Debut Novel 'Gospels & Murder' Explores Faith, Power and Fragility of Truth in Ancient Setting

This Thanksgiving, debut author Xavier Romain introduces Gospels & Murder, a sweeping historical novel that blends spiritual intrigue, political tension, and the quiet resilience of early believers. Set in ancient Alexandria and Jerusalem, the story unfolds in the shadow of empire, where sacred texts are hunted, faith is tested, and truth is a fragile thing carried by the few willing to risk everything.

The novel opens with a storm-tossed messenger aboard a Grecian galley, clutching documents meant to shape the future of the church. His murder in the harbor of Alexandria sets off a chain of events that draws retired centurion Quintus Cornelius Amadeo into a world of secrets, scrolls, and spiritual reckoning. As factions vie for control of a lost gospel, Quintus must decide whether to use his influence to protect a truth that could reunite a fractured congregation—or let it vanish into imperial archives.

This story is about the weight of memory and the cost of silence, Romain says. Thanksgiving felt like the right moment to share it. It's a time to honor those who carried us, even when we didn't know what they were carrying. Gospels & Murder is rich in historical texture, from the siege of Jerusalem to the sacred halls of the Great Library. Romain's prose is cinematic and reverent, drawing readers into a world where scripture is both salvation and battleground.

Through characters like Quintus, Ashri, and the scribe Jabari, the novel explores how stories are preserved, distorted, and reclaimed, and what it means to bear witness when the witnesses are gone. The book is available for purchase at Amazon. The narrative examines the intersection of faith and power during a pivotal period in religious history, offering contemporary readers insight into how spiritual traditions were shaped and preserved against political pressures.

The timing of the novel's release during Thanksgiving underscores themes of gratitude for those who preserved spiritual truths throughout history. The work represents a significant contribution to historical fiction that bridges ancient religious conflicts with modern questions about truth, memory, and the responsibility of bearing witness to important stories that might otherwise be lost to time and political expediency.