After his lecture, Caedmon is approached by a young man named Jason Lovett, an archaeologist, who has evidence that the Ark was brought to the New World in the fourteenth century. He believes that, with Caedmon’s help in deciphering Templar symbols, he can discover where in the New World the Templars hid the Ark among other treasures. Caedmon grants Lovett some credibility as they had the knowledge to have made such a journey and the stronghold in Paris was under siege.

Before they can get much further in their negotiations, Jason Lovett is killed. Caedmon and Edie are left with little to go on to resolve this mystery. Obviously someone else is a player in the game, namely the man who killed Lovett. Lovett had in his pocket a voice activated recorder which gives Caedmon and Edie a bit more information to begin their search.

The Templars had a presence in Rhode Island in the form of a colony called Arcadia. This knowledge gives them a starting point which then leads them to London, back to Washington, D.C., picking up pieces of the puzzle at each stop. At the same time they are aware that they are being followed by the man who killed Jason Lovett. This man’s goal is the same as their own, but he has no qualms about killing anyone who stands in his way on his quest to find the priceless treasure.

 While the general premise of the plot of The Templar’s Code is straightforward, there are numerous twists and turns along the path to unearth the treasure. From Francis Bacon to the founding fathers of the United States, various schemes and alliances are uncovered. It is not clear how much of this information is fact and how much is the product of the author’s imagination, but it makes for a good tale. The author goes into some detail in each of these excursions into the lives of various historical figures which slows down the pace of the novel. The facts, if, indeed, they are facts, are interesting insights into the lives of these people, though it increases the length of the novel considerably. I had hoped that the author would have penned an afterward to clarify this enigma, but there was none.

 The story depends a great deal on serendipitous events. Caedmon and Edie’s adversary fortuitously discovers where they are headed next when he sees the laptop computer they have left, with their plane reservations clearly displayed for all to see. A stranger just happens along and gives the pair information about a copper globe which was once present in a park in Washington D. C. though is no longer there. This tidbit allows them to make sense of several other puzzle pieces that were confusing them. A ticket agent gives their adversary other flight information allowing him to stay right oh their tail. The story is still engaging, but one’s willing suspension of disbelief must be in good operating order.

  Caedmon and Edie are both of above average intelligence. Their ability to make assumptions which turn out to be correct is, however, astounding. In addition, the duo also seems to have just the right skill set to extract them from difficult places. It is not unreasonable that Edie should have some martial arts training, but this fact is never mentioned until she is in a situation where this knowledge can save her life. Likewise Caedmon has had training as a British operative, but he just happens to have bits of knowledge that extract them from difficult situations with little damage to their bodies.

    The Templar’s Code has at its core an imaginative premise which makes for an entertaining read. It is a bit long at something over five hundred pages due to the detail given as each new event evolves. Certainly those bored with details can skip these parts while those who revel in minutia can indulge themselves. Thus what may be faults might increase the number of personality types to whom this tale might appeal.

--Andy Plonka