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The Resurrection Maker
#1 International Bestseller
Echoes from the past guide Arthur Malory on a dangerous search for the Holy Grail, a quest that may shed light on the mystery of the resurrection of Christ.
From the thriller writer, Glenn Cooper, whose books have sold five million copies and have been top-ten bestsellers throughout Europe, comes his explosive new thriller, the most innovative and controversial book ever written on the Holy Grail and the resurrection of Christ. Arthur Malory, a seemingly ordinary Englishman, has a burning interest in the Grail, a passion inherited from his father. Thrust into a life-or-death quest to find the precious artifact, he will discover not only his own amazing heritage but the power that the Grail possesses, a power that informs the resurrection of Christ and explosively merges spiritual and scientific thought.
Echoes from the past guide Arthur Malory on a dangerous search for the Holy Grail, a quest that may shed light on the mystery of the resurrection of Christ.
From the thriller writer, Glenn Cooper, whose books have sold five million copies and have been top-ten bestsellers throughout Europe, comes his explosive new thriller, the most innovative and controversial book ever written on the Holy Grail and the resurrection of Christ. Arthur Malory, a seemingly ordinary Englishman, has a burning interest in the Grail, a passion inherited from his father. Thrust into a life-or-death quest to find the precious artifact, he will discover not only his own amazing heritage but the power that the Grail possesses, a power that informs the resurrection of Christ and explosively merges spiritual and scientific thought.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2013
414 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Cooper
26 books1,386 followersGlenn Cooper is an internationally bestselling thriller writer.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
March 10, 2017
This review begins with a warning this book will offend a lot of people. If you are Christian, or a fan of Arthurian lore or believe the Holy Grail is imbued with power because of who used it.
This book starts off with us meeting Arthur Mallory; marketing manger for a magnet company. He is also a part time treasure hunter and part time 'Loon'. The 'Loons' are a group of Grail hunters who meet at pub outside Oxford. Within the first 10% of the book he is almost murdered which clues you into the fact that there are baddies. The problem with this is the author hasn't taken the time to make this guy likeable so you, the reader, really don't care. Telling and showing me other people are sad doesn't make me feel that emotion.
This attack sets off a chain of events that will change everything 'we' know about the holy Grail. And introduce an evil cabal of alchemists who are scheming to steal the Grail. This cabal is all murdery (sic) and violent and well funded. Arthur is joined by a mysterious French physicist to search for clues to the grail's location.
What I didn't like. So much of it. Arthur is a bit of a Mary Sue. The author uses 'flashbacks' to the time of Jesus, the world of Arthur, the life story of Sir Thomas Malory and the history of Antoni Gaudí ; which depending upon the subject are infuriating or sacrilegious or just freaking boring. This bit reminded me of an episode of the TV show 'Dead Files' where the author is showing the historic facts that will back up the supposition of modern Grail quest.
But what I liked least of all is that the entire books seems to end in a cliff hanger.
This book starts off with us meeting Arthur Mallory; marketing manger for a magnet company. He is also a part time treasure hunter and part time 'Loon'. The 'Loons' are a group of Grail hunters who meet at pub outside Oxford. Within the first 10% of the book he is almost murdered which clues you into the fact that there are baddies. The problem with this is the author hasn't taken the time to make this guy likeable so you, the reader, really don't care. Telling and showing me other people are sad doesn't make me feel that emotion.
This attack sets off a chain of events that will change everything 'we' know about the holy Grail. And introduce an evil cabal of alchemists who are scheming to steal the Grail. This cabal is all murdery (sic) and violent and well funded. Arthur is joined by a mysterious French physicist to search for clues to the grail's location.
What I didn't like. So much of it. Arthur is a bit of a Mary Sue. The author uses 'flashbacks' to the time of Jesus, the world of Arthur, the life story of Sir Thomas Malory and the history of Antoni Gaudí ; which depending upon the subject are infuriating or sacrilegious or just freaking boring. This bit reminded me of an episode of the TV show 'Dead Files' where the author is showing the historic facts that will back up the supposition of modern Grail quest.
But what I liked least of all is that the entire books seems to end in a cliff hanger.
July 25, 2015
This is a great counter point to anyone who thinks poorly of Dan Brown as an author. (Bear with me.) The Resurrection maker has all the elements of a great religious/historical/mystery/thriller. King Arthur, the Holy Grail, a shadowy enemy, and enough history to tie it all together plausibly. But it just didn't engage me the way a Dan Brown book does. I saw most of the plot twists coming, I never felt much tension and it was easy to put the put book down.
In the end, I wanted to like it much more than I did. It's a great example of the difference between the good (Cooper, is a very good author, he's close), and the great who can take a book to the next level.
In the end, I wanted to like it much more than I did. It's a great example of the difference between the good (Cooper, is a very good author, he's close), and the great who can take a book to the next level.
February 26, 2023
No le acabo de pillar el punto a este autor. Tiene algún libro interesante, pero no me llega. Aquí todo parece muy simplón, forzado para hilar el argumento, casi pueril. Puedo entender que a veces no quede más remedio para dar continuidad a la idea, pero de manera tan constante... Luego esta el asunto del mensaje encriptado en dos libros: sabe dios a cuento de qué se les ocurre de la nada, y es enrevesado y difícil de entender (de creer ya ni te digo) Lo que gana de agilidad por un lado, te lo enfrasca por el otro. Un quid por culo de toda la vida.
April 3, 2015
I'm sorry Netgalley, but I'm giving up on this one. The plot held some promise, but the writing wasn't engaging enough to keep me reading.
June 9, 2024
Always a fan of this author and his writing !!! This one was particularly close to my heart, combining Arthurian legends and religion and science. He made me fall in love with his stories once again!
August 10, 2015
What do the Holy Grail, The Legend of King Arthur, Excalibur, alchemy and string theory have in common? Apparently, Glenn Cooper, who has once again woven an impossible yet (mostly) believable tale.
Is “conspiracy theory/thriller/historical fiction/mystery” a genre?
