Double Daggers

by James R. Clifford

DOUBLE DAGGERS is the story of a curse that spans the ages . . .
The curse begins with the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March. The chief conspirator in the assassination is Marcus Brutus who mints a coin celebrating his role in the heinous plot.
Today, that coin is known as the Eids of March or Double Dagger Denarius and it is the most famous coin in all of ancient antiquity. DOUBLE DAGGERS is the story of four men's unrelenting obsession to acquire the coin, and what befalls them once they finally have it in their possession.
The four men are: Marcus Brutus, a knight traveling on the Crusades, an SS lieutenant under Hitler, and a modern day Wall Street trader. But these men have something more in common than just their obsession to possess the famous coin---
And that is the true mystery and curse of the Double Daggers.

Genres: Historical Fiction

204 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2006

About the author

I graduated from University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) in 1990 and even though I still haven't figured out how I found myself working for an investment bank in New York. After a fun and exciting four years I moved back to the south where I've been ever since. I continue to work as an investment advisor mostly because I haven't figured out how to make enough money from writing books.
My books include Blackbeard's Gift, Double Daggers, Ten Days to Madness, The Unraveling, The Ford Files, A Griffin In Her Desk 9 and The Ford Files.
I live in Charleston, SC with my wife and three daughters. When I'm not working, writing, trying to peddle my books or with my family, I've been known to play mediocre golf, fish a little and enjoy a beer or two.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Daggers is a fascinating and wonderfully fashioned plot. A historical story line that covers four time periods, all these time periods are connected by cursed coins (the Eidibus Martiis). Minted by Marcus Brutus, the Eidibus Martiis commemorated the date of Julius Caesar’s murder (March 15, 44BC).

The first story of these coins details the creation and political aspirations of Brutus. The second story is set during the Crusades with the main character being Michael (the least favorite son and a drunk). Michael becomes friends with the Emperor Alexius’s younger brother, Prince Nicephorus. Michael abandons his position in the Crusades to assist in a plot to over take Emperor. The third story features a Nazi Colonel and friend to Hilter named Maxwell Von Studt. Maxwell follows the Aryan Nation and The Third Reich (I think this might of been the most disturbing story telling for me). The fourth and final story follows the greed of Gordon Gekko and his ambitions on Wall Street. In his pursuits of the "American Dream", Gordon is overtaken with his greed and what was his dream becomes his nightmare.

W O W ! ! ! Highly descriptive and authentic dialogue makes you feel like you are right there through out the ownership of the Eidibus Martiis coins. I found some of the stories, ok most of it, very disturbing but accurate to historical facts of these time periods. To be upset by Clifford’s created circumstances means he did a great job pulling me right into his tale. Yes, it is history repeating itself over and over, men making the same mistake we might find ourselves making. Magnificent writing once again James R. Clifford! This is not an easy reading entertaining tale but so worth it! 5 Stars! I did receive a replica copy of these coins from Mr. Clifford, when he sent me this marvelous book. I will be keeping them as a reminder of how coveting, greed (our struggle for power) can become a curse, although not sure keeping a replica is even a good idea :D. Thank you James!

This copy of Double Daggers was given to me by James R. Clifford in exchange for an honest review.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Double Daggers” is a work of historical fiction that follows the effect of a cursed coin, the Eids of March coin, on the lives of four of the men who possess it. The first man is Brutus, famous for killing Julius Caesar, the man who had the coin minted. I found this portion of the book a little slow paced and less enjoyable than the subsequent sections. It seems that adhering to the historical facts known about Brutus may have limited the author’s scope of imagination. The three other unlucky owners of this cursed coin are a French knight traveling to the crusades, a Colonel in the SS during World War II and a Wall Street trader in twenty first century New York. The only one of these three that I developed any sympathy for was the crusader and that is probably why I enjoyed this section the most.

This book has an interesting premise using the link of ownership of the Eids of March coin to bind the fate of four different, yet somehow similar men. Clifford has done his research and there are of lots interesting historical tidbits in each of the four sections. There is enough here to make a good book but it isn’t an extraordinary one.

Thanks Goodreads for another First Reads win!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Double Daggers a very entertaining read. The author did an excellent job of helping me visualize the places that the four main characters inhabited. I enjoy reading historical fiction books by authors such as Harry Turtledove and Double Daggers was just as good as his books! The descriptions in Double Daggers are wonderfully worded so that it actaully makes you feel as if you were there. While reading you find that you actually ask yourself if this part is true or is this part the fiction, becasue the two are so innertwined you really dont know. I highly recommend Double Daggers to all fans of historical fiction or to anyone who wants to read a good story.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway drawing.

