Christian Fiction and Nonfiction from St. Hans Books - Stories of Faith, History and Hope.
Explore the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy by D. D. Shiell - Christian historical fiction set in the world of the Apostle Paul and the early Church.
The Apostle Paul’s Message Reimagined
From the hills of Ephesus to the heart of Rome, the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy follows the Apostle Paul and his family through betrayal, reconciliation, and enduring faith in this Christian historical fiction by author D.D. Shiell.
Read Free - The Vigil
Start Book One of the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy with a free preview.
The Vigil follows Rachel’s search for love and belonging on Nightingale Mountain as her father’s past collides with Saul of Tarsus’s dramatic transformation, setting the stage for the Apostle Paul’s life and mission.
Get instant access to the opening chapters of The Vigil — Book 1 of the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy. Download your free PDF sample (Chapters 1–3) and start reading today.
Our Readers' Reviews
See what our readers are saying about the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy! These biblical fiction novels have given many readers a richer, more personal connection to the life of the Apostle Paul. Explore their reflections—and discover how the story can deepen your own understanding, too.
Wow - what a fantastic read! D.D. Shiell does such a great job of bringing the people of the Bible to life in The Vigil. This first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy blends real historical figures with fictional characters in a way that feels seamless and engaging.
What I loved most is how the story weaves together actual events with imagined ones, giving us a fresh sense of what life might have been like for the families and friends of Jesus. The characters feel real, the setting is vivid, and the mix of fact and fiction makes it easy to picture yourself right there in the middle of it all.
Shiell has a gift for storytelling. Instead of just retelling familiar stories, The Vigil lets you experience them in a whole new way. It's the kind of book that leaves you excited for the rest of the trilogy.
The Vigil is a beautifully written historical novel that brought the people of the Bible to life for me in a way that reminded me of watching The Chosen. Instead of feeling like distant, untouchable figures, Mary, John, Saul and others became real, relatable people with emotions, struggles and faith journeys.
I especially appreciated how the store wove together biblical history with imaginative storytelling. It helped me picture what life might have been like for the early followers of Jesus, and it made their perseverance and faith much more personal. Reading it gave me a deeper sense of connection with their humanity, their sacrifices, and their trust in God.
If you enjoyed The Chosen for how it humanized the Gospels, you'll find The Vigil does the same in the book form...drawing you closer to the biblical world and its people in a powerful, moving way.
I have heard that the Apostle Paul is important and wrote a bunch ofthe New Testament. However, he always seemed like a superhero that it was impossible to relate to. This book made Paul a real person for me. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy.
What a great first novel in the Nightingale Mountain trilogy! Not only was it an enjoyable and engaging read, but I also learned a lot about the Apostle Paul. Even though some of the characters are fictional, they felt real and deeply relatable. I loved the way D.D. Shiell masterfully blended biblical history with compelling fictional storytelling. The writing was easy to read, the characters were well-developed, and the story left me eager to dive into the next book in the trilogy. Highly recommended!
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Christian historical fiction that brings the early Church to life—and draws readers back to the Bible.
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