TURNABOUT SPY

An aspiring scribe investigates incidents surrounding a man who claims to be a messiah in Millard’s Christian historical fiction debut.

In the first century, Jewish leaders enlist Alexandrian merchant Nicanor to shadow a reputed “desert prophet.” Nicanor sends his nephew Jannaeus to Judea, where he learns that the man he’s been closely monitoring has declared someone else as the Messiah; Jannaeus is directed to look into Jesus, a Galilean craftsman and prophet. Putting aside his studies (Jannaeus is learning to be a scribe in the hope of ultimately becoming a rabbi), the young man pursues his investigation, which entails, among other things, following Jesus to Galilee. (He also delays his marriage to his betrothed, Rebekka.) Jesus, meanwhile, is performing miracles, but is he somehow faking them? And if so, why? In any case, it’s a dangerous practice, as many believe what Jesus has been doing is blasphemous and seem determined to put a stop to it. Millard skillfully blends the elements of a spy novel with the Biblical story of Jesus: Jannaeus suspects an influential person entangled in a conspiracy, eyes someone he’s close to as a potential betrayer, and, at various times, runs up against zealots and pirates. The protagonist is convincingly flawed as he pushes away Rebekka and neurotically mulls over subjects that render him sleepless (“Only an occasional blink interrupted his unfocused stare as he tried his hardest to make no more sounds until the night would end”). The supporting cast is just as compelling, including the not-exactly-trustworthy Jewish leaders whom Jannaeus works for, the always-reliable Nicanor, and Demas, Nicanor’s smart, resourceful servant. While this lengthy tale rolls out at a notably unhurried pace, it’s consistently engaging, even though most readers will be fully aware of where it’s headed. All the while, the author’s easygoing prose showcases her thorough knowledge of Christian lore as well as the era, the land, and its languages.

Espionage in the time of Jesus begets a slow-moving but riveting novel.