The Messiah Code
by Michael Cordy
Avon $76
Dr Tom Carter has invented a revolutionary machine, the Genescope, capable of decoding DNA. But as he's being presented the Nobel Prize an assassin's bullet meant for him kills his wife. In the aftermath of her death, a Genescope scan reveals that his daughter, Holly, has inherited a brain disease and has less than a year to live. He becomes convinced the only way he can save her is to decode the genes of Jesus Christ, as he believes they will contain a universal cure for all human illness. He steals as many holy relics as he can, but finds that all of them are frauds. Then he receives a message from a group of monks who claim to have one of Jesus' teeth and a nail from the crucifixion. But they want something from Dr Carter in return - they're looking for the new Messiah and they need his Genescope to help them find him.