Well-known and respected anthropologist Roger Holbrook has made many great finds during his archaeological career, but nothing can compare to what he’s about to uncover when a trusted colleague brings him the find of a lifetime: an ancient Tibetan journal found in New Mexico and dated to a period before there was written language in North America. Roger begins a quest to uncover the mysteries of the journal that takes him to Italy, China, and Tibet. With beautiful Maggie Garners at his side, Roger experiences dangers unlike any he’s ever imagined and learns a truth that could change how two major religions are viewed.
In recent years, the genre of religiously themed mysteries and thrillers has exploded. The Link is another title in this collection. Readers cannot help but draw parallels between Roger Holbrook and another famous fictional archaeologist named Indiana Jones. The action throughout the book feels almost like watching an Indiana Jones movie, but while the action scenes are entertaining, the outcome of each tense situation is also predictable. Roger’s not quite as resourceful or savvy as Indy and can come across as a bit naïve for a man of his experience and education. La, a mysterious Tibetan woman who is as beautiful as she is dangerous, is actually the most dynamic character in the book.
Where the novel truly shines is in the discussions of philosophy and religion it delves into, and the connections it seeks to make between religions. For those interested in reading the book and learning the mystery on their own, this is a spoiler
alert. Like many religious thrillers, the main plot of The Link seeks to reveal a great secret that can shake the foundations of modern Christianity and other religions. That secret in The Link is filling in the gaps during the “missing years” of Jesus, those years between the ages of 12 and 30 that are never explained in the Bible, by placing Jesus in Asia, where he traveled to Lhasa and not only studied Buddhism but was recognized as a Buddha. Though the theory that Jesus traveled to Asia and studied the religions there is not new, it’s always interesting to read about. The idea of Jesus being recognized as a Buddha is fascinating, and author Soukeras makes some thought-provoking statements in connecting Buddhism and Christianity, leaving the reader to ponder what’s been said long after the final page is read.
While the action of the story may feel like it’s been done before, connecting Jesus to religions such as Buddhism or Hinduism is still fairly fresh as far as fiction writing goes and makes The Link an interesting read.