The Judge

Previously published as The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney. When a brilliant billionaire is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, he realizes that all his considerable wealth cannot prepare him to meet his Maker. But he has an idea that might: he will stage the ultimate reality show. With his true agenda hidden, he auditions followers from all the world’s major religions, inviting them to the trial of their lives on a remote island, where they must defend their beliefs against spiritual challenges.

Oliver Finney, a feisty old judge with his own secrets, is chosen to defend Christianity. As the program takes a strange twist, he quickly realizes he is trapped in a game of deadly agendas that may cost him his life. With Internet access monitored, Finney sends coded messages to his law clerk, Nikki Moreno. Aided by a teen crypto-geek, Nikki soon discovers the key to understanding Finney’s clues in an apologetics book Finney wrote and must race against time to decipher the mysteries contained in the ancient words of Christ before her boss dies defending them.

A judge on trial. His life on the line.
When a brilliant billionaire is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, he realizes all his considerable wealth cannot prepare him to meet his Maker. But he has an idea that might: he will stage the ultimate reality show. With his true agenda hidden, he auditions advocates from the world’s major religions, inviting them to the trial of their lives on a remote island where they will defend their beliefs against all challenges.

Oliver Finney, a feisty old judge with his own secrets, is chosen to defend Christianity. As the show takes a strange twist, he quickly realizes he’s trapped in a game of deadly agendas. Not knowing whom he can trust, and with all Internet access monitored, Finney sneaks coded messages out to his law clerk, Nikki Moreno.

Nikki soon discovers the key to deciphering the codes lies in an apologetics book Finney wrote. But as the producers raise the stakes for each live broadcast, Nikki must scramble in a race against time to decipher the mysteries contained in the ancient words of Christ before her boss dies defending them.
Previously published as The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney