“Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel” by Ray Keating Ranks as a Thought-Provoking Thriller

 17th Installment in Series Featuring a Former CIA Operative Turned Pastor

Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a thought-provoking, exciting page-turner from Ray Keating. This is his eighteenth work of fiction, and the 17th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. 

In this latest book, Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church. Defending religious freedom isn’t limited to a conflict of ideas, as the struggle turns deadly.

 

Ray Keating says, “In Under the Golden Dome, I not only try to bring action, urgency and some fun to the reader, but I probably delve more deeply into the world of ideas than in my previous novels. First, I’ve set the book at one of my favorite places in the country, that is, at and around the University of Notre Dame. Second, the conflict in this story stems from conflicting views on the mix of freedom, pluralism, and Christianity, and the questions, risks and history of wedding the Church with politics. Third, at the same time, my primary objective remains telling a compelling story, with characters that readers find interesting.”

 

Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”

 

In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”

 

Among other reviews and comments, Father Mike Coleman declared, “I am a Catholic priest and have thoroughly enjoyed each of these books. Edge-of-your seat excitement and very spiritually uplifting.”

 

Paperbacks and the Kindle edition of Under the Golden Dome are available at Amazon.com, and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Review copies, and author interviews and appearances are available upon request. 

 

Contact: Ray Keating

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels and https://www.facebook.com/AllianceofSaintMichael

Twitter: @KeatingNovels

RayKeatingOnline.com

 

 

About the Author 

 

Ray Keating is a novelist, an economist, a nonfiction author, a podcaster, a columnist, and an entrepreneur. 

 

At this point, Keating has penned 17 Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries (with more on the way) – Warrior Monk, followed by Root of All Evil?, An Advent for Religious Liberty, The River, Murderer’s Row, Wine Into Water, Lionhearts, Reagan Country, Heroes and Villains, Shifting Sands, Deep Rough, The Traitor, Vatican Shadows, Past Lives, What’s Lost?, Persecution and now Under the Golden Dome. He also has begun the Alliance of Saint Michael series, with Cathedral. 

 

Among recent nonfiction books are The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution, The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York and Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.

 

In addition, Keating is the editor/publisher/columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and hosts three podcasts. He was a columnist with RealClearMarkets.com, and a former weekly newspaper columnist for Newsday, Long Island Business News, and the New York City Tribune. His work has appeared in many periodicals, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe, National Review, The Washington Times, Investor’s Business Daily, New York Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, TheHill.com, Touchstone magazine, Townhall.com, and Cincinnati Enquirer. 

 

Pre-Order “Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel” by Ray Keating Now!

Kindle editions at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ3KLSCP

Signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/underthegoldendome

 

Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church. 

 

• Kirkus Reviews says Ray Keating’s books are “exhilarating."

 

• Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”

 

• “I am a Catholic priest and have thoroughly enjoyed each of these books. Edge-of-your seat excitement and very spiritually uplifting.” - Father Mike Coleman

 

This is the 17^th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries series, so make sure you’re caught up!

St. Patrick’s Day Excerpt from “Under the Golden Dome”

Here’s a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. First, enjoy the following chapter, which fits nicely for St. Patrick’s Day, as a sneak peek of the forthcoming book Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating. Second, pre-order signed editions of Under the Golden Dome.

 

Chapter 32

 

Before the “Faith and Freedom” conference officially kicked off after lunch on Wednesday, participants were invited to attend a morning Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Father Ron McDermott was the celebrant.

Stephen and Jennifer attended, with Father Tom Stone. But Grant found himself distracted prior to the start of the Mass. 

Part of it was the beauty of the cathedral. There was so much to consider, particularly given the ornate Gothic Revival style. There was the baptismal font at the entrance and the magnificent pipe organ above it. The ceiling featured angels on a blue sky with stars, and a gold area above the sanctuary depicting Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, along with various prophets. In the distance behind the altar used during Mass stood the elaborate original altar with a tabernacle tower that Stephen found out had been inspired by Revelation 21:9 – seven angels with seven bowls, and the vision of the New Jerusalem. There was much more, such as the plethora of stained glass, and it was all a great deal to drink in.

In this case, he resisted applying an evaluative eye to see what might or might not sit right with various particulars of Lutheran theology. He decided that he was a guest in a Roman Catholic cathedral, and he would appreciate it as a guest.

But another part of Stephen did show up in the basilica.

Jennifer and Stephen had arrived early and wound up sitting toward the back of the nave on the right side looking forward. Normally, the pastor in Grant meant that when he was attending a service, he’d sit toward the front. However, the CIA operative in him – what he recently started referring to as the “Old Stephen” in his mind – wanted to sit in a position where he could see everything going on and everyone in attendance. Old Stephen won out after his early morning meeting with Paige and Charlie.

Stephen then witnessed an eclectic stream of people from his past, as well as some he had only met recently, arriving. They included Frederico Escalante, the former president of Creencia. Paige Caldwell, Charlie Driessen, and Chase Axelrod arrived separately, and spread themselves among the pews. 

The odd trio of Pastor Malcolm Lawrence, Father Donald Roner, and Woodrow Stein came in as well, somewhat to Grant’s surprise. 

What the heck is Malcolm Lawrence doing at a Catholic Mass?

Kathy Flaherty arrived with a man about her age, and three teenage girls.

Everyone has red hair. Husband and daughters, I assume.

Stephen also spotted assorted fellow conference speakers whom he knew only by reputation and their photos.

There’s a lot going on before this Mass.

As luck would have it, Jennifer and he happened to be sitting near a stained glass window featuring St. Patrick.

Kind of fitting at the home of the Fighting Irish. Geez, he even has a green halo.

Taking note of Patrick being clean shaven, Grant wasn’t sure if he’d even seen the patron saint of Ireland portrayed that way before. However, Patrick standing on and gripping a snake was not unusual, along with a few three-leaf clovers on the ground. But most striking for Grant was that the lower part of the window – or the medallion – showed St. Patrick baptizing an Irish nobleman. 

After all, the point of celebrating St. Patrick is that he spread the Christian faith in Ireland.

Grant had read St. Patrick’s Confession, and he thought about how it opened, “I am Patrick – a sinner – the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God.”

That helped Grant get focused in a more appropriate direction, as did the start of the organ music. The congregation rose to their feet as the opening processional moved down the center aisle, with Ron in the final spot.

Finally, all worldly distractions were swept away for Stephen as all in attendance, including the University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, began singing one of his favorite hymns – “O God Beyond All Praising.”

 

O God beyond all praising,

We worship you today

And sing the love amazing

That songs cannot repay;

For we can only wonder

At every gift you send,

At blessings without number

And mercies without end:

We lift our hearts before you

And wait upon your word,

We honor and adore you,

Our great and mighty Lord…