Here are 100 books that The Blood and the Shroud fans have personally recommended if you like The Blood and the Shroud. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Shroud Encounter

Guy R. Powell Author Of The Only Witness

From my list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for the Shroud of Turin began when my brother sent me Ian Wilson's The Blood and the Shroud. That book ignited a fascination that has grown into a lifelong pursuit. I now serve on two non-profit boards dedicated to the Shroud, sharing its mystery and history with others. I’m writing several books on the topic, started a podcast with over 13,000 subscribers, have interviewed over 100 Shroud experts from around the world, and created a TikTok video that has garnered over 600,000 views. Each post deepens my connection to this extraordinary artifact and allows me to engage with a vibrant, global community of fellow enthusiasts and researchers.

Guy's book list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Why Guy loves this book

Russ Breault’s book absolutely captivated me from the first page. I loved how it took me on a journey of discovery of the Shroud of Turin across all facets of this miraculous cloth. I found myself marveling at his meticulous research and the way Breault seamlessly blends history, science, and faith. I couldn’t put it down because every chapter left me with new questions and insights; I read it over the weekend.

The passion and depth of understanding Breault brings to this subject made me reflect in ways I didn’t expect. It is one of the best books on the Shroud of Turin.

By Russ Breault ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Shroud Encounter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It was a crime scene investigation like no other. A man was tortured, beaten, and killed. He was popular with the people, but many in power wanted Him dead. After a mock trial, the powerful had their way. He was given a hasty burial, but now the body has disappeared. Was there a clue left behind? A bloody sheet offers evidence of a horrific execution. Was the body stolen? By whom and why? Did it just vanish? What does the cloth reveal about the disappearance?

The Shroud of Turin (Italy) bears the faint front and back image of a bearded…


If you love The Blood and the Shroud...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Book cover of The Hidden History of The Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Author Of The Only Witness

From my list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for the Shroud of Turin began when my brother sent me Ian Wilson's The Blood and the Shroud. That book ignited a fascination that has grown into a lifelong pursuit. I now serve on two non-profit boards dedicated to the Shroud, sharing its mystery and history with others. I’m writing several books on the topic, started a podcast with over 13,000 subscribers, have interviewed over 100 Shroud experts from around the world, and created a TikTok video that has garnered over 600,000 views. Each post deepens my connection to this extraordinary artifact and allows me to engage with a vibrant, global community of fellow enthusiasts and researchers.

Guy's book list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Why Guy loves this book

I couldn’t put this book down—it captivated me from the very first page. I loved how Jack Markwardt dives into the layers of history with such precision.

This book felt like a personal discovery for me, unlocking aspects of the Shroud of Turin that I wasn’t aware of. I was amazed by the depth of research and the way it challenged me to think differently about the Shroud's journey through time. It’s affecting my next book in a big way.

I found myself eagerly highlighting passages and revisiting chapters. 

By Jack Markwardt ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Hidden History of The Shroud of Turin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Is the world-famous Shroud of Turin an authentic relic of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ or is it the product of one of the most cunning hoaxes ever perpetrated?

In 1978, scientists established that the relic’s image was not created by paint, and, in 1988, the relic’s fabric was radiocarbon-dated to late-medieval times, a conclusion which was subsequently determined to be unreliable. In this book, Jack Markwardt, an internationally-renowned Turin Shroud historian, discloses and discusses the relic’s entire hidden history, from the time of its discovery in Jesus’ tomb to the time of its first exhibition in Western…


Book cover of From the Mandylion of Edessa to the Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Author Of The Only Witness

From my list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for the Shroud of Turin began when my brother sent me Ian Wilson's The Blood and the Shroud. That book ignited a fascination that has grown into a lifelong pursuit. I now serve on two non-profit boards dedicated to the Shroud, sharing its mystery and history with others. I’m writing several books on the topic, started a podcast with over 13,000 subscribers, have interviewed over 100 Shroud experts from around the world, and created a TikTok video that has garnered over 600,000 views. Each post deepens my connection to this extraordinary artifact and allows me to engage with a vibrant, global community of fellow enthusiasts and researchers.

Guy's book list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Why Guy loves this book

Andrea Nicolotti’s book is an incredible reference book on the Mandylion, aka the Image of Edessa. Is the Mandylion the Shroud, or are they different clothes? Was there a letter from Jesus to King Abgar or not? Nicolotti attempts to answer these questions.

I love how Nicolotti, a historian's historian, meticulously peels back centuries of myth and legend with a scholar’s precision His rigorous attention to detail and relentless pursuit of the truth is incredible. This book deepened my understanding and challenged my perspectives in ways I didn’t expect.

