Nightingale Mountain Trilogy
Trilogy Overview
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 The Vigil, Rachel’s quiet life unravels as secrets and persecution force her to confront the past. In The Reunion, estranged father and daughter wrestle with forgiveness and love. In The Legacy, a new generation carries the torch of faith in the face of Rome’s power. A sweeping saga of family, sacrifice, and the earliest followers of Jesus.
Book 1 - The Vigil
Two stories unfold.
On the sunlit slopes of Nightingale Mountain near Ephesus, Rachel longs for love and belonging. She finds both with Mary the mother of Jesus and John the Evangelist—until her father’s hidden past threatens the future she longs for.
At the same time, Saul of Tarsus—once the fiercest enemy of believers—is transformed by a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ. This turning point lays the foundation for the missionary journeys that will one day carry the Good News across the empire.
The Vigil is the first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy, a novel about the Apostle Paul and his family.
Start The Vigil with a free preview.
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.
Book 1 - The Vigil
On the sunlit slopes of Nightingale Mountain, Rachel longs for love and belonging. But whispers of betrayal and her father’s hidden past draw her into the turmoil of the early church. As persecution spreads and secrets erupt, Rachel must confront her past—or risk being consumed by it.
Her journey intertwines with Saul—once the enemy of believers, now transformed. Every step forces her to choose between bitterness and forgiveness, despair and hope.
Set against the backdrop of Jerusalem and Ephesus, The Vigil is a moving story of courage and redemption in the earliest days of faith.
The Vigil is the first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy, a novel about the Apostle Paul and his family.
Start The Vigil with a free preview.
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.
Book 2 - The Reunion
Two stories unfold.
On Nightingale Mountain, Rachel enters a new chapter of life as wife and mother. The birth of her daughter, Mara, brings joy to her household. Yet her new life is unsettled by the sudden return of her father, who has been absent since her infancy. Their reunion reopens old wounds and calls Rachel to the hard work of forgiveness.
As Rachel begins to build trust, Mara quickly grows to love her grandfather, a sign of reconciliation that bridges generations.
Meanwhile, Paul begins his three great missionary journeys, planting communities and enduring trials as he carries the Good News across the empire. Reports of his work reach Ephesus, stirring hope and controversy alike. Only later, as his journeys continue, do Rachel’s path and his finally cross.
Blending family healing with the widening mission of Paul, preparing the way for Mara’s future and the legacy yet to come, The Reunion is the second book in…
The Nightingale Mountain Trilogy.
Book 2 - The Reunion
On the sunlit slopes of Nightingale Mountain, Rachel longs for love and belonging. But whispers of betrayal and her father’s hidden past draw her into the turmoil of the early church. As persecution spreads and secrets erupt, Rachel must confront her past—or risk being consumed by it.
Her journey intertwines with Saul—once the enemy of believers, now transformed. Every step forces her to choose between bitterness and forgiveness, despair and hope.
Set against the backdrop of Jerusalem and Ephesus, The Vigil is a moving story of courage and redemption in the earliest days of faith.
The Vigil is the first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy, a novel about the Apostle Paul and his family.
Book 3 - The Legacy
On Nightingale Mountain, Mara, once the child at her mother Rachel’s side, now takes her place at the center of the story. She travels with Paul as he pursues his dream of bringing the Good News to Spain. Sharing in his vision, she experiences both the risks and the hopes of the mission. Returning to Ephesus, she begins her family, while Paul presses on until his second imprisonment and execution in Rome. His death ends an era, but not the story.
Paul’s legacy lived on. It flowed through the letters he wrote and in the lives he touched—reaching even to the community on Nightingale Mountain. For Mara, that legacy took the shape of service. From her earliest years John had been her teacher, and in time she joined him as a scribe, helping preserve his words and visions for the church. For Mara’s daughter Joanna, it took the form of a mission. Together with her husband, she left Ephesus and carried the Good News to the farthest edge of the known world, in Britannia.
The Legacy concludes The Nightingale Mountain Trilogy with a sweeping yet personal story of faith carried forward. It portrays how Paul’s mission, John’s testimony, and the devotion of those close to them became a legacy lived out across generations and in distant lands.
Book 3 - The Legacy
On the sunlit slopes of Nightingale Mountain, Rachel longs for love and belonging. But whispers of betrayal and her father’s hidden past draw her into the turmoil of the early church. As persecution spreads and secrets erupt, Rachel must confront her past—or risk being consumed by it.
Her journey intertwines with Saul—once the enemy of believers, now transformed. Every step forces her to choose between bitterness and forgiveness, despair and hope.
Set against the backdrop of Jerusalem and Ephesus, The Vigil is a moving story of courage and redemption in the earliest days of faith.
The Vigil is the first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy, a novel about the Apostle Paul and his family.
Our Readers' Reviews
See what our readers are saying about the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy! These novels have given many 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.
Get Updates On The Trilogy
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Christian historical fiction that brings the early Church to life—and draws readers back to Scripture.
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