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John Lyman
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God's Lions: The Secret Chapel 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by John Lyman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,632 ratings
Summoned to Rome by an old friend, a Jesuit scholar finds himself using a code discovered in the Bible to unearth an ancient, hidden chapel in the catacombs under the city. When a rogue force of Vatican security officials are alerted to his discovery, the priest flees to the Holy Land with a clue ... a clue that will lead him and a team of Israeli Christians to a much larger secret in the middle of the barren Negev Desert.

Meticulously researched and drawing on scientific fact, John Lyman's intriguing story takes readers into the world of scholars, archaeologists, code-breakers, and intelligence specialists who have discovered a prophetic code hidden within the Old Testament that authenticates the Bible as a book of supernatural origin and points to a divine plan. This gripping novel is truly a thought-provoking and action-packed thriller with implications for our future.
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  1. Edition
    1st
  2. Accessibility
    Learn more
  3. Publication date
    15 Dec. 2009
  4. Book 1 of 4
    God's Lions
  5. Language
    English
  6. File size
    2.0 MB
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There are 4 books in this series.

Product description

About the Author

John Lyman is the bestselling author of the "God's Lions" series of novels. His books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers around the world and his first novel, "God's Lions - The Secret Chapel is now in development for a major motion picture. You can email the author via his website johnlymanauthor.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0030T1JNK
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 15 Dec. 2009
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ God's Lions
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,632 ratings

About the author

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John Lyman

John Lyman

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John Lyman is an American novelist and screenwriter who lives with his wife in a 100-year-old farmhouse in the South. His first novel, GOD'S LIONS - THE SECRET CHAPEL, quickly rose to the number one spot on the Kindle bestseller list in several genres and has received rave reviews by media reviewers and readers who have discovered his unique storytelling ability. THE SECRET CHAPEL was soon followed by three sequels: HOUSE OF ACERBI, THE DARK RUIN, and REALM OF EVIL.

Other novels by John Lyman include THE DEEP GREEN, a chilling genetic thriller. PRELUDE TO DYSTOPIA, a quirky dystopian thriller, and THE TOWER BELOW, a time travel novella.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,632 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book an absolutely brilliant read with a riveting story full of intrigue and good plot twists. The writing is extremely well written and easy to read, while the characters are well-rounded and the pacing is well-paced. Customers appreciate the book's entertainment value and well-researched content, with one customer noting how it makes them re-think their beliefs.

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87 customers mention ‘Readability’77 positive10 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fabulous series that kept them engaged until the end.

"...This story is involved, brilliant, well constructed and all without bad language or explicit violence...." Read more

"...It is a good book, but it starts silly and just gets sillier, so only read this if you can really just go with it and ignore the ridiculousness of..." Read more

"...A fantastic book, a great series, a must read for lovers of this genre or those like me who gave it a shot! -..." Read more

"Absolutely amazing book, as are all in the series...." Read more

84 customers mention ‘Story quality’64 positive20 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story, describing it as riveting and full of intrigue with good pacing and several twists and turns.

"...Then you find out.....it is the ultimate BAD GUY. This story is involved, brilliant, well constructed and all without bad language or explicit..." Read more

"...adventure, excitement and hold ones attention in an almost spellbound state...." Read more

"...far more subtle than that and written in such a way as to be disturbingly believable. This book had me gripped from cover to cover...." Read more

"...angels, Isreali Commandos, battles in the Negev Desert and a good few twists and turns...." Read more

27 customers mention ‘Writing style’21 positive6 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it extremely well written and easy to read, with one customer noting its fast pace.

"...The story is epic, extremely well written with colourful engaging characters. This isn't another horror story...." Read more

"This is a very easy read, in a Dan Brown style. Mr Lyman's prose is easy to read and offers depth and pace...." Read more

"...It is extremely well researched and written and i found it very thought provoking...." Read more

"This was very readable..a good writer..it flowed well and was mostly well researched...." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Character development’20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-rounded characters in the book.

"...down, its use of factual based information, the characters and the fiction all intertwine with ease, its allows you to suspend reality in favor of..." Read more

"...The story is epic, extremely well written with colourful engaging characters. This isn't another horror story...." Read more

"...It's a fascinating book, well paced with a few nicely drawn characters...." Read more

"...Overall a fun story with lots of good elements and character/relationship development...." Read more

19 customers mention ‘Pacing’17 positive2 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book well-paced, with one customer noting that the action moves quickly from America, while another mentions being engrossed from the very start.

