The Expected One: A Novel (Book One of the Magdalene Line)

by Kathleen McGowan

Hardcover, 2006

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Touchstone (2006), Edition: First Edition, 464 pages

Description

Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the rocky foothills of the French Pyrenees, a gospel that contained her own version of the events and characters of the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, these sacred scrolls could be uncovered only by a special seeker, one who fulfills the ancient prophecy of The Expected One. When journalist Maureen Pascal begins the research for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so secret, so revolutionary, that thousands have killed and died for it. Maureen's journey takes her from the dusty streets of Jerusalem to the cathedrals of Paris--and ultimately to search for the scrolls themselves.

User reviews

LibraryThing member wkelly42

This would have been a passable work of fiction had the author not claimed it was based on her own life story. That and her over-reliance on questionable extra-Biblical texts ruined the book for me.

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LibraryThing member Chicachoo

Absolute caca.

LibraryThing member picklechic

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow moving but I really enjoyed the mystery once it sped up. I was intrigued by the claims in the book and am interested in reading the next books in this series and researching the validity of the sentiments. I don't usually read religious fiction like

this, but I do like history and I found the book very interesting.

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LibraryThing member Pauline.Ramsey

I thought this was an exceptionally well-written story of Mary Magdalene. The author lends a lot of theories and probable outcomes of the life of Jesus and Mary prior to Christ's crucifixtion. More and more authors are breaking the biblical boundaries by exhibiting a light on the relationship

between the two lovers, and the more peple write about it, the more it seems that this is a perfectly clear explaination for Mary Magadelene's clear role with the apostles and the divinity of which was Jesus.

By no means am I a devout Christian/Catholic, nor do I practice any one religion, but I found this book very awe-inspiring in the aspect that we should all love one another rather than let the hate and fear of our previous teachings bring us down. If there truly is a "Book of Love" written by Christ himself, perhaps there may be hope for mankind still.

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LibraryThing member oldbookswine

What a refreshing book about the time of Jesus. Based on extensive research, the author weaves a believable tale that covers the past 2000 years. Mary Magdene's bloodline is traced thriough the agesa both by family and foe. The outcome takes the reader once again to the Vatican for surprising

results.

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LibraryThing member CozyLover

This novel kept me in its thrall from the first chapter straight to the last. I have always been fascinated by Mary Magdalene and Her role in Jesus' life so have read anything and everything on the subject that I could. This novel is by far one of the best fictional accounts of her life and one of

the most believable as well.

The link between the present and the past, the coming of the Expected One and the history behind the other Expected One's who had arrived only to be thwarted by those who did not want the truth to be known was as fascinating as the Magdalene details. A rich, moving portrait of one of the most controversial women in history.

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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

This is the story of a woman who finds that she has links to the holy grail. She also finds that she's dragged into controversy and that there are a number of different people who want her to join them because she has a lot of potential power.

I found it readable but only just, there are huge leaps

of faith involved in some of the logic and the story, despite it's claim of authenticity (which really didn't do anything to improve the story for me). The interlinks that it builds between almost all the famous women of history stretched even my flexible credulity! The fact that I've read almost everything that she's using as references didn't help.

It's not the worst thing I've read, I found it readable but it didn't make me want to rush out and get the sequel.

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LibraryThing member FlygURL

While I enjoy the subject of Mary Magdalen and the search for what the author believes is the truth about her, her books are a bit disjointed.

LibraryThing member indygo88

Something (or maybe several things) about this novel just didn't sit well with me. Perhaps I have trouble being totally open-minded when it comes to Mary Magdalene, as this subject matter challenges a lot of my traditional beliefs. But I can appreciate alternate interpretations and ultimately, I

don't think that's what turned me off of this novel. I think it was more the fact that it was too slow-moving and not particularly well-written that made me just want to be done with it. At times it was overly dramatic. At other times it was the opposite. Part of this may be attributable to the reader of this particular audiobook, who was certainly capable, but not my favorite by any means. My overall feeling was just "meh....". I have novels #2 and #3 in this series also on audio and normally I'm a sucker for a series, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to pass on those....

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LibraryThing member debbie.menzel

Engaging story, although a little Dan Brown or Steve Berry -ish. 1st in a series, apparently. I enjoyed it.

LibraryThing member reflexandresolve

Really not my thing. I wanted to like it. It alternately seeks to be a feminist retelling of the life of Jesus, or a secret-societies rule the world story. In my opinion, it fails pretty hard at both.

The retelling of Mary Magdalene and Jesus was adequate, but harped a little too much on the 'Jesus

treated women as EQUALS' point for me really to get involved. I'm already on board -- tell me a good story. Mediocre at best.

The modern day 'thriller' was anything but. The plot was shallow and transparent, the characters boring and two-dimensional. I rolled my eyes countless times, and cringed a few more at the trite lines. In my head, I kept yelling at the author to SHOW, don't TELL.

Perhaps I wasn't the intended audience -- I'm already a feminist and I don't need convincing that there is more than one side to every story. I think my problem is that I was looking for a story, and I got a a Mary-Jane fanfic that needed a few more beta readers.

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LibraryThing member SusanBNM

This book really made me think. The plot was complex but not too confusing, the characters were realistic and engaging, and the premise is factually based, which made the book even more appealing. There is a list of references in the back for those who want to follow up on her research. Based on

her website, it seems somewhat autobiographical as well, which I found very intriguing. I really looked forward to reading the next installment.

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LibraryThing member MaureenCean

I listened to this book on cd, and I really felt that hearing my name said over and over and over was disconcerting at first! At least the reader pronounced it right. These tales of the Magdalene and the bloodline of Christ really entertain me. I find the descriptions of how it is represented in

art, or at least how we assume it is, to be especially interesting. After reading some of the other reviews, I don't care if the author thinks that every last bit of it is true, it doesn't infringe on my enjoyment. I agree it got a little draggy in places, and the writing is good but not excellent, which is fine with me, not everything can be. Ordered the next book last night, but I won't be dropping everything else when it comes in, I'll need a little break.

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