The Shepherd Trial- The Cross Examination Book 13

The year is 2046. Under the Science Reform Act and newly enacted federal regulations, pastoral care is being scrutinized as a potential form of psychological harm. When Christian Cross, a respected professor of apologetics and veteran survivor of twelve previous courtroom battles, is indicted for providing spiritual counsel to suffering individuals, the very practice of caring for souls is placed on trial.

As prosecutors seek to prove that religious guidance has no place in mental health care, Cross must defend a tradition that has comforted the grieving, the broken, and the lost for centuries. Through the stories of a young woman recovering from a suicide attempt, a family navigating Alzheimer’s disease, and a college student wrestling with faith and doubt, the courtroom becomes the stage for a profound debate about truth, compassion, freedom, and the role of spiritual care in human healing.

Richly layered with legal drama, theological reflection, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters, The Shepherd Trial explores questions that are increasingly relevant in today’s world: Can faith and mental health work together? Is pastoral care a source of healing or harm? And who has the authority to define the care of the human soul?

Part courtroom thriller, part spiritual exploration, and part philosophical drama, this thirteenth installment in the Christian Cross Trials series delivers a compelling and thought-provoking story that will resonate with readers of Christian fiction, legal suspense, apologetics, and faith-based literature.

What is The Shepherd Trial about?

The Shepherd Trial is set in 2046, in a near-future America where the Science Reform Act and new federal regulations treat pastoral care as a possible form of psychological harm. Christian Cross, a professor of apologetics and a veteran of twelve earlier courtroom battles, is indicted for providing spiritual counsel to people who are suffering. The prosecution argues that religious guidance has no place in mental health care, so the trial becomes a test of whether caring for souls should be allowed at all. Three cases drive the story: a young woman recovering from a suicide attempt, a family dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, and a college student wrestling with faith and doubt. The novel asks whether faith and mental health can work together, whether pastoral care heals or harms, and who has the authority to define the care of the human soul.

Who wrote The Shepherd Trial?

It was written by Alfred Basta, a professor, author, and musician.

What genre is The Shepherd Trial?

It is Christian fiction in the form of a courtroom novel, blending a legal thriller with spiritual exploration and philosophical drama, so readers get trial scenes alongside theological reflection and emotional depth.

Who is The Shepherd Trial for?

It is written for readers of Christian fiction, legal suspense, apologetics, and faith-based literature.

Is The Shepherd Trial part of a series?

Yes. It is Book 13 of The Cross Examination series, following twelve earlier trials of Professor Christian Cross. You can find the series on Amazon.

Where can I buy The Shepherd Trial?

The Shepherd Trial is available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions. The hardcover ISBN-13 is 979-8183607819 (405 pages, published June 21, 2026).

Amazon (paperback) | Amazon (hardcover) | Amazon (Kindle) | Indigo (author page)

About the author: Alfred Basta is a professor, author of Ward No. 8 and The Malgrave Letters, and musician as The Bastas Project.

Last updated: October 12, 2026