Makes you think about the basis of Christianity and the Knights Templar. A page turner with good character development, plot twists, factual and fiction historical descriptions (as reveiled in the author's notes at the end). Slightly similar to the Di Vinci Code and the movie National Treasure (my appologies if there is a book). I will defientely be checking out my works by this author.

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OMG !!!! This is the WORST book I've ever had to suffer through. This beats Christopher Rice's "Light Before Day" as the worst book I've ever read. I didn't think that could happen because Light Before Day was pretty awful.

Steve Berry did a horrible job at story telling in this book. All he wanted to do was show off his knowledge about the Templar Knights mixed in with some rubbish to fill in the holes in history. Usually I love books with secret socities and real life history mixed in with the story, but this was just horrible. From page one, I couldn't follow the story. I didn't care one bit about any of the characters. There were so many different names of places and people being thrown around that I couldn't keep it all straight. The dialog was so unbelievable. It's like the author is just way out of touch with real people. Maybe he just hangs around way over smart know it alls and he doesn't know how to relate to average people. I'm so glad I'm done with this book!!

At certain points, it was as if even the author knew his story wasn't believable. There were parts were the characters had to over explain their actions because it just didn't make any sense why they were saying or doing what they were doing.

The only reason I kept reading this book is because I received the 4th book from the Librarything Early Reviewers program and agreed to review it, but I wanted to read the first 3 of the series. This was the first book. There's no way I can put up 3 more of these books, but I was willing to give book 2 a try. The info on the jacket was already WAY better than the first book so I gave book 2 a chance. I'm on page 150 right now and its a million times better than "The Templar Legacy". It's still not that great, but I'm at least interested. I doubt book 4 will get a raving review from me on Librarything.

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It was a good mystery, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Has a lot of history in it.
The author distinguishes between fact and fiction in the writers notes!

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If you liked the DaVinci Code, you will like this one. The Knights Templar, the Catholic Church, lost and hidden treasure, espionage, and treachery. What more could you want? Mr. Berry makes it almost seem possible. As good as (or maybe better than The DaVinci Code). I highly recommend this book!

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One of the better Templar books, now that there are thousands of them. A first class writer.

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I'm a fan of Steve Berry as well as anything Templar. If you like Templar mysteries...read this.

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In 2003 Dan Brown wrote the thriller The Da Vinci Code, whose main purpose seemed to be to place doubt in the validity of Jesus Christ and Christianity. In 2006 this became a blockbuster movie. Also in 2006 The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry was released. This book has no other purpose than to jump on the bandwagon and use the Templar Knights to promote more doubt of Jesus and the Christian Church/Catholic Church.

Steve Berry has woven together an exciting then and now thriller that appears to take historical facts from the middle ages and a fictional story about an American ex-pat who has to outwit the 'present day' Templars. Cotton Malone is the main character in The Templar Legacy, the 1st of, so far, 15 books where the ex-Justice Department lawyer gets into trouble overseas.

This book shows that Steve Berry is good at planning a novel with thriller style surprises and at describing places and situations to keep a reader interested in a story line. But at this point he is still learning how to develop realistic dialog between his characters. It also takes considerable time to follow and get through the historical sections early in the manuscript. Overall is would be a good start to a series -- except that its' focus is to tear down Christian beliefs.

Overall, I was frustrated by the direction of the story. The Templars focus was to "pay back" the Catholic Church for things that happened to them 1000 years ago. The focus of Cotton Malone was to 'help' a friend who didn't want his help. And of course they all stepped into traps that most high schoolers would have spotted. Due to the focus of this material I am unlikely to ever see if Steve Berry has grown into a top author. Fortunately there are many others to read instead.

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Pretty good. 7 out of 10

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Anyone who liked ANGELS AND DEMONS will be fascinated by the tricksy unveiling of this novel as well!

From back cover:
Onetime U.S. operative Cotton Malone teams up with his former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, to find the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the Knights Templar were exterminated in the fourteenth century. Nelle is armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, but also in pursuit of the historic prize is a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command. At the end of the trail lies a discovery that could rock the civilized world--and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.

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Super fast read!! Cotton Malone is a great, first book he appeared in!!

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I have found another author that I like as much as James Rollins! If you like thrillers, then this is a book for you; it is very enjoyable.

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Any book about the Templars will have some controversial themes in the development of the story, and is bound to offend some people. This book is no different in that respect.

The Templars were an order of monks who originated to ensure safe passage for Christians while travelling in the Holy Land in the 1300's (I think that was the time period). There is much mystery associated with this group of religious men. There is a supposed secret that these elite members possessed. Some believe there is a secret treasure and/or knowledge of some fact that, if made public, would jeopardize the whole Christian faith (some fictional developments in this and other novels include maybe Jesus and Mary Magdalene had children, Jesus's death and ressurection was a hoax, and hint that the Templars are still in existence, still protecting whatever the secret is.)

So, the crux of what is believed to be the secret held by the Templars is controversial. And this book, like others I've read with Templar mystery in the plot, puts forth some facts to help substantiate thoughts that refute some of the basic tenents on which Christianity is based.

But...without spoiling the story and ending, I just need to say that the end of this book was well-written to reinstate and support faith in Jesus, regardless of what may or may not be found, proven, or otherwise argued against our religion.

If you are sensitive to contradictions about what you believe as a Christian, you may want to avoid this book. If you are confident enough with your faith and can accept alternative viewpoints, you will find this book interesting.

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