What do you think?
Rate this book
Cotton Malone #1
螣 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻蠈蟼 蟿蠅谓 螡伪蠆蟿蠋谓
韦慰 伪蟻蠂伪委慰 韦维纬渭伪 蟿蠅谓 螡伪蠆蟿蠋谓 螜蟺蟺慰蟿蠋谓 蔚委蠂蔚 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 苇位蔚纬蠂慰 蟿慰蠀 伪渭蠉胃畏蟿伪 蟺位慰蠉蟿畏 魏伪喂 伪蟺蠈位蠀蟿畏 蔚尉慰蠀蟽委伪, 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺蠈 尾伪蟽喂位喂维未蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟺维蟺蔚蟼... 螠苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 未苇魏伪蟿慰 蟿苇蟿伪蟻蟿慰 伪喂蠋谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 螜蔚蟻维 螘尉苇蟿伪蟽畏, 蠈蟿伪谓 蟽尾萎蟽蟿畏魏蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺慰 蟿畏蟼 纬畏蟼 魏伪喂 慰喂 魏蟻蠀渭渭苇谓慰喂 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻慰委 蟿慰蠀 蔚尉伪蠁伪谓委蟽蟿畏魏伪谓. 螌渭蠅蟼 蟿蠋蟻伪 未蠀慰 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏苇蟼 未蠀谓维渭蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 伪谓伪味畏蟿慰蠉谓 蟿慰 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻蠈 渭伪胃伪委谓慰蠀谓 蟺蠅蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪胃蠈位慰蠀 蠈,蟿喂 谓蠈渭喂味伪谓 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 -魏伪喂 蠈蟿喂 畏 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 蠁蠉蟽畏 胃伪 伪位位维尉蔚喂 蟿慰 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰.
螣 螝蠈蟿慰谓 螠伪位蠈慰蠀谓, 蟺蟻蠋畏谓 蟺蟻维魏蟿慰蟻伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 违蟺慰蠀蟻纬蔚委慰蠀 螖喂魏伪喂慰蟽蠉谓畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 螚螤螒, 伪蟺慰位伪渭尾维谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 萎蟽蠀蠂畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蠅蟼 喂未喂慰魏蟿萎蟿畏蟼 蟺伪位伪喂慰尾喂尾位喂慰蟺蠅位蔚委慰蠀 蟽蟿畏谓 螝慰蟺蔚纬蠂维纬畏, 蠈蟿伪谓 苇谓伪 伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓慰 魏维位蔚蟽渭伪 蟺委蟽蠅 蟽蟿畏 未蟻维蟽畏 蟿慰谓 尾蠀胃委味蔚喂 尉伪谓维 蟽蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿畏蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏慰蟺蔚委伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 谓蠈渭喂味蔚 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委蠂蔚 伪蠁萎蟽蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蟿慰蠀.
螌位伪 伪蟻蠂委味慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿畏 尾委伪喂畏 伪蟺蠈蟺蔚喂蟻伪 位畏蟽蟿蔚委伪蟼 蟽蔚 尾维蟻慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻蠋畏谓 蟺蟻慰蠆蟽蟿伪渭苇谓畏蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟿畏蟼 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 螡蔚位, 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟺慰位蠉 渭伪魏蟻喂维 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 苇未蟻伪 蟿畏蟼, 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 魏伪渭委伪 蟽蠂苇蟽畏 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蔚胃谓喂魏萎 伪蟽蠁维位蔚喂伪. 螘尉慰蟺位喂蟽渭苇谓畏 渭蔚 味蠅蟿喂魏维 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰魏蟻蠀蟺蟿慰纬蟻维蠁畏蟽畏 渭喂伪蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼 纬蟻委蠁蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏慰谓蟿伪喂 未喂维蟽蟺伪蟻蟿慰喂 蟽蔚 蠈位畏 蟿畏谓 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓慰蠀谓 维位蠀蟿慰喂 蔚未蠋 魏伪喂 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼, 畏 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓畏 谓伪 蔚尉喂蠂谓喂维蟽蔚喂 苇谓伪 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰 蟺慰蠀 蟿伪位伪谓委味蔚喂 渭蔚位蔚蟿畏蟿苇蟼 魏伪喂 魏蠀谓畏纬慰蠉蟼 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻蠋谓 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼 蟿蠋蟻伪, 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏 胃蟻蠀位喂魏萎 魏蟻蠉蟺蟿畏 蟿慰蠀 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 伪蟺伪纬慰蟻蔚蠀渭苇谓畏蟼 纬谓蠋蟽畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 螡伪蠆蟿蠋谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃蔚蠅蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪谓 蠂伪渭苇谓伪 纬喂伪 蟺维谓蟿伪. 螌渭蠅蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 渭蠈谓畏 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪味萎蟿畏蟽萎 蟿畏蟼. 螣 巍蔚蠆渭蠈谓未慰蟼 谓蟿蔚 巍慰魏蠁蠈蟻, 苇谓伪蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠋未畏蟼 味畏位蠅蟿萎蟼 渭蔚 苇谓伪 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蠈 未慰位慰蠁蠈谓蠅谓 蠀蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 未喂伪蟿伪纬苇蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓伪纬蠅谓委味蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 苇蟺伪胃位慰, 伪位位维 胃苇位蔚喂 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 蟿伪 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 畏 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 魏伪蟿苇蠂蔚喂.
螣 螝蠈蟿慰谓 渭蟺位苇魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰谓 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓慰 伪纬蠋谓伪 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蟽蔚喂. 螌渭蠅蟼 蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 渭伪胃伪委谓蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂伪委伪 蟽蠀谓蠅渭慰蟽委伪 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螡伪螑蟿蔚蟼 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿慰蟺慰喂蔚委 蟺蠅蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪魏蠀尾蔚蠉蔚蟿伪喂 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼. 危蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 胃伪谓维蟽喂渭慰蠀 蟺伪喂蠂谓喂未喂慰蠉, 渭蔚蟽蟿慰蠉 蟽蔚 委谓蟿蟻喂纬魏伪, 蟺蟻慰未慰蟽委伪 魏伪喂 蟺蠈胃慰 纬喂伪 蔚尉慰蠀蟽委伪, 魏蟻蠉尾蔚蟿伪喂 渭委伪 蟽蠀谓蟿伪蟻伪魏蟿喂魏萎 伪蟺慰魏维位蠀蠄畏 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟿伪蟻伪魏慰蠀谓萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰 -魏伪喂, 蟽蔚 位维胃慰蟼 蠂苇蟻喂伪 谓伪 蟿慰谓 纬慰谓伪蟿委蟽蔚喂.
