Pilgrimage to Heresy: Don't Believe Everything They Tell You by Tracy Saunders is a fascinating book whether or not you intend to walk the route to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a superb tale that interweaves fact and fiction along the way. Miranda the main pilgrim is caught up in the tale of the camino and seeks to understand the truth of the trail.

Is it really St.James that is buried in the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela? If not who is it? And why do the Catholic Church allow the mystery to continue?

Miranda is on the 800 kilometre hike when she meets Kieran an intriguing character who’s translating a book from Latin, that in itself is rather mysterious.

As they walk their dialogue tells his story and the history that drives him. Miranda becomes interested in the man, the tale and his work. Then he disappears along with his translation and the unravelling mystery deepens. Saunders develops both the mystery of his disappearance and the myths of St. James in great style.

Fact and fiction, truth and turmoil keep step with Miranda along the way as the narrative enlightens its readers to the controversy of centuries that non but Saunders seem to be addressing.

The missing translation adds another facet and introduces the fact turned fiction account of the early Christian church and Gnosticism which raises and challenges the belief of the reader.

The narrative style of this story keeps the reader in suspense and informs us without being too heavy-handed. Saunders opens the eyes of pilgrims, church historians and truth seekers alike in this great 800km long tale.
It’s a great mystery, an enlightening read and a tale that needs telling again and again.