By Andrea Nicolotti ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked From the Mandylion of Edessa to the Shroud of Turin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

According to legend, the Mandylion was an image of Christ's face imprinted on a towel, kept in Edessa. This acheiopoieton image ("not made by human hands") disappeared in the eighteenth century. The first records of another acheiropoieton relic appeared in mid-fourteenth century France: a long linen bearing the image of Jesus' corpse, known nowadays as the Holy Shroud of Turin. Some believe the Mandylion and the Shroud to be the same object, first kept in Edessa, later translated to Constantinople, France and Italy. Andrea Nicolotti traces back the legend of the Edessean image in history and art, focusing especially on…


If you love Ian Wilson...

Book cover of The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall

The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall by Paul Wilborn,

It’s 1985, and Ronald Armstrong, known in the magic mushroom trade as “Trip,” takes a “sober” job as a driver for a retired Tampa mobster. His boss, Charlie Wall, has survived four attempts on his life, the last one in 1955. When Charlie falls into depression, Trip rebuilds his boss’…

Book cover of The 1988 C-14 Dating Of The Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Author Of The Only Witness

From my list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for the Shroud of Turin began when my brother sent me Ian Wilson's The Blood and the Shroud. That book ignited a fascination that has grown into a lifelong pursuit. I now serve on two non-profit boards dedicated to the Shroud, sharing its mystery and history with others. I’m writing several books on the topic, started a podcast with over 13,000 subscribers, have interviewed over 100 Shroud experts from around the world, and created a TikTok video that has garnered over 600,000 views. Each post deepens my connection to this extraordinary artifact and allows me to engage with a vibrant, global community of fellow enthusiasts and researchers.

Guy's book list on mystery of the Shroud of Turin

Guy R. Powell Why Guy loves this book

Joe Marino's book is page after page of all of the international machinations to try and carbon date the most studied artifact, the Shroud of Turin. I was blown away by how Marino unravels the politics and intrigue behind one of history’s most controversial scientific experiments. The way he exposed the botched process and the personal dynamics involved made it impossible for me to put down.

I’ve never read anything with such meticulous research. This book will be referenced for decades to come. I felt like I was uncovering a secret history alongside him, and the revelations left me both fascinated and deeply reflective.

By Joseph G. Marino ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The 1988 C-14 Dating Of The Shroud of Turin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A majority of scientific and historical evidence proves the Shroud of Turin is the authentic burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. Only one test says otherwise-the carbon date performed in 1988.


The Shroud of Turin is the most studied artifact in human history. If science can prove the Shroud to be the authentic burial cloth of Jesus, the spiritual, psychological, and societal consequences would be unthinkably profound. In 1978, an investigation by a group of elite scientists known as Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) pointed toward authenticity. STURP, composed mostly of U.S. scientists who worked in the country's nuclear…


Book cover of The Second Messiah: Templars, the Turin Shroud and the Great Secret of Freemasonry

Jim Willis Author Of The Wizard in the Wood: A Tale of Magic, Mystery, and Meaning

From my list on magic, mystery, and meaning in 21st century lives.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an author, theologian, musician, historian, and college professor who has written more than twenty books about ancient and alternative history, religion in modern culture, and long-distance, meditative bicycling. My study of the past convinced me that modern life has, for far too many of us, grown one-dimensional. It lacks the magic and mystery that imbued the ancients with the deep and rich mythology which we inherited from them, but then allowed to grow dormant within our sheltered lives. Remembering their vision and experience is a key to restoring our own sense of self-worth and essence. Maybe we all need to meet a “Wizard in the Wood!”

Jim's book list on magic, mystery, and meaning in 21st century lives

Jim Willis Why Jim loves this book

Combining some of the greatest conspiracy subjects ever put forth, this book offers a fresh take on the familiar, compelling secret history of what might have been, rivaling even Dan Brown in the process. How might the Templars have interacted with the Shroud? What might they have done with it? What are the secrets of Freemasonry that were known to so many of America’s Founding Fathers, and why is the world still interested? This is a book that made me think. And, more importantly, wonder! 

By Christopher Knight , Robert Lomas ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Second Messiah as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

2000 Barnes Noble hardcover, Knight, Christopher; Lomas, Robert (Uriel's Machine). Is the Shroud of Turin genuine? That is the question that Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas set out to answer in the follow-up to their ground-breaking first book, The Hiram Key. For over 700 years the world thought the shroud bore the image of the crucified Christ, but results of carbon dating have shown that the fabric could not have predated 1260. The authors have produced new evidence that conclusively proves that it is not a fake-yet neither is it the image of Jesus Christ. - Amazon


Book cover of The Knights Templar

Helena P. Schrader Author Of The Tale of the English Templar

From my list on understanding the Knights Templar.