螣 螝蠈蟿慰谓 螠伪位蠈慰蠀谓, 蟺蟻蠋畏谓 蟺蟻维魏蟿慰蟻伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 违蟺慰蠀蟻纬蔚委慰蠀 螖喂魏伪喂慰蟽蠉谓畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 螚螤螒, 伪蟺慰位伪渭尾维谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 萎蟽蠀蠂畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蠅蟼 喂未喂慰魏蟿萎蟿畏蟼 蟺伪位伪喂慰尾喂尾位喂慰蟺蠅位蔚委慰蠀 蟽蟿畏谓 螝慰蟺蔚纬蠂维纬畏, 蠈蟿伪谓 苇谓伪 伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓慰 魏维位蔚蟽渭伪 蟺委蟽蠅 蟽蟿畏 未蟻维蟽畏 蟿慰谓 尾蠀胃委味蔚喂 尉伪谓维 蟽蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿畏蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏慰蟺蔚委伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 谓蠈渭喂味蔚 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委蠂蔚 伪蠁萎蟽蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蟿慰蠀.
螌位伪 伪蟻蠂委味慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿畏 尾委伪喂畏 伪蟺蠈蟺蔚喂蟻伪 位畏蟽蟿蔚委伪蟼 蟽蔚 尾维蟻慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻蠋畏谓 蟺蟻慰蠆蟽蟿伪渭苇谓畏蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟿畏蟼 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 螡蔚位, 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟺慰位蠉 渭伪魏蟻喂维 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 苇未蟻伪 蟿畏蟼, 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 魏伪渭委伪 蟽蠂苇蟽畏 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蔚胃谓喂魏萎 伪蟽蠁维位蔚喂伪. 螘尉慰蟺位喂蟽渭苇谓畏 渭蔚 味蠅蟿喂魏维 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰魏蟻蠀蟺蟿慰纬蟻维蠁畏蟽畏 渭喂伪蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼 纬蟻委蠁蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏慰谓蟿伪喂 未喂维蟽蟺伪蟻蟿慰喂 蟽蔚 蠈位畏 蟿畏谓 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓慰蠀谓 维位蠀蟿慰喂 蔚未蠋 魏伪喂 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼, 畏 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓畏 谓伪 蔚尉喂蠂谓喂维蟽蔚喂 苇谓伪 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰 蟺慰蠀 蟿伪位伪谓委味蔚喂 渭蔚位蔚蟿畏蟿苇蟼 魏伪喂 魏蠀谓畏纬慰蠉蟼 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻蠋谓 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼 蟿蠋蟻伪, 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏 胃蟻蠀位喂魏萎 魏蟻蠉蟺蟿畏 蟿慰蠀 胃畏蟽伪蠀蟻慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 伪蟺伪纬慰蟻蔚蠀渭苇谓畏蟼 纬谓蠋蟽畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 螡伪蠆蟿蠋谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃蔚蠅蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪谓 蠂伪渭苇谓伪 纬喂伪 蟺维谓蟿伪. 螌渭蠅蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 渭蠈谓畏 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪味萎蟿畏蟽萎 蟿畏蟼. 螣 巍蔚蠆渭蠈谓未慰蟼 谓蟿蔚 巍慰魏蠁蠈蟻, 苇谓伪蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠋未畏蟼 味畏位蠅蟿萎蟼 渭蔚 苇谓伪 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蠈 未慰位慰蠁蠈谓蠅谓 蠀蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 未喂伪蟿伪纬苇蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓伪纬蠅谓委味蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 苇蟺伪胃位慰, 伪位位维 胃苇位蔚喂 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 蟿伪 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 蟺慰蠀 畏 危蟿苇蠁伪谓喂 魏伪蟿苇蠂蔚喂.
螣 螝蠈蟿慰谓 渭蟺位苇魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰谓 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓慰 伪纬蠋谓伪 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蟽蔚喂. 螌渭蠅蟼 蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 渭伪胃伪委谓蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂伪委伪 蟽蠀谓蠅渭慰蟽委伪 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螡伪螑蟿蔚蟼 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿慰蟺慰喂蔚委 蟺蠅蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪魏蠀尾蔚蠉蔚蟿伪喂 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼. 危蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 胃伪谓维蟽喂渭慰蠀 蟺伪喂蠂谓喂未喂慰蠉, 渭蔚蟽蟿慰蠉 蟽蔚 委谓蟿蟻喂纬魏伪, 蟺蟻慰未慰蟽委伪 魏伪喂 蟺蠈胃慰 纬喂伪 蔚尉慰蠀蟽委伪, 魏蟻蠉尾蔚蟿伪喂 渭委伪 蟽蠀谓蟿伪蟻伪魏蟿喂魏萎 伪蟺慰魏维位蠀蠄畏 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟿伪蟻伪魏慰蠀谓萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰 -魏伪喂, 蟽蔚 位维胃慰蟼 蠂苇蟻喂伪 谓伪 蟿慰谓 纬慰谓伪蟿委蟽蔚喂.
502 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2006
4437 people are currently reading
39921 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
95听books7,266听followers听
Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: , , and Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood,听 听(a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose:听 听 听 听and听 听all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of听The New York Times,听USA Today,听and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: , , and Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood,听 听(a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose:听 听 听 听and听 听all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of听The New York Times,听USA Today,听and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,655 reviews
May 21, 2012
The Knights Templars were founded in Jerusalem in 1118 to protect the pilgrims visiting Palestine at the end of the First Crusade of 1096. The full, original name was "The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple which is in Jerusalem", but the for the sake of this review I will just refer to them as The Templars.
By papal decree only The Templars were allowed to wear the cross patee. The red cross is probably the most famous identifying symbol for the order.
The Templars because of their austere living conditions and their shrewd lending policies became very wealthy and powerful. Philip the IV of France, a man with ambitions that exceeded his pocketbook borrowed large sums of money from The Templars. When the interest payments became inconvenient Phillip the IV began putting pressure on Pope Boniface VIII to disband the order.
