Church Builder

One group focused on destroying all religion. One group struggling to preserve the church. One woman searching for the truth. For two months, small-town lawyer Bethany Barclay had been mourning the hit-and-run death of her enigmatic best friend, Annabelle Seaver. Then the son of her wealthiest client is found murdered in her kitchen. When Bethany herself becomes the leading suspect, she must flee both the authorities and a mysterious killer. But there is more at stake than she knows. Bethany is caught in the web of a shadowy organization determined to destroy Christianity. The final outcome rests on her ability to piece together the last three months of her best friend's life.

From A. L. Shields-pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Stephen L. Carter-comes the thrilling sequel to The Church Builder. It began as a search for the truth about her best friend's death. Now Bethany Barclay is caught in the ultimate struggle to keep faith alive. The Wilderness, an ancient cabal bent on destroying Christianity, has murdered Bethany's best friend, framed her for acts of terrorism, and captured the brilliant teen hacker she vowed to protect. To ransom the girl, Bethany must traverse England and Europe to find the Pilate Stone-a mysterious first-century artifact that might not even exist. She's not the only one who wants the stone. The Garden, a powerful group of intellectuals sworn to save the Church and help Bethany, is willing to betray her to achieve their higher goals. And a mysterious third faction lurks in the shadows, waiting for her to stumble. Alone and on the run in this international landscape of double and triple agents, Bethany's quest becomes an ever more complex and dangerous contest against players who don't play fair. In this riveting sequel to The Church Builder, many of A. L. Shield's cunning characters are ruthlessly devoted to preserving a world where faith is possible. Others aim to brutally, and finally, undermine belief. Including Bethany's.

From A. L. Shields-pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Stephen L. Carter-come the Church Builder novels as an e-collection! The Church Builder One group focused on destroying all religion. One group struggling to preserve the church. One woman searching for the truth. For two months, small-town lawyer Bethany Barclay had been mourning the hit-and-run death of her enigmatic best friend, Annabelle Seaver. Then the son of her wealthiest client is found murdered in her kitchen. When Bethany herself becomes the leading suspect, she must flee both the authorities and a mysterious killer. But there is more at stake than she knows. Bethany is caught in the web of a shadowy organization determined to destroy Christianity. The final outcome rests on her ability to piece together the last three months of her best friend's life. Wilderness Rising An age-old struggle between the enemies of God and the champions of faith. A rumored relic that could prove Christ performed miracles-or declare him a fraud. A woman on the run from international authorities. Bethany Barclay is fighting to outwit the Wilderness, an ancient and powerful cabal bent on destroying Christianity. Its members murdered her best friend, framed her for acts of terrorism, and captured the brilliant teen hacker she vowed to protect. To ransom the girl, Bethany must find the Pilate Stone-a mysterious first-century artifact that might not even exist. But she's not the only one looking for the stone. In an international landscape of double agents, Bethany finds it impossible to tell friend from foe. The Garden, a secret group of powerful intellectuals sworn to save the Church and help Bethany, is collapsing under the rising power of the Wilderness. And an ocean separates her from her only proven ally-the lone wolf Ray Fuentes, who has battles of his own to fight. A sparse trail of breadcrumbs takes Bethany across Europe into a labyrinth of academics, art historians, and followers of a reclusive monastic order. As her quest transforms into an ever more complex and dangerous game, unlikely actors in the drama emerge. Some are ruthlessly devoted to preserving a world where faith is possible. Others aim to brutally, and finally, undermine belief. Including her own.