Cover Page

Invitation from the Author

My “day job” is as a writer/producer of music. Therefore, I couldn’t imagine ILLUMINATED without a musical accompaniment. I called on some of my closest and most talented friends in the industry to help out. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this soundtrack as much as I enjoyed writing the novel to it!

The soundtrack is available totally free at Mattbronleewe.com.

Advance Acclaim for Illuminated

Matt Bronleewe has crafted a seat-of-your-pants thrill ride into a world of cryptic messages within ancient documents. Illuminated is what The Da Vinci Code should have been. The characters are more endearing, the twists more believable, the story more satisfying. And don’t even get me started about that nasty she-villain! Illuminated is sure to be a welcome addition to any suspense fan’s library.

—Robert Liparulo, author of Deadfall, Germ, and Comes a Horseman

If you turned National Treasure into International Treasure, traded Da Vinci codes for Gutenberg Bibles, married it to Indiana Jones, and finally added the pacing of 24 you’d be in the neighborhood of Illuminated. Make sure you have plenty of time when you pick this up because you may not easily put it down. Better known as one of the founding members of the band Jars of Clay, Bronleewe has struck gold with his first novel. This one goes to eleven.

—Mark Parolini, Aspiring Retail

I think we’re going to have to invent a new genre to describe Matt Bronleewe’s “theological thriller,” Illuminated. Obsessively detailed and so fast-paced it could outrun a freight train, Bronleewe’s debut is a taut, intelligent ride that will induce finger cramps from how tightly you’ll be clutching the pages.

—Robin Parrish, author of Relentless and Fearless

Matt Bronleewe bursts onto the scene with a spirited thriller. I always love authors who can mix history and suspense, and Bronleewe does so with doses of fact, sprinkles of laughter, and bucket-loads of action. Reading Illuminated is like watching a big-budget summer movie played out on the pages.

—Eric Wilson, author of A Shred of Truth

Matt Bronleewe’s ability to take something and turn it into an opportunity for innovative expression is one of the very reasons I choose to work with him so often and respect him so much. And Illuminated is no different. I was educated while I was entertained. This is not your every day read, but such an intelligent escape from it. Loved it.

—Tiffany Arbuckle Lee a.k.a. Plumb,
Songwriter and Curb Records recording artist

Illuminated is a riveting debut from a fresh new voice in thriller fiction.

—Chris Well, author of Tribulation House

Illuminated is a wonderful work that shows Matt Bronleewe is simply warming up.

—Dan Haseltine (reader of some books,
and writer of essays), Jars of Clay