Illuminated
by Matt Bronleewe
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007, 307 pp., hardcover.

In this first novel of a series, archaeobibliogist August Adams calls on his photographic memory and limitless knowledge of old books to solve some puzzles hidden in the illuminations found in ancient Gutenberg Bibles. The result could shake the world and make some people very rich. This "Indiana Jones" character has a precocious son and estranged wife whose lives are in jeopardy unless he can solve the puzzles and rescue them. They are not helpless, however, and take matters into their own hands at times.

Illuminated offers a quick and fun read, stylistically written more as a screenplay concept than a full-blown novel, which means that the emphasis is more on visuals and action than on in-depth character development and details. Odd as it may sound, at times I felt overwhelmed by facts that could have been more understandable had they been explained in greater detail. Although in the "theological thriller" genre made popular by The Da Vinci Code, Illuminated isn't as agenda-driven as Dan Brown's novels and there's no obvious Christianity outside of the fact that Bibles are involved in the plot. If you want secret societies and ancient mysteries mixed in with some surprisingly graphic violence (like a psycho with power drills and saws), Illuminated will fit the bill.

I enjoyed the book and I'm curious to see if the follow-up, House of Wolves, brings Christianity into the equation, or if the entire series will just be a fun adventure series.

Author Matt Bronleewe was a co-founder of Jars of Clay and still produces music, so a soundtrack has already been created. Check it out at the author's website.

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