Mr Clifford builds his book as a fairly loose tale circling 4 men over a period of 2000 years. They are obviously connected by their possession of a double dagger denari having minted especially for Marcus Brutus comemorating the assassination of one Gaius Julius Caesar.

The men in question are Marcus Brutus himself in the timeframe shortly before and after the assassination. The French crusader knight Michael Claudin during the beginning of the first crusade. the German SS Colonel Maxwell von Staudt in the time of 1939 to 1945 and finally modern trade Jack Weston in Manhattan.

All those episodes have one thing in common the main person is gaining control over the coin and typically their luck is taking a turn towards the bad. Since the coin appears to be cursed due to Brutus' huge crime of slaying Caesar, who is being confirmed to be Brutus father.

In my personal opinion the episode around the crusading knight Claudin is the best written part, with this Character Mr Clifford took the time to properly flesh him out and give him a somewhat understandable motivation. Claudin is also the one with a well written social interaction with other characters.

While the book is overall very well readable there are a few logic bugs that hurt my enjoyment of the book.
- At one point in the Brutus plot, Brutus wanders the streets of Rome and thinks of the date as March 15th 44BC. While this date is naturally correct Brutus would have to be a very visionary guy to think already in a method of time determination introduced a couple of hundred years later.
- A German SS Colonel is not very likely to be named Maxwell. While I'm aware that Max is typically the short form for Maxwell in the English language, it would be Maximilian in German. I'm German myself, so is somewhat struggled with that one.
- the end indicates that all 4 characters are the reincarnate Marcus Brutus trying to do better this time. A statement is made that all of those characters were showing the same character straits. While this is definitely true for Brutus, von Staudt and Weston who all are egomaniac power or money hungry men, it just doesn't fit the description of Claudin.
I would recommend the book for readers with a good grasp on European history, it definetely has it's moments describing some of the political implications of Caesar's death, the bginning of the crusades or some of the political shenanigans of the third Reich. The last segment shines a interesting and frighteningly believable light on the machinations of wall street traders.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this through the First Reads giveaway.

I like historical fiction, so this book had my attention when I first read the description. There are four different short stories set in different points in history. They are tied together with an ancient coin, created during the first story. Brutus murders Caesar, and has a commemerative coin minted celebrating the deed. This coin is cursed, and brings disaster to the people who come in contact with it- a crusading knight, one of Hitler's trusted confidants, and a Wall Street high-roller. The stories are all interesting and different from each other while maintaining a few interwoven themes.

The only thing I did not like about this book is its length. It seems too short. I would have preferred to spend more time with the different characters, or maybe have an additional owner added to beef it up a bit. Other than that, if you are looking for a quick, historical fiction read, this should fit the bill.

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Double Daggers” follows the path of a cursed coin through history in four snapshots. From its creation in Rome, it has brought death and destruction to all who possess it. The author delicately weaves an intricate and historically wonderful tale of greed and power. Each of the four books gives an astonishing picture of their lives before they possessed the coin and display wonderful snapshots of the day-to-day workings of their life. I felt like I was walking beside them; the smells and views brought to life within my mind. Each tragic story displays the greed and hunger for power that mankind has uses to climb to the top. Once the coin is in their possession, it destroys their lives, giving them no room for escape or repentance.
I enjoyed this book. I especially like the ease with which the author jumped the centuries, describing the world where the doomed character resided. I look forward to reading another story by Mr. Clifford.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free on Goodreads first reads. "Double Daggers", by James Clifford, is a very good read that is hard to put down. All the chapters in Mr. Clifford's book evolve around one specific item. A cursed coin that Marcus Brutus had printed to commemorate the date of Caesar's murder. The book tells of four different characters from four different periods of time in our history. Rome's Marcus Brutus, a Knight of the Crusades, one of Hitler's high ranking Officers and a Wall Street Trader executive. Four individuals that are each in their own story line and seperate time periods. Yet they all have one thing in common. They all connect in the end of the book to prove, once again, that history repeats itself. I commend James Clifford on his book, Double Daggers, and am looking forward to reading his next one.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a GoodReads First Reads giveaway. The idea of a curse tied to a coin minted in ancient Rome by Brutus to commemorate his part in the assassination of Julius Caesar intrigued me. Clifford weaves his tale around four men in very different times and places, yet they all have one thing in common: the ambition to own one of the most famous, or should I say infamous, coins of antiquity. How their lives change once the Double Dagger Denarius touches it is the crux of this tale.

It's a fast and entertaining read, but it could definitely use a little judicious editing to polish it up. Worth taking a look at if you're a fan of historical fiction.

For more, see my blog post: http://my-book-diary.blogspot.com/201...

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was entertaining and well-written. I enjoyed the portrayal of 4 different historical eras and the entertaining characters.

I received this book from goodreads and am under no obligation to give a positive review.