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The Celtic Conspiracy
In the final days of World War II, an Irish soldier discovers a cache of artifacts in an Austrian cave that threatens to expose long-buried secrets of the Catholic Church. Secrets that prove the Druids of Ireland did not die out; they were systematically exterminated in cold blood. However, the secret will stay buried within the walls of the soldier’s home for another fifty years before it is brought to light by his son, a modern-day proponent of the Druids’ enlightened, pacifist culture.
Armed with the evidence and the conviction to expose the Church’s conspiracy, the soldier’s son, a Supreme Court justice, forms an unlikely alliance with a healer, a linguist, and a Boston attorney to bring the Vatican to trial. As the action races from the corridors of the White House and the United States Supreme Court to Dublin’s halls of academia and the secretive back passages in Rome, the Church will stop at nothing to silence the voices of the past.
Armed with the evidence and the conviction to expose the Church’s conspiracy, the soldier’s son, a Supreme Court justice, forms an unlikely alliance with a healer, a linguist, and a Boston attorney to bring the Vatican to trial. As the action races from the corridors of the White House and the United States Supreme Court to Dublin’s halls of academia and the secretive back passages in Rome, the Church will stop at nothing to silence the voices of the past.
471 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
83 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Thore D. Hansen
9 books7 followersHansen is a German journalist and writer. He grew up in Sankt Peter-Ording, studied political science and sociology in Hamburg and specialized in the analysis of international politics, research on war causes and the work of secret services. Between 1991 and 2010, Hansen worked for numerous daily newspapers and magazines in Germany, Austria and Spain. He was the economic editor for the Internet magazine "Tomorrow".
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 34 reviews
June 22, 2012
When I first began to read this novel, I wasn't sure if I would even finish it. It has an interesting storyline; but the harseness toward Christians was hard to swallow. Then I read a quote by Aristotle "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it". At the same time I was reminded about being "open-minded". I realized then that I was taking this work too personally and not for the intentions of the author. It is about opening one's mind to others' thoughts or views in order to understand and appreciate differences between us all. After reviewing my own negativity concerning this novel, I then looked at it again and fell in love.
It is a novel of conspiracies, politics, and intrigues. It looks to the ancient past and to visions of today and the future. Filled with excitment and international subterfuge, Hansen takes his readers on a thrill ride which spans from Emperor Constantine to today and from Dublin, Ireland, to Austria, to the United States. The characters begin one dimensional and then grow into being people you may know or have met. They are filled with the emotions and temperments of their passions and you become a part of them.
Indeed, it is harsh against the Catholic Church, but when seen from the view point of Celts, Druids, and other indigineous cultures, it is a realistic view of the way these cultures may and do feel toward Christianity. Yet, it is filled with optimism as well toward Christians.
This is a fascinating novel which looks into the culture of the Celts and the Druids and exposes the Catholic violent reaction toward all non-Christian cultures. It is definitely worth the time and should be read with an open mind with an eye to realizing the truth and accepting responsibility for that truth...Enjoy it and become a part of the Celtic Conspiracy!
It is a novel of conspiracies, politics, and intrigues. It looks to the ancient past and to visions of today and the future. Filled with excitment and international subterfuge, Hansen takes his readers on a thrill ride which spans from Emperor Constantine to today and from Dublin, Ireland, to Austria, to the United States. The characters begin one dimensional and then grow into being people you may know or have met. They are filled with the emotions and temperments of their passions and you become a part of them.
Indeed, it is harsh against the Catholic Church, but when seen from the view point of Celts, Druids, and other indigineous cultures, it is a realistic view of the way these cultures may and do feel toward Christianity. Yet, it is filled with optimism as well toward Christians.
This is a fascinating novel which looks into the culture of the Celts and the Druids and exposes the Catholic violent reaction toward all non-Christian cultures. It is definitely worth the time and should be read with an open mind with an eye to realizing the truth and accepting responsibility for that truth...Enjoy it and become a part of the Celtic Conspiracy!
July 8, 2014
The Celtic Conspiracy is basically that the Catholic church deliberately and systemically has exterminated any indigenous peoples who had a belief system other than their own.Whether or not there is a grain of truth to this, this book centered around the Druids, their history and demise.
There was some really decent Druidic history in the book, and the conspiracy theory was an excellent premise. Where it bogged down was all the speechifying that went on. It came off as less a story than a treatise for a new world order.Given all that I still enjoyed the book.
There was some really decent Druidic history in the book, and the conspiracy theory was an excellent premise. Where it bogged down was all the speechifying that went on. It came off as less a story than a treatise for a new world order.Given all that I still enjoyed the book.
August 22, 2012
This was an OK book. Lots of talking and not much action until about 3/4 the way through and then it ended with more talking. Conspiracy theories against the Vatican and all their hidden secrets. Reminded me of Dan Browns books but not as good.
April 26, 2013
The story was an interesting attempt to explain the connection between the Celts, the Druids, and the Catholic Church in a fictionalized format. The subject is of great personal interest, and I generally like learning history in the format of a novel if the research is accurate. But after the first few chapters of this book, I felt like I was reading "Thee Hardy Boys meet the Mafia." Pure good guys meet evil bad guys with a few clueless individuals in the middle.
The book time shifted frequently, which is another plot device I normally enjoy. But this one was to choppy, and it was difficult to figure out how characters connected to each other.
Finally, the thing that almost always ruins a book for me. I couldn't get attached to any specific characters.
To Sum Up: The plot was interesting, but the story around it could not do justice to the history or the ideas. Unfortunately,l it made important history into a childish who-done-it.
The book time shifted frequently, which is another plot device I normally enjoy. But this one was to choppy, and it was difficult to figure out how characters connected to each other.
Finally, the thing that almost always ruins a book for me. I couldn't get attached to any specific characters.
