Nicaea Trilogy

Novelist Lamb (Faithful Journey) imagines a fictional codex authored by Gospel writer Luke that is sought and lost for centuries, from its creation in ancient Rome until the early 20th century. Lamb has concocted an intriguing premise, but his skills are not up to the task of bringing what could be a story of persistent faith, bravery, and intrigue to convincing life. A three-part novella structure set during Roman imperial times, followed by a Victorian-era epilogue, present different epochs and sets of characters whose actions center on the precious codex. Unfortunately all the characters are one dimensional and the passage of time is dead narrative space (“But two years later James was one of many victims of an earthquake in the eastern Mediterranean”). Lamb appears to know history, but not fiction, making the classic error of telling rather than showing. Those interested in the formation of the Christian canon may find some historical tidbits here and there, but no engaging story. (BookLife)