WELCHER!!!
To facilitate this end Phillip went so far as to attempt to kidnap the Pope. The Pope survived long enough to excommunicate the king, but then died from wounds received in the attempt. The new Pope decided it was in his best interest to lift the excommunication order, but it was his successor Clement the V who gave Phillip what he wanted.
On Friday the 13th 1307 The Templars are rounded up. They are charged with satanism and unnatural practices. Inquisition tactics are used to illicit confessions. It always amazes me the creativity the human species can bring to bear in finding new and malicious ways to torture another human being. Wouldn't you think you'd find a tried and true method and stick with it? The sick perversion of the amount of time spent thinking about and testing new ways to elicit pain from a helpless individual is beyond my comprehension.
Jacques De Molay is the head of the order, the grand master, when the purges begin. He receives special attention from the inquisition, but once they acquire his confession they continue to inflict pain on him.
He at one point is nailed to a door and then the door is swung back and forth to put the utmost pressure on the bones grating against the nails in his flesh. In 1314 they burn him at the stake and finally his ordeal is over. Templars did survive the purges and they reformed, but kept themselves hidden and out of the public eye. Legend has it that De Molay hid a great treasure before his incarceration and with it an item only referred to as The Great Device.
Steve Berry weaves his story around the rise to prominence of a Grand Master Templar who wishes to restore the order to their place of respect and honor. The hero of the story is Cotton Malone, a retired CIA operative who decided to move to Copenhagen to open a bookstore. His old boss comes to visit him in Copenhagen and before they can even meet Malone finds himself in a desperate chase across Copenhagen. As Malone moves around Europe interpreting clues and in the process thwarting the aims of the Grand Master Templar, the plot unfolds in spectacular fashion. There is blackmail, murder, betrayal, mayhem, secret doors, inventive escapes, and not a single sexual situation or even a hint of romantic entanglement. Steve Berry kept all his characters too busy to even pause for a moment of sexual gratification.
This is a plot driven novel, characterization is actually very weak, and is the main reason why I bumped this down to three stars. I really wanted to know more about Cotton Malone's life in Copenhagen, but before we are able to see "a day in the life of a Copenhagen bookseller" we are blasted into this complicated, elaborate plot that keeps the pages turning. Malone is like MacGyver, Van Damme, and James Bond all rolled into one SUPER AGENT. A misstep is only an opportunity for him to concoct a dazzling display of unequivocally awesomeness. He does receive some good advice from his boss. "Say it, do it, preach it, shout it, but never, absolutely never, believe your own bullshit. I've got a few people I know that I might forward that bit of wisdom to.
I can only hope that with further entries in the series Steve Berry will actually convince me that Cotton Malone has any real interest in the book trade. Further development of Malone and adding more time spent in the book world could place this series at the top of my guilty pleasures list. I thought the plot may have tilted too heavy a nod to Dan Brown, but the primary purpose of a thriller is to be a page turner; a book that takes the reader away from their own mundane existence, and this book fulfills that stipulation admirably.
By papal decree only The Templars were allowed to wear the cross patee. The red cross is probably the most famous identifying symbol for the order.
The Templars because of their austere living conditions and their shrewd lending policies became very wealthy and powerful. Philip the IV of France, a man with ambitions that exceeded his pocketbook borrowed large sums of money from The Templars. When the interest payments became inconvenient Phillip the IV began putting pressure on Pope Boniface VIII to disband the order.
WELCHER!!!
To facilitate this end Phillip went so far as to attempt to kidnap the Pope. The Pope survived long enough to excommunicate the king, but then died from wounds received in the attempt. The new Pope decided it was in his best interest to lift the excommunication order, but it was his successor Clement the V who gave Phillip what he wanted.
On Friday the 13th 1307 The Templars are rounded up. They are charged with satanism and unnatural practices. Inquisition tactics are used to illicit confessions. It always amazes me the creativity the human species can bring to bear in finding new and malicious ways to torture another human being. Wouldn't you think you'd find a tried and true method and stick with it? The sick perversion of the amount of time spent thinking about and testing new ways to elicit pain from a helpless individual is beyond my comprehension.
Jacques De Molay is the head of the order, the grand master, when the purges begin. He receives special attention from the inquisition, but once they acquire his confession they continue to inflict pain on him.
He at one point is nailed to a door and then the door is swung back and forth to put the utmost pressure on the bones grating against the nails in his flesh. In 1314 they burn him at the stake and finally his ordeal is over. Templars did survive the purges and they reformed, but kept themselves hidden and out of the public eye. Legend has it that De Molay hid a great treasure before his incarceration and with it an item only referred to as The Great Device.
Steve Berry weaves his story around the rise to prominence of a Grand Master Templar who wishes to restore the order to their place of respect and honor. The hero of the story is Cotton Malone, a retired CIA operative who decided to move to Copenhagen to open a bookstore. His old boss comes to visit him in Copenhagen and before they can even meet Malone finds himself in a desperate chase across Copenhagen. As Malone moves around Europe interpreting clues and in the process thwarting the aims of the Grand Master Templar, the plot unfolds in spectacular fashion. There is blackmail, murder, betrayal, mayhem, secret doors, inventive escapes, and not a single sexual situation or even a hint of romantic entanglement. Steve Berry kept all his characters too busy to even pause for a moment of sexual gratification.
This is a plot driven novel, characterization is actually very weak, and is the main reason why I bumped this down to three stars. I really wanted to know more about Cotton Malone's life in Copenhagen, but before we are able to see "a day in the life of a Copenhagen bookseller" we are blasted into this complicated, elaborate plot that keeps the pages turning. Malone is like MacGyver, Van Damme, and James Bond all rolled into one SUPER AGENT. A misstep is only an opportunity for him to concoct a dazzling display of unequivocally awesomeness. He does receive some good advice from his boss. "Say it, do it, preach it, shout it, but never, absolutely never, believe your own bullshit. I've got a few people I know that I might forward that bit of wisdom to.
