Sudarium

A THRILLER

A provocative premise, spine-chilling twists, and an electrifying climax

SUDARIUM is the first in a disruptive new trilogy from
Chuck Shelton

Elizabeth Barnes, a brilliant agnostic scientist, recovers and uses DNA from a legendary burial cloth — the Sudarium — to impregnate herself and give birth to a clone of Christ, creating chaos for her daughter and the world. When the identity of this 30-year-old woman cloned from Jesus is revealed, the media go wild, and people everywhere react.

Her name is Jennifer, and she is not exactly a poster child for the Church. She has lesbian friends, uses he/she pronouns for God, and fights against domestic violence. The saying "You're a child of God" takes on new meaning as her life is put in danger, she starts to fall for an FBI agent, and global conflict between religions escalates.

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Sudarium explores what it means to live with integrity and courage as a person of faith. It disrupts stale views about gender among Christians and invites readers to pursue their spirituality with fresh eyes in the context of radically loving oneself and others.

Detail of the cross from Sudarium's book cover

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Roundfire Books, 2025 | Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages | ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1803418209

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“Compelling; a provocative thriller… an edge-of-your-seat must-read.”
— Book Trib
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“The last page scares the hell out of you.”
— Dr. James Brenneman, President, Berkeley School of Theology
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“Electrifying… a gripping narrative.”
— Jennifer Brown, bestselling author, How to Be an Inclusive Leader
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“A page-turner that captivates!”
— Betsy Myers, author of Take the Lead
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“Well informed science intersecting deep Christian theology. Chuck Shelton has written a gem.”
— Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, Hope College
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“When the serious action begins, it’s a ripsnorter. The stakes are high, the action is fast, violent and imaginative … it’s edge-of-the-seat stuff.”
— Dan, Goodreads reader
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“With high stakes and masterful foreshadowing, the story builds to a chilling and unforgettable climax. Sudarium raises fascinating questions about identity, belief, and what it means to live with courage and conviction.”
— Pauline Wiles, author of Indie With Ease