Pre Group Read Discussion / Chat

Where did we leave the series off at the end of Book 1, The Templar Legacy.

What are you hoping for from this book?

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #1

The Templar Legacy introduced us to Cotton Malone, a former covert agent of the U.S. Justice Department.

Malone finds himself drawn into the pursuit of the Templar legacy when what was supposed to be a visit with Stephanie Nelle, his former supervisor at Justice, turns into a purse snatching that ends when the perpetrator, after being cornered, commits suicide.

It develops that the would-be thief is after a notebook of Nelle's late and estranged husband that has passed into her possession under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Nelle's husband had become famous writing a number of speculative works concerning European mysteries of the 14th century, including the disappearance of the Templar fortune. His notebooks and a seemingly innocuous manuscript appear to hold the key to the ultimate location of the treasure trove.

Malone and Nelle are in competition with others in a race to the treasure…a race that includes the modern-day leader of the Templars, an organization that has continued to exist quietly, biding its time.

Malone gets some assistance from unexpected sources, including an exotic and capable Moslem beauty with an agenda of her own and a Templar monk whose destiny appears to be forewritten in prophecy.

Intermixed with the action and adventure is not only a good amount of information on the history of the Knights Templar, but the contradictions amongst the various Gospels in terms of the Resurrection as well.

As they draw closer to unearthing the treasure, however, Malone finds that the number of people whom he can fully trust becomes fewer and fewer, even as the path to the treasure, and the Templar legacy, grows more dangerous.

As a group we found Cotton Malone to be a likable, capable, and ultimately believable character….one who is perhaps more competent cerebrally than physically.

After cashing in his retirement from the Justice Department he owns and operates a bookstore in Denmark…but it seems his criminal hunting days are far from over.

This was the last book we discussed on Leafmarks in June 2016.

I did find a few of our comments:

“There are many twists and turns in the tale, which makes for a fast-paced, exciting story that is sure to grip the reader.”

Cmment about the audio version f the story: “There were times when Brian Corrigan's attempts at the French accent of this book's arch-villain, Raymond De Roquefort, that he sounded so much like Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau with a bad head cold. In spite of that the story line was absolutely magnificent.”

The clues that Cotton Malone and his band of merry men and women were tasked with finding and interpreting were well over this readers head but I did so enjoy the journey. This is the perfect blend for thriller fans and history buffs alike.”

“The plot of finding the Templar treasure made for a very adventurous tale. I learned a lot about the history of the Templars, the Rennes-le-Chateau, Avignon and Pyrenees areas of France which was very fascinating.”

All I could find were ratings from myself – 3.5; Eadie – 5, Lynda – 4, and Andrew – 4.5. Bluebird- 3.5

Since Sergei says he had no rating and I know of no other participants...based on the 5 of us the overall rating was 4.1

Thanks Carol, a great summary as always. Was it really that long ago!

Thanks. I did it this morning since I realized that this book was the 2nd in the series and we were going to need a recap. We read it the end of June before Leafmarks told us our lease had run out and we had to vacate the premises. It doesn't seem possible that we've been here that long. I'm just glad we could stay together with our discussions and other things:)

>2 Carol420: Oops! Just checked and this is the group read I had to abandon due to family commitments - I didn't finish the read, although I'd read it before pre-Shelfari, so I have no rating for it.

>4 Carol420: The time has passed quickly, and still miss Leafmarks!

>2 Carol420: Great recap! I also participated in the group read for the first book. My rating was 3.5 stars.

>7 bluebird_: Thanks Bluebird... I added you. This might be all of us since Sergei says he abandoned us:) If that is the case, I can give it an overall rating and I'll change it if someone else speaks up.

>8 Carol420: Oh, Carol, I didn't abandon you all, I abandoned the book... Unfortunately, I just couldn't keep up with the rest of you. How could I abandon my friends? :D

>9 Sergeirocks: You were just temperately incapacitated. I know you would never abandon us. After all we have the bacon butties and the cheesecake:)

;)

Now would bacon cheesecake work? 😏

>12 Andrew-theQM: Might be okay but I'll let one of you try it first.

>12 Andrew-theQM: >13 Carol420:
I think bacon cheesecake would work. We eat eggs and bacon and there are eggs in cheesecake. We eat bacon on our cheeseburgers and there is cream cheese in cheesecake. So what's wrong with a cheesecake with crumbled bacon on top. Sounds good to me!

>14 EadieB: Okay...you've convinced me. Hope you've started working on it.

>12 Andrew-theQM: Gross!

>14 EadieB: Sorry, Eadie, not buying it. :)

>16 Sergeirocks:
Okay Sergei, we can put some boring berries on your cheesecake instead but don't complain when everyone is enjoying the one with bacon.

I've had a bacon and chocolate cupcake and it was pretty good. I'm on the fence about the cheesecake.

I used to have bacon & peanut butter on toast when I came home from school. I don't see why bacon wouldn't be good on cheesecake. Eadie will have to try it and make her husband be our guinea pig.

I asked my husband if he would eat bacon cheesecake. He said no - he likes them separately but not together. Oh by the way: today is our 42nd anniversary and if I ever want to make it to 50, I better not serve bacon cheesecake!

>19 Carol420: Well...happy anniversary to you both. I guess since it's a special day we'll just have to get someone else to try the bacon cheesecake. I wonder what Andrew is doing after school????

Andrew suggested it so it would be good for him to try it and let us know what he thinks.

>22 EadieB: Sounds like a solid plan to me. Won't he be surprised? I bet his wife thinks we're all loony tunes:)

Happy Anniversary Eadie!

Thanks Lynda!

>23 Carol420: If I make a bacon cheesecake she'll think I'm looney tunes! I'll have strawberries on mine!

>17 EadieB: Boring berries does it for me, every time, :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, EADIE! 🎉 🍾

Thanks, Sergei!

Apologies but due to unexpected work commitments tonight it will be Friday before questions for the last section are posted.

>29 Andrew-theQM:
No problem Andrew!

Bill Clinton just arrived at the Hilton where we are staying in Orlando. Lots of police and sniffing dogs around!

The thread for Nominating a book for group discussion in November has been posted:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/236935

Nominate away!