I can only hope that with further entries in the series Steve Berry will actually convince me that Cotton Malone has any real interest in the book trade. Further development of Malone and adding more time spent in the book world could place this series at the top of my guilty pleasures list. I thought the plot may have tilted too heavy a nod to Dan Brown, but the primary purpose of a thriller is to be a page turner; a book that takes the reader away from their own mundane existence, and this book fulfills that stipulation admirably.
July 21, 2008
Steve Berry is the thinking man's Dan Brown. I was immediately impressed after reading The Romanov Prophecy, and The Third Secret. The Templar Legacy does not disappoint. If you enjoyed The DaVinci Code you will appreciate this novel all the more.
Berry mixes a decent understanding of folkore and history in this fast paced quest for the real Templar Treasure." He even takes a decent pot shot at all the conspiratroialists and others who have made fortunes off a well-documented hoax.
The book's idea of "The Great Device," and what it was is based on speculation that has goes back at least 2 or more centuries, and it has nothing to do with Mary Magdelene or the supposed Holy Grail, which was nothing more that Christianized versions of pre-Christian European Myths - the nonsense about san graal meaning royal bloodline not withstanding.
Great Fiction writing!!!!!!
Berry mixes a decent understanding of folkore and history in this fast paced quest for the real Templar Treasure." He even takes a decent pot shot at all the conspiratroialists and others who have made fortunes off a well-documented hoax.
The book's idea of "The Great Device," and what it was is based on speculation that has goes back at least 2 or more centuries, and it has nothing to do with Mary Magdelene or the supposed Holy Grail, which was nothing more that Christianized versions of pre-Christian European Myths - the nonsense about san graal meaning royal bloodline not withstanding.
Great Fiction writing!!!!!!
October 22, 2014
Maybe not quite a 4 star read, it dragged a bit in places & was quite long, but Berry certainly did his historical homework & came up with a great conspiracy. If you're not familiar with some of it, as I wasn't (I looked up more online.) he had a great author's note at the end that covered the main points.
While about religious people, orders, & conspiracies, Berry took a great secular look at it all, but wasn't insensitive to religious folks. He didn't berate the Gospels for their inconsistencies, but did cover many of the points & give a very realistic look at why they are, yet still made a case for religion. Pretty cool & I'm a pretty anti-religious person.
It was certainly a twisty mystery, somewhat overdone. Most of the characters were very well done. I didn't care for Cassiopeia, though. She overdone & wasn't believable at all. Felt tacked on in a lot of ways.
Overall, quite good. I'm not sure how good a sequel will be, but I'll give one a shot some day.
While about religious people, orders, & conspiracies, Berry took a great secular look at it all, but wasn't insensitive to religious folks. He didn't berate the Gospels for their inconsistencies, but did cover many of the points & give a very realistic look at why they are, yet still made a case for religion. Pretty cool & I'm a pretty anti-religious person.
It was certainly a twisty mystery, somewhat overdone. Most of the characters were very well done. I didn't care for Cassiopeia, though. She overdone & wasn't believable at all. Felt tacked on in a lot of ways.
Overall, quite good. I'm not sure how good a sequel will be, but I'll give one a shot some day.
January 25, 2024
Ho hum!
Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE did it first and, most definitely, did it best! Now the genre is overcrowded with wannabes, copycats and third-rate knock-offs! I'll keep this review short and sweet. If I hadn't read THE DA VINCI CODE several years ago, I might have enjoyed this one to the tune of 3 stars. As it is, I found it tedious, plodding, derivative and little more entertaining than a video game with an endless string of puzzles and undeveloped cardboard characters ... in short, 1 star at best. Since there are probably still a handful of people for whom this might be the first time they've encountered a masons and templars novel, I'll allow it 2 stars.
Not particularly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE did it first and, most definitely, did it best! Now the genre is overcrowded with wannabes, copycats and third-rate knock-offs! I'll keep this review short and sweet. If I hadn't read THE DA VINCI CODE several years ago, I might have enjoyed this one to the tune of 3 stars. As it is, I found it tedious, plodding, derivative and little more entertaining than a video game with an endless string of puzzles and undeveloped cardboard characters ... in short, 1 star at best. Since there are probably still a handful of people for whom this might be the first time they've encountered a masons and templars novel, I'll allow it 2 stars.
Not particularly recommended.
Paul Weiss
September 13, 2014
I suppose this is what might be called a "thriller" however I have hesitated to put it on that shelf. I hesitate because there are very, very few thrills in the book.
I've hit a string of mediocre books lately. These are all books I've been looking forward to but once I got into them they were at best, "yawn-worthy". This one is that way.
We start out on what has become well trodden ground since The Da Vinci Code. Again we're off on an adventure to track down the "real history" of things, in this case the Templars and their legacy (treasure, books, writings, scrolls etc.).
You know you'd think a book that opens with a rare book dealer who's an ex-special ops guy/ex-spook being drawn into an adventure about an ancient order of warriors, being involved early on in shootouts he doesn't understand, charging across the world, searching for treasure in old churches and elsewhere would be a page turner. It's synopsis leads a reader to believe he'll find a thrill ride.
Instead about a quarter of the way into the book the text bogs down into a lot of dry conversations. There's a second point of view where we get another really interesting setup, a fast moving escape and so on. But the story quickly slides back into explanations and so on.
The ending goes about where you think it will. This is the second book by this author I've picked up. I don't want to do a blanket assumption here but neither of the books has been overly burdened by original thinking.
I forged through it, but I can't really recommend it. Too bad.
Their is a question many of you probably want answered. I'll answer it here under a spoiler warning.
I've hit a string of mediocre books lately. These are all books I've been looking forward to but once I got into them they were at best, "yawn-worthy". This one is that way.
We start out on what has become well trodden ground since The Da Vinci Code. Again we're off on an adventure to track down the "real history" of things, in this case the Templars and their legacy (treasure, books, writings, scrolls etc.).
You know you'd think a book that opens with a rare book dealer who's an ex-special ops guy/ex-spook being drawn into an adventure about an ancient order of warriors, being involved early on in shootouts he doesn't understand, charging across the world, searching for treasure in old churches and elsewhere would be a page turner. It's synopsis leads a reader to believe he'll find a thrill ride.
Instead about a quarter of the way into the book the text bogs down into a lot of dry conversations. There's a second point of view where we get another really interesting setup, a fast moving escape and so on. But the story quickly slides back into explanations and so on.
