: I just didn’t feel the protagonists… They stayed pretty much in the shadows like Sariel and Helel, two guys I would have loved to learn more about. Although the author described his characters fair and square they don’t have much personal traits like a special move they make or a phrase that is typical for them. His attitude with female characters on the other hand is just enjoyable. They are smart and skilful experts in what they do. Still, none of the protagonists ever does something dumb that makes them rather human then paper perfect.
Sometimes the story got crowded and I lost my ‘who is who’ but that might be me being impatient to figure out what’s going on. I’m not quite sure if I got the secret of heaven exactly. I’m not that deep into religious questions anymore because the answer seems to be simple (and it is what every sort of cult comes down to): Don’t be an arsehole!
Nonetheless, I bow my head before Mr. Alexander for the one sentence that made it all worth reading. It explains very plainly, why we all struggle more or less with not being an arsehole:
"It isn’t enough to present the truth. For the truth—in and of itself—isn’t enough,” Barceló said. “The truth must be understood. Not solely for the purpose of being accepted, but for humanity as a whole to achieve enlightenment.”
This leaves you with the one disappointment I couldn’t come to terms with: I just didn’t feel the protagonists… They stayed pretty much in the shadows like Sariel and Helel, two guys I would have loved to learn more about. Although the author described his characters fair and square they don’t have much personal traits like a special move they make or a phrase that is typical for them. His attitude with female characters on the other hand is just enjoyable. They are smart and skilful experts in what they do. Still, none of the protagonists ever does something dumb that makes them rather human then paper perfect.
Sometimes the story got crowded and I lost my ‘who is who’ but that might be me being impatient to figure out what’s going on. I’m not quite sure if I got the secret of heaven exactly. I’m not that deep into religious questions anymore because the answer seems to be simple (and it is what every sort of cult comes down to): Don’t be an arsehole!
Nonetheless, I bow my head before Mr. Alexander for the one sentence that made it all worth reading. It explains very plainly, why we all struggle more or less with not being an arsehole:
"It isn’t enough to present the truth. For the truth—in and of itself—isn’t enough,” Barceló said. “The truth must be understood. Not solely for the purpose of being accepted, but for humanity as a whole to achieve enlightenment.”
May 5, 2016
*Free copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
This is an interesting story full of conspiracy theories. What I liked most about this story was that it kept you guessing till the end as to what would happen. It is full of people double crossing each other for their own benefits and you just cannot trust one person. They’ll try to help you one moment and then try to kill you the next. So, yeah, a lot of betrayals. I love them!
The flow of the writing in this one is free and methodical. Nothing is out of place. The jumping points of view can be confusing and annoying, if not done well. But, that is not the case in this one. The way that the story is written, it’s pretty easy to understand what is happening when and which character is it focusing on.
It is a pretty well written piece of literature that you must definitely read!
The only thing that I didn’t like about it is the Dan Brown – esque feel that this story has. At many points, I felt that it was a Dan Brown novel and not someone else’s. The individuality of the author was lost at times and that was a definite negative point to this story.
Other than that, the portrayals, the reference and the characterization is done brilliantly. I love how all the Biblical references are made. All characters have a defined, unique voice in the narrative. The plot is amazing.
Long story short, if you are a fan of Dan Brown, particularly the Robert Langdon series, then Aiden Leonardo is the man for you!
This is an interesting story full of conspiracy theories. What I liked most about this story was that it kept you guessing till the end as to what would happen. It is full of people double crossing each other for their own benefits and you just cannot trust one person. They’ll try to help you one moment and then try to kill you the next. So, yeah, a lot of betrayals. I love them!
The flow of the writing in this one is free and methodical. Nothing is out of place. The jumping points of view can be confusing and annoying, if not done well. But, that is not the case in this one. The way that the story is written, it’s pretty easy to understand what is happening when and which character is it focusing on.
It is a pretty well written piece of literature that you must definitely read!
The only thing that I didn’t like about it is the Dan Brown – esque feel that this story has. At many points, I felt that it was a Dan Brown novel and not someone else’s. The individuality of the author was lost at times and that was a definite negative point to this story.
