Part of Cotton Malone, book 1
First published 2006
Cotton Malone thought his days as a Justice Department operative were over. Now he runs a quiet bookshop in Copenhagen, far from the world of espionage and violence. That peace shatters when his former boss Stephanie Nelle barely survives a brutal robbery attempt. She carries clues to a mystery that has consumed historians for centuries: the fate of the Knights Templar's legendary fortune. The medieval order once wielded enormous influence over kings and popes until the Inquisition destroyed them in the fourteenth century. Their vast wealth vanished with them. Stephanie believes she can crack the puzzle using fragments scattered across Europe. But she faces deadly competition from Raymond de Roquefort, a ruthless fanatic who commands a network of killers. Cotton joins the hunt to protect Stephanie and level the playing field. As they follow the trail deeper into Templar secrets, Cotton discovers the stakes extend far beyond money or historical curiosity. The truth about what the Templars really possessed could transform the modern world or destroy it entirely.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller, action, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Copenhagen, Europe
Period: 14th Century, Modern Day
511 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books