Arthur Malory works at a scientific research center and spends his spare time combing the countryside with his metal detector. He also belongs to a group calling themselves “The Loons” that meet regularly at their favorite pub to discuss the quest for the Holy Grail. Arthur has a personal reason for being interested as he is a direct descendent of Thomas Malory who, while falsely imprisoned, penned “Le Morte D’Arthur”. The Malory family has long thought the book contained the key to finding the Grail.
Arthur’s friend and fellow “Loon” calls him with an exciting Grail related discovery only to murdered before telling anyone about his find. Coincidence? Arthur thinks not! As strange things continue to happen, and Arthur loses his job by getting on the bad side of the company’s owner he finds he has the time to really delve into his family legacy – the quest for the Grail. Enter a mysterious young woman warning him of danger, a secret society determined to get the Grail and include an adventurous traipse through Britain, Europe and Egypt and you get the latest adventure from Glenn Cooper.
I have read all of Mr. Cooper’s books to date and his signature style is to tell the story by taking the reader through different time periods. Mr. Cooper does this like a master and it never takes away from the reading enjoyment. In fact, as I may have mentioned before, it adds to the reading pleasure because as the “hero” is puzzling out the clues the reader is getting the information first hand from the “people who where there” – per se – then rejoin the main story just as the “AHA” moment arrives.
Mr. Cooper’s books have often been compared to those of Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) and La Republica describes him as “the Indiana Jones of literature”. Although those two descriptions are quite accurate if comparisons need to be made, I think Mr. Cooper has carved a somewhat unique little niche for himself. Mr. Cooper is definitely on two of my personal reading lists; “must buy” and “guilty pleasures”. This book, as well as his others, are definitely books in which the reader can lose themselves for a couple of hours at a time and have a great adventure.
Although “The Resurrection Maker” is not part of a series, there was enough of a cliff hanger at the end to possibly allow for a follow-up book. If you’ve never read any of Mr. Cooper’s books, although this one was good, I would always recommend “Library of the Dead” as the first one to pick up. It was truly unique!
Is “conspiracy theory/thriller/historical fiction/mystery” a genre?
Arthur Malory works at a scientific research center and spends his spare time combing the countryside with his metal detector. He also belongs to a group calling themselves “The Loons” that meet regularly at their favorite pub to discuss the quest for the Holy Grail. Arthur has a personal reason for being interested as he is a direct descendent of Thomas Malory who, while falsely imprisoned, penned “Le Morte D’Arthur”. The Malory family has long thought the book contained the key to finding the Grail.
Arthur’s friend and fellow “Loon” calls him with an exciting Grail related discovery only to murdered before telling anyone about his find. Coincidence? Arthur thinks not! As strange things continue to happen, and Arthur loses his job by getting on the bad side of the company’s owner he finds he has the time to really delve into his family legacy – the quest for the Grail. Enter a mysterious young woman warning him of danger, a secret society determined to get the Grail and include an adventurous traipse through Britain, Europe and Egypt and you get the latest adventure from Glenn Cooper.
I have read all of Mr. Cooper’s books to date and his signature style is to tell the story by taking the reader through different time periods. Mr. Cooper does this like a master and it never takes away from the reading enjoyment. In fact, as I may have mentioned before, it adds to the reading pleasure because as the “hero” is puzzling out the clues the reader is getting the information first hand from the “people who where there” – per se – then rejoin the main story just as the “AHA” moment arrives.
Mr. Cooper’s books have often been compared to those of Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) and La Republica describes him as “the Indiana Jones of literature”. Although those two descriptions are quite accurate if comparisons need to be made, I think Mr. Cooper has carved a somewhat unique little niche for himself. Mr. Cooper is definitely on two of my personal reading lists; “must buy” and “guilty pleasures”. This book, as well as his others, are definitely books in which the reader can lose themselves for a couple of hours at a time and have a great adventure.
Although “The Resurrection Maker” is not part of a series, there was enough of a cliff hanger at the end to possibly allow for a follow-up book. If you’ve never read any of Mr. Cooper’s books, although this one was good, I would always recommend “Library of the Dead” as the first one to pick up. It was truly unique!
April 11, 2015
The very first book that I requested from Net Galley. My many thanks to Net Galley, the publisher Lascaux Media and the author Glenn Cooper for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Resurrection Maker is a curious mixture of science, spirituality, religion and quest. The book manages to mix all these aforementioned scenarios while keeping the tempo high enough to sustain interest. Arthur Malory is a grail aficionado. In company of the Grail Loons they meet and debate the various theories of where the Grail might be found.
When Loon founder finds a trail which may lead back to the enigmatic times of King Arthur and his quest for the Grail, Arthur gets involved in the quest when he finds out that he is indeed from nobility carrying the blood and an extra rib right from the time of King Arthur.
The book is plotted very intelligently. The novel movies between the various POVs like Sir Thomas Malory, King Arthur while it is being told in a third person narrative when referencing the current time lines. Cooper plots a tale that makes Jesus's resurrection a scientific fact rather than a religious miracle.
As in all tales you have good questors and you have bad questors… In this game the bad men are the Khem an ancient society of over 2000 years who have been on a quest for the Grail for their own purposes. To study and achieve immortality by using it. The Khem are all brilliant scientists who have come through ages by trying to find the Grail and study it scientifically. They have been alchemists, chemists and finally they are physicists.
The quest for the Grail takes Mallory to a variety of places while trying to be one step ahead of the Khem. I loved the way Cooper introduced the Cathedral of Sangrada Familia in the book and I was thrilled that I learnt about a new place and person from this book. The architectural genius of Antoni Guidi is marvelous and the book is a brilliant tribute to the great man.
The Resurrection Maker is a curious mixture of science, spirituality, religion and quest. The book manages to mix all these aforementioned scenarios while keeping the tempo high enough to sustain interest. Arthur Malory is a grail aficionado. In company of the Grail Loons they meet and debate the various theories of where the Grail might be found.
