catsflipped's review against another edition
3.0
So much of this book was just ok the good bits were drowned out.
Following 3 generations of the Fontini-Cristi family you are drawn into the hunt for ancient documents that are hidden from the world. At first these documents seem comlpetely lost and their legacy seems to leave only death in their wake. However eventually clues are unearthed and a deadly chase begins.
I enjoyed bits of this book but was glad when it finished. It really didn't have me enthralled.
Following 3 generations of the Fontini-Cristi family you are drawn into the hunt for ancient documents that are hidden from the world. At first these documents seem comlpetely lost and their legacy seems to leave only death in their wake. However eventually clues are unearthed and a deadly chase begins.
I enjoyed bits of this book but was glad when it finished. It really didn't have me enthralled.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is up there with Ludlum's best work, which for me includes "The Matarese Circle" and "The Holcroft Covenant." A superbly written thriller spanning almost 5 decades and WWII. Plus if you're into books with religious intrigue by author's not named "Dan Brown," you might wanna give this one a try.
::SPOILER ALERT::
As a student of theology, one problem I had with the book was the way that Ludlum talked about the filioque controversy and how it led to denials of Christ's divinity. In reality, the Eastern Orthodox have never denied Christ's divinity at all, rather the understanding of trinitarian unity is different for the East and West. Roman Catholics (and most western offshoots of them) believe that Christ is co-equal with the Father and the Spirit in trinitarian theology. The East does NOT deny Christ's divinity or trinitarian right, rather they believe that because God is the source, the original creator, that the Holy Spirit cannot proceed through the Father AND the Son since the Father is the source (despite what is written in the Nicene Creed). Finding sources is very critical to eastern thought and it once again proves that religion (no matter what you believe) is often viewed through the lens of culture. I did my senior paper on the filioque controversy so I felt compelled to add this. It did not detract from what was otherwise a marvelous read, rather just was a recurring annoyance. Were I raised in the Eastern tradition, I would probably have been more upset.
::SPOILER ALERT::
As a student of theology, one problem I had with the book was the way that Ludlum talked about the filioque controversy and how it led to denials of Christ's divinity. In reality, the Eastern Orthodox have never denied Christ's divinity at all, rather the understanding of trinitarian unity is different for the East and West. Roman Catholics (and most western offshoots of them) believe that Christ is co-equal with the Father and the Spirit in trinitarian theology. The East does NOT deny Christ's divinity or trinitarian right, rather they believe that because God is the source, the original creator, that the Holy Spirit cannot proceed through the Father AND the Son since the Father is the source (despite what is written in the Nicene Creed). Finding sources is very critical to eastern thought and it once again proves that religion (no matter what you believe) is often viewed through the lens of culture. I did my senior paper on the filioque controversy so I felt compelled to add this. It did not detract from what was otherwise a marvelous read, rather just was a recurring annoyance. Were I raised in the Eastern tradition, I would probably have been more upset.
nkmeyers's review against another edition
2.0
secrecy, generational conflict, WWII aftermath, but author's development of characters is excellent at the beginning of the story and then becomes unbelieveable as the story progresses.
raehink's review
3.0
A spy thriller involving a set of twins. Typical Ludlum with lots of action and suspension of disbelief.
arbieroo's review
3.0
This is a 1976 entry in the fanatical/psychotic Christian sect - world shattering Religious Artefact supressed for centuries sub-genre of the thriller. It's a good deal more competent than a more recent such book that also features a trip to the Louvre, but then so are my schoolboy fictions.
It deviates somewhat from the standard Ludlum formula, being one of the few with a historical setting and straggling through three generations of protagonists. This latter is a bit disconcerting but this volume is still a swift read, full of incident. Neither in the top nor bottom rank of Ludlum's many works.
It deviates somewhat from the standard Ludlum formula, being one of the few with a historical setting and straggling through three generations of protagonists. This latter is a bit disconcerting but this volume is still a swift read, full of incident. Neither in the top nor bottom rank of Ludlum's many works.
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