Bøker av Robert Bailor

This book is a second sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED...but maybe could have to complete the trilogy of BIBLE STORIES. It takes additional underdeveloped characters of the New Testament and presents imagined stories about them woven into the Biblical narrative. "e;Malchus and Photine"e; is a coming-to-faith story. Malchus' loses his ear to Simon Peter's sword and Photine meets Jesus at Jacob's well. These are transformational moments leading to struggle and salvation. "e;Didymus"e; is the story of the Apostle Thomas and his identical twin brother,Tamir, who learn the meaning of sacrificial love through doubt and conflict. "e;Joanna"e; is a story about Jewish aristocrats who become disgusted with their rich and powerful lives and come to know that Jesus is "e;the way and the truth and the life."e;

This book is a sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED...but maybe could have. It takes additional minor characters of the New Testament-a pagan woman, two blind men, the father of the apostles Matthew and James, and others--and presents fictional stories about them woven into the actual Biblical narrative. Justa, a pagan woman, is presented with a back story of true faith, genuine love, debilitating tragedy and miraculous healing. She is introduced as a house slave who longs to be respected and loved. Her story follows her as she learns resilience from Mary and Joseph, how to love and be loved from her beloved husband Danel, and her true worth from Jesus. Micah and Asher's story begins with them as thieves partnering with Eli, an unrepentant ne'er-do-well. Then, through the concern of the apostle Nathaniel, they are lifted up from blindness to sight, both physically and spiritually. The story of Alphaeus is about a man who is obstinate regarding his Jewish beliefs and traditions, even if his stubbornness means being estranged from his sons, Matthew and James, and creating heartache for his wife, Rebecca. Alphaeus' adamant stand leads him to join Saul in persecuting the first Christians until he and Saul are ironically called to be ambassadors for Christ. These stories engage and inspire, for they not only speak to questions of faith in the context of the start of Christianity, but they also touch on challenges regarding faith and the meaning of life facing contemporary believers and unbelievers alike.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Detectives Eddie Bunco and Theo Chadwick are assigned to investigate a gruesome ritualistic murder which turns out to have been perpetrated by a religious cult which is a hybrid of Christian and Zoroastrian beliefs. As they investigate the case, they also unearth a child sex trafficking operation which is directly related to the murder. The narrative intensifies as the detectives discover that they must bring both aspects of this case to a quick resolution if they desperately want to save current and potential victims. Along the way the detectives meet a number of memorable characters. On the one hand, there are Sgt. Maddie Buckold and Detective Gabriella Jackson whose courage and quick thinking are crucial to resolving the double case. On the other hand, there are Whitey Harrison, owner/manager of the Blue Moon Lounge, and the person known as "e;the final savior"e; who are closely involved in the sex trafficking and the ritualistic murders. In addition to the drama of a police investigation, the narrative lays bare deep meaning-of-life questions and serious emotional challenges that arise with police work in general. These questions and challenges trouble Detective Bunco who works at sorting them out with the help of his love interest, an altruistic nurse practitioner named Grace Champion. As their intimacy grows, they feel secure enough to share their thoughts and beliefs about good/evil, trustworthiness, and the reason to live. Murder in the Time of COVID is a narrative set in contemporary times with the background of a worldwide disease and the current controversy regarding the proper place of police officers in the community. This novel is much more than a detective story as it engages the reader in the question of whether humans are fatally flawed in character or really capable of attaining genuine nobility.