Chris Bronson

An Englishwoman is found dead in a house near Rome. Her distraught husband enlists the help of his closest friend, Chris Bronson, who discovers an ancient inscription on a slab of stone above their fireplace. But who are the liars? And what is it they are lying to protect? Pursued across Europe, Bronson uncovers a trail of clues that leads him back to the shadowy beginnings of Christianity; to a chalice decorated with mysterious symbols; to a secret code hidden within a scroll. And to a deadly conspiracy which – if revealed – will rock the foundations of our modern world.

An experienced former covert operative, James Becker draws on his insider’s knowledge of international espionage to pen gripping thrillers. Detective Sergeant Chris Bronson becomes the target of mafia hitmen when he and his wife—a conservator at the British Museum—investigate the death of two friends. But as their search grows, they begin to realize a greater conspiracy growing around them.

In Morocco, an English couple discovers a clay tablet covered in ancient writing. One day later, they are dead. Called to North Africa to investigate, detective Chris Bronson follows a trail of clues that plunge him into a mystery that has gone unsolved since biblical times. For the stone he must find is older and far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined...

James Becker’s pulse-pounding debut thriller, The First Apostle, made critics and genre fans alike stand up and take notice. An equally taut sequel, The Messiah Secret follows a young woman and her ex-husband as they seek to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries. On assignment at a lavish English mansion, museum conservator Angela Lewis makes a shocking discovery. Buried in an ancient clay jar is a parchment - a document detailing the life and times of Jesus. This miracle-find also describes the Messiah’s final resting place.

BOHEMIA, 1741: on the northern banks of the Vltava River, an extraordinary event is taking place. Inside a private chapel, a high-born Hungarian lady is being laid to rest. But not before her heart is removed from her body, and she is buried beneath a layer of heavy stones - lest she rise again to prey upon her victims…VENICE, PRESENT DAY: in the world’s most beautiful city, something unspeakable is happening. An unnamed tomb has been opened revealing a female skeleton and a diary dating back hundreds of years.

Best-selling author James Becker first introduced Det. Sgt. Chris Bronson and antiques expert Angela Lewis in his explosive hit The First Apostle, which was hailed as a “jaw-dropping thriller” ( Publishers Weekly). Here Bronson and Lewis return to uncover a centuries-old mystery. Touring a graveyard while on holiday in Venice, the two discover a desecrated tomb with a mutilated female skeleton inside. But why was the woman put to rest in such a state? And what secrets were buried with her?