Other than that, the portrayals, the reference and the characterization is done brilliantly. I love how all the Biblical references are made. All characters have a defined, unique voice in the narrative. The plot is amazing.
Long story short, if you are a fan of Dan Brown, particularly the Robert Langdon series, then Aiden Leonardo is the man for you!
April 25, 2016
To read the entire review, please check out my blog, Better Call Your Bookie, here.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
Aiden Leonardo's life is wild. When his closest friend is murdered, he is tasked with finding the reason he is killed. This leads him (although he's clueless about almost all of it for 90% of the book) into a world of dangerous secrets. Not to mention secret societies; Alexander has attempted to pin some of the greatest acts of violence onto one specific group of people (think Illuminati) who have been guiding history for centuries. If you're into conspiracy theories, you'll enjoy this.
I have some issues with the characters and their development. For one, none of them talk like real people (except maybe Nagi). They're constantly using a wider vocabulary than exists in a normal person's lexicon. This renders many of them cold and without distinct personality. For two, there are so damn many of them; and many of them have such similar names. It was tricky to keep track of them.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
Aiden Leonardo's life is wild. When his closest friend is murdered, he is tasked with finding the reason he is killed. This leads him (although he's clueless about almost all of it for 90% of the book) into a world of dangerous secrets. Not to mention secret societies; Alexander has attempted to pin some of the greatest acts of violence onto one specific group of people (think Illuminati) who have been guiding history for centuries. If you're into conspiracy theories, you'll enjoy this.
I have some issues with the characters and their development. For one, none of them talk like real people (except maybe Nagi). They're constantly using a wider vocabulary than exists in a normal person's lexicon. This renders many of them cold and without distinct personality. For two, there are so damn many of them; and many of them have such similar names. It was tricky to keep track of them.
May 6, 2016
If you loved “The DaVinci Code” by Dan Brown, then “The Secret of Heaven” by Felix Alexander is a must-read. Along similar lines, Aiden Leonardo, a scholar of biblical studies, is implicated in a murder and thrust into an underworld of deep-rooted religious cults. I was a big fan of “The DaVinci Code,” and the similarities in plot line are what initially attracted me to “The Secret of Heaven.” While the story is entirely separate and different, I also appreciated that Alexander referred to Professor Langdon, the protagonist from “The DaVinci Code,” a couple of times throughout the book.
There was a lot of history and religion involved in this story, which at times seemed a little forced into the dialogue, but overall, Felix Alexander does a great job of capturing religious history and tying it into a modern-day thriller set in Chicago.
For my full review, please check out the blog post: https://thebookbasics.wordpress.com/2...
There was a lot of history and religion involved in this story, which at times seemed a little forced into the dialogue, but overall, Felix Alexander does a great job of capturing religious history and tying it into a modern-day thriller set in Chicago.
For my full review, please check out the blog post: https://thebookbasics.wordpress.com/2...
April 28, 2016
Excellent diversionary reading-edge of seat suspense.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Its hard to find books that capture your imagination and hold it these days but this one did. I kept thinking of the Characters and the story long after I had finished reading. I even went agoogle looking up the various "secrets of heaven". It had all the right elements of intrigue and it was also very much well researched and written which left me wondering if it was in fact fiction or really a subliminal exposition of " the truth" (don't you just love books that mess up your mind like that!) As a Christian I always like to keep abreast with all the latest conspiracy theories relating to the bible and biblical text and this book provided both aplenty. I think anyone who enjoyed reading the Da Vinci Code,loves history, art and literature in general- and of course mystery and suspense - will enjoy reading this book.
Happy reading!
I really enjoyed reading this book. Its hard to find books that capture your imagination and hold it these days but this one did. I kept thinking of the Characters and the story long after I had finished reading. I even went agoogle looking up the various "secrets of heaven". It had all the right elements of intrigue and it was also very much well researched and written which left me wondering if it was in fact fiction or really a subliminal exposition of " the truth" (don't you just love books that mess up your mind like that!) As a Christian I always like to keep abreast with all the latest conspiracy theories relating to the bible and biblical text and this book provided both aplenty. I think anyone who enjoyed reading the Da Vinci Code,loves history, art and literature in general- and of course mystery and suspense - will enjoy reading this book.