The ending goes about where you think it will. This is the second book by this author I've picked up. I don't want to do a blanket assumption here but neither of the books has been overly burdened by original thinking.
I forged through it, but I can't really recommend it. Too bad.
Their is a question many of you probably want answered. I'll answer it here under a spoiler warning.
January 2, 2017
So fascinated by the amount of research that went into this. Really cool book, and I'm excited to follow Cotton on more adventures!
November 14, 2023
3,5 pentru teoria de la finalul romanului. Legende 葯i adev膬ruri despre templieri sunt multe, dar 卯ntotdeauna e o pl膬cere s膬 cite葯ti despre acestea. E o pl膬cere s膬 cite葯ti o carte pentru care s-a depus mult膬 munc膬 de cercetare.
October 15, 2007
once again i'm longing for half stars (2 vs. 3). i'm settling on this just being ok/2 stars, though, because:
- the dialogue is not afraid to spell things out. as in, explaining the obvious, in a predictable, simplistic manner
- the actual storyline meanders a little too much, at least for my taste in historical thrillers. i'd like these books to be, i don't know, thrilling.
- there were a couple of spelling/grammar errors. true, it could happen to anyone. true, it's an enormous pet peeve of mine in general. but in a professionally published book, it smacks to me of sloppiness and often reflects on the overall quality of the book.
- the 'big religious discovery' in this book, while interesting, was extremely disappointing in its resolution.
complaints aside, it really was ok. it was fun to explore some slightly new historical territory (at least for me). i ended up watching a documentary about the templars while i was reading this book and found the two in relative harmony, which was nice.
so there you go. 2 stars. =)
- the dialogue is not afraid to spell things out. as in, explaining the obvious, in a predictable, simplistic manner
- the actual storyline meanders a little too much, at least for my taste in historical thrillers. i'd like these books to be, i don't know, thrilling.
- there were a couple of spelling/grammar errors. true, it could happen to anyone. true, it's an enormous pet peeve of mine in general. but in a professionally published book, it smacks to me of sloppiness and often reflects on the overall quality of the book.
- the 'big religious discovery' in this book, while interesting, was extremely disappointing in its resolution.
complaints aside, it really was ok. it was fun to explore some slightly new historical territory (at least for me). i ended up watching a documentary about the templars while i was reading this book and found the two in relative harmony, which was nice.
so there you go. 2 stars. =)
July 17, 2017
What can I say I just really like these kinds of books with thriller/action-adventure based on history and historical landmarks. This is about an American, Cotton Malone (which I鈥檓 not too thrilled with that name, lol!), who is now a bookseller in Denmark after retiring as a US Operative. He鈥檚 trying to live the quiet life when he finds himself embroiled in a quest (with his former boss) that involves the Knights Templar and looking for 鈥淭he Great Devise鈥�.
Yes this type of storyline and pace is reminiscent of The DaVinci Code but again, I really like these kinds of books. One part of the story is disputing the belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and the thought-provoking line:
鈥淚t has served us well, this myth of Christ鈥� 鈥� Pope Leo X.
I, myself, was brought up Catholic so the thing about these types of stories is that you have to go into it with an open mind. Obviously the author does his research and a lot of the book is based on historical references. But you also have to realize that a lot is fiction鈥︹€�.embellished. There鈥檚 nothing wrong with that since the book is鈥︹€�...fiction. I鈥檝e seen way too many reviews on stories like these where people complain that it鈥檚 wrong, there鈥檚 no basis for it, no proof. Whatever. It鈥檚 fun. It takes you all over the world. Leave it at that.
That being said, I liked it, thought it was fun and I鈥檓 going to continue on with Cotton and his adventures. :)
Yes this type of storyline and pace is reminiscent of The DaVinci Code but again, I really like these kinds of books. One part of the story is disputing the belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and the thought-provoking line:
鈥淚t has served us well, this myth of Christ鈥� 鈥� Pope Leo X.
I, myself, was brought up Catholic so the thing about these types of stories is that you have to go into it with an open mind. Obviously the author does his research and a lot of the book is based on historical references. But you also have to realize that a lot is fiction鈥︹€�.embellished. There鈥檚 nothing wrong with that since the book is鈥︹€�...fiction. I鈥檝e seen way too many reviews on stories like these where people complain that it鈥檚 wrong, there鈥檚 no basis for it, no proof. Whatever. It鈥檚 fun. It takes you all over the world. Leave it at that.
That being said, I liked it, thought it was fun and I鈥檓 going to continue on with Cotton and his adventures. :)
April 20, 2015
The Templar Legacy
1 Star
This is my third attempt at reading this book and its time to call it quits.
The main character is interesting enough and the plot has potential, but it moves along at a snails pace with excessive descriptions of the scenery (villages, buildings, forests, gardens, etc.) and the innermost thoughts of each and every character most of whom I couldn't care less about.
Enough is enough!
1 Star
This is my third attempt at reading this book and its time to call it quits.
The main character is interesting enough and the plot has potential, but it moves along at a snails pace with excessive descriptions of the scenery (villages, buildings, forests, gardens, etc.) and the innermost thoughts of each and every character most of whom I couldn't care less about.
Enough is enough!
June 23, 2019
"Say it, preach it, shout it, but never, absolutely never, believe your own bullshit!"
Templar Legacy, the first book of the Cotton Malone series, had such potential.....
Our hero, Cotton, a special ops kind of guy, must come to the rescue of his former boss from the Justice Dept who seems to be in over her head. Before committing suicide, her husband had left notes on how to decipher an antique codex, the purpose of which is unclear. However, she discovers she's not the only one participating in this treasure hunt, and the other folks like to play with guns. The story drifts back in time and we learn that the treasure has something to do with the vast financial resources of the ancient Templar Knights. This treasure is not just a matter of wealth, but also it's a powerful secret, and one that some folks will stop at nothing to protect.
If you're thinking the story sounds a bit like Da Vinci Code, you'd be correct. I'm cool with that. I liked Da Vinci Code. Ok, yes (like Da Vinci Code) Templar Legacy grates against my religious sensitivities, but it's a "fiction" book so who cares. Get over it. But what I really didn't like is how the author takes an otherwise great storyline and over complicates it to the point where reading becomes tedious. I'm not into having to take notes while I'm reading an action novel, so that I can keep track of all the side stories.