When Loon founder finds a trail which may lead back to the enigmatic times of King Arthur and his quest for the Grail, Arthur gets involved in the quest when he finds out that he is indeed from nobility carrying the blood and an extra rib right from the time of King Arthur.
The book is plotted very intelligently. The novel movies between the various POVs like Sir Thomas Malory, King Arthur while it is being told in a third person narrative when referencing the current time lines. Cooper plots a tale that makes Jesus's resurrection a scientific fact rather than a religious miracle.
As in all tales you have good questors and you have bad questors… In this game the bad men are the Khem an ancient society of over 2000 years who have been on a quest for the Grail for their own purposes. To study and achieve immortality by using it. The Khem are all brilliant scientists who have come through ages by trying to find the Grail and study it scientifically. They have been alchemists, chemists and finally they are physicists.
The quest for the Grail takes Mallory to a variety of places while trying to be one step ahead of the Khem. I loved the way Cooper introduced the Cathedral of Sangrada Familia in the book and I was thrilled that I learnt about a new place and person from this book. The architectural genius of Antoni Guidi is marvelous and the book is a brilliant tribute to the great man.
November 22, 2015
This is quite a fascinating book which, although set in modern times, needs the actions of figures from history to assist the development of the plot. Historical interludes, involving Judas Iscariot, King Arthur, Thomas Mallory (author of Morte d’Arthur) and Antonio Gaudi, designer of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. All of these feature at some point as Arthur Mallory, a descendant of Thomas, pursues a quest for the Holy Grail. Assisted by a French girl, Claire, who is a physicist, he is also the subject of intense scrutiny by a group calling themselves the Kem, Khem or even Qem, a centuries old organisation who wish to get their hands on the Grail. They were all alchemists seeking power.
I have read a number of Glenn Cooper’s books before, and they are always intriguing and well developed. His research is excellent, although I must admit that I did not look up everything that he included. My opinion of Merlin has been altered by his inclusion in the book, assisting King Arthur, but for his own devious ends. It cracks along at a good pace and held my attention all the way through. The book raised a number of questions, but didn’t actually challenge Christian beliefs which it could so easily have done. One remaining question at the end – whose resurrection? As a hopeless romantic I do hope that it was Claire’s.
April 13, 2015
Disjointed, familiar, and predictable. I read this book because I enjoyed the ride that The Di Vinci Code took me on - history and adventure. I didn't expect that I would be reading The Di Vinci Code again. Seriously, Dan Brown could almost sue for copyright infringement or something. Although I don't think that's quite how it works. We'll call it the ultimate form of flattery - imitation.
Man enamored with historical artifacts meets a strange woman and amazingly falls in love in just a few days. They solve history's greatest mysteries, and ultimately turn Christianity into a sham. That sums up the plot.
The thing that separates this from The Di Vinci Code (besides lack of originality) are the flashbacks to the 1st, 13th, 14th, and 18th centuries. They could have truly added to the story, but came off indulgent, as if the author was trying to impress me with his historical knowledge. I felt like the story lost momentum every time a flashback occurred.
Skip this one.
Man enamored with historical artifacts meets a strange woman and amazingly falls in love in just a few days. They solve history's greatest mysteries, and ultimately turn Christianity into a sham. That sums up the plot.
The thing that separates this from The Di Vinci Code (besides lack of originality) are the flashbacks to the 1st, 13th, 14th, and 18th centuries. They could have truly added to the story, but came off indulgent, as if the author was trying to impress me with his historical knowledge. I felt like the story lost momentum every time a flashback occurred.
Skip this one.
February 5, 2024
"La certezza è un concetto sfuggente in un mondo quantistico".
Beh, onestamente questo libro mi sembra il meno riuscito di Glenn Cooper. L'idea di fondo del Graal (con il coinvolgimento di Antoni Gaudí) ci può anche stare, ma la trama è troppo piatta e mancano i colpi di scena, ci sono parecchi personaggi inseriti un po' ovunque e a casaccio e verso la fine (se non siete laureati in fisica) non ci capirete granché! Per il futuro mi auguro che Cooper rispolveri il suo talento magnificamente espresso con i libri della "biblioteca dei morti".
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Beh, onestamente questo libro mi sembra il meno riuscito di Glenn Cooper. L'idea di fondo del Graal (con il coinvolgimento di Antoni Gaudí) ci può anche stare, ma la trama è troppo piatta e mancano i colpi di scena, ci sono parecchi personaggi inseriti un po' ovunque e a casaccio e verso la fine (se non siete laureati in fisica) non ci capirete granché! Per il futuro mi auguro che Cooper rispolveri il suo talento magnificamente espresso con i libri della "biblioteca dei morti".
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
June 25, 2014
El Rey Arturo murió en combate cuerpo a cuerpo con Myrddin (Merlín) que resulta que era egipcio, y no galés como se ha dicho toda la vida, Gaudí era un vulgar ladròn que afanó el santo grial, nada menos, y murió asesinado por una secta milenaria.
Saco de tonterías mal escritas, menudo bajón desde la trilogía de los escribas.
Mi único consuelo es que, gracias a mi biblioteca local, no tuve que gastarme ni un céntimo para leer semejantes memeces.
Decepcionante.
Saco de tonterías mal escritas, menudo bajón desde la trilogía de los escribas.
Mi único consuelo es que, gracias a mi biblioteca local, no tuve que gastarme ni un céntimo para leer semejantes memeces.
Decepcionante.
August 18, 2025
The story and my thoughts:
Echoes from the past guides Arthur Malory on a dangerous quest for the Holy Grail. Seems that Mr. Cooper has once again woven an impossible tale or maybe for some one that is almost believable.
Arthur Mallory works at a scientific science research center and spends his spare time combing the countryside with his metal detector and is interested in finding the Holy Grail. Then enters a mysterious woman warning him of danger….an adventurous traipse starts through Britain, Europe and the Middle East ….
