Yes. This novel is a work of fiction based on what are commonly referred to as the “synoptic” gospels—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

While most of the characters are real, some are fictional. The dialogue is inspired by scripture but is not literal. When necessary for the narrative, some creative and chronological license has been taken.

This novel did not start out as a novel at all, but as a “writing exercise” for an audience of only two—my children. The goal was to take one of the most well-known stories in all of human history, the life of Jesus, but then tell that story through a decidedly different, more human lens. The men and women who followed Jesus during his lifetime, now venerated as saints, were in many respects no different than you or I. They were fallible. They were flawed. They made mistakes.

They were, in sum, human.

So, first and foremost, I wanted to tell a human tale. To focus on the raw emotion of the moment. What were these men and women feeling just after Jesus died? For them, there was no promise of a resurrection. No happy ending. Just a gruesome death in one of the most barbaric ways imaginable.

For them, these truly were the darkest moments of their darkest day.

That is the focus of this first book in the series. To tell that story.

This book was written for a general audience. If asked to categorize, I consider it more a work of "historical fiction" than anything. With that in mind, I would answer the question "I'm not religious or a Christian so why should I read this book?" in this way....

This book is no more for "religious people" than the musical Hamilton was written for history majors or academics interested in the revolutionary war. In fact, I find the Hamilton example particularly instructive. The musical engaged an audience of millions, many of whom could recite, verbatim, every word of the musical, but might shudder at the thought of reading the over 800 page novel upon which the musical was based. Hamilton, the musical, told a compelling story. It resonated with a general audience. That speaks to the power of a compelling narrative. It's universal.

So what I have tried to do, or will try to do, in this three book series is tell a compelling story. How the reader responds as a secular or spiritual matter is purely personal.