The Expected One

By: Kathleen McGowan

Narrated by: Linda Stephens

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

When journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so secret, so revolutionary, that thousands of people have killed and died for it.

Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the French Pyrenees: the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, her version of the life of Jesus and the events of the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, these sacred scrolls could be uncovered only by a special seeker, one who fulfills the ancient prophecy of L'Attendu, the Expected One.

As Maureen becomes immersed in the mystical lore of L'Attendu, the eerie prophecy of the Expected One casts a shadow over her life and work, and a long-buried family secret comes to light. Maureen's extraordinary journey takes her from the dusty streets of Jerusalem to the cathedrals of Paris to the rocky foothills of southwest France. To search for the scrolls, she must unravel clues that link history's great artistic masters, dynasties, and scientific minds. Ultimately, she comes face-to-face with Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, and a love triangle that changed the course of history in a deeply moving and powerful new gospel...the greatest story never told.

©2006 McGowan Media, Inc. All rights reserved (P)2006 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"[A] much-heralded debut." (Publishers Weekly)

the Expected One (unabridged)

I was surprised. Perhaps some of the reviewers left unsatisfied did not listen to the unabridged version. At first, it seemed to be just another Mary M. theory, but this goes beyond the DaVinci Code. Not as action-packed, but far more intriguing in the long run. Not for those who cannot bear to open their minds to new ideas. No need to believe it if it goes against the grain; just enjoy the story, & open your mind to a possibility. You will come out with a fuller, more dimensional view of the characters of history. Let your own instincts tell you what feels right & enjoy the experience.

Do NOT overlook the epilog that follows the close of the story. Do not expect alot of Indiana Jones action or high-speed action. Do expect to have your mind opened up a bit to new ideas, and visions.

I look forward to the author's next book.

The author is NOT declaring that the existing gospels are wrong. She is simply offering some wonderful food for thought. YOU decide how you want to use it.

Highly recommend this book, but get the UNABRIDGED version. You need to hear all of what she has to offer.

Chick lit meets Dan Brown

This is a hard book to review.
Does this sound familiar? Mary Magdalene, information hidden in paintings in the Louvre, secret societies, an eccentric aristocrat hidden away on an estate in the French countryside
Add to this: designer suits, Manolo Blahnik shoes, an "unusually petite" protagonist.
I almost gave up more than once, but the "bones" of a good story are there and I wanted to hear more. The narrator does an excellent job of covering many characters with a variety of regional accents -- though the Scottish burr and Irish brogue overlapped at times. There is enough passion about the story of Christ, and respect for the story, that it is neither offensive nor dopey.
The author's afterward is worth a listen and says a lot about her motivation for writing this book (excellent) and the amount of serious research she put into the project (commendable). Fiction it is, though she implies that it is only marginally so. Clearly, there are sequels either out or in the works.
Ultimately, this was decent and not a waste of time, but rather painful to slog through at moments.

I enjoyed it!

I read some of the other reviews and wonder why anyone would read something when they aren't interested in the subject matter. Some complained that this book rides on the wave of popularity of the DaVinci Code. If you think there are too many books like that out there, why read another one? I enjoyed this book as well as Dan Brown's. I like this author's take on the subject. I think the history is solid and how she wove the story together makes it very entertaining. I was happy to find that this is part of a series. I look forward to the next one. My advice to other readers is if you are looking for another Dan Brown, this isn't it. If you are looking for a good story that keeps you wanting more, this just might be a good fit. But as is the case with Dan Brown, you must keep an open mind.

Fun book, consistent w/ cult tradtition

Great listen! I found the book fun & it was one of a few that would keep me listening in my driveway long after I arrived.
The subject of the book has a special meaning as my Grandma was a devotee to Mary (not Jesus), following our families traditions for generations. Many of the stories I have heard from my mom & grandma before.

Great use of legend/history in weaving a rich story. Better then the DaVinici Code & much better written.

good read!

Very good book for open minded people!!

Don't expect too much

This one wasn't a favorite. I like the genre but I thought this was pretty repetitive and in spite of all of the build-up of the heroine's role as the "expected one" it seemed to me when all was said and done that the author (and for that matter the spirit of Mary M.) didn't expect too much of her. This seemed a bit incongrous considering the general theme of the work.