Told through deferent time periods:
England, 15th century with Sir Thomas Malory and his lifelong search for the Holy Grail…the famous tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table….and it goes on and on and on.
England, the present day with scientist and amateur archaeologist Arthur Malory following a centuries-old trail of clues left by his ancestor.
This thriller is a mix of Arthurian legend, medieval secrets and cutting-edge science I surely felt very similar to Dan brown’s religious thrillers I enjoyed very much. It gives us a story with all the great elements of religious, historical one can expect from Mr. Cooper but was this plot as engaging? What happened? I Expected a story with action with good character development, it met my expectation for the first 80 pages or so then the story turned, it became a little disjointed, familiar and very predictable. I totally lost interest and of course reading became tedious……too much information dumps, very boring result….
Totally disappointed with this one.
My thanks to Book Whisperer for the copy I received via Negalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it
Echoes from the past guides Arthur Malory on a dangerous quest for the Holy Grail. Seems that Mr. Cooper has once again woven an impossible tale or maybe for some one that is almost believable.
Arthur Mallory works at a scientific science research center and spends his spare time combing the countryside with his metal detector and is interested in finding the Holy Grail. Then enters a mysterious woman warning him of danger….an adventurous traipse starts through Britain, Europe and the Middle East ….
Told through deferent time periods:
England, 15th century with Sir Thomas Malory and his lifelong search for the Holy Grail…the famous tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table….and it goes on and on and on.
England, the present day with scientist and amateur archaeologist Arthur Malory following a centuries-old trail of clues left by his ancestor.
This thriller is a mix of Arthurian legend, medieval secrets and cutting-edge science I surely felt very similar to Dan brown’s religious thrillers I enjoyed very much. It gives us a story with all the great elements of religious, historical one can expect from Mr. Cooper but was this plot as engaging? What happened? I Expected a story with action with good character development, it met my expectation for the first 80 pages or so then the story turned, it became a little disjointed, familiar and very predictable. I totally lost interest and of course reading became tedious……too much information dumps, very boring result….
Totally disappointed with this one.
My thanks to Book Whisperer for the copy I received via Negalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it
February 1, 2018
Glenn Cooper é un signor scrittore, con uno stile scorrevole, accattivante e capace di rendere comprensibili anche gli argomenti più complessi, come in questo caso la fisica. Anche se questo non é il suo libro che ho preferito, probabilmente perché l'argomento trattato, la ricerca del Graal, non mi interessa particolarmente, ho comunque apprezzato la storia, un crescendo di scoperte fino alla soluzione finale, con personaggi ben caratterizzati e flashback molto interessanti che non rallentano minimamente la vicenda principale, anzi, forse sono i momenti che ho preferito. Finale inaspettato ma, ahimè, che lascia col fiato sospeso e l'amaro in bocca...volevo sapere di più! Nel complesso, lettura molto intrigante. 4/5
January 3, 2021
Ho provato a dare un altro tentativo a Glenn Cooper, ma non è servito a niente! Continua a non piacermi come scrive..
Questo libro, per me, è stato di una noia pazzesca; i personaggi hanno uno spessore come carta velina, la storia è raccontata abbastanza male e i colpi di scena sono uno più prevedibile dell'altro..
Questo libro, per me, è stato di una noia pazzesca; i personaggi hanno uno spessore come carta velina, la storia è raccontata abbastanza male e i colpi di scena sono uno più prevedibile dell'altro..
January 28, 2025
Un aventura que tiene rastros de historia, te envuelve en un mundo de misticismo, lleva un ritmo que te atrapa y te da un final abierto que deja todo a la imaginación. Me parece una obra muy entretenida y fácil de leer. No le doy 5 estrellas porque queda un que otro hilo suelto pero no son relevantes para la trama.
January 11, 2020
È stato l'unico libro di Cooper che abbia letto, e non mi ha messo voglia di leggerne altri. Forse è colpa della traduzione - non saprei - ma l'ho trovato scontato, con dialoghi banali e con una trama inconsistente.
October 12, 2025
This book ignited my imagination like few others have. Glenn Cooper is quickly becoming my favorite author. He knows how to combine science, religion and history together in ways that excite me and spins a damn fine yarn in the process. I love how well researched his books are.
I was saddened by the ending to this one but I'm not certain it could have concluded any other way. I am definitely going to read more from this author.
I was saddened by the ending to this one but I'm not certain it could have concluded any other way. I am definitely going to read more from this author.
April 6, 2019
Skim read most of this. Dull- not a patch on his library of souls series
January 30, 2015
I had really loved Glenn's book Near Death so was expecting the same thrills and interesting plot and clever writing as what was in that novel.
Wrong...sigh
I had moments of wondering and checking if the same author had written this book as it seemed so different from Near Death, it had none of the same qualities and this one just did not float my boat.
I nearly did need a Resurrection because I nearly died of boredom reading this.
Echoes from the past guide Arthur Malory on a dangerous search for the Holy Grail, a quest that may shed light on the mystery of the resurrection of Christ.
Arthur Malory, a seemingly ordinary Englishman, has a burning interest in the Grail, a passion inherited from his father. Thrust into a life-or-death quest to find the precious artifact, he will discover not only his own amazing heritage but the power that the Grail possesses, a power that informs the resurrection of Christ and explosively merges spiritual and scientific thought.
The book got off to an okay start but quickly I was drowning in historical vats of overkill with information overload being plonked upon my head. Many books have been written about the search for the Holy Grail, many better than this one. The plot was very hard to follow, and just did not manage to hold my interest.
Mixing historical facts or even fictional historical facts with the book genre of being a thriller is difficult, this failed badly. Unfortunately the boredom of the pages on pages of historical stuff just made you want to skip pages, if not chapters hoping it got better. It didn't.
It was an overload of boring stuff that did not add to the story. Sadly, this one was a let down in my opinion. Nothing like Near Death which is a shame as that was an awesome book, very good and I would recommend. This one had me as interested as my history lessons at school. Just no.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wrong...sigh
I had moments of wondering and checking if the same author had written this book as it seemed so different from Near Death, it had none of the same qualities and this one just did not float my boat.
