Books One, Two, and Three of the bestselling Judas Chronicles series
Plague of Coins
William Barrow carries a dark secret. A very dark secret.
An archivist for the Smithsonian Institute and also a part-time operative for the CIA, no one would ever suspect the handsome ‘thirty-ish’ William is in fact the most reviled human being to ever walk the earth. His infectious warmth and sense of … earth. His infectious warmth and sense of humor make such an assertion especially hard to believe.
But long ago, William Barrow had another name… one that is synonymous with shame and betrayal: Judas Iscariot.
Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, William/Judas is on a quest to reclaim the thirty silver shekels paid to him in exchange for Jesus Christ. Twenty-one coins have now been recovered — thanks in large part to the help from his latest son, the esteemed Georgetown University history professor, Alistair Barrow.
Ever hopeful the complete coin collection will buy him a full pardon from God and end his banishment from heaven, William plans a visit to a remote village deep within Iran’s Alborz Mountains to retrieve ‘silver coin number twenty-two’. But the CIA has a different objective for this trip, one that pits both father and son against an unscrupulous Russian billionaire searching for something else that’s just as precious within the ancient mountains of Iran… something that threatens peace in the modern world if William and Alistair fail to reach it first.
Reign of Coins
For William Barrow, two thousand years is a very long time… too long, when it is a perpetual punishment for betraying Jesus Christ.
The man originally known as Judas Iscariot is on a mission to recover thirty silver shekels once paid to him for his ultimate treachery. Twenty-two coins have been recovered, leaving just eight to go. But when his Russian nemesis, Viktor Kaslow, also becomes immortal, the stakes are immediately raised.
Kaslow has followed William and his son, Alistair, to Hong Kong in search of a ‘blood coin’ passed down through Genghis Khan. The coin presently belongs to an esteemed Chinese collection. But along with the coin are other cursed items from the famed Mongol Emperor. William soon learns he can’t have the ‘one’ without the others.
William has waited eight hundred years for a second chance to reclaim this particular coin that inspired the Mongolian Empire’s bloody violence it was once famous for. While Kaslow closes in, seeking his own vengeance, William and Alistair race against the CIA and an unscrupulous American businessman intent on reaching the cursed ‘treasure trove’ before them.
Much is at stake for the Barrows and the world, as a deadly weapon unseen for centuries lies in wait alongside blood coin number twenty-three….
Destiny of Coins
In this third installment of The Judas Chronicles, William Barrow (AKA Judas Iscariot) is faced with recovering the silver coin he dreads above all others. Known as the “Singing Coin” among the ancients, this shekel was originally lost long ago… on the very night of Jesus Christ’s arrest in Jerusalem. Hoping to save it for last, until after the other twenty-nine coins are recovered, Viktor Kaslow’s recent designs for the coin thwart William’s plan.
A new murder spree has begun for the ruthless Kaslow, who races against William and the immortal Roderick Cooley to obtain the coin from a reclusive Essene sect residing in the Bolivian Andes. But unlike William and Kaslow’s previous confrontations, this one involves many more outside interests, since this coin contains unusual properties. If it falls into the wrong hands, the entire world will be brought to its trembling knees…
The stakes have never been higher for William, his family, and the welfare of mankind. To stop Kaslow, William must rely on the help of Roderick, Alistair, and a host of others, both mortal and immortal, to have any hope of reclaiming blood coin number twenty-four before time runs out.
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I’ve read two of the three books in the volume and found them both fast-paced, entertaining, and generally well-written. They require a certain amount of “willing suspension of disbelief” and there are a few things that leave me wondering why the writer made those particular choices for the story. Overall, they are a good way to pass the time on …
The premise that Judas is still alive is intriguing. I always enjoy stories out of the ordinary. Sometimes I feel as if I’m reading the same story but with different characters and locales. Well done, Aiden James.
I agree with the previous reviewer. Nice story, I’ve finished 2 of the 3 books. It’s a good time passer with decent action and plot.
I’m ready for the 4th book.
Okay, but not great.
I like what I have read. I didn’t know what to expect when I bought the books, but the writer does a great job of keeping me interested and though I am not much of a science fiction reader, it is to see the way zJudas is portrayed.
A wonderful original concept that is fleshed out with believable characters in an unbelievable situation. Good writing and worth my time.
Interesting topic as Judas trying to redeem himself but the book just comes down to the battle between the good immortal and the bad immortal.
A bit far-fetched, and like someone is trying to capture the Harry Potter/fantasy or vampire fan crowd. But so horribly backwards on Judas … even before he betrayed Christ, he was mis-appropriating funds from the group… and I don’t think he would have been the type to make friends or sustain loyalties… just mho…
I really enjoyed reading this series. The authors a great storyline with well developed characters and keeps a reader interested and engaged.
Great series to take on a vacation for those moments where you need some down time.
The author presented very interesting and compelling arguments for the theories he put forth in the book. His story was plausible because it was based in an extrapolated from facts. Facts that he puts forth clearly so that the rearders, if they so choose, can easily look up and verify.
The “what if’s” in the story are so compelling that you have …
A creative tale full of unexpected turns. A fun read!
The idea of a biblical figure being essentially immortal is not new, but Judas was something new. That he has children was interesting. But the story itself was a little slow. The writing was good and the fact that it was not laced with profanities or crude language was another plus.
Contrived and poorly written, couldn’t be bothered to finish the first one.
I did not expect to like this protagonist, but I did. Unusual point of view, but quite imaginative.
This gives you a different perspective on the story of Judas. I found this to be very thought provoking and entertaining in the process. Very original.
Interesting main character, but just too much hand-waving through the plot, and unrealistic responses to situations (or lack thereof) from secondary/tertiary characters.
Wonderful
Awesome series!