The Shroud Conspiracy

A Novel

By: John Heubusch

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Throughout his career, forensic anthropologist and outspoken atheist Dr. Jon Bondurant has investigated many religious artifacts said to be real, but he knows better. So when he is invited by the Vatican to examine the Shroud of Turin, said to be the burial cloth that covered the body of Christ, he is delighted for the opportunity to prove once and for all that the shroud is a fake. But when he meets Domenika Josef, the beautiful and devout Vatican representative, he realizes his task will not be as straightforward as he once imagined.

As Bondurant and his team examine every element of the shroud, he and Domenika begin to see each other in a whole new light. As the evidence about the origin of this highly contested piece of fabric starts to pile up, he begins to realize that he's been seeing a lot of things incorrectly. But when a sample of the blood from the shroud - believed to be the real blood of Jesus Christ - vanishes, he realizes his problems are just beginning. The DNA traces in that sample could have earth-shattering consequences if they fall into the wrong hands.

When Domenika vanishes, Bondurant is caught in a globe-spanning chase to rescue the women he loves - and stop the evil forces who have their own motives for bringing on the Second Coming.

©2017 John Heubusch (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

" The Shroud Conspiracy is an absolutely brilliant thriller! This riveting, intrigue-filled mystery is like nothing you've read before. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down." (Brad Thor, New York Times best-selling author)

Simply Fantastic!!!

Wow - My first John Heubusch listen. I was hooked by chapter one. A little along the lines of Dan Brown. Hunt for regligous artifacts, sabotage, murder, mystery. Already downloaded book two! Highly recommend this one.

Not so much

There was far too much suspension of disbelief required to get through this book. More to the point, key characters, with extraordinary levels of education and professional success, behaved like morons throughout.

The main plot line was so convoluted and contrived, at the book's close, I was just happy it was over.

The best I can say is I didn't return it for the credit.

Eh.

Held my attention. Story was so so. Was not my favorite. A little creepy, in fact. Liked the reader.

The Shroud Conspiracy

I started listening to this at the very beginning of lent coincidentally, and it was really entertaining, a great mystery, and uplifting too.

Edited Visions

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to enjoy the story. There was a slight accent to the narrator that made it a little difficult to understand at first but by the end I really enjoyed everything from the narrator to the beginning middle and end.

Be prepared for a great ride!

Would you listen to The Shroud Conspiracy again? Why?

I don't listen to books twice, but this one is well worth the investment to be sure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The handicapped priest was compelling in many ways. His dog and his attitude were well crafted and performed.

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, many, and this was great. Boehmer is an Audible star in my mind, and this offering confirms this.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed at times, and researched stuff at times as well.

Any additional comments?

This is an outstanding offering, which I gladly used a credit for. Good balance of action, conspiracy, thoughtful concepts and intrigue. Brilliantly performed. A couple of editing issues prevent it from all 5's but well worth the credit. Highly recommended.

Wanted to like it more…

I think I was expecting a DaVinci Code style of story, some of those ingredients are there but it is it’s own meal for sure. The one thing I couldn’t stand was the way the narrator said “Dominica” I’m probably the only one that thinks about it, but I always do when I think about this story.

Jurassic Park meets the deVince Code

Pretty good for a first book!

I was really interested in all the details about the Shroud of Turin. I did a paper on it my last year in college and it was interesting to hear all the new stuff they've discovered since then. I do believe one fact Is inaccurate but has been added for the benefit of the plot. You can guess which one it is by the end of the book.

The author has constructed a complicated plot which he pulls off pretty well.
I genuinely came to like the main characters. They have 3D personalities and their motivations make sense, pretty much. It has a couple spots that seem a bit amateurish, but I don't think this guy has ever written a book before, and I expect his writing will mature.

I would definitely buy his next book.

Narrator handles all the dialects well, but he's a little flat compared to some of the narrators who are out there now. Also there are a couple of spots where the dialog is written a little choppy (not his fault).

I really appreciate the fact that it doesn't have gratuitous sex or graphic violence (by my standards, anyway). There's a scene or two where I began to shift in my chair a bit, but they are necessary to the plot, and they don't go too far. (Again, you may draw the line in a different place.

This does not feel like an imitative book; the subject matter is it's own. But i think it's fare to say if you liked Jurassic Park and deVince Code, you'll like this.

Great premise but lacks a little subtlety

The plot has a lot of fun twists. The premise is intriguing. The romantic relationship subplot is a little ham fisted and obvious. A fun listen and engaging enough.

From start to finish, disappointing

Total lack of comprehension of women, who are mostly used as props. Characters depth suffered. Author needs to extend depth to all characters if he is not going to kill promising story lines. Even the main female character had little above veneer intelligence. So tired of books that only use, what could have been great female characters, for the aggrandizement of one uninteresting male. I wish all have received the careful creation skill of the little priest. He was the only compelling character. I would read a whole series based on him.