I nearly did need a Resurrection because I nearly died of boredom reading this.
Echoes from the past guide Arthur Malory on a dangerous search for the Holy Grail, a quest that may shed light on the mystery of the resurrection of Christ.
Arthur Malory, a seemingly ordinary Englishman, has a burning interest in the Grail, a passion inherited from his father. Thrust into a life-or-death quest to find the precious artifact, he will discover not only his own amazing heritage but the power that the Grail possesses, a power that informs the resurrection of Christ and explosively merges spiritual and scientific thought.
The book got off to an okay start but quickly I was drowning in historical vats of overkill with information overload being plonked upon my head. Many books have been written about the search for the Holy Grail, many better than this one. The plot was very hard to follow, and just did not manage to hold my interest.
Mixing historical facts or even fictional historical facts with the book genre of being a thriller is difficult, this failed badly. Unfortunately the boredom of the pages on pages of historical stuff just made you want to skip pages, if not chapters hoping it got better. It didn't.
It was an overload of boring stuff that did not add to the story. Sadly, this one was a let down in my opinion. Nothing like Near Death which is a shame as that was an awesome book, very good and I would recommend. This one had me as interested as my history lessons at school. Just no.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2019
Parece que no aprendo 🤦♀️
Cuanto antes digo que no me terminan de convencer los libros con temática religiosa, llego yo y veo este de Glenn Cooper y digo...¡mira un libro! Jajajaja 😂😂😂😂
Anteriormente lo que había leído de este autor me había encantado. Lecturas totalmente adictivas y que apenas duraban dos tardes en mis manos. Pero con este he notado que me costaba. Se me hacía pesado leer. Muy pesado.
El libro está dividido en capítulos que relatan la actualidad (Arthur y sus aventuras) y capítulos de la época del Rey Arturo y posterior en las que aparecen tanto la historia de ellos como la espada Excálibur o el Santo Grial.
Me han parecido mucho más farragosos los capítulos dedicados al pasado que los del presente. Me resultaron confusos y con muchos personajes. Los actuales sí que me parecieron bastante más amenos.
Con respecto al final, pues....las dos últimas páginas fueron frenéticas. El final...bastante frío (al menos para mí)
Conclusión: si te gustan los temas religiosos combinados con acción, esta novela no sólo la vas a disfrutar sino que te va a encantar.
Así que te animo a leerla, el que no me haya entusiasmado no significa que para otro no sea una pura maravilla.
Y a los que no, pues también los animo porque quizás descubran un tema apasionante donde yo no lo he sabido ver.
Cuanto antes digo que no me terminan de convencer los libros con temática religiosa, llego yo y veo este de Glenn Cooper y digo...¡mira un libro! Jajajaja 😂😂😂😂
Anteriormente lo que había leído de este autor me había encantado. Lecturas totalmente adictivas y que apenas duraban dos tardes en mis manos. Pero con este he notado que me costaba. Se me hacía pesado leer. Muy pesado.
El libro está dividido en capítulos que relatan la actualidad (Arthur y sus aventuras) y capítulos de la época del Rey Arturo y posterior en las que aparecen tanto la historia de ellos como la espada Excálibur o el Santo Grial.
Me han parecido mucho más farragosos los capítulos dedicados al pasado que los del presente. Me resultaron confusos y con muchos personajes. Los actuales sí que me parecieron bastante más amenos.
Con respecto al final, pues....las dos últimas páginas fueron frenéticas. El final...bastante frío (al menos para mí)
Conclusión: si te gustan los temas religiosos combinados con acción, esta novela no sólo la vas a disfrutar sino que te va a encantar.
Así que te animo a leerla, el que no me haya entusiasmado no significa que para otro no sea una pura maravilla.
Y a los que no, pues también los animo porque quizás descubran un tema apasionante donde yo no lo he sabido ver.
December 21, 2017
I am still trying to figure out what happened here..... This is not my first Glenn Cooper novel, and in fact, I compared the one I read, "The Devil Will Come" , to one of Dan Brown's novels. That was fairly high praise, and I was fully expecting this novel to measure up in action and character development. But it was clear from the very beginning, that not only was this a little disjointed, but boring as hell. The information dumps were just insanely dull, not just to me as a reader, but to the characters themselves who were searching out information for their quest... It became so tedious that I did nothing but skim most of the time, and when the characters found something to be excited about, my interest was barely peaked. I never thought that the quest for the Holy Grail could be so boring, honestly.
Sadly, though I tried, I was not even able to finish this book. Won't write off Glenn Cooper yet, but this novel was a colossal fail for me.
** Many thanks to Netgalley, Authors and Publishers for making copies available for review. No compensation was accepted and my opinions are 100% my own. **
Sadly, though I tried, I was not even able to finish this book. Won't write off Glenn Cooper yet, but this novel was a colossal fail for me.
** Many thanks to Netgalley, Authors and Publishers for making copies available for review. No compensation was accepted and my opinions are 100% my own. **
February 3, 2018
Es una novela muy fácil de leer, que te engancha desde el primer momento y que te dan ganas de seguir hasta el final. Sin embargo, está cargada de tópicos, líneas y giros argumentales simples y personajes bastante planos. El toque científico es lo que hizo interesarme en él hasta el final, además de la parte histórica y negra. Destaca negativamente la actitud machista en ocasiones del autor y del protagonista. El final es desesperanzador.
Una novela ligera, que no dice nada nuevo salvo la parte científica. Al fin y al cabo, entretiene, que es de lo que se trata, ¿no?
Una novela ligera, que no dice nada nuevo salvo la parte científica. Al fin y al cabo, entretiene, que es de lo que se trata, ¿no?
February 15, 2018
Good subject matter, but unconvincing characters.
I have enjoyed the other books by Glenn Cooper, but found this less gripping. The story outline is good, backed up by science, but the story telling is disappointing. I found the characters to be 2 dimensional and was not able to feel any real connection to any of them.
