The Templar Legacy

The Templar Legacy is an interesting mix of history, speculation, religion, and thriller. The reader has to be ready to suspend some disbelief: the secret-agent-type heroes are incredibly slow at times (evidently they had never heard of a transponder) and the evil bad-guy is uncannily lucky and able to pull correct hunches out of the blue. The end of the book leans a little toward the preachy side, but I suppose it's impossible for an author to leave his personal opinions out of a book. If you can get by those things, you will enjoy a lively, "page/turning" story with many thought-provoking perspectives on history and present-day.

This was a great listen, If you enjoyed the DiVinci code for what it was then you will enjoy this story as well. Lots of history mixed with fiction and excitement around every corner.

I have three words of advice for the author: Plot, plot, plot!

Another religious conspiriacy thiller, this is sure to offend doctrinaire Christians. None of that offends me, but the dreadful writing does! I wasn't looking for a great book, just a fun conspiracy-theory thriller. The book's theme was heavy handed and unlike the Da Vinci Code, the plot was not related to it.

Here are problems: the book was really poorly edited, and thematic material is repeated over and over and over and over again. As such the book is about one third too long. Between the "living" and "historical" characters there are just too many.

The characters are not even two-dimensional: they bounce all over the place and react to situations and each other randomly, often in ways that do not further the story, as well as being EXTREMELY psychologically implausible.

The kind-of, sort-of protagonist has no reason for being in the story. He is not needed for the plot. Also this super spy of southern provenance, intellectual, ex-fighter pilot, scripture-quoting lawyer, antique book dealer and always good guy is just silly. Actually half of the major characters have no plausible motivation for being involved, so the author repeats their implausible reasons for being in the story over and over and over again.

Finally, there are just lots and lots and lots of plot holes and totally implausible situations and events (even in the fantasy world of this kind of novel) that continually jar one out of the book. I found myself kind of embarassed for the author.

I did finish it though, but the fact that I paid two credits for this is really irksome. The narration was adequate.

I read one of Steve Berry's books years ago and really liked it (The Romanov Prophecy), but had never taken the time to keep up with him. I saw n unreada paperback copy of this book on my shelf and happened to be looking for a new audiobook and hopefully a new author. To say that I found everything I was looking for would be an understatement of monumental proportions.

The hero of this book (and several others that follow) is Cotton Malone. He's a retired lawyer, secret agent-type who lives in Europe and tries to sell collectible books. I say tries because trouble tends to find Cotton and take him all over the globe into fantastic adventures. The series as a whole is wonderful. This book shines particularly brightly.

The characters find themselves on the trail of the Templar treasure. I'm thinking to myself: "of course they are looking for Templar history because ALL novelists try to find Templar treasure." I never give away plots in my reviews or add spoilers, but Berry succeeds in re-telling the Templars in a way that is exciting, historically accurate and that encourages the reader to move on with their own studies. Like, James Rollins and Brad Thor, Steve Berry devotes a segment at the end of his novels to what is and isn't true -- completely freaky in the case of this particular story! I love books where you read, you learn and you want to learn more but in a fiction context.

Since I listened to this novel, I have downloaded and listened to each and every book Steve Berry has ever written. I took a brief pause from a non-Cotton Malone book when James Rollins's new book came out and then dug right back in. I have ignored some of my favorite authors while I listen to Berry. I have recommended Berry to all of my friends. I have lent the paperback copy that was on my shelf to two other swim moms who have read, returned and recommended. I simply cannot express how MUCH I love one of my new favorite authors.

This work has hooked me on Steve Barry's books. Kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

Greatly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and taught me all sorts of things I never knew about the bible and biblical times. Tho mixed in with fiction, just a fascinating, fun read! Steve Berry is now on my list of favorite authors.

I didn't think there was room for another book dealing with the "Rennes-Le-Chateau mystery", but thoroughly enjoyed this author's approach centering on the Templar's perspective. Of course, there will be some readers who will disagree because although this is a work of fiction, it may challenge some canonical beliefs. I have observed in other reviews that this can be the sole criteria for panning a book regardless of its other virtues. That said, although long, I enjoyed the listen. I also appreciated the authors notes differentiating historical, scriptual, and fictional source material.

I have read several of Steve Berry's books and enjoyed them. This one is just ridiculous. I live in Spain and travel to Southern France on a regular basis. Extremely poor research despite the so called references cited in the epilogue. The situations and character development were infantile. Is there a character in modern fiction with an once of common sense? Don't waste a credit or your time. Sorry this one just didn't impress.

I think I would have enjoed this if I hadnt read the DaVinci book first. I can see how the author says it was copied, they are remarkably similar. However, I liked this hero better, and I liked the writing style more.

I bought this title because I liked Berry's Third Secret. Nowhere near as good! Unbelievable plot turns (it would take a top secret agent that long to think about and discover a transponder?? come now, Steve!) Corny accents (French is French, not strange sounding English). Character and plot inconsistencies making me realize that Berry did NOT do his history homework before writing this (the Gnostics were the absolute opposites of the smug sexists he makes the Templars out to be, and yet they were supposedly inspired by the Gnostics??)
And the narration---does no one at Audible make sure pronounciations are correct? Every time I hear the narrator mispronounce Cassiopeia, I cringe---she's too important a character to have her (well known) name tortured so.
After my enjoyment of the Third Secret (which also stretched credulity, but in a kinder, gentler way..), this was a real disappointment.