"...It's a fascinating book, well paced with a few nicely drawn characters...." Read more

"...Mr Lyman's prose is easy to read and offers depth and pace. Overall a fun story with lots of good elements and character/relationship development...." Read more

"...There are plenty of twists and turns along the way that keep you absorbed in the fast pace...." Read more

"Gods Lions was enthralling from start to finish,a fast moving and entertaning novel that kept the interest throughout...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one noting its thought-provoking ideas and themes.

"...It's pure escapism, parts of the narrative defy belief - but if you want reality you buy a non fiction book don't you...." Read more

"...Mr Lyman's prose is easy to read and offers depth and pace. Overall a fun story with lots of good elements and character/relationship development...." Read more

"...wizards can be great fun, especially for children but also appealing to many adults. Sheer escapism and nobody takes them seriously...." Read more

"...I also found the ideas and themes very thought provoking...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Research quality’11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's research, noting its well-researched content and great use of facts. One customer mentions how it incorporates modern discoveries and research, while another notes how it promotes belief and faith.

"...after starting it, I simply could not put it down, its use of factual based information, the characters and the fiction all intertwine with ease,..." Read more

"...Overall a fun story with lots of good elements and character/relationship development...." Read more

"...It is extremely well researched and written and i found it very thought provoking...." Read more

"...author, who has clearly worked long and hard and seems to be a sincere believer, but it is just so much nonsense to me...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Fengirl
    5.0 out of 5 stars John Lyman should be as famous as Dan Brown
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2012
    Verified Purchase
    'God's Lions' is obviously going to be another series which leaves the reader absolutely breathless.
    At first we meet the good guys but soon begin wondering where the bad guy is. Then you find out.....it is the ultimate BAD GUY. This story is involved, brilliant, well constructed and all without bad language or explicit violence. It's pure escapism, parts of the narrative defy belief - but if you want reality you buy a non fiction book don't you. Personally I have found this tale to be a marvellous antidote to the cold grey days which we are having to endure at the moment and it doesn't make you fat like chocolate does :-)

    There were a few grammatical and spelling errors which are always annoying and break the thread of a rattling good read. I think that they were mainly near the end of the book so perhaps the editor or proof reader were getting tired (or deeply involved in the story). Amazon doesn't give us the option of 4+ stars so 5* it is.

    I've already started to read the second book and have just downloaded the third - totally out of character for me but this book was THAT good
    One person found this helpful
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  • ExecBum
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Readable, But Also Very Silly
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I must admit that I did enjoy this book a lot. The rough plot has probably been covered by other reviewers, so suffice to say it is about a group of Catholics, Christians and Jews who have been tasked by God to recover the Devil's Bible and give it to God to destroy, by taking it out of the dessert in Israel and into a secret chapel buried beneath the Vatican. It is a good book, but it starts silly and just gets sillier, so only read this if you can really just go with it and ignore the ridiculousness of it.
    One thing I would say is that fellow atheists will be annoyed at the implication that the evil in the world is caused by more and more people becoming atheists and drifting away from God/the 'Jesus' religions. And I had to laugh out loud when one character announces to the others that he has figured out the identity of the big demon they fought: "Agaliarept, the Grand General of Hell". (I had no idea there were different ranks of demons!) I think if you are a Christian, Catholic or Jew, you'll probably be fine with this, but atheists beware - Christianity/God/The Bible is represented as 'the right thing' the whole way through, which might end up getting on your nerves a bit. I read a lot in this genre, so religion doesn't normally bother me, but this book has a little too much in the 'stridently religious' arena. But all in all, a very good book, with just a few minor irritations for heathens like me.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Florida fan.
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Read of my Life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not a great fiction reader, so that makes it even more impressive. My wife of 39 years encouraged me to read God's Lion's and after starting it, I simply could not put it down, its use of factual based information, the characters and the fiction all intertwine with ease, its allows you to suspend reality in favor of the
    factual institutions and the ever moving city backdrops. Its such a fascinating book that I simply had to read the next two books in the series, which continue the
    adventure, excitement and hold ones attention in an almost spellbound state.
    A fantastic book, a great series, a must read for lovers of this genre or those like me who gave it a shot! - We have recommended it to friends, who do love books
    by writers like Dan Brown, and until today all have said the same thing - this simply blows those books away. I for one can not wait till the next volume and that from a person who hasn't ready 10 fiction books in his life - get it now !
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sarah Daley
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok - interesting theme but not sure about the writing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I really wanted to like this book, and I did enjoy the broad theme - but the writing was poor. It read a little like a gcse level essay - and he said, and she said, and then x happened...... Sorry, not one I would heartily recommend.
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  • Scrasey
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely amazing book, as are all in the series. If you are a big fan of the omen books, or you love the age old good versus evil bible prophesy type novels then you must read this. I am a big fan of those type of books and films and I have to say I loved this. This is the 1st book in the series and I just couldn't put it down. In fact as soon as I'd read it, I read the next two. The story is epic, extremely well written with colourful engaging characters. This isn't another horror story. It is far more subtle than that and written in such a way as to be disturbingly believable. This book had me gripped from cover to cover. I read lots of books every year, but it has been years since I've looked forward to reading a book as much as I have with the books in this series.
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  • Cave Canem
    5.0 out of 5 stars God's Lions - Excellent Thriller - Great Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I have to admit, my wife downloaded this to read and raved about it, so I thought, go on I'll give it a go. And I'm glad I did as it's an excellent story.