Happy reading!
June 28, 2016
What will possessing the secret cost?
I just finished the first book in the Aiden Leonardo series. This excellent book offers great characters and locations beautifully described throughout. The Secret of Heaven, a fascinating story of secrets and discoveries, involves smuggling of Biblical artifacts, murder, money, and of course power. All weaved together brilliantly by the talented writing skills of the author. I appreciate the extensive amount of Theological research and accuracy of scripture used in this great believable story. I found myself researching scripture myself as this DaVinci Code like intellectual story completely immersed me with its twists and turns. I must thank the author for indirectly and directly influencing my desire to discover ancient Biblical truths. A very well written book, with depth and dimension. The author's attention to detail and hard work are evident throughout. I am looking forward to another awesome journey by this gifted writer.
I just finished the first book in the Aiden Leonardo series. This excellent book offers great characters and locations beautifully described throughout. The Secret of Heaven, a fascinating story of secrets and discoveries, involves smuggling of Biblical artifacts, murder, money, and of course power. All weaved together brilliantly by the talented writing skills of the author. I appreciate the extensive amount of Theological research and accuracy of scripture used in this great believable story. I found myself researching scripture myself as this DaVinci Code like intellectual story completely immersed me with its twists and turns. I must thank the author for indirectly and directly influencing my desire to discover ancient Biblical truths. A very well written book, with depth and dimension. The author's attention to detail and hard work are evident throughout. I am looking forward to another awesome journey by this gifted writer.
May 8, 2016
Since I enjoy Dan Brown's novels, I decided to try this one. Throughout most of the book, it's unclear what characters are on the evil or good side, and this only becomes clear near the end of the book. Lorenzo de Medici can seem very calculating and abrupt at times. There were a lot of times when you're unsure of who is trustworthy and who's not. I also enjoyed reading about some of the advanced technology in this novel. Some of the information in this novel was a little confusing to follow. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review. For the Amazon review, go here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RZUJ...
April 28, 2016
One of the best books on mythology that I've read so far. While most other such books start out with boring descriptions and long histories, the author Felix Alexander has certainly skilfully weaved it together with an interesting storyline and great action.
Some characters were there who struck me as a little artificial, but Aiden captured my heart from the very beginning. He's portrayed in such a way that you can't help but sympathise with his worries and clap during his triumphs.
As this book's narrative is very graphic, I think a motion picture adaptation will be a blockbuster!
This is the first book of the author that I've read, but it won't be the last.
Some characters were there who struck me as a little artificial, but Aiden captured my heart from the very beginning. He's portrayed in such a way that you can't help but sympathise with his worries and clap during his triumphs.
As this book's narrative is very graphic, I think a motion picture adaptation will be a blockbuster!
This is the first book of the author that I've read, but it won't be the last.
January 2, 2023
This book seemed familiar, as though I've read it before, but a while ago.
The lost Gospel of Barnabas (who travelled round the known world at the time of Jesus and Paul) holds a truth that will shake the Roman Catholic church to its core, if the book were to be found and released to the general public.
Aiden Leonardo, a professor of theology, is told by his dying father, Lazzaro de Medici, to 'keep the secret of heaven', meaning that the Gospel was to be kept out of general circulation at all costs, to prevent it ruining Christianity and faith as they're known.
After several mishaps, getting assaulted and arrested, Aiden manages to keep his promise to Lazzaro.
The lost Gospel of Barnabas (who travelled round the known world at the time of Jesus and Paul) holds a truth that will shake the Roman Catholic church to its core, if the book were to be found and released to the general public.
Aiden Leonardo, a professor of theology, is told by his dying father, Lazzaro de Medici, to 'keep the secret of heaven', meaning that the Gospel was to be kept out of general circulation at all costs, to prevent it ruining Christianity and faith as they're known.
After several mishaps, getting assaulted and arrested, Aiden manages to keep his promise to Lazzaro.