I have enjoyed the other books by Glenn Cooper, but found this less gripping. The story outline is good, backed up by science, but the story telling is disappointing. I found the characters to be 2 dimensional and was not able to feel any real connection to any of them.
June 27, 2024
It’s a different topic from my perspective, i think is the first book i read about this, is a good book, but at the same time i was hoping more connections in the story because some of them seem to me far from the context, but is good that story is mixed with science fiction
It disappointed me, I was hoping more from this book
It disappointed me, I was hoping more from this book
September 20, 2020
Glenn Cooper nunca decepciona, todos sus libros tienen mucho contenido histórico, junta piezas que en mi cabeza jamás habrían ocurrido, la Sagrada Familia, con la búsqueda del Grial, Antonio Gaudi, Nehor, Thomas Malory y los Khem, es una locura, muy fascinante!!!
November 28, 2013
I'm astonished. I used to like this writer. But this novel seems written by a teenager of 50 years ago. A pedantic nonsense no thrill story to put your 6 years kids to sleep. Bah!
March 9, 2019
I'm slowly moving Dan Brown down my shelf, and quickly filling up shelves of Glenn Cooper! Mind. Blown!
First off, let me start by saying that the topic of this book is one so incredibly difficult to write about. We're talking about the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Grail, and everything that is held so dear in, some form or another, in many different Religions. As soon as you start including Religion into anything, I feel there's an automatic notion of failure - you cannot depict or try to explain Religion - someone will always either be angry, or disagree. However, with that being said, Glenn has literally blown my mind with The Resurrection Maker.
I won't lie - I picked up this book as filler in Indigo's 3 for $10 section when my girlfriend and I were off doing a book haul for the month of May. We'd picked two of the same books from this self, and the last ended up being something neither of us could agree on, so we went our separate way - hence ' The Filler'. Well, this novel certainly ended up being anything but!
I decided to use this one to fill the book void because it did have some aspects that seemed appealing to me: 1. The proposed history (I'm a HUGE history buff and historical fiction bookworm - enough said), 2. the adventure that our protagonist was sure to embark on (I'm a travel junkie - you sold me as soon as three plus countries were mentioned), and 3. Why is the author called "The Indiana Jones Of Literature"? (Mind you, this is likely where I get boo'd, but I'm unfortunately not a big Indiana Jones fan [sorry George Lucas fans] - so why the intrigue? Couldn't tell you, but I definitely wanted to know what our author was creating that could be compared to such an iconic film hero, such as Indy).
Our story starts off in Jerusalem in 33 AD, and quickly jumps to present day England- which Present Day is where most of our story will take place. But, don't think for a second that this is where we'll stay. We're transported in so many direction throughout the course of the book, with such incredible and powerful writing, that it almost feels like you've had the ability to live a life in each time period. 15th Century England, 15th Century France, 5th Century Britannia, 19th Century Spain... it might seem dizzying, but it's beautifully pieced together in such a way that it doesn't feel out of place by going from one time to another, like many authors can at times struggle with.
We follow our protagonist, Arthur, the illustrious descendent of Thomas Malory (now, if you're not sure who that is, I believe it's fair to say you'd likely not have much of an idea at all of Camelot nor King Arthur were it not for Sir Thomas Malory and his books - easily the most known and best piece of Arthurian Literature). Along side Arthur, we quickly come to the conclusion that he is more than just his day-job - he kind of has a secret-ish, adventurous side to him too, much like his ancestor. Following the death of a close friend, Arthur senses that he is being followed, and comes to the conclusion that the death of his friend has much to do with Arthur himself, putting his own life at risk. It becomes apparent that his friends Murder is after information that Arthur is believed to have. With a few gentle nudges from some of our supporting characters, he's sent off spiralling into a world of danger, passion, and history in order to piece together the reason for his friends death, and its link back to him. Thus beginning his adventure through his families lineage, it's connection with King Arthur, and to the Holy Grail itself.
Mind you, by the time I got to the end, I was so invested in the story that I hated the ended. How could our author just stop it there. Tell me what I'm witnessing in those last few paragraphs! PLEASE! After about 5 minutes of turning the page expecting to find some sort of epilogue that I knew wasn't there, I just as quickly came to realize that either a) It's a brilliant lead into a possible second book, or b) the perfect way to keep anyones personal opinions open. Like I mentioned, religion is hard to write about. And there's no way that this book is any different. I believe this story needs a particular audience to truly appreciate its magnificence. So if you're open minded to the possibilities surround your beliefs - or lack there of.. If you are a person who enjoys history, adventure, thrills, suspense, romance, drama... just an utter flux of genres melded tightly into 400 pages.. If you're the type of person who can get lost in the fantasy revolving around the reality... this book is sure to blow your mind.
I'm recommending to everyone. It has by far been my favourite of 2018 yet. [Que Glenn Cooper novels filling up my Indigo shopping cart.]
First off, let me start by saying that the topic of this book is one so incredibly difficult to write about. We're talking about the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Grail, and everything that is held so dear in, some form or another, in many different Religions. As soon as you start including Religion into anything, I feel there's an automatic notion of failure - you cannot depict or try to explain Religion - someone will always either be angry, or disagree. However, with that being said, Glenn has literally blown my mind with The Resurrection Maker.
I won't lie - I picked up this book as filler in Indigo's 3 for $10 section when my girlfriend and I were off doing a book haul for the month of May. We'd picked two of the same books from this self, and the last ended up being something neither of us could agree on, so we went our separate way - hence ' The Filler'. Well, this novel certainly ended up being anything but!
I decided to use this one to fill the book void because it did have some aspects that seemed appealing to me: 1. The proposed history (I'm a HUGE history buff and historical fiction bookworm - enough said), 2. the adventure that our protagonist was sure to embark on (I'm a travel junkie - you sold me as soon as three plus countries were mentioned), and 3. Why is the author called "The Indiana Jones Of Literature"? (Mind you, this is likely where I get boo'd, but I'm unfortunately not a big Indiana Jones fan [sorry George Lucas fans] - so why the intrigue? Couldn't tell you, but I definitely wanted to know what our author was creating that could be compared to such an iconic film hero, such as Indy).
Our story starts off in Jerusalem in 33 AD, and quickly jumps to present day England- which Present Day is where most of our story will take place. But, don't think for a second that this is where we'll stay. We're transported in so many direction throughout the course of the book, with such incredible and powerful writing, that it almost feels like you've had the ability to live a life in each time period. 15th Century England, 15th Century France, 5th Century Britannia, 19th Century Spain... it might seem dizzying, but it's beautifully pieced together in such a way that it doesn't feel out of place by going from one time to another, like many authors can at times struggle with.
We follow our protagonist, Arthur, the illustrious descendent of Thomas Malory (now, if you're not sure who that is, I believe it's fair to say you'd likely not have much of an idea at all of Camelot nor King Arthur were it not for Sir Thomas Malory and his books - easily the most known and best piece of Arthurian Literature). Along side Arthur, we quickly come to the conclusion that he is more than just his day-job - he kind of has a secret-ish, adventurous side to him too, much like his ancestor. Following the death of a close friend, Arthur senses that he is being followed, and comes to the conclusion that the death of his friend has much to do with Arthur himself, putting his own life at risk. It becomes apparent that his friends Murder is after information that Arthur is believed to have. With a few gentle nudges from some of our supporting characters, he's sent off spiralling into a world of danger, passion, and history in order to piece together the reason for his friends death, and its link back to him. Thus beginning his adventure through his families lineage, it's connection with King Arthur, and to the Holy Grail itself.
Mind you, by the time I got to the end, I was so invested in the story that I hated the ended. How could our author just stop it there. Tell me what I'm witnessing in those last few paragraphs! PLEASE! After about 5 minutes of turning the page expecting to find some sort of epilogue that I knew wasn't there, I just as quickly came to realize that either a) It's a brilliant lead into a possible second book, or b) the perfect way to keep anyones personal opinions open. Like I mentioned, religion is hard to write about. And there's no way that this book is any different. I believe this story needs a particular audience to truly appreciate its magnificence. So if you're open minded to the possibilities surround your beliefs - or lack there of.. If you are a person who enjoys history, adventure, thrills, suspense, romance, drama... just an utter flux of genres melded tightly into 400 pages.. If you're the type of person who can get lost in the fantasy revolving around the reality... this book is sure to blow your mind.
I'm recommending to everyone. It has by far been my favourite of 2018 yet. [Que Glenn Cooper novels filling up my Indigo shopping cart.]
September 24, 2025
4.5 stars for the story.
Read as a free review copy from #netgalley, this is my honest review based on my reading the book.
Not just any Grail quest.
This story is more than a grail quest that are a dime a dozen. It moves ahead of the grail quest, the history of Christianity, the characters in the story and intrudes into science fiction territory with a deep rooted scientific involvement in the process which takes the place of organisations like lets say Opus dei by something like Scientology with roots in ancient sciences including alchemy. The intrusion of science is seamless and seems very in sync with the grail storyline while using important locations and artefacts that have a connection with the church, Jesus and/or the period leading to the crucification and also beyond through the two millennia after while the tussle for the grail happened. .
Glenn has taken one of the most enduring legends in Western lore and spun it into a thriller that spans centuries. From the fifteenth century to the present day, while also looking into the 1st century, the story carries us into a dangerous search for the Holy Grail where Arthur Malory, a scientist and amateur archaeologist, finds his quiet life upended by a violent encounter. The premise is ambitious, drawing on history, myth, science and faith in a way that immediately hooked me.
What I enjoyed most was the sense of momentum. The narrative jumps between past and present, but instead of feeling disjointed, the dual timelines added richness and context. Each clue in the present felt tied to a thread in the past, and Glenn does a fine job of weaving them together. The quest itself has that exhilarating treasure hunt quality where you feel both participant and spectator, swept along by riddles, betrayals and the lure of ancient secrets.
Of course, there are many moments where the familiar thriller beats are a little too easy to spot and some characters are sketched in broader strokes than I would have liked. There are also places where moral and theological questions are presented more as curiosities than as deep explorations. Yet the energy of the chase and the atmosphere of discovery outweigh those quibbles. The ending, while not entirely surprising, landed with an emotional resonance that satisfied me.
The prose is brisk and clear, occasionally lifting into moments of quiet beauty, especially in the historical passages where manuscripts, relics and ancient landscapes are brought vividly to life. The scientific ideas serve more as texture than as strict plausibility, which makes the story flow quickly and avoids bogging the discerning reader down.
My only complaint which prevented me from picking this up as a perfect 5star was the endless scientific and other discussions that may bog down casual readers and which I felt contributed to the books length. The information was gold but the detailing slowed down the story and made some activities too simple. The motivations of the scientific community and their contributions considering the brains seems puny and insignificant in the overall context of the novel especially when the original alchemists role in this story is considered. The history of Britain and the times is also well documented and makes its presence as half the story.
Overall, The Resurrection Maker is an entertaining, fast moving novel that offers a clever blend of mystery, legend and suspense. It is not flawless, but it is consistently engaging and had me turning the pages eagerly. A solid four and a half star read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical thrillers with a strong puzzle at their heart.
Read as a free review copy from #netgalley, this is my honest review based on my reading the book.
Not just any Grail quest.
This story is more than a grail quest that are a dime a dozen. It moves ahead of the grail quest, the history of Christianity, the characters in the story and intrudes into science fiction territory with a deep rooted scientific involvement in the process which takes the place of organisations like lets say Opus dei by something like Scientology with roots in ancient sciences including alchemy. The intrusion of science is seamless and seems very in sync with the grail storyline while using important locations and artefacts that have a connection with the church, Jesus and/or the period leading to the crucification and also beyond through the two millennia after while the tussle for the grail happened. .
Glenn has taken one of the most enduring legends in Western lore and spun it into a thriller that spans centuries. From the fifteenth century to the present day, while also looking into the 1st century, the story carries us into a dangerous search for the Holy Grail where Arthur Malory, a scientist and amateur archaeologist, finds his quiet life upended by a violent encounter. The premise is ambitious, drawing on history, myth, science and faith in a way that immediately hooked me.
What I enjoyed most was the sense of momentum. The narrative jumps between past and present, but instead of feeling disjointed, the dual timelines added richness and context. Each clue in the present felt tied to a thread in the past, and Glenn does a fine job of weaving them together. The quest itself has that exhilarating treasure hunt quality where you feel both participant and spectator, swept along by riddles, betrayals and the lure of ancient secrets.
Of course, there are many moments where the familiar thriller beats are a little too easy to spot and some characters are sketched in broader strokes than I would have liked. There are also places where moral and theological questions are presented more as curiosities than as deep explorations. Yet the energy of the chase and the atmosphere of discovery outweigh those quibbles. The ending, while not entirely surprising, landed with an emotional resonance that satisfied me.
The prose is brisk and clear, occasionally lifting into moments of quiet beauty, especially in the historical passages where manuscripts, relics and ancient landscapes are brought vividly to life. The scientific ideas serve more as texture than as strict plausibility, which makes the story flow quickly and avoids bogging the discerning reader down.
My only complaint which prevented me from picking this up as a perfect 5star was the endless scientific and other discussions that may bog down casual readers and which I felt contributed to the books length. The information was gold but the detailing slowed down the story and made some activities too simple. The motivations of the scientific community and their contributions considering the brains seems puny and insignificant in the overall context of the novel especially when the original alchemists role in this story is considered. The history of Britain and the times is also well documented and makes its presence as half the story.
Overall, The Resurrection Maker is an entertaining, fast moving novel that offers a clever blend of mystery, legend and suspense. It is not flawless, but it is consistently engaging and had me turning the pages eagerly. A solid four and a half star read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical thrillers with a strong puzzle at their heart.
August 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for this eCopy to review
I didn’t expect a centuries-old mystery to keep me up at night, but The Resurrection Maker did just that. Glenn Cooper delivers a gripping dual-timeline thriller that blends Arthurian legend, secret societies, and modern-day peril into a story that’s as brainy as it is breathless.
🕰️ Plot Summary
The novel opens in present-day England with Arthur Malory, a historian and reluctant adventurer, who stumbles upon a cryptic message linked to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Arthur’s quiet life is upended when he’s drawn into a deadly game involving a secret brotherhood, ancient relics, and a centuries-old conspiracy that could change the course of history.
Parallel to Arthur’s journey, we follow the 14th-century scribe Geoffrey Chaucer yes, that Chaucer, who becomes entangled in the same mystery during his time as a courtier and spy. As the two narratives unfold, Cooper masterfully weaves together past and present, revealing how Chaucer’s coded writings may hold the key to the Grail’s location.
The stakes escalate quickly: assassins, cryptic manuscripts, and a race across Europe all converge in a finale that’s both satisfying and steeped in historical intrigue.
🔍 What I Loved
Arthur as Reluctant Hero: He’s no Indiana Jones, and that’s what makes him compelling. He’s flawed, sceptical, and deeply human, yet he rises to the occasion in a way that feels earned.
Historical Depth: Cooper’s background as a historian shines. The Chaucer chapters are rich with period detail, and the interplay between fact and fiction is seamless.
Pacing and Structure: The dual timelines are expertly balanced. Just when one thread reaches a cliff hanger, the other picks up with equal momentum.
Themes of Faith and Doubt: Beyond the action, this is a story about belief, what we choose to believe, and what we’re willing to risk for it.
📚 Final Thoughts
The Resurrection Maker is a smart, fast-paced thriller for fans of Dan Brown, Kate Mosse, or Steve Berry. It’s got all the hallmarks of a great historical mystery: secret codes, ancient texts, and a protagonist you root for. If you love stories where the past refuses to stay buried
I didn’t expect a centuries-old mystery to keep me up at night, but The Resurrection Maker did just that. Glenn Cooper delivers a gripping dual-timeline thriller that blends Arthurian legend, secret societies, and modern-day peril into a story that’s as brainy as it is breathless.
🕰️ Plot Summary
The novel opens in present-day England with Arthur Malory, a historian and reluctant adventurer, who stumbles upon a cryptic message linked to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Arthur’s quiet life is upended when he’s drawn into a deadly game involving a secret brotherhood, ancient relics, and a centuries-old conspiracy that could change the course of history.
Parallel to Arthur’s journey, we follow the 14th-century scribe Geoffrey Chaucer yes, that Chaucer, who becomes entangled in the same mystery during his time as a courtier and spy. As the two narratives unfold, Cooper masterfully weaves together past and present, revealing how Chaucer’s coded writings may hold the key to the Grail’s location.
The stakes escalate quickly: assassins, cryptic manuscripts, and a race across Europe all converge in a finale that’s both satisfying and steeped in historical intrigue.
🔍 What I Loved
Arthur as Reluctant Hero: He’s no Indiana Jones, and that’s what makes him compelling. He’s flawed, sceptical, and deeply human, yet he rises to the occasion in a way that feels earned.
Historical Depth: Cooper’s background as a historian shines. The Chaucer chapters are rich with period detail, and the interplay between fact and fiction is seamless.
Pacing and Structure: The dual timelines are expertly balanced. Just when one thread reaches a cliff hanger, the other picks up with equal momentum.
Themes of Faith and Doubt: Beyond the action, this is a story about belief, what we choose to believe, and what we’re willing to risk for it.
📚 Final Thoughts
The Resurrection Maker is a smart, fast-paced thriller for fans of Dan Brown, Kate Mosse, or Steve Berry. It’s got all the hallmarks of a great historical mystery: secret codes, ancient texts, and a protagonist you root for. If you love stories where the past refuses to stay buried
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