Book of Thomas

Night. DRIP! DRIP! Footsteps on the stone floor kept eerie time with the splat of dripping blood from a corpse dangling upside down from the cross over the altar. There is a murder in Prague. This activates the duties of Thomas Adwell, spokesperson for the office of the Holy See. An attractive man in his thirties, Thomas has spent ten years serving punishment and waiting for his confirmation as a priest. On hold for his outspoken thoughts, he suspects that his church-imposed hold may be nearing an end as he is dispatched to handle a gruesome murder and a potential serial killer in Prague. He hopes if he can clean up the bad press, he will be released and given his collar.

Arriving, Thomas is whisked to the murder site where he meets Karina Karlova, a beautiful businesslike adjunct for the Lord Mayor's office, and Detective Novak, an arrogant sod with a one-track mind for crime who is in charge of the investigation. Three different agendas drive suspicion and tension. After seeing the crime scene, Thomas is taken to St. Vitus, run by his former mentor and friend Archbishop Scarletti, who was pushed up the ranks with his diplomatic demeanour and dedication to his church. It is a strained reunion since Scarletti played a role in Thomas' punishment. Not wanting to relive hurtful memories, Thomas sets a press conference to do his job and get out.

Jiri Semecka, a young and determined artist and one of a group of local radicals that protest the church, is picked up for the murder. During interrogation, he reveals a connection to Thomas. Jiri shows drawings he made referring to the lost gospels of Thomas, the basis of Thomas' research that was hidden away and censored. These gospels, if revealed, would prove Mary Magdalene a disciple, therefore a founder of Christianity, creating turmoil for the Church.

Jiri reveals to Thomas a secret order of Gnostic Priests and that he has discovered the whereabouts of a surviving copy of the original papyrus hidden inside with the crown jewels in King Charles' Chamber, inside St. Vitus Cathedral. Entering requires seven gold keys to open the door. Thomas embarks on a search with Jiri and Karina to find the keys.

During their quest, Karina finds herself deeply involved in unraveling the mystery with Thomas, solidifying her unforgivable lust for him, although he still vies to get his priest's collar. Thomas struggles between what he thought was faith and what his heart felt was conviction for the truth, no matter the power. He must fight and win to share that truth, so the world can think for themselves and find free will, rather than being bound by religion.

Thomas soon realises that the hunt for the serial killer and the keys are inexplicably linked. It's only through solving one that the truth of the other will come to light. He must actively work on both cases to find the scrolls, no matter the cost.

Book of Thomas by Johnny B. Dunn is a gripping tale of intrigue, faith, and the pursuit of truth, where the secrets of the past and the violence of the present converge.