May 23, 2016
The Secret of Heaven is a very enjoyable thriller, plenty of ingredients that make of it a very interesting reading.
With very well defined characters, the book involves mystery and suspense and betrayal, while takes the reader through the realms of religion and mythology, science and history, politics and crime, during the chase for a religious/mythical article with the involvement of mysterious characters, the Chicago Police Dept., the FBI and even some obscure organization.
(Read the complete review here: http://librosmario.blogspot.com.co/20...)
With very well defined characters, the book involves mystery and suspense and betrayal, while takes the reader through the realms of religion and mythology, science and history, politics and crime, during the chase for a religious/mythical article with the involvement of mysterious characters, the Chicago Police Dept., the FBI and even some obscure organization.
(Read the complete review here: http://librosmario.blogspot.com.co/20...)
April 21, 2016
Fantastic! I was given this book for free for an honest review and I could not have been more thrilled. The characters and storyline are engaging and kept me reading for hours at a time. The few minor grammatical errors are irrelevant when the story is so compelling. This is a must read for anyone who likes conspiracy theory and secret society novels. I will definitely be looking for more by Felix Alexander.
May 5, 2016
The Secret of Heaven follows Aiden, his fiancé Miriam as the search for the Lost Bible against the clock. Fast-paced and easy to read, this page turner will leave you wanting more.
And since this book one of a series, I can't wait to see how this story unfolds. There are plenty of interesting characters and layers to the story that are sure to make the next few books just as entertaining and exciting.
And since this book one of a series, I can't wait to see how this story unfolds. There are plenty of interesting characters and layers to the story that are sure to make the next few books just as entertaining and exciting.
April 14, 2016
High adventure, extremely well written, this story was a real pleasure to read and I will most certainly be looking for more from this author. If you are looking for a thriller to while away your weekend choose this one. I am pleased to have been offered a chance to read this book.
June 23, 2022
First off, two things that annoyed the holy hell out of me about this book is the author referring to the 1930s and 1940s as “The 30s and 40s.” Those decades weren’t even in the same century as us, let alone the same Millenium. 1949 was 70 years before this novel is set. People talk about the 1900s as if they were last week and it’s far past time people update their vernacular.
I’m knocking points off of this book for annoying writing. Green eyes in fiction have just becum just lazy writing for “pay attention to me”. Somebody wrote a blog post in 2012 pointing out this issue in fiction, meaning this has been an issue for over a decade. It’s lazy and uninspired. I highly doubt most people give random strangers eye colors a second thought in public, let alone bring it up constantly. Green-eyed people are rare, but that doesn’t make us a goddamn circus exhibit. That being said, at the very least, other characters’ eye colors were mentioned.
As for what I like about the book, literally everything else. It’s a thriller that’s actually thrilling. It’s rare, at least for me, where I’m actually listening to a thriller and hanging onto every word. It’s intense and exciting. I like how it weaves in actual historical fact with what appears to be a well-researched historical and religious myth. I think the world-building and secret society are very well done.
There was a bit of mystery involved, though I wasn’t trying to figure it out. I was just along for the ride. I was pleased with the reveals at the end and I’m excited for book 2.
The narration was a big ‘ol mixed bag. Everybody sounds (mostly) the same, I often had trouble telling who the hell was supposed to be speaking. The overall emoting was well done enough, but I got sick of the narrator constantly mispronouncing basic words. He doesn’t know the difference between O and 0. He kept saying things such as “5:O2”, hache, sawr, Fas-aide, Pry-us, Conquistators, etc. It was often that I had to guess what the hell word he was trying to say. There was a single instance I noted of repeated dialogue as well.
Overall, this is an easy “Read it!” from me, just get the physical or kindle version. The narration isn’t worth it.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
I’m knocking points off of this book for annoying writing. Green eyes in fiction have just becum just lazy writing for “pay attention to me”. Somebody wrote a blog post in 2012 pointing out this issue in fiction, meaning this has been an issue for over a decade. It’s lazy and uninspired. I highly doubt most people give random strangers eye colors a second thought in public, let alone bring it up constantly. Green-eyed people are rare, but that doesn’t make us a goddamn circus exhibit. That being said, at the very least, other characters’ eye colors were mentioned.
