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Secret Brethren
Three Templar Knights are charged with delivering a copper scroll to the Pope in France at the end of the 13th Century. The scroll is purported to be The Gospel according to Mary Magdalene and contains information that could shed a whole new light on Christianity, if not throw it into total chaos. Prepare to undertake a whirlwind journey beginning with the Crusades, moving on to the Gulf War and finishing in modern-day war-torn Syria. How is Islamic State involved in all of this? And what is a secret Catholic society called The Brethren up to?
314 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2016
12 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 19, 2017
Really enjoyed this story. I love books that are a mix of the past and the present. I loved the fact that the author managed to combine the Crusader past with the ISIS/ISIL present in the Middle East.
February 3, 2019
Must miss
Terrible, unrealistic dialogue and plot holes the size of Dallas. Unnecessary violence. I can’t remember getting this book but I hope it was free.
However the author shows promise...
Terrible, unrealistic dialogue and plot holes the size of Dallas. Unnecessary violence. I can’t remember getting this book but I hope it was free.
However the author shows promise...
August 7, 2018
Very good read would recommend people to try it
Brilliant book read it try putting it down and then say you didn't enjoy it will look out for more books by the author
Brilliant book read it try putting it down and then say you didn't enjoy it will look out for more books by the author
December 8, 2016
‘Secret Brethren’ by Anthony P. Holden is an intriguing tale of religion, conflict and mystery. In the Middle Ages three Knights Templar are charged with delivering a scroll to the Pope and seven hundred years later a small group of Westerners charge themselves with the task of recovering the scroll. Neither group knows the subject of the mysterious scroll nor the affect it will have on their lives.
The story is told in different time periods; the plot jumps back and forth from AD33 to 1270 to 2003 and to 2015. This is necessary for the storyline but confusing at times when the reader has to follow several story lines at once. The story gathers momentum in the second half, where the plot focuses solely on 2015. This may a function of Holden’s, and indeed the reader’s, familiarity with the time. Every effort has been made to try to assimilate cultures and languages of 1270, but it is the language and ease of dialogue in the passages set in 2015 which really develop the pace and plot, and in turn make it more interesting. However the 13th century is brought to life with the help of maps; these are useful for the reader especially as the geography of the lands explored have changed dramatically since the 1200s. Whilst the plot jumps from the 13th to the 21st century, the story ends in AD33 where the secrets of the scroll are explained in a cliff-hanger. The explanation raises more questions than it answers. This is a clever technique as Holden has managed to maintain the interest of the reader during, as well as after, the story.
Holden’s description of battles and massacres is haunting and macabre. The time of the Crusades were, and the ongoing problems in the Middle East are, difficult times, with a high number of casualties and fatalities. Holden reflects this in his writing, with descriptions of battles and sieges. At times the description could have been less vivid and the aftermath of a bloodbath could have been left to the reader’s imagination, although the gruesome imagery serves to keep the reader’s attention. Holden also uses description to build tension throughout the novel. However, the build-up of tension would have been more effective had phrases such as ‘I will come to that in a while’ not been used. Tension is present in the background as the Knights travel across 13th century Europe but the emphasis is placed on the power struggles of the Holy Roman Empire, Italy and the ongoing Crusades. More could have been done to describe the land the Knights are exploring and the characters’ backstories. The history of the crusades and the lands on which the Knights were fighting is engaging but needed to be balanced with plot development and description.
The Knights Templar are intriguing characters to explore, and their journey both on land and on sea opens a window onto their way of life. Whilst their dialogue is a bit stilted, their customs and habits are illuminating. They rely on water from streams and rivers, and on their knowledge of nature for fruit on trees. In contrast the group that sets out to retrieve the scroll in 2015 has a more eclectic base of knowledge; ex-army and ex-navy men reassure the reader that the group knows what they are doing when they decide to head into war torn countries. Holden has clearly done a lot of research both on the Middle Ages customs and Knights, and on modern warfare and tactics which makes for a thought-provoking read. Holden gives the reader enough of a description of the ‘secret brethren’ to introduce them to the reader but not the full picture. In this way the level of intrigue both about this secret group and the scroll is maintained to the end of the book.
Are there echoes of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ with hidden documents or scrolls from the time of Jesus Christ? The scroll in ‘Secret Brethren’ may have been written by, or dictated by, Mary Magdalene and may have suggested a relationship between Mary and Jesus. ‘Secret Brethren’ is an epic tale spanning hundreds of years. Holden has spun an intriguing mystery, which will capture the imagination of readers. The time jumps and description heavy passages do break the tension and slow the pace of the book, but it remains an interesting novel which will appeal to those who enjoy history and long hidden secrets.
