Reviews

1

Booksprout⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

A gripping, daring novel that stays with you long after the final page What Joseph Knew is an exceptional literary novel — bold in its premise, meticulous in its historical detail, and deeply moving in its execution. Alexander von Schmid masterfully intertwines two storylines separated by nearly two millennia: the testimony of Joseph of Arimathea, who claims knowledge about what happened after Jesus’ crucifixion, and the inner turmoil of the contemporary Pope who discovers Joseph’s hidden manuscript. The prose is elegant and cinematic. The historical sections feel rich and tactile, as if you are walking the streets of ancient Antioch or standing beneath the looming shadow of Rome. The modern storyline is equally compelling: intimate, psychological, and steeped in moral tension. Von Schmid writes with the rare ability to pose enormous questions — about truth, faith, power, and personal transformation — while maintaining a narrative pace that makes the book impossible to put down. This novel doesn’t just challenge assumptions — it does so with respect, intelligence, and emotional depth. The characters are remarkably human. Their doubts, fears, and longings feel real and universal. Even the theological elements are handled with nuance; this is not a book that tells you what to believe, but one that invites reflection. In the end, What Joseph Knew is more than historical fiction or a religious thriller. It is a courageous meditation on truth — the truth we inherit, the truth we fear, and the truth we choose. A powerful, beautifully written novel. Highly recommended.

2

Booksprout⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

a truly intriguing and mindblowing thriller

While reli-thrillers have always been my favorite genre, i have to say this book ‘What Joseph knew’ is really unique as it takes different viewpoints into account to reveal what really happened after Jesus’ crucifixion. The story covers 2 different timelines, both 2000 years ago and present time. It puts the current pope in a moral dilemma as he finds himself dealing with the ‘truth’ after getting hold of an old manuscript which shakes up his conviction about loyalty, celibasy and love. Eventually the 2 timelines are brilliantly tied together into one final apotheose. The author masters the art of putting thoughts into sentences in a very readable fasion, as he is slowly building up tension with page-turners at the right time, which makes it difficult to pause reading. The book gets into your head as it triggers the urge of wanting to know the ‘secret’ and everything falls into place at the end. ‘What Joseph knew’ is a well-written and intriquing story about the origin of Christianity and unravels hidden secrets in the Old Testament as well as in nowadays religious politics. I can highly recommend this book as it hold a promise of a decent number of hours happy reading, but moreover leaving you with some deeper thoughts and considerations about the Bible and its influence on todays society.

3

Booksprout⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fascinating and powerful story

A fascinating and powerful story that offers a renewed perspective on the final days of Christ. The author, Alexander von Schmid, masterfully connects the present and the past through the way the chapters alternate in time. The two seemingly different stories become increasingly intertwined. The line between what is real and what is fiction gradually blurs—and that made it hard for me to put the book down. Although I already had some knowledge of the Bible, I found myself inspired to seek answers to new questions that arose. For instance, I was intrigued to learn that there are several accounts of Christ’s final days—and that there are striking differences between them, which could have significant implications. Curious yet? If you have even the slightest interest in the Biblical story, the Roman Church, or mysticism, this exceptionally well-written book is an absolute must-read!

4

Booksprout⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Gripping Story That Stays With You

What I really appreciated about this book is how the different storylines unfold alongside each other. From the very beginning, you’re drawn into several threads that develop in parallel, and the author manages to keep them all alive without losing focus. That alone kept me turning the pages. The characters are another strong point. Whether it’s the Pope or Joseph, they all feel deeply human. Their thoughts, doubts, and actions are believable, and that makes it easy to connect with them. I also liked how the author is transparent about what’s based on fact and what’s fiction. It gives the story a sense of credibility without pretending to be something it’s not. It’s one of those books that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter! It’s a real thriller, but not in a flashy or superficial way. And the ending? It didn’t disappoint at all, which is rare in this genre.

These reviews below are of the Dutch version of What Joseph Knew. The Dutch version is titled: De Laatste Christen

5

6

“You can only be impressed by how incredibly cleverly Von Schmid has woven these storylines together. The pace picks up nicely around the middle, and at a certain point it becomes so suspenseful that you, as a reader, can’t put the book down. I finished the thick book in three nights, while thinking about the story of Jesus during the day.”

For the full review see: https://boekrecensiesblog.nl/de-laatste-christen/ or click here

7

“What a great novel Alexander von Schmid has written that combines a love story with a thriller and sucks you into the story so much that you don’t want to stop. As I said I did at times but more because I wanted to think for a while because that is what this book does to you….. it got under my skin and questions arose that on reflection I had had for much longer.

What a story, the switching between the timelines was so exciting and every time you just want to know what will happen next. In the end both story lines lead to a great, exciting and also tragic denouement.

I really enjoyed it, it is smoothly written and also very visual which makes you see everything happening in front of you and feel like you are also walking around next to Joseph in the past and at the same time in the archbishop’s palace in Seville. A unique book that I will not soon forget and I hope there will be more books by this author!”

For the full review see: https://www.hebban.nl/recensie/ingrid-lemmens-over-de-laatste-christen or click here