As for what I like about the book, literally everything else. It’s a thriller that’s actually thrilling. It’s rare, at least for me, where I’m actually listening to a thriller and hanging onto every word. It’s intense and exciting. I like how it weaves in actual historical fact with what appears to be a well-researched historical and religious myth. I think the world-building and secret society are very well done.
There was a bit of mystery involved, though I wasn’t trying to figure it out. I was just along for the ride. I was pleased with the reveals at the end and I’m excited for book 2.
The narration was a big ‘ol mixed bag. Everybody sounds (mostly) the same, I often had trouble telling who the hell was supposed to be speaking. The overall emoting was well done enough, but I got sick of the narrator constantly mispronouncing basic words. He doesn’t know the difference between O and 0. He kept saying things such as “5:O2”, hache, sawr, Fas-aide, Pry-us, Conquistators, etc. It was often that I had to guess what the hell word he was trying to say. There was a single instance I noted of repeated dialogue as well.
Overall, this is an easy “Read it!” from me, just get the physical or kindle version. The narration isn’t worth it.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
January 25, 2019
Aiden Leonardo, a professor of Biblical Studies is implicated in a murder inquiry and pushed into an underworld of deep-rooted religious cults after the death of his mentor and father, Lazzaro. Involved in the search of the Lost Bible, with various law enforcement agencies chasing after him, Aiden will have to find a hidden truth about Christianity, a secret that has the ability to destroy the world order
Weather you are a believer in the underlying religious implications or no, you will find this book entertaining and adventurous. The pace is fast, and though, there are too many secondary characters with changing perspectives and facing multitudes of situations, readers would find themselves hooked to the story. Constantly moving from place to place, holding readers’ attention from beginning to end, Felix Alexander is brilliant at picturing fine detail, allowing readers to use their imagination to visualize the events as they take place.
My only complaint is characterization; most of the characters, I found I didn’t care about. I understand it’s hard for author to give due attention to every single character when the plot is extremely fast-paced, but the protagonists deserved a bit more attention. This is the first book in Aiden Leonardo series, so I’m sure there will be plenty of scope for growth for all the major characters. Other than that it is interesting story.
While the book is a work of fiction, Felix Alexander has done a thorough research to ensure that his explanations and depictions of ancient theology are as accurate as possible. Some readers might be skeptical of Alexander’s depiction of the events and the evidences and arguments he introduced in the story. But then, any arguments which imply that the very foundation on which the entire religion of Christianity is based is false tends to attract some kind of criticism. Moreover, the story is fictional and readers need to keep that in mind.
The Secret of Heaven gives you plenty to think about religion of Christianity through exploration of the roots of faith. If you like fast-paced action, conspiracy theories, secret societies, The Secret of Heaven is a book for you to read.
Definitely recommended!!!
Weather you are a believer in the underlying religious implications or no, you will find this book entertaining and adventurous. The pace is fast, and though, there are too many secondary characters with changing perspectives and facing multitudes of situations, readers would find themselves hooked to the story. Constantly moving from place to place, holding readers’ attention from beginning to end, Felix Alexander is brilliant at picturing fine detail, allowing readers to use their imagination to visualize the events as they take place.
My only complaint is characterization; most of the characters, I found I didn’t care about. I understand it’s hard for author to give due attention to every single character when the plot is extremely fast-paced, but the protagonists deserved a bit more attention. This is the first book in Aiden Leonardo series, so I’m sure there will be plenty of scope for growth for all the major characters. Other than that it is interesting story.
While the book is a work of fiction, Felix Alexander has done a thorough research to ensure that his explanations and depictions of ancient theology are as accurate as possible. Some readers might be skeptical of Alexander’s depiction of the events and the evidences and arguments he introduced in the story. But then, any arguments which imply that the very foundation on which the entire religion of Christianity is based is false tends to attract some kind of criticism. Moreover, the story is fictional and readers need to keep that in mind.