Fantastic

For the daVince Code fans, this far excedes that book. Cant wait to hear the following stories. Leaves your mind wondering what is true? What if?? Dont give up listening when it starts reading from the bible. by the end of the audio you'll want to listen to it all again to sort out the facts.

Not the best

The Afterword of this book is the best part!
It gives the background and motivation of the author as she pursues this oft-overdone topic. I found it the most heartfelt and sincere prose in the entire volume!

But... This book just tries too hard. The convuluted plot (hinting at Vatican intrique, for example, but never really resolving the issue) offers a semi-sweet plot about yet another adorable heroine who follows her heart and her head into a mystery that repeats the thoughts of Dan Brown and others. Was Mary Magdalene married to Jesus? If so, what are the political and religious implications?

Holy Blood, Holy Grail did this so much better, and without the thinly drawn characters.

My biggest objection was the interplay between pseudogospel to tell the story of MM and the present day mystery. I found myself wishing the gospel sequences had been shortened and summararized. I had a hard time relating to the reader as well.

It appears that this is the first of a trilogy, but I doubt I'll take the time to read the sequels.

Thoroughly enjoyed it!

There is a lot going on in this book. The afterward by the author intimates that it is not quite fiction although it must be categorized as such and I thought it was very brave of her to do that. The story does make you think and I do agree with the author when she says that history was written by the winners - so who knows what they didn't tell us? I look forward to the sequels - I hope there are many. I would listen to this book again.

Excellent

Kathleen McGowan wrote a wonderfull portrait of Mary Magdalene and the times she lived it. An eye opener for sure. This is one book I will recommend to friends and family.

Not recommended for Non-Christians

Unless you want to spend a lot of these 17 odd hours thinking in depth about the life, ministry and passion of Jesus Christ - don't bother downloading this book. If this is of interest to you - it may give you some different ways of looking at these stories. The Narrator was generally very good but those listeners with Irish or Scottish accents may find her attempts at these dialects something akin to nails down a blackboard - I know I did!

Religious conspiracy theory novel

Always interesting to listen to new interpretations of Bible stories. This particular version seems to draw together many ideas that have been floating around for some time and ties them together neatly in a fictionalized world. The long flashbacks to Biblical times stagnated the flow of the modern plot a little but they did present a look into what might have been...

The author's note at the end was an added bonus although it did suggest a level of realism in the novel that is perhaps controversial.

All in all, very entertaining.

Fabulous Read

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Certainly takes you on a ride through your own beliefs, especially if you’ve been brought up to belief a certain narrative. Now on to the second installment and then the third. Luckily enough I purchased all three at the same time. Not something I’d usually do, so I believe I was meant to read this wonderful thought provoking series. Loved the narration on audible great choice of narration as Linda’s voice is very mellow and easy to listen too.

better to read than listen...

I’m sorry but the audible version was painful to listen to...the various accents were pure torture..also the childish, sing-songy cadence of the narrators voice drove me to distraction. The only thing worse was the sound of Issas voice which sounded like a person either inebriated or on drugs.
That once said leads me to the story...an ok presentation of an interesting theory but so lacking in historical reality that I often wanted to give up. But I thought it only fair to give it a chance...things like these crude, manual labours from Nazareth speaking fluent Greek and being literate was outright laughable but I guess necessary to making the story work.
Anyway an ok read if you don’t know much about the time of this prophet and don’t care...I did like the concept but would rather have read it from the hand of a much more accomplished author...won’t be reading the others...

My favourite book - ruined by the narrator

I was so looking forward to listening to my favourite book on audible. But it was ruined by the narration.
Linda Stephens use of accents for both Peter and Berenger was terrible. For Easa, it was even worse. Falling in and out of what was a bad accent anyway completely takes from the story.
The narration is also appalling when it comes to following through after dialogue as though all grammar is totally ignored.
It was simply the worst and most irritating narration of any book I have ever listened to.
So sad.

amazing

This great book had me yearning for more !! I'm heading straight onto the sequel