Why am I passionate about this?

I became fascinated by history when, as a child, I visited the Coliseum in Rome; my father told me, “This is where they fed the Christians to the lions.” That awakened my curiosity for people of the past, and I went on to earn an undergraduate degree and a PhD in history at the Universities of Michigan and Hamburg respectively. My interest in the crusades was ignited by the enormous disconnect between popular perceptions and historical reality, and I have published two nonfiction books on the Crusader States, as well as seven novels set in the era of the crusades. The Knights Templar were an important component of my research.

Helena's book list on understanding the Knights Templar

Helena P. Schrader Why Helena loves this book

A picture is worth a thousand words! History books are filled with text and lots of footnotes and bibliographies, but so much of what is written can be boiled down or better explained by good pictures. And that’s what Nicholson has done in this book.

To supplement her concise and factual text (she’s a leading scholar on the topic of the Military Orders), she’s collected hundreds of images that illustrate the Templars—their castles and manors, their churches, their seals. She also provides colorful depictions of them from medieval sources, both frescoes and illuminated manuscripts. This book evokes the Templars and their lifestyle in a way that other books don’t even try. I love it!

By Helen J. Nicholson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Knights Templar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Much has been written about the Knights Templar in recent years, most of it highly speculative and with no historical foundation. They have been associated with everything from Freemasonry to the Holy Grail, the pyramids, the Shroud of Turin and space travel. A leading specialist in the history of this legendary medieval order now writes a full account of the knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, to give them their full title, bringing the latest findings to a general audience. There is no other accurate popular history of the Templars currently available aimed at a general audience.…


If you love The Blood and the Shroud...

Book cover of Glimmer of the Other

Glimmer of the Other by Heather G. Harris,

Delve into this internationally best-selling series, now complete! A fast paced laugh-out-loud mix of Urban Fantasy and Mystery.

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time. I’m Jinx, a PI hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar–yet my gut…

Book cover of The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple

Helena P. Schrader Author Of The Tale of the English Templar

From my list on understanding the Knights Templar.

Why am I passionate about this?

I became fascinated by history when, as a child, I visited the Coliseum in Rome; my father told me, “This is where they fed the Christians to the lions.” That awakened my curiosity for people of the past, and I went on to earn an undergraduate degree and a PhD in history at the Universities of Michigan and Hamburg respectively. My interest in the crusades was ignited by the enormous disconnect between popular perceptions and historical reality, and I have published two nonfiction books on the Crusader States, as well as seven novels set in the era of the crusades. The Knights Templar were an important component of my research.

Helena's book list on understanding the Knights Templar

Helena P. Schrader Why Helena loves this book

Historical accuracy is important to me. I am not interested in fantasy or alternative history, so when I read about any topic, whether in fictional or nonfictional form, I want books based on the historical record. Malcolm Barber is one of the leading scholars on the Knights Templar of the last three decades.

This book is a concise summary of his scholarship and is for me the absolute bible on the history of the Knights Templar.

By Malcolm Barber ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The New Knighthood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Order of the Temple, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims around Jerusalem, developed into one of the most influential corporations in the medieval world. It has retained its hold on the modern imagination thanks to the dramatic events of the Templars' trial and abolition two hundred years later, and has been invoked in historical mysteries from Masonic conspiracy to the survival of the Turin shroud. Malcolm Barber's lucid narrative separates myth from history in this full and detailed account of the Order, from its origins, flourishing and suppression to the Templars' historic afterlife.


Book cover of Hot Carbon: Carbon-14 and a Revolution in Science

David L. Kirchman Author Of Microbes: The Unseen Agents of Climate Change

From my list on microbes and the environment.

Why am I passionate about this?

Microbial ecologists once had the luxury of no one caring about their work. My colleagues and I had been busy showing that there are more microbes than stars in the Universe, that the genetic diversity of bacteria and viruses is mind-boggling, and that microbes run nearly all reactions in the carbon cycle and other cycles that underpin life on the planet. Then came the heat waves, wildfires, droughts and floods, and other unignorable signs of climate change. Now everyone should care about microbes to appreciate the whole story of greenhouse gases and to understand how the future of the biosphere depends on the response of the smallest organisms.