The Secret of Heaven gives you plenty to think about religion of Christianity through exploration of the roots of faith. If you like fast-paced action, conspiracy theories, secret societies, The Secret of Heaven is a book for you to read.
Definitely recommended!!!
April 24, 2022
The Secret of Heaven
An explosive mystery regarding the divinity of Christ vs the humanity of Jesus. (Aiden Leonardo Book 1)
Pub Date 02 Apr 2016
BooksGoSocial
Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
I am reviewing a copy of The Secret if Heaven through BooksGoSocial and Netgalley:
After investment banker Lazzaro de Medici is found dead, Professor of Biblical Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago Aiden Leonardo is the prime suspect. In possession of an encrypted letter given to him by Lazzaro, Aiden utilizes his extensive knowledge of Scripture to piece together clues that lead to a Lost Bible dating back to the time of Christ.
Hidden in the text an ancient truth about the most controversial message Jesus left to His disciples. But as Aiden embarks on his quest to unravel the mystery of redemption and faith, a secret organization known only as The Group is out to hunt him down to destroy the Lost Bible and tie up loose ends.
Aiden gets the help of his fiancé Dr. Miriam Levin—a cultural anthropologist and a professor of historical archaeology in her own right, their friend Nagi, a philologist, religious historian and an eccentric cryptographer, Aiden soon realizes the Lost Bible was written by a disciple who walked with Jesus and had his gospel omitted from Scripture.
Things only become further complicated after a mysterious stranger warns Aiden that possessing the secret of heaven could cost him his life. Pursued by the F.B.I. for the ancient Black market relic and the Chicago PD in connection to the murder of Lazzaro de Medici, Aiden races against the clock to prove his innocence and fulfill his mentor’s dying wish.
I give The Secret of Heaven five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
An explosive mystery regarding the divinity of Christ vs the humanity of Jesus. (Aiden Leonardo Book 1)
Pub Date 02 Apr 2016
BooksGoSocial
Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
I am reviewing a copy of The Secret if Heaven through BooksGoSocial and Netgalley:
After investment banker Lazzaro de Medici is found dead, Professor of Biblical Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago Aiden Leonardo is the prime suspect. In possession of an encrypted letter given to him by Lazzaro, Aiden utilizes his extensive knowledge of Scripture to piece together clues that lead to a Lost Bible dating back to the time of Christ.
Hidden in the text an ancient truth about the most controversial message Jesus left to His disciples. But as Aiden embarks on his quest to unravel the mystery of redemption and faith, a secret organization known only as The Group is out to hunt him down to destroy the Lost Bible and tie up loose ends.
Aiden gets the help of his fiancé Dr. Miriam Levin—a cultural anthropologist and a professor of historical archaeology in her own right, their friend Nagi, a philologist, religious historian and an eccentric cryptographer, Aiden soon realizes the Lost Bible was written by a disciple who walked with Jesus and had his gospel omitted from Scripture.
Things only become further complicated after a mysterious stranger warns Aiden that possessing the secret of heaven could cost him his life. Pursued by the F.B.I. for the ancient Black market relic and the Chicago PD in connection to the murder of Lazzaro de Medici, Aiden races against the clock to prove his innocence and fulfill his mentor’s dying wish.
I give The Secret of Heaven five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 25, 2019
The Secret of Heaven felt very Dan Brownish in the way that the plot moved in a similar pace while weaving in intricate details of the main premise.
What is the secret? And why are people willing to kill to protect it? As a reader, you find yourself riding through a rollercoaster of information that at times, felt overloaded in places which required a little backtrack reading.
Overall, the concept was intriguing, highly researched and presumably passionately written. I could tell, as a fellow author myself, that Felix was very connected and invested with his story.
I only wish I connected more with the characters. There was a lot of confusion (at least for me) on who everyone was and what side they were on. Although this happened several times, it did not detract my interest.
I also felt that ended felt like it wrapped up too much too soon. Sub-plots and details that were not huge components of the main storyline felt like they were thrown at the reader the last minute.
Overall, I think that Felix did a wonderful job with this novel. I see huge potential with this story and am excited to see what is next as it appears to be the start of a series.
