In the prologue, 1291 Jerusalem is under siege from the
Muslims and will soon be in their hands. Martin, a young
Templar Knight, his mentor, Aimard, and several other
trusted knights are escaping to the sea after being
entrusted with a mysterious chest by their Grand Master as
he lay dying. The ship vanishes and the fates of the men
onboard are unknown.
Fast-forward to present-day New York and the glitzy gala
opening of the Treasures of the Vatican exhibit at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Four horsemen, garbed in
medieval armor covered with long, white mantles bearing a
red cross, emerge from Central Park and descend upon the
museum's entrance. Everyone in the illustrious crowd
believes it to part of the opening event, until the
horsemen bolt into the museum, smashing, looting and
killing as they go. But one of them has only one prize in
mind and heads straight to the display case housing an
unusual geared device.
Peeking out from her hiding place nearby, archaeologist
Tess Chaykin hears the man recite a Latin verse as he
reverently lifts the strange contraption of buttons, gears
and levers. He then turns and orders the other horsemen to
join him as they make their escape.
In the total chaos, confusion and weirdness of the
situation, the FBI takes over the investigation. Since
9/11, the threat of terrorist attacks is always at the
forefront, so anti-terrorist specialist Sean Reilly is
assigned the case. During the interviewing of witnesses,
Tess discloses the unusual incident she saw. And her
analytical, academic mind starts working overtime trying to
figure out just what some of the evidence means to the case.
As the FBI tracks down leads, three of the horsemen are
found dead before they can get to them. Someone is
murdering everyone involved, but is it the fourth horseman
or someone else?
Tess involves herself further in the case as her research
points to the ancient Templar Knights. This results in Tess
spending more time with Sean. Soon both of them become the
target of a deranged madman who will stop at nothing to
keep an age-old secret from being exposed. Trying to stay
one step ahead of the brutal killer(s), they find
themselves caught up in a deadly investigation that takes
them to three continents and into horrifying circumstances.
Loaded down with tons of narrative and history on the
Templars, as well as extensive tutorials and the ongoing
debate between Christian believers and nonbelievers, this
novel provides an entertaining fictional account of what
the Templars secret treasure really was. The relationship
between Tess and Sean has a flat, one-dimensional feel to
it. And the only surprising element is the ending. That
said, the plot progression did keep my interest and
attention as it led to the resolution of the secret.
"It has served us well, this myth of Christ."
Pope Leo X, 16th Century
In a hail of fire and flashing sword, as the burning city
of Acre falls from the hands of the West in 1291, The Last
Templar opens with a young Templar knight, his mentor, and
a handful of others escaping to the sea carrying a
mysterious chest entrusted to them by the Order’s dying
Grand Master. The ship vanishes without a trace.
In present day Manhattan, four masked horsemen dressed as
Templar Knights emerge from Central Park and ride up the
Fifth Avenue steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art during
the blacktie opening of a Treasures of the Vatican exhibit.
Storming through the crowds, the horsemen brutally attack
anyone standing between them and their prize. Attending the
gala, archaeologist Tess Chaykin watches in silent terror
as the leader of the horsemen hones in on one piece in
particular, a strange geared device. He utters a few
cryptic Latin words as he takes hold of it with reverence
before leading the horsemen out and disappearing into the
night.
In the aftermath, an FBI investigation is led by anti-
terrorist specialist Sean Reilly. Soon, he and Tess are
drawn into the dark, hidden history of the crusading
Knights, plunging them into a deadly game of cat and mouse
with ruthless killers as they race across three continents
to recover the lost secret of the Templars.
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