What could be more peaceful than an academic talk by an
historian, organized by the Head Librarian for a small
flock of people interested in ancient Egypt and the Ark of
the Covenant? Things change quite dramatically as
archaeologist Jason Lovett seeks out British author Caedmon
Aisquith as he is packing up after his presentation.
Caedmon's lovely assistant, a wisecracking American
photographer, initially has trouble believing that this
interloper in their tight schedule is for real. As the men
chat about deciphering ancient symbols, things become very
real as blood spurts when a jeweled knife is skillfully
thrown in their midst.
Having been trained by the British M15, Caedmon gives
chase, but when that proves unsuccessful, he realizes he
has clues to follow. As he starts on his quest to solve
what Jason had found, he soon realizes that he and Edie
have become the game as their mysterious adversary seems to
have extraordinary skills at tracking them. Will they be
able to solve the unbelievable quest that Jason's clues had
pointed to? Can Caedmon remain true to his quest or will he
become
corrupted like the other seekers? Is the power of the
ancient relic truly capable of destroying the world?
With its snappy dialogue and strong storyline, C.M. Palov
has crafted a suspenseful thriller, filled with revenge,
greed, and ties to the Bible, Atlantis, and ancient Templar
lore. While intriguing as a stand alone book, the two main
characters have previously been introduced in Palov's Arc
of Fire, so reading that book first might be helpful to
some. As a hero, Caedmon is a very likable person, in
action and in thought, as he grapples with his academic and
personal ambitions. For my part, I found Edie a little over
the top at times with her non-stop flippant remarks. It
seemed a bit jarring, given her intelligence and cleverness
with clues in other situations. Still, the characters are
well crafted, even including that of assassin Saviour
Panos, as their background motivations are revealed. THE
TEMPLAR'S CODEcontains many of the usual elements found in
this genre: the chase across many intriguing places,
ancient codes and relics, villains and the heroic couple.
Yet for all that, there are enough surprising twists and
revelations to make for an enjoyably suspenseful read!
The greatest secret in the history of mankind is a secret
worth killing for...
During the Middle Ages a rumor was born about a mysterious
and sacred Ancient Egyptian text. Known as the Emerald
Tablet, it was said to contain the secret of creation.
But the greatest secret of all is who wrote it...