To Sum Up: The plot was interesting, but the story around it could not do justice to the history or the ideas. Unfortunately,l it made important history into a childish who-done-it.
August 1, 2012
The characters spend a great deal of time discussing how the world just doesn't understand Druids (duh!) and how the Catholic Church is hiding important information about atrocious acts committed during the Byzantium era (double duh!). The plot idea is a great one~a group of modern-day Druids discover a stash of ancient artifacts that could possibly change the way the world views history. I liked that, but I just couldn't get past the characters. They were weak and flat. I didn't understand why they were constantly discussing the ramifications of this amazing find~there was not enough action for me. I was thinking maybe more like one of those Dan Brown books, but no...I almost quit reading it, but I do like to finish what I start.
Melissa
Melissa
July 12, 2012
Seriously? All this book does is talk, talk, talk. What "action" there is is shoved between speech after speech after speech. I don't really mind the anti-Catholic rhetoric (even though I am Catholic)--heck, I was highly entertained by "the DaVinci Code." But this guy can't even tell a story. I only got through it because I paid $6 for the kindle version, and I'm cheap enough to want to use something I paid for.
July 30, 2018
Good idea bad execution.
I almost stopped reading this about a quarter of the way through. But, in the sprit of fairness I kept going hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Should be a 1 star review but I gave it an extra star because the central idea of the plot could have made a good book. Alas it didn't.
Not recommended.
I almost stopped reading this about a quarter of the way through. But, in the sprit of fairness I kept going hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Should be a 1 star review but I gave it an extra star because the central idea of the plot could have made a good book. Alas it didn't.
Not recommended.
January 7, 2013
Seemed interesting as a premise, but poorly written, didn't grab me, and just didn't seem to go anywhere but dart around for no reason. I'm deleting it deliberately so I can't waste my time by finishing it - at 10% of the way through.
June 23, 2012
As an Amazon Prime member I thought I would give it a try as it was a new release and also preyed upon a few of my personal interests from the description. It did not disappoint in the slightest.
August 10, 2012
Very interesting. I dont get caught up in the religious hysteria of "oh is this really true", but I did find the story plausible, and the presentation interesting reading.
September 6, 2012
Light summer reading, interesting but not captivating. If you don't like the Roman Catholic church you will love this book!
August 25, 2018
One of my favourite books of the year for sure! Gives me hope as a Pagan that a long-lasting peace is possible!
November 6, 2022
Definitely worth a read if you like Catholic church history alternative views. Interesting idea about how the Druids fit into the Catholic church history.
May 1, 2024
I stuggled to read this and I love to read. It's wordy (as in blah blah blah). seems to be anti catholic church and pro worshiping whatever god or gods the druids worshipped
August 1, 2012
The plot idea was a good one~some modern-day Druids find some ancient artifacts in a French cave that could have historical and political ramifications. The description of the plot is what got me to borrow the book in the first place. But, the characters were constantly talking about how the Druids were misunderstood and the Catholic Church was hiding important information about atrocities committed during the Byzantium era. I really tried; I finished the book~but, I cannot honestly recommend this to anyone.
Melissa
Melissa
March 16, 2014
What the world needs now...
Although I felt that there were too many characters without full development...it made me curious to know more. I love the entire concept and feel it is real and important to our world today and can only "pray" that we continue towards this path. I thank Mr. Hansen from the depths of my ever searching soul. You have given me a little piece of "heaven" on earth!
Although I felt that there were too many characters without full development...it made me curious to know more. I love the entire concept and feel it is real and important to our world today and can only "pray" that we continue towards this path. I thank Mr. Hansen from the depths of my ever searching soul. You have given me a little piece of "heaven" on earth!
September 9, 2016
Real rating 4.5! Love, love, loved this book! This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad she told me about it! For a Christian, mainly a Catholic, this may seem like a very harsh book, but one needs to remember that this is a work of Fiction. It is very well written, and I enjoyed every moment of it!
I look forward to reading more books by Thore D. Hansen!
I look forward to reading more books by Thore D. Hansen!
July 4, 2012
It started out so promising...the celtic history was intriguing and fascinating unfortunately the modern day cloak and dagger was not realistic and seemed almost silly. I put it down several times and read other books and finally went back to skim to the end.
December 14, 2014
Awesome! So appropiate in this election year. The mix of religion and politics coupled with the intrigue of the Vatican church/state existence. History is indeed written by the victors, however their perception is not necessarily reality for everyone.
June 20, 2012
Interesting diatribe against the Catholic Church - nothing we didn't already know.
Read
July 25, 2012Celtic history in present. Trouble with Vatican.
August 27, 2012
It was okay. Sadly not as thrilling as I would have liked but interesting.
September 27, 2012
It starts out good but meanders into a totally unbelievable premise and even more unfathomable ending.
November 19, 2012
I would have given this book no starts, it totally is an manifesto of the author of very anti-Catholic and non-Christian opinions, not worth the time to read!
January 13, 2013
450 pages (yes, every page) of preaching at us to return to the ancient knowledge that the divine spark is in each and everyone of us. dreck.
June 5, 2013
If there is any historical truth behind this book...LET IT COME TO LIGHT!
July 26, 2016
Finished! Really an eye opening theory.... I hope some day we know all the lies and secrets that the Catholic church has been throwing at us for centuries
March 11, 2014
It was average.
Interesting story line. Too drawn out. Was, at times, boring. I would not recommend this book to others unless it is borrowed.
Interesting story line. Too drawn out. Was, at times, boring. I would not recommend this book to others unless it is borrowed.
June 20, 2014
A rip-off of The Da Vinci Code. Conspiricies, Druids, the Vatican, and a ridiculous plot. Enuf said...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 34 reviews