    Father Leo and Father Morelli are old frieds, and when Father Morelli asks his friend to help him with something at the Vatican, Father Leo jumps on a plane top meet him.

    From there we end up with demons, angels, Isreali Commandos, battles in the Negev Desert and a good few twists and turns. Along the way they have to collect a few items to help them in the effort to defeat Satan, and use the Bible Code to assist them.

    It's a fascinating book, well paced with a few nicely drawn characters. In fact I've finished it today, and just downloaded the sequel to start on.

    This of it as the da Vinci code with guns, from a simplistic point of view.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sparklebabes69
    4.0 out of 5 stars God's Lions: the Secret Chapel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very easy read, in a Dan Brown style. Mr Lyman's prose is easy to read and offers depth and pace. Overall a fun story with lots of good elements and character/relationship development. For me some of the supernatural elements didn't gel and seemed a bit 'set piece' and trite, but I guess when staging demon attacks that's alright. I have to say given the main protagonists were men of God I would have expected maybe more around prayer or church rites in terms of facing such evil. However, overall, a fun journey, with vivid descriptors geographically which made for an evocative read. I will certainly read the next one and can see how this would translate to the big screen. Recommended
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not for serious reader.
    Reviewed in Australia on 27 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ridiculous and obvious series of events.
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  • Granny Geek
    5.0 out of 5 stars Chris
    Reviewed in Canada on 22 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What action and suspense! This belongs on the big screen! What a page turner. This can in no way be compare to any other with a Vatican backdrop as they are boring compared to this. I cannot wait to start the next. 5 Stars
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  • Carlos Vivanco Pastore
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
    Reviewed in Spain on 3 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Although it is yet another novel with all the nowadays ingredients (suspense, action, the Vatican, mystery; conspiracies, murder, etc.) it does keep the reader hooked to the very end. It is not the first novel by John Lyman I have read and like his previous books this one didn't disappoint me. Ideal for long-haul flights.
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  • Jami Lee Fischer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 12 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This has been an exciting read. I started it & could not put it down. I finished it in 2.5 days. So good!! John Lyman, you sure know how to make a novel come to life! Thank you & God bless!!! 🙏❤️⚘️ I'm onto the 2nd one now!
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  • Karen DeCrane
    4.0 out of 5 stars it gets better as he hits his stride in the later entries ...
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 September 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book in the 4 book series God's Lions. John Lyman hasn't quite found his "voice" in this first entry, but having read the remaining three books, it gets better as he hits his stride in the later entries of the series. That said, it isn't a bad book by any means! The characters are interesting, the premise is thought provoking, the action is somewhat intense and there are a few twists and turns that are unexpected. But it is interesting to watch Mr. Lyman's progress as a writer throughout the series.

    In this book we are introduced to the characters who will make up the God's Lion team. While each book is complete in itself, the back story of the characters is told in this book. Vatican politics, intrigue and modern day security point out just how far reaching the arm of the Vatican state can be. Set against a backdrop of archeological finds that pit Satan's minions against a small band of dedicated scholars and warriors in a biblical fight to the finish, this is a fun read. It is not a bible thumping morality exercise, but rather reminiscent of a good spy novel with a priest a priest as the main character. Entertaining and fast paced it leaves the reader with a subtle "could this sort of thing really exist?", which is what a good book should do.
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