My little annoyances subsided toward the end of the book when the action began to pick up. And I've enjoyed some of other books in the series, so hopefully this just wasn't one of Mr. Berry's best.
Templar Legacy, the first book of the Cotton Malone series, had such potential.....
Our hero, Cotton, a special ops kind of guy, must come to the rescue of his former boss from the Justice Dept who seems to be in over her head. Before committing suicide, her husband had left notes on how to decipher an antique codex, the purpose of which is unclear. However, she discovers she's not the only one participating in this treasure hunt, and the other folks like to play with guns. The story drifts back in time and we learn that the treasure has something to do with the vast financial resources of the ancient Templar Knights. This treasure is not just a matter of wealth, but also it's a powerful secret, and one that some folks will stop at nothing to protect.
If you're thinking the story sounds a bit like Da Vinci Code, you'd be correct. I'm cool with that. I liked Da Vinci Code. Ok, yes (like Da Vinci Code) Templar Legacy grates against my religious sensitivities, but it's a "fiction" book so who cares. Get over it. But what I really didn't like is how the author takes an otherwise great storyline and over complicates it to the point where reading becomes tedious. I'm not into having to take notes while I'm reading an action novel, so that I can keep track of all the side stories.
My little annoyances subsided toward the end of the book when the action began to pick up. And I've enjoyed some of other books in the series, so hopefully this just wasn't one of Mr. Berry's best.
February 29, 2008
I enjoyed this tale; I have just recently 'discovered' Berry (I read "The Third Secret" in August), but the mister has been enjoying him for some time now..
In a sort of Cliff Janeway鈥搈eets鈥揟he DaVinci Code story (although, much better told, in my opinion), we follow 鈥淐otton鈥� Malone, one-time federal agent with an eidetic memory and now a Copenhagen-based bookseller, as he becomes unwittingly involved in a search for the Great Devise, an ancient Templar archive that supposedly disproves the Resurrection and demolishes traditional Christian dogma. Also searching is a host of supporting characters including Stephanie Nell, Malone鈥檚 former supervisor; Mark Nell, the son-turned-Templar thought dead in an avalanche; Thorvalsen, the wealthy Dane supporting Malone; Cassiopeia Vitt, the wealthy mystery woman of Islam; Raymond de Roquefort, the fanatic Templar wanting to restore the Order to old glory; the old Master of the Templars and Geoffrey, his servant, aspiring to the Holy Order by doing his master鈥檚 will.
I enjoyed the story. Mystery, historical information, plenty of twist and turns, all added up to an entertaining read. And, unlike many of the Amazon reviewers, I found Cotton Malone to be an interesting, likable guy, and I intend to look for 鈥淭he Alexandria Link鈥� to find out more about him, and perhaps gain the answer to the origin of his name. If, like me, you are a closet conspiracy theorist and aren鈥檛 easily offended by writers who try to interpret religious 鈥榳hat if ?鈥檚, I recommend giving this one a read
In a sort of Cliff Janeway鈥搈eets鈥揟he DaVinci Code story (although, much better told, in my opinion), we follow 鈥淐otton鈥� Malone, one-time federal agent with an eidetic memory and now a Copenhagen-based bookseller, as he becomes unwittingly involved in a search for the Great Devise, an ancient Templar archive that supposedly disproves the Resurrection and demolishes traditional Christian dogma. Also searching is a host of supporting characters including Stephanie Nell, Malone鈥檚 former supervisor; Mark Nell, the son-turned-Templar thought dead in an avalanche; Thorvalsen, the wealthy Dane supporting Malone; Cassiopeia Vitt, the wealthy mystery woman of Islam; Raymond de Roquefort, the fanatic Templar wanting to restore the Order to old glory; the old Master of the Templars and Geoffrey, his servant, aspiring to the Holy Order by doing his master鈥檚 will.
I enjoyed the story. Mystery, historical information, plenty of twist and turns, all added up to an entertaining read. And, unlike many of the Amazon reviewers, I found Cotton Malone to be an interesting, likable guy, and I intend to look for 鈥淭he Alexandria Link鈥� to find out more about him, and perhaps gain the answer to the origin of his name. If, like me, you are a closet conspiracy theorist and aren鈥檛 easily offended by writers who try to interpret religious 鈥榳hat if ?鈥檚, I recommend giving this one a read
March 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book but it did require paying attention at a higher level to not miss important threads to the tale and people involved. I like the final ending and how it was handled. It鈥檚 always a little unnerving to think everything you think you know might be a manipulation by a group of people many, many years ago. But I always like a good yarn.
October 7, 2011
Total load of garbage from the beginning of the book until the end. This book was not even worth the paper it was written on.
November 15, 2017
This is the first book of the Cotton Malone series, and thus far, the best one I have read. I'm sure my fascination with the history of Knights Templar was a weighing factor in my rating of the book. Nevertheless, Steve Berry has done a good job in mixing history with an interesting story line. The story was quick paced with full of action. The employment of diverse characters made it all the more interesting. I liked most of them, especially the Seneschal, Mark Nelly. But Cotton Malone was another story. His lack of authority and inaction made me irritable at times. I wonder what Mr. Berry was thinking in using such a lousy character as his lead. I'm only too glad that his character didn't diminish my interest in the book.
November 21, 2015
Dan Brown esque. Interesting thriller with the seemingly sole intent of challenging pre conceived historical beliefs. Long spots of historical info dumps, which I found interesting but could bore some. Entertaining at least.
September 12, 2007
It has served us well, this myth of Christ. 鈥� POPE LEO X
The above appears on the back dust jacket of The Last Templar and as an epigraph for The Templar Legacy. Fascinating, isn't it? My initial reaction upon seeing it for the second time, having just brought home The Templar Legacy, was, oh no, it's the SAME BOOK! Really, though, aside from both dealing with lost Templar treasure and the possible non-divinity of Christ, they're quiet different novels. (I may have even enjoyed this one more than either The Last Templar or The Da Vinci Code.) Berry tells the story cleanly with few unnecessary distractions, and the pacing is excellent. The twists and turns of plot were only predictable in that they were legion; Berry kept me guessing almost all of the time, and I was always intrigued. All in all, a good read.