What is the secret? And why are people willing to kill to protect it? As a reader, you find yourself riding through a rollercoaster of information that at times, felt overloaded in places which required a little backtrack reading.
Overall, the concept was intriguing, highly researched and presumably passionately written. I could tell, as a fellow author myself, that Felix was very connected and invested with his story.
I only wish I connected more with the characters. There was a lot of confusion (at least for me) on who everyone was and what side they were on. Although this happened several times, it did not detract my interest.
I also felt that ended felt like it wrapped up too much too soon. Sub-plots and details that were not huge components of the main storyline felt like they were thrown at the reader the last minute.
Overall, I think that Felix did a wonderful job with this novel. I see huge potential with this story and am excited to see what is next as it appears to be the start of a series.
July 28, 2020
It's rare that I don't finish reading a book. This is one of those books. I stopped at 30% and that was plenty.
1. The editing is horrible. The majority of the speech tags are handled incorrectly. There are errant commas. The sentences are rough and unnatural.
2. The storytelling is horrible. The POV jumps around more than a puppy excited to see everyone. The plot is forcibly introduced. The narrative is told primarily through dialogue. This dialogue is written like a dry lecture. And I found myself questioning the "facts" as they were delivered.
3. The writing is quite jagged. There are few descriptions. The author interjects his point of view to inform the reader (the cop who touches the back trunk to leave fingerprints in case he is shot during discussions with the driver he pulled over).
4. The characters are flat. There is no possible way to connect to any of these characters because they just merely exist on the page. We learn very little about who they are and why they do what they do.
I feel like I'm missing something based on the great reviews, but I'm not willing to spend any more time figuring out what it is that I'm missing.
1. The editing is horrible. The majority of the speech tags are handled incorrectly. There are errant commas. The sentences are rough and unnatural.
2. The storytelling is horrible. The POV jumps around more than a puppy excited to see everyone. The plot is forcibly introduced. The narrative is told primarily through dialogue. This dialogue is written like a dry lecture. And I found myself questioning the "facts" as they were delivered.
3. The writing is quite jagged. There are few descriptions. The author interjects his point of view to inform the reader (the cop who touches the back trunk to leave fingerprints in case he is shot during discussions with the driver he pulled over).
4. The characters are flat. There is no possible way to connect to any of these characters because they just merely exist on the page. We learn very little about who they are and why they do what they do.
I feel like I'm missing something based on the great reviews, but I'm not willing to spend any more time figuring out what it is that I'm missing.
February 17, 2020
Nicely Done
I really liked the premise of this book. The characters were terrific and the plot was first rate. It got a little muddled about three fourths of the way along when too many characters were all arguing at once, but it finally got sorted out by the end. I look forward to seeing what happens next. To unite the great religions of the world is something very much to be wished for in this troubled world and I found it very pleasant to imagine a world where it could happen. Even if it is only a story, it's a happy thought.
I really liked the premise of this book. The characters were terrific and the plot was first rate. It got a little muddled about three fourths of the way along when too many characters were all arguing at once, but it finally got sorted out by the end. I look forward to seeing what happens next. To unite the great religions of the world is something very much to be wished for in this troubled world and I found it very pleasant to imagine a world where it could happen. Even if it is only a story, it's a happy thought.
December 29, 2021
Review through Voracious Readers Only
If you are a fan of Dan Brown then you will really enjoy The Secret of Heaven. I had to remember it was fiction as I was questioning myself and my beliefs a lot. Its good for a book to do that. My one wee quibble was the amount of characters. I think I managed to stay on top of them but there were a lot of them!! In some ways it meant you didn't connect as much with them but felt the storyline connected with me better. High action, great plot, a recommended read.
If you are a fan of Dan Brown then you will really enjoy The Secret of Heaven. I had to remember it was fiction as I was questioning myself and my beliefs a lot. Its good for a book to do that. My one wee quibble was the amount of characters. I think I managed to stay on top of them but there were a lot of them!! In some ways it meant you didn't connect as much with them but felt the storyline connected with me better. High action, great plot, a recommended read.
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