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 … 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.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Steve Berry’s The King’s Deception and a Cotton Malone dossier.
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All of these books in this series are extraordinary. Absolutely worth every penny and every minute of time.
Interesting take on a traditional historical era many have hypothicized about.
He writes good historical novels
Absolutely loved this.
I’m a history buff and this was a fun story built around real history. I loved and would enjoy more of the same ilk.
Good escapist book for the summer.
This book was hard to put down. I don’t know how much was real and how much was based on reality but I have always been interested in the Templars. It was very enthralling and I enjoyed it very much and was sorry to have it end.
Great Steve Berry book… love them all!
Always enjoy the way Steve Berry creates a story around true but little known facts. Thankfully he always lets you know what was true and what was fiction at the end of the story. He never disappoints with his story telling and you learn something interesting as well as being entertained
I have been reading Steve Berry for years and he never fails to entertain me and keep me guessing. If he writes it, I will read it with enthusiasm!!
Really got into the plot in the second half, but the writer is a tad redundant, using some of the same phrases repetitively.
Some good twists and turns in the plot. Basically this is a Dan Brown-type thriller. Good for action and adventure, also includes some thought-provoking takes on the Knights Templar and early Christianity.
Really enjoyed this book! The Knights Templar are totally misunderstood and are so committed to their mission. Very, very interesting.
Enjoyable reading and interesting topic. Like a Dan Brown novel in a lot of ways.
Good read. Cheering for the good guy.
I like this book. I love the whole Templar Nights/Catholic Church storyline. I found this book entertaining and actually a bit informative. What I like is that at the end the author tells what was fact and what was fiction. I’m sure I’ll pick up more of Steve Berry’s books to read. If you like the subject matter of Templar Nights, you might want …
Every Steve Berry book is good. They all keep you reading and turning pages. Love Cotton Malone character.
If you haven’t tried any of Steve Berry’s books and you love history, what are you waiting for?
I love all of Steve Berry’s books, Templar was the best
Decent story line but not interesting enough that I will read anything else in the series.