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“Then one of the twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand [Jesus] over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” Matthew 26: 14-16

The story of Judas’s betrayal of Jesus is of great importance in the Bible. The transfer of thirty silver pieces and a single kiss on Jesus’s cheek set events in motion that led to Christ’s crucifixion and the promise of humanity’s salvation from sin, which in turn created a religion that still flourishes to this day. And while Jesus is loved by Christian believers, Judas is reviled for his act of cowardice against the Messiah.

But what if Judas was not the horrible man he is portrayed to be in the Bible? What if Judas was Christ’s closest friend, begged by Jesus to sacrifice his life so that Jesus could be crucified and resurrected? Is it possible that Judas, not Jesus, is the actual Messiah?

Steven Savile’s SILVER is based upon this very scenario. The book opens moments after Christ has been killed. Judas is torn between knowing he did what Jesus asked him to do, and feeling guilty for helping his best friend to die. Grief-stricken and unable to rid himself of the thirty silver pieces he received for his cooperation, he makes plans to pass the money to his child before Judas is killed for his act of “betrayal.” When Judas’s grandchildren come of age, they form a group of people called “Sicarii,” or “dagger men,” who will stop at nothing to make sure the world knows about Judas’ selfless sacrifice. As a way of honoring their grandfather they melt his thirty coins and create a small silver dagger out of them.

Fast forward to the present. All across western Europe, thirteen people in thirteen different countries simultaneously burn themselves on live TV, warning the world that forty days and forty nights of death are about to commence. True to their word, acts of terrorism sweep across Rome and Berlin in the following days. In the ensuing chaos a group called Ogmios – a handful of combat and technology specialists led by Sir Charles Wyndham – works against the clock to track down the terrorists and put an end to their acts of violence. As the group treks across Europe, they uncover a sect of Judas’s disciples who are not only hell-bent on killing the Pope, but in shattering the core of Christianity itself.

Savile’s storytelling truly shines in SILVER, offering some of the most powerful prose he’s ever written. From acts of terrorism that make the reader wince to suspenseful races against time; from occasional bits of humor to scenes of unbearable sadness; from compelling accounts of the past to modern-day intrigue – the full range of Savile’s skills is on display for all to see.

There are two additional strong points that stood out while reading SILVER. First, Savile has done an exceptional job of establishing his settings. The story shifts across multiple European countries, each of which is described in detail, thereby allowing the reader to easily visualize the diverse architecture and scenery of each locale. Second, Savile’s characterization is spot-on. The members of Ogmios, their contacts, and their enemies all come to life with very detailed backstories, personalities, skills, etc. The story doesn’t fall victim to lifeless cookie-cutter characters, making the shifting points of view entertaining and true-to-life.

The only aspect of SILVER that brought the story down for me was the tangled, complex history of the modern-day terrorists. The group ultimately came together and started planning its acts of violence once it discovered the silver dagger Judas’s grandchildren created. However, I’m still not sure I completely understand who they are, how their leadership structure looked, how their ideologies lined up, or why they did certain things. Some of the explanations seemed a little fluid toward the end, while some questions are left unanswered, presumably to be answered in a forthcoming sequel.

(Another issue that I hope will be resolved by the time the book sees print is the excessive amount of typographical errors. I read both an e-version and a print ARC, and both instances are riddled with problems. While I didn’t factor this into my score, I would definitely lower the final verdict if these aren’t corrected. It’d be a shame if this problem marred an otherwise stellar series debut.)

SILVER will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Dan Brown’s series of books, which is understandable…but in my opinion, Savile’s story is as entertaining, if not more so, than anything Dan Brown has cooked up. When Savile’s writing is firing on all-cylinders, there are few who can match his ability to entertain a reader.

SILVER will be available as a trade hardcover from Variance Publishing on January 19, 2010. The book has a cover price of $25.95, but is currently available at Amazon.com at the discounted price of $17.13.

(8 out of 10)

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