BOOK 1: THE SHROUD OF TURIN - More than two thousand years ago, the body of Christ was wrapped in cloth after the Crucifixion… and the imprint of His body’s wounds left physical evidence on the cloth, including DNA.
Now, when Daniel DiBenedetto, psychology graduate, is financially cut off by his parents, he visits Dr. Alan Cranston, assistant to the president of a university. Daniel requests grant money to study the psychological ramifications of biblical artifacts on various cultures. Instead, Alan arranges for Daniel to join historian Magena Night-cloud in Italy, as she studies the Shroud of Turin.
After a man is murdered during a robbery, evidence points to Daniel as the prime suspect. A fugitive from the Italian police, the only way that Daniel might prevail is to develop faith in God’s power.
When another death rocks his foundation, Daniel must unconditionally trust in God if he is to survive. But is he worthy?
As their mission evolves into something more dangerous and complex than they bargained for, Daniel and Magena must go undercover—and in so doing, they meet their greatest challenges. Magena is faithful to God, but without God’s help, will Daniel, a nonbeliever, prevail against an evil, dangerous enemy?
The Shroud of Turin, the first novel in the Reluctant Hero series by acclaimed Christian author Summer Lee, features psychology graduate Daniel DiBenedetto and historian Magena Night-cloud. Together, they research biblical artifacts and discover Christian meaning in their adventure quests.
BOOK 2: THE JEWELS OF JEZEBEL - Thousands of years ago, Queen Jezebel, a Baal worshiper, brought in eight hundred Baal prophets and ordered the slaughter of Israel’s faithful prophets. After King Ahab was killed in battle, and Jehu became king, Jezebel was murdered while wearing her jewels.
Now, psychology graduate Daniel DiBenedetto and historian Magena Nightcloud seek those jewels. Their quest begins with a trip to the ruins of Samaria, where the Temple of Baal may have been located. They obtain a cryptic poem that may lead them to the jewels—or on a wild chase to their deaths.
As they follow the clues and meet a mysterious woman who offers to help them, they cross paths with a secret society and endure perilous situations that threaten to tear them apart. When the danger leads to bloodshed, they must decide whether to even trust each other.
Will Daniel and Magena work together to find the jewels? Or will they die in pursuit of the priceless gems that once belonged to an evil queen?
BOOK 3: THE SONS OF DESTINY - Magena’s a captive in the real world. Daniel’s a captive in the virtual world—and if his captor discovers the secret to passing between worlds, her satanic powers will be unleashed in reality.
When Yasmeen orders Daniel’s execution by her Baal worshipers, he delays her death decree. But how long can he prevail against the self-proclaimed Queen Jezebel?
Meanwhile, Magena meets Reuben, one of the Twelve Sons of Destiny, descendants of Israel’s ancient tribal leaders. Together, they must escape and rescue Daniel before the Jewels of Jezebel find their way into the wrong hands.
Pursued by Yasmeen/Jezebel and her demon-possessed Hive of Baal, as well as a modern megalomaniac with an army, it’s up to Daniel and Magena—and the Sons of Destiny—to stop evil before it’s too late. But will they ever see each other again? Will they survive the dangerous challenges in the last days?