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The Solomon Key #1
The Solomon Key: A Novel of Ancient Conspiracy
SOCIETY IS BEING REWRITTEN
HE HOLDS THE KEY TO A DIABOLICAL PLOT
WILL ANYONE SURVIVE WHAT HE'S UNEARTHED?
North American Union, the near future. Matthew Scott isn't proud of the world he helped create. Having abandoned his wife to ensure her safety, the ex-CIA operative has found a sliver of peace by escaping the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and living off-grid. So somebody's definitely in his crosshairs when his last remaining friend receives a mysterious ring in the mail and is then tortured...and killed.
Forced to jump into the game once more, Scott delves deep into a twisted realm of Templars, rebels, and terrifying globalist schemes. And with the one thing he's ever cared about suddenly back in play, the professional killer has everything to gain...and nothing to lose.
Can he crack the mystery of the ancient relic before the world falls victim to unrelenting evil?
The Solomon Key is an edge-of-your-seat action thriller novel. If you like bold military heroics, diabolical twists and turns, and stunning historical intrigue, then you'll love Shawn Hopkins's invigorating enigma.
HE HOLDS THE KEY TO A DIABOLICAL PLOT
WILL ANYONE SURVIVE WHAT HE'S UNEARTHED?
North American Union, the near future. Matthew Scott isn't proud of the world he helped create. Having abandoned his wife to ensure her safety, the ex-CIA operative has found a sliver of peace by escaping the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and living off-grid. So somebody's definitely in his crosshairs when his last remaining friend receives a mysterious ring in the mail and is then tortured...and killed.
Forced to jump into the game once more, Scott delves deep into a twisted realm of Templars, rebels, and terrifying globalist schemes. And with the one thing he's ever cared about suddenly back in play, the professional killer has everything to gain...and nothing to lose.
Can he crack the mystery of the ancient relic before the world falls victim to unrelenting evil?
The Solomon Key is an edge-of-your-seat action thriller novel. If you like bold military heroics, diabolical twists and turns, and stunning historical intrigue, then you'll love Shawn Hopkins's invigorating enigma.
421 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
171 people are currently reading
2797 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Hopkins
14 books136 followersShawn Hopkins lives with his wife and daughters in Pennsylvania. He holds degrees in theology and likes exploring the speculative side of such topics through the telling of unique stories and their characters. He enjoys a good thunderstorm, football, movies, and of course reading. He is busy on the next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 24, 2012
This is not a book for casual readers who don't want a lot of deep and historical facts and information in their story. Mr. Hopkins weaves a truly spectacular mystery, adventure story revolving around a mystical ring discovered in the Middle East. In the not to distant future the United States of America as such no longer exists and a New World Order is gaining a stronger hold world wide. When our hero Matthew Scott gets involved in the intrigue you truly do not just who is the 'good guy' and who is the 'bad guy' and even at the end of the book you are kept wondering.
Interspersed in the text are quotes from the Bible, Templar and Rosicrucian history, Free Mason writting and middle eastern history all providing a 'factual' base for the enormity of the crisis facing the world.
I am a history buff and these quotes and facts really made it fascinating to me. It's a frightening portrail of what this country could easily fall to. I don't know if he wrote it as such, but it is a frightening awakening call to people to take more interest and not to become complacient when our freedoms are concerned.
While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I would highly recommend it as a must read for those who love history, and are hoping for a better world tomorrow. Not to mention this adventure makes 'The Davinci Code' look like a walk in the park.
Interspersed in the text are quotes from the Bible, Templar and Rosicrucian history, Free Mason writting and middle eastern history all providing a 'factual' base for the enormity of the crisis facing the world.
I am a history buff and these quotes and facts really made it fascinating to me. It's a frightening portrail of what this country could easily fall to. I don't know if he wrote it as such, but it is a frightening awakening call to people to take more interest and not to become complacient when our freedoms are concerned.
While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I would highly recommend it as a must read for those who love history, and are hoping for a better world tomorrow. Not to mention this adventure makes 'The Davinci Code' look like a walk in the park.
March 28, 2012
Wow. Just wow. I have to say that I did enjoy this... It was action packed and full of plot twists and turns. It didn't let up for a minute. Sometimes it even seemed to move a little too fast, (if that's possible!)
The main character is a tortured soul who really doesn't seem to believe in much of anything. But after being drawn into a web of intrigue he is able to find some peace that seems to be eluding him. At times it got a little confusing, there were so many players and everyone was after the same thing. I was also a little disappointed that certain topics that were brought up weren't explored more deeply. But that was just because I was interested in how he would tie some elements into the plot. At times I found it a little over the top with all the different plots and sub plots, but again, that's just me.
A really good seamless job of drawing many different elements into the tale, and making you realize that it's not all that far fetched we could end up in a world like the one in this book.
Great book for some thrills and chills.
The main character is a tortured soul who really doesn't seem to believe in much of anything. But after being drawn into a web of intrigue he is able to find some peace that seems to be eluding him. At times it got a little confusing, there were so many players and everyone was after the same thing. I was also a little disappointed that certain topics that were brought up weren't explored more deeply. But that was just because I was interested in how he would tie some elements into the plot. At times I found it a little over the top with all the different plots and sub plots, but again, that's just me.
A really good seamless job of drawing many different elements into the tale, and making you realize that it's not all that far fetched we could end up in a world like the one in this book.
Great book for some thrills and chills.
September 23, 2012
if you are addicted to New World Order and what is "really" going on in the world, then Read This Book. Kept me in its grasp from beginning to end. Connecting the dots between ancient Jerusalem and the present/future world.
The question is, Who is really running the world and where are they taking us!
The question is, Who is really running the world and where are they taking us!
November 10, 2015
Really 2 1/2 stars. Every so often I have to read something like this. Escapist, light, really easy reading. Tons of action, tons of loose ends. I almost gave up on it but it grabbed me enough to keep me going, often just to see if I was right about the next "twist." I usually was. The theology, history and even the plot get tangled enough to make it nonsensical but somehow entertaining. I couldn't resist putting it on my craparootie shelf, but it's likable craparootie.
August 14, 2013
A convoluted mish mash of a story.
August 12, 2013
Action-Packed, Futuristic, Biblical Thriller. A man in hiding because of the atrocious acts he had performed for his country while serving in the CIA has him back in action once again. Although there is no more United States of America because it has become a One World Order does not mean that everyone is living in peace and harmony. It is the exact opposite. The religions are still trying to win the world and it seems that it will happen sooner that anyone thought because God has left the door open for a prophecy to be fulfilled with a ring of His own creation. Now the race is on to find out