Book Review: The Templar Legacy

Reviewed By: Molli Struebing

The Templar Legacy     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Steve Berry
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Ballantine, 2006

With shocking knowledge and staggering wealth, they controlled kings and popes. But when their last master died in 1314, the reign of the Knights Templar ended. Or did it?

For Cotton Malone, a former covert U.S. Justice Department agent, and his ex-supervisor, Stepanie Nell, an earth-shaking discovery likes in wait at the end of a heart-racing chase through a centuries-spanning labyrinth of high intrigue, harrowing danger, violent treachery, and lust for power. Across a chessboard of European villages, castles, and cloisters, competing forces play a desperate game of conquest like no other. And the spoils of victory are no less than the destiny of history.

Murder, mayhem, and secret passages abound in this book. Friends are enemies, and enemies are surprising allies. It did get a bit wearing about the third time someone asked "Cotton" Malone how he got his name and his stock answer of "Its a long story". Ok, we get that, either tell us or leave it alone! While the background and history of the Templar was necessary to the story, there was so much of it that the book seriously bogged down in the middle, and you just wanted the author to get on with it. There were a couple of nice surprises along the way though. If you liked The DaVinci Code, you will enjoy this book. Hugs, Molli

Molli Struebing

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Molli Struebing