David's book list on microbes and the environment

David L. Kirchman Why David loves this book

I almost put this book down when Marra started to describe what happened one early morning off the coast of Iceland, where he was trying to measure photosynthesis by marine microbes. A day earlier, he had filled bottles with seawater spiked with a radioactive form of carbon, carbon-14, and thrown the bottles overboard to incubate in the ocean. Now he had to retrieve them. As Marra recounted how the ship rolled in huge waves whipped up by 55-knot winds, my stomach churned as I remembered similar experiences on other vessels, in other seas.

Luckily for me and perhaps other seasick-prone readers, Hot Carbon returns to land for several chapters to sketch out the discovery of carbon-14 and its use in C14-dating historical artifacts such as the Shroud of Turin and in unraveling the mechanism of photosynthesis.

In the last part of the book, Marra returns to the ocean and outlines…

By John Marra ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hot Carbon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

There are few fields of science that carbon-14 has not touched. A radioactive isotope of carbon, it stands out for its unusually long half-life. Best known for its application to estimating the age of artifacts-carbon dating-carbon-14 helped reveal new chronologies of human civilization and geological time. Everything containing carbon, the basis of all life, could be placed in time according to the clock of radioactive decay, with research applications ranging from archeology to oceanography to climatology.

In Hot Carbon, John F. Marra tells the untold story of this scientific revolution. He weaves together the workings of the many disciplines that…


Book cover of Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most

Shawn Jennings Author Of Locked In Locked Out: Surviving a Brainstem Stroke

From my list on accepting and moving on from a tragedy.

Why am I passionate about this?

The five recommended nonfiction books on my list profoundly affected my life in my time of need. I struggled when a minor accident led to a brainstem stroke and being locked in at 45. How would I find happiness now? How can I go on? These five books gave me the strength to work hard, accept what couldn’t be improved, and be grateful for each day of good health. I hope the recommended books will help you prepare for the day your life will change...and it will.

Shawn's book list on accepting and moving on from a tragedy

Shawn Jennings Why Shawn loves this book

Borg is another theologian who is liberal and questions all aspects of religion in a respectful way. Borg usually writes in a more classic theological style, but this book was personal and hence, more relatable for the average reader. This book helped me feel comfortable with my own spirituality, even if I couldn’t conform to any conventional religion. 

By Marcus J. Borg ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Convictions as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, the renowned scholar Marcus J. Borg shares how he formed his bedrock religious beliefs, contending that Christians in America are at their best when they focus on hope and transformation and so shows how we can return to what really matters most. The result is a manifesto for all progressive Christians who seek the best path for following Jesus today.

With each chapter embodying a distinct conviction, Borg writes provocatively and compellingly on the beliefs that can deeply ground us and guide us, such as: God is real and a mystery; salvation is…


If you love Ian Wilson...

Book cover of Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence

Need to Know by Nicholas Reynolds,

The authoritative but accessible history of the birth of modern American intelligence in World War II that treats not just one but all of the various disciplines: spies, codebreakers, saboteurs.

Told in a relatable style that focuses on actual people, it was a New Yorker "Best of 2022" selection and…

Book cover of Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence

Betsy Duffey Author Of More Love

From my list on Christian devotional books to build your faith.

Why am I passionate about this?

Books have been an important part of my faith journey. I set aside time each morning to read scripture, and devotional material, to meditate and pray. As I read about the experiences of others my faith increases and I know God better. As a writer I express my own faith through words and invite others to know God better by experiencing Him with time set aside in the mornings. More Love is part of a series of small books that I have created to give readers experiences to connect with God and to know His love. 

Betsy's book list on Christian devotional books to build your faith

Betsy Duffey Why Betsy loves this book

Sarah Young writes as if Jesus is speaking to the reader, “All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to my hand for strength and direction.” This book speaks to me, especially in difficult years. It brings me to an awareness of God’s comfort and love for me. Simple, short daily readings are based on scripture. Sitting with this book in the morning is like spending time with Jesus. 

By Sarah Young ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jesus Calling as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the presence of the One who understands you perfectly and loves you forever. With Scripture and personal reflections, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Young brings Jesus' message of peace-for today and every day.

Jesus Calling is your yearlong guide to living a more peaceful life. The Jesus Calling (R) brand has impacted over 40 million lives.

By spending time in the presence of the Savior with the much-loved devotions in Jesus Calling, you will:

Feel comforted by words of hope and encouragement Be reassured of Jesus' unending love for you…


Book cover of Shroud Encounter
Book cover of The Hidden History of The Shroud of Turin
Book cover of From the Mandylion of Edessa to the Shroud of Turin

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