What's really interesting for me, though, in all of these novels, is how much I find myself reflecting of my own religious beliefs. I think I enjoy them even more because they do challenge established Christianity, and, consequently, my beliefs. They make me think about things I often take for granted. I think that's partly why I'm drawn to them, and have read them all, despite their undeniable similarities. There is a fourth, a just-released novel called Labyrinth that I think I'll be checking out within the next few weeks. Apparently I can't get enough! Challenge away!
The above appears on the back dust jacket of The Last Templar and as an epigraph for The Templar Legacy. Fascinating, isn't it? My initial reaction upon seeing it for the second time, having just brought home The Templar Legacy, was, oh no, it's the SAME BOOK! Really, though, aside from both dealing with lost Templar treasure and the possible non-divinity of Christ, they're quiet different novels. (I may have even enjoyed this one more than either The Last Templar or The Da Vinci Code.) Berry tells the story cleanly with few unnecessary distractions, and the pacing is excellent. The twists and turns of plot were only predictable in that they were legion; Berry kept me guessing almost all of the time, and I was always intrigued. All in all, a good read.
What's really interesting for me, though, in all of these novels, is how much I find myself reflecting of my own religious beliefs. I think I enjoy them even more because they do challenge established Christianity, and, consequently, my beliefs. They make me think about things I often take for granted. I think that's partly why I'm drawn to them, and have read them all, despite their undeniable similarities. There is a fourth, a just-released novel called Labyrinth that I think I'll be checking out within the next few weeks. Apparently I can't get enough! Challenge away!
October 28, 2014
This is the first of the Cotton Malone series. The author, Steve Berry, has been described as "the thinking man's Dan Brown" and I can see why. I am certainly no biblical scholar but the book seemed to be well researched and real world mysteries are dealt with in a plausible way. I do wish, though, that readers who are offended by anything that challenges their religious views would just avoid those novels in the first place rather than read them and then trash the book's viewpoint.
I enjoyed learning much more about the Templars and how they evolved through history. I also liked the settings in Copenhagen and France, and having been to most of the locales described in the novel, found myself transported back to those places.
The plot was intriguing and while I thought the overall mystery to be sufficiently compelling and well paced, I felt the dialogue was a bit stilted. I've noticed this with other Steve Berry novels as well. The one thing that I appreciated the most was that Cotton Malone, our protagonist, served as a great foil for the reader. Just when I felt like saying, "That doesn't make sense," Cotton says, "That doesn't make sense." Since the mystery elements of the plot are quite complicated, it really helped when he asked the same questions I wanted to ask at exactly the right points. It was almost uncanny.
So, yes, I will definitely be reading more of the Cotton Malone series.
I enjoyed learning much more about the Templars and how they evolved through history. I also liked the settings in Copenhagen and France, and having been to most of the locales described in the novel, found myself transported back to those places.
The plot was intriguing and while I thought the overall mystery to be sufficiently compelling and well paced, I felt the dialogue was a bit stilted. I've noticed this with other Steve Berry novels as well. The one thing that I appreciated the most was that Cotton Malone, our protagonist, served as a great foil for the reader. Just when I felt like saying, "That doesn't make sense," Cotton says, "That doesn't make sense." Since the mystery elements of the plot are quite complicated, it really helped when he asked the same questions I wanted to ask at exactly the right points. It was almost uncanny.
So, yes, I will definitely be reading more of the Cotton Malone series.
March 24, 2011
I should have known: this is, after all, an attempt to muscle in on Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code territory. Lots of anti-New Testament material here! Oh, how I wish authors who want to write books in this "genre" would do wider research. Berry refers to Bishop Spong, for crying out loud! In my opinion, one book by N. T. Wright (Resurrection And The Son of God) would have been enough to alter the ending of Berry's book for the better. If you are looking for an escapist page-turner, then this book may be of interest. But please don't take any notice of his theological discussions. His dating of the Gospels is questionable, and he makes no mention of Paul's writings. 1 Corinthians is an undisputed Pauline letter, and Paul's chapter on the resurrection (chapter 15) blows Berry's liberal scholarship out of the water: it's early and refers to all of Jesus' resurrection appearances that were later written about in the Gospels. So there!
May 27, 2016
So... I'm always looking for a new series to read and Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series fits the bill. In a formulaic Dan Brown-esque fashion we start off LONG ago in a land far away... laying the ground work for the "action" that will take place in the present(ish) day. While Cotten's backstory could have been built out a little more fully... hits are given that things will be either explained later in the story or... we are lead to believe this is a "story" for another time i.e., another book... thus the drawn out backstory can bit a bit annoying. Other than that the characters in the book are well thought out and the action is great fun... I will be looking forward to the next book in the series and all those there after!
August 1, 2013
Piatto e noioso. I personaggi sono stereotipi mal delineati e la tensione 猫 quasi del tutto inesistente, spesso diluita da una narrazione ripetitiva e prolissa.
June 7, 2016
I thought the book was good, held my attention, and kept me guessing. I thought it was well researched, but since there was no roving reporters, internet, video cameras or cell phones centuries ago we rely on documents written by whoever was paying to have them written, and naturally if King Phillip IV, the Pope, or the Templars wanted to document an event, they would have it recorded to put themselves in the best light. So, historically, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle of what is said by all the documents. That said, I enjoyed the book and thought it well written.
February 5, 2008
I always enjoy Berry's stories, but he tends to be a bit wordy and heavier on detail than is necessary in some parts of this book. However, it's a good read, and this author always adds fascinating little historical tidbits.
June 16, 2024
Although feeling the story was drawn out, I like how Berry combines imagination and historical facts.
September 8, 2012
A "Me too!" in the Da Vinci Code genre. Enh.
Ok, finished it. OMG, you mean Jesus didn't ACTUALLY rise from the dead and that it's all a metaphor?! No shit, Sherlock. He hinges the whole plot on Jesus' resurrection, and then you're supposed to act all shocked when the characters actually find his bones. BFD. Of course then his characters are all like "Well this info doesn't really matter in today's modern society..." after they spent all this effort finding it. The characters are all underdeveloped and constantly tripping over each other- did Berry seriously need the whole troop present for the final confrontation? Some of the characters seemed like they were created just because the author thought there weren't enough, or that his already existing characters were too boring, or something. I'm still trying to figure out why Cotton Malone was the main character. Oh right, so Berry could create a travel/adventure/thriller series based on him. Otherwise there was no reason for Malone to be moving the plot forward. Cassiopeia was interesting but gone before she actually ever became relevant. She was just there to provide another plot twist (Thorvaldson sure gets around!) and to save Malone's ass from situations Berry couldn't write him out of.
Anyway, this book was lame. I'm tempted to read more though... just can't get enough of the fictional Biblical analysis! ;)
Ok, finished it. OMG, you mean Jesus didn't ACTUALLY rise from the dead and that it's all a metaphor?! No shit, Sherlock. He hinges the whole plot on Jesus' resurrection, and then you're supposed to act all shocked when the characters actually find his bones. BFD. Of course then his characters are all like "Well this info doesn't really matter in today's modern society..." after they spent all this effort finding it. The characters are all underdeveloped and constantly tripping over each other- did Berry seriously need the whole troop present for the final confrontation? Some of the characters seemed like they were created just because the author thought there weren't enough, or that his already existing characters were too boring, or something. I'm still trying to figure out why Cotton Malone was the main character. Oh right, so Berry could create a travel/adventure/thriller series based on him. Otherwise there was no reason for Malone to be moving the plot forward. Cassiopeia was interesting but gone before she actually ever became relevant. She was just there to provide another plot twist (Thorvaldson sure gets around!) and to save Malone's ass from situations Berry couldn't write him out of.
Anyway, this book was lame. I'm tempted to read more though... just can't get enough of the fictional Biblical analysis! ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2009
This was an enjoyable read. I liked it, I thought it was well written, it kept me in suspense, there were twists and turns, and it was interesting. (Although if you don't like fictional books that question the Bible or faith then this book is NOT for you!) It's a very Dan Brown kind of book (that I think is a bit...only a bit...more realistic.) I wavered between 3 and 4 stars for this one and settled on three.
I settled on three because
-At times the books gets very preachy/too lecture like.
-It's very repetitive. The book rehashes the same information over and over and over again. By the end I was thinking, "yes, I know we already covered this. It doesn't matter if THIS character isn't up to speed. I am. I don't need to read this again."
-The characters were (mostly)realistic...but not all that likable. I wanted to care more about them and what happened to them. Perhaps if their motivations were explored more fully (rather than the rehashing of details) I would have liked them more.
Even still - I think I will get Steve Berry another try. I'll have to see what's available in the library.
I settled on three because
-At times the books gets very preachy/too lecture like.
-It's very repetitive. The book rehashes the same information over and over and over again. By the end I was thinking, "yes, I know we already covered this. It doesn't matter if THIS character isn't up to speed. I am. I don't need to read this again."
-The characters were (mostly)realistic...but not all that likable. I wanted to care more about them and what happened to them. Perhaps if their motivations were explored more fully (rather than the rehashing of details) I would have liked them more.
Even still - I think I will get Steve Berry another try. I'll have to see what's available in the library.
October 25, 2009
The second straight addition to the unfinished (perhaps forever) shelf. My second "Templar" novel in the recent past. Sorry, Copenhagen is not your basic setting for international espionage. I know, I've been there and the people are just too nice and the city is not that cosmopolitan. After about 10 shootouts/suicides/people thrown out of windows in first 20 pages, I was rolling my eyes at the action. Just too out of place. bye bye.
April 18, 2015
My first Steve Berry novel and it will not be my last. Even though I not into the Knights Templar,I found the book enjoyable and entertaining from start to finish!
August 19, 2023
Not so good as expected.
A very long book where parts of plots are very repetitive along the narrative.
A very long book where parts of plots are very repetitive along the narrative.
June 1, 2022
5 sterren- Nederlandse paperback
听Ik weet niet meer wanneer ik voor het eerst een boek van Steve Berry kreeg. Maar ik had een lievelings auteur erbij.
De erfenis van de Tempeliers is het eerste deel van Steve Berry rond het hoofdpersonage Cotton Malone. We leren Cotton Malone kennen als een boekverkoper in Kopenhagen die vroeger werkte voor een spionagedienst van het Amerikaanse leger, Magellan. Gedurende het verhaal leren we Cotton Malone iets beter kennen, maar het uitdiepen van hem als persoon is geen groot onderdeel van dit verhaal.
Je laten meeslepen in dit verhaal, dat ging heel snel en automatisch. Er gebeurt altijd wel iets in het boek, gaat nooit vervelen en het laat je ook nadenken over het ontstaan van het Christendom, de oorsprong van Jezus en hoe geloofwaardig het allemaal is.
Voor de niet gelovige dan. Ik als wedergeboren Christen weet beter. Die historische noot samen met het hoge suspense-level hebben ervoor gezorgd dat ik de volledige reeks van Cotton Malone wil lezen. En liefst zo snel mogelijk.
Als je fan bent van films/boeken als De Da Vinci Code en/of historische thrillers in het algemeen, is dit zeker een aanrader!
听Ik weet niet meer wanneer ik voor het eerst een boek van Steve Berry kreeg. Maar ik had een lievelings auteur erbij.
De erfenis van de Tempeliers is het eerste deel van Steve Berry rond het hoofdpersonage Cotton Malone. We leren Cotton Malone kennen als een boekverkoper in Kopenhagen die vroeger werkte voor een spionagedienst van het Amerikaanse leger, Magellan. Gedurende het verhaal leren we Cotton Malone iets beter kennen, maar het uitdiepen van hem als persoon is geen groot onderdeel van dit verhaal.
Je laten meeslepen in dit verhaal, dat ging heel snel en automatisch. Er gebeurt altijd wel iets in het boek, gaat nooit vervelen en het laat je ook nadenken over het ontstaan van het Christendom, de oorsprong van Jezus en hoe geloofwaardig het allemaal is.
Voor de niet gelovige dan. Ik als wedergeboren Christen weet beter. Die historische noot samen met het hoge suspense-level hebben ervoor gezorgd dat ik de volledige reeks van Cotton Malone wil lezen. En liefst zo snel mogelijk.
Als je fan bent van films/boeken als De Da Vinci Code en/of historische thrillers in het algemeen, is dit zeker een aanrader!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,655 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.