I received a free copy of this book and all opinions are honest and my own.
The story is told in different time periods; the plot jumps back and forth from AD33 to 1270 to 2003 and to 2015. This is necessary for the storyline but confusing at times when the reader has to follow several story lines at once. The story gathers momentum in the second half, where the plot focuses solely on 2015. This may a function of Holden’s, and indeed the reader’s, familiarity with the time. Every effort has been made to try to assimilate cultures and languages of 1270, but it is the language and ease of dialogue in the passages set in 2015 which really develop the pace and plot, and in turn make it more interesting. However the 13th century is brought to life with the help of maps; these are useful for the reader especially as the geography of the lands explored have changed dramatically since the 1200s. Whilst the plot jumps from the 13th to the 21st century, the story ends in AD33 where the secrets of the scroll are explained in a cliff-hanger. The explanation raises more questions than it answers. This is a clever technique as Holden has managed to maintain the interest of the reader during, as well as after, the story.
Holden’s description of battles and massacres is haunting and macabre. The time of the Crusades were, and the ongoing problems in the Middle East are, difficult times, with a high number of casualties and fatalities. Holden reflects this in his writing, with descriptions of battles and sieges. At times the description could have been less vivid and the aftermath of a bloodbath could have been left to the reader’s imagination, although the gruesome imagery serves to keep the reader’s attention. Holden also uses description to build tension throughout the novel. However, the build-up of tension would have been more effective had phrases such as ‘I will come to that in a while’ not been used. Tension is present in the background as the Knights travel across 13th century Europe but the emphasis is placed on the power struggles of the Holy Roman Empire, Italy and the ongoing Crusades. More could have been done to describe the land the Knights are exploring and the characters’ backstories. The history of the crusades and the lands on which the Knights were fighting is engaging but needed to be balanced with plot development and description.
The Knights Templar are intriguing characters to explore, and their journey both on land and on sea opens a window onto their way of life. Whilst their dialogue is a bit stilted, their customs and habits are illuminating. They rely on water from streams and rivers, and on their knowledge of nature for fruit on trees. In contrast the group that sets out to retrieve the scroll in 2015 has a more eclectic base of knowledge; ex-army and ex-navy men reassure the reader that the group knows what they are doing when they decide to head into war torn countries. Holden has clearly done a lot of research both on the Middle Ages customs and Knights, and on modern warfare and tactics which makes for a thought-provoking read. Holden gives the reader enough of a description of the ‘secret brethren’ to introduce them to the reader but not the full picture. In this way the level of intrigue both about this secret group and the scroll is maintained to the end of the book.
Are there echoes of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ with hidden documents or scrolls from the time of Jesus Christ? The scroll in ‘Secret Brethren’ may have been written by, or dictated by, Mary Magdalene and may have suggested a relationship between Mary and Jesus. ‘Secret Brethren’ is an epic tale spanning hundreds of years. Holden has spun an intriguing mystery, which will capture the imagination of readers. The time jumps and description heavy passages do break the tension and slow the pace of the book, but it remains an interesting novel which will appeal to those who enjoy history and long hidden secrets.
I received a free copy of this book and all opinions are honest and my own.
December 11, 2016
The Secret Brethren
This historical novel blends an intriguing melange of plots spanning from 33AD to the 13th century, into modern day. With the plot of three Templar Knights delivering Mary Magdalene’s scroll mirroring that of three 2015 soldiers hunting down the scroll, we see a unique twist of time periods, character and contextual difficulties. Holden tells the story of three Christian Knights in a very Song of Roland-esque, crusader narrative with the medieval history being explained accurately and simply to appeal to the average reader. With this medieval plot mirrored in a modern-day, western soldier storyline, Holden shifts his style of writing smoothly as he writes a lighter plot. Despite dealing with religion, history and current affairs with the Gulf and Syrian War, Holden manages also to intertwine a very light-hearted minor plot love story. Yet this interesting blend does not mean this book is enjoyable for all readers, with adult violence and sexual undertones this book is suitable for over 16s only. Holden executes these features of his book brilliantly; readers have the richness of the knights’ tales to indulge in and a poignant read in the Syrian chapters, yet can rest up momentarily as they read the extracts of love pursuits. This love story balances the continuous theme of war and masculine battle, with a more tender and easy-to-read story. It seems natural that the modern soldiers need a female counterpart to work with through the resolution and to end up happy with at the end of a strenuous adventure: it is a tale as old as time. However, my main issue with this book comes with the way it portrays the few women characters in this masculine and eventful book. Tammy is a credible character: she defies her brother’s request to stay home from Syria and plays a key role in the resolution of the story. However, she is continuously objectified and feminised in a way that undermines her true potential and as the main woman in the group it seems predictable that she becomes a damsel in distress needing rescued.
In considering all main features of this novel, I believe this book to be entertaining in its dealing with its intertwining plots and characters. The blend of the historical with the modern is done very well and adds to a sense of involvement for the reader. The tense battle scenes that contrast medieval fighting with modern warfare is tense and gripping. However, I feel it is a shame that the modern narrative comes with the modern male egotistical tone that diminishes a woman’s potential in the plot. As a modern woman reading this story, for me it would have been very refreshing to see a woman character who does not revel in knowing her breasts enchant her male peers when it is her intelligence that makes her of use to their challenges.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and provide an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
This historical novel blends an intriguing melange of plots spanning from 33AD to the 13th century, into modern day. With the plot of three Templar Knights delivering Mary Magdalene’s scroll mirroring that of three 2015 soldiers hunting down the scroll, we see a unique twist of time periods, character and contextual difficulties. Holden tells the story of three Christian Knights in a very Song of Roland-esque, crusader narrative with the medieval history being explained accurately and simply to appeal to the average reader. With this medieval plot mirrored in a modern-day, western soldier storyline, Holden shifts his style of writing smoothly as he writes a lighter plot. Despite dealing with religion, history and current affairs with the Gulf and Syrian War, Holden manages also to intertwine a very light-hearted minor plot love story. Yet this interesting blend does not mean this book is enjoyable for all readers, with adult violence and sexual undertones this book is suitable for over 16s only. Holden executes these features of his book brilliantly; readers have the richness of the knights’ tales to indulge in and a poignant read in the Syrian chapters, yet can rest up momentarily as they read the extracts of love pursuits. This love story balances the continuous theme of war and masculine battle, with a more tender and easy-to-read story. It seems natural that the modern soldiers need a female counterpart to work with through the resolution and to end up happy with at the end of a strenuous adventure: it is a tale as old as time. However, my main issue with this book comes with the way it portrays the few women characters in this masculine and eventful book. Tammy is a credible character: she defies her brother’s request to stay home from Syria and plays a key role in the resolution of the story. However, she is continuously objectified and feminised in a way that undermines her true potential and as the main woman in the group it seems predictable that she becomes a damsel in distress needing rescued.
In considering all main features of this novel, I believe this book to be entertaining in its dealing with its intertwining plots and characters. The blend of the historical with the modern is done very well and adds to a sense of involvement for the reader. The tense battle scenes that contrast medieval fighting with modern warfare is tense and gripping. However, I feel it is a shame that the modern narrative comes with the modern male egotistical tone that diminishes a woman’s potential in the plot. As a modern woman reading this story, for me it would have been very refreshing to see a woman character who does not revel in knowing her breasts enchant her male peers when it is her intelligence that makes her of use to their challenges.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and provide an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2016
Secret Brethren, a historical fiction, tells the tale of the dutiful Templar Knights during the blood thirsty crusades and their promise to deliver a mysterious copper scroll to the new pope. This scroll is reported to be the gospel of Mary Magdalene, and has the power to shake the grounds of Christianity irrevocably. Anthony Holden manages to blur the lines between present and past as we follow the journey of the scroll all the way from Christ’s crucifixion, the late 13th century crusades to modern day war-torn Syria.
History has always been one of my favourite subjects, along with literature, so Secret Brethren came as a very welcomed read. The crusades are a time period I have yet to learn much about, but reading this novel has helped me develop an insight into the turmoil during that time and how religion affected different countries profoundly. It is clear that the author went to great lengths to carry out extensive research on the time period, right down to exactly what the different cultures wore and ate. The entirety of this novel felt like an exciting way to learn the history of the time, and truly emphasise with the multitude of events that took place.
Blending the crucifixion, the crusades and modern day wars into the same novel felt very poignant and I believe the author was trying to show how closely related the events are. Jesus Christ was crucified due to an inability to accept his faith or testament to being the son of God. The crusades occurred due to two different religions fearing one other, thus, another instance of faiths not accepting one another. Furthermore, modern day wars, especially regarding the recent Islamic state, have begun because one faith cannot accept another, once again. I believe this is the authors way of showing how history always repeats itself.
The novel is well written and an easy read, despite being quite long. Although the dialogue is relatively simple, the description is well done and ensures the action does not get lost in over-wordiness. The variety of different stories within the novel keep it exciting and makes you want to read more to see how all these different adventures relate to one another. The mystery of the scroll also retains the tension throughout, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out what its contents may be as I read the novel. It is not until the epilogue the ground breaking secret is revealed, and rest assured, it is one worth waiting for.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I’m sure anyone with an interest in history will too! I was provided with a free copy of this novel, all opinions expressed are my own.
History has always been one of my favourite subjects, along with literature, so Secret Brethren came as a very welcomed read. The crusades are a time period I have yet to learn much about, but reading this novel has helped me develop an insight into the turmoil during that time and how religion affected different countries profoundly. It is clear that the author went to great lengths to carry out extensive research on the time period, right down to exactly what the different cultures wore and ate. The entirety of this novel felt like an exciting way to learn the history of the time, and truly emphasise with the multitude of events that took place.
Blending the crucifixion, the crusades and modern day wars into the same novel felt very poignant and I believe the author was trying to show how closely related the events are. Jesus Christ was crucified due to an inability to accept his faith or testament to being the son of God. The crusades occurred due to two different religions fearing one other, thus, another instance of faiths not accepting one another. Furthermore, modern day wars, especially regarding the recent Islamic state, have begun because one faith cannot accept another, once again. I believe this is the authors way of showing how history always repeats itself.
The novel is well written and an easy read, despite being quite long. Although the dialogue is relatively simple, the description is well done and ensures the action does not get lost in over-wordiness. The variety of different stories within the novel keep it exciting and makes you want to read more to see how all these different adventures relate to one another. The mystery of the scroll also retains the tension throughout, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out what its contents may be as I read the novel. It is not until the epilogue the ground breaking secret is revealed, and rest assured, it is one worth waiting for.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I’m sure anyone with an interest in history will too! I was provided with a free copy of this novel, all opinions expressed are my own.
December 8, 2016
Secret Brethren is a tale that jumps across time, mingling historical events with the curiosity of the twenty-first century. I loved being able to dive into the thirteenth century, following the knights across Europe as they embark on their quest. And being able to see the story play out while simultaneously explore the discoveries of modern day was enthralling. Anthony Holden’s eye for detail made the landscape jump out of the page, and the action kept my attention throughout.
It was so beautifully explored. From the beginning of their venture to the very last page, I was gripped, feeling the ferocity of the storms, the gore of the battles and the aftermaths, and the analysis of items rediscovered in 2015. The story spans across centuries, the importance of the scroll and the knights’ journey pulled forward through time to be explored again. I loved the jumping perspectives and Holden’s ability to leave a cliff hanger in just the right place before plunging you into the next storyline, making sure to keep you hooked until the very end.
Besides the exploration of Christian belief and the history of Mary Magdalene, I was fascinated by Holden’s views of other cultures and religions. From the horrible battles between races early in the book and the interest of modernised cultures, it was a really in-depth characterisation. I really enjoyed learning more about those religions from someone else’s point of view, especially with the fictional aspect to the story.
I’ve always loved fiction that explores religion, culture, and history, and this book reminded me of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. It was very informative and enjoyable, and Holden’s spin on Christian history was remarkable. I was very pleased with this book, and would recommend it to anyone with similar interests in literature.
I received a free copy of this book and all opinions are honest and my own.
It was so beautifully explored. From the beginning of their venture to the very last page, I was gripped, feeling the ferocity of the storms, the gore of the battles and the aftermaths, and the analysis of items rediscovered in 2015. The story spans across centuries, the importance of the scroll and the knights’ journey pulled forward through time to be explored again. I loved the jumping perspectives and Holden’s ability to leave a cliff hanger in just the right place before plunging you into the next storyline, making sure to keep you hooked until the very end.
Besides the exploration of Christian belief and the history of Mary Magdalene, I was fascinated by Holden’s views of other cultures and religions. From the horrible battles between races early in the book and the interest of modernised cultures, it was a really in-depth characterisation. I really enjoyed learning more about those religions from someone else’s point of view, especially with the fictional aspect to the story.
I’ve always loved fiction that explores religion, culture, and history, and this book reminded me of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. It was very informative and enjoyable, and Holden’s spin on Christian history was remarkable. I was very pleased with this book, and would recommend it to anyone with similar interests in literature.
I received a free copy of this book and all opinions are honest and my own.
January 17, 2017
Go to my blog for detailed critic reviews. Movie agent has shown interest
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