New York Times BESTSELLER -- "Exciting... hard to put down without reading one more page." - The Florida Times-Union The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was–and its true nature could change the modern world. Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts–and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he’d left behind. It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton’s former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who’ s far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she’s not alone. Competing for the historic prize– and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses–is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command. Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world–and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.
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"This was the second of Berry's books that I read and Cotton Malone became my new Robert Langdon. Except that Cotton was former FBI and has the physical prowess as well as the intellectual one. I am intrigued more and more by Berry's plot lines and with each book he thrills me even more. But, more than that, Berry makes me question what I always thought I knew to be the truth. I've learned now not to get so caught up in things and that faith is personal and individual. Berry has a way of taking historical fact and weaving a new story with it. All in all this is one of my favorites!" — Espe (4 out of 5 stars)
"This was the second of Berry's books that I read and Cotton Malone became my new Robert Langdon. Except that Cotton was former FBI and has the physical prowess as well as the intellectual one. I am intrigued more and more by Berry's plot lines and with each book he thrills me even more. But, more than that, Berry makes me question what I always thought I knew to be the truth. I've learned now not to get so caught up in things and that faith is personal and individual. Berry has a way of taking historical fact and weaving a new story with it. All in all this is one of my favorites!"
“A major twist midway through the story…the puzzles are so much fun…radical thinking of the Gospels that’s sure to spark some lively debate…pretty grabby stuff.”
“Lively characters and action set pieces make this a more readable, if no more plausible, version of the typical gnostic occult thriller.”
“Not to be missed. Anagrams and complicated symbology abound, and comparisons to The Da Vinci Code are inevitable, but Berry distinguishes himself with a complex, well-written, and extremely readable story.”
“Until the next Dan Brown opus is released, this should hold devotees.”
“Exciting…hard to put down without reading one more page.”
“Berry’s latest is simultaneously a history lesson and a spellbinding mystery. Danger is ever-present, and the twists culminate in a breathtaking finale.”
“Berry provides Da Vinci Code–type suspense about a fascinating ancient order.”
" Enjoyed previous Steve Berry works so decided to give his Cotton Malone series a go. Not bad for a series debut.Looking forward to the next one, someday. "
" At first I wasn't sure I liked this book - it seemed like another Dan Brown/DaVinci code type thriller, but not as polished. I ended up really enjoying it. This book incorporates more of the actual myths surrounding the Templar treasure (the "real" myths??), and at the end of the book the author has included a short section talking about what is actual legend and what he invented for the story. I would definitely consider reading another of his books. "
" This is a fascinating book. The author's notes at the end tell you what is historical fact or legend versus the fiction of the book. If you like the Dan Brown series, you'll like this one as well. "
" I enjoy this author. He takes unpopular and sometimes obscure theories and adds his own bit of historical fiction. Makes for a very fun read. This one was one of my favorites. "
" It was a fun adventure, but left lots to be desired!! "
" tedious, drags from one moderate drama to another. Got boring and returned to library at about 75% done. "
" Meh. I didn't really like it. I felt that the author was trying too hard to make it like The DaVinci Code. Also, the writing was full of cliches. Don't bother with it. "
" A very difficult book for me to read, because it kept hitting sore spots for me when it comes to religion/sheep mind. However, the end of the book completely redeemed it for me, and Berry is still one of my favorite authors. "
" A light thriller - a perfect winter hibernation read. "
" i really enjoyed this book, learned alot too. "
" OK, I liked the mystery, intrigue and the treasure hunting. I DID NOT like the religious aspects of the story -- I should have just stopped reading. It was a big clue that it wasn't my favorite when it took me sooooo long to finish it. (I did take a 4 day break and reread all four twilight books) "
" great historical fiction with engaging characters...fast-paced. Both sequels are good, too...looking forward to 4th. "
" Meh. The Templar conspiracy is so 1980s. "
" Intelligent and interesting. Historical fiction at its most readable . "
" One of my favorite authors. He makes me think, he makes me nervous as I read, it's edge of your seat. Such an amazing book and writer. "
" I might have given this 2 and a half stars as it was better than the last Steve Berry I read (The Romanov Prophecy). I read this after reading The Jefferson Key because I wanted to try another Berry novel with Cotton Malone as the main character. This was really just so-so. "
" This book took a while to get warmed up but once it did, it was a fun read. "
" Enjoyable read. author gets your attention & story line is enjoyable. "
" Liked the mix of mystery/thriller and religion. "
" If you're looking for a book to read after Dan browns series of books, this is a good place to go. Not as much detail and not quite as well written but the plot is exciting and the facts are intriguing. "
" yah..yah Dan Brown-ish. Lumayan menegangkan lah,..bagi penggemar cerita thriller-konspirasi yah? tapi bagi yang gak suka2 amat ama konspirasi pasti bakal bosen bacanya. "
" I throughly enjoyed this book. I enjoy thrillers, but especially thrillers which are combined with history. "
" Surprisingly good read. I was reluctant to get into it at first because there's literally 1,000 pages. However, this book is entertaining enough to read through to the end. I had trouble putting it down. "
" I liked it really well it was the 2nd of his books that I read "
" I really like books that are historical fiction, and this certainly fit the bill. The plot is pretty suspensful but it would be boring for people who don't like this genre. But since that's not me, I'm re-reading it...for about the third time. "
" An awesome novel, with loads of historical facts in it.For all the fans of the Davinci Code & other templar books: you have got to read this one! "
" Audio Book. It was a pretty entertaining story but I couldn't get behind the hero. This might be because it was the abridged version. They take out all the character details and just leave you a story with no characters to get behind. Steve Berry also "
" Very complicated and the theology of things is beyond my education, but good. "
" I am not sure how to rate this book. There are some points of the books that I loved and could not put down. Then there are parts that all I could think while reading was why am I doing this to myself. Overall, I guess it was a good read. I was impressed with the factual details of the book. "
" I love books set in European locales and I like the premise of the book. I just didn't like the book. Maybe it was my mood at the time? I may try one again. "
" Great book full of mystery and intrigue. "
Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of seventeen Cotton Malone and four stand-alone novels, among other books and works of short fiction. He has twenty-five million books in print, translated into forty languages. He is an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and a founding member of International Thriller Writers. With his wife, Elizabeth, he is the founder of History Matters, which is dedicated to historical preservation.
Paul Michael, winner of several Earphones Awards, has also won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has acted on stage, radio, television, and in feature films in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He has had leading roles in series and made-for-television movies and has guest starred in such series as VIP and Alias. He has been nominated for a Canadian Emmy and has recorded over 150 audiobooks, including the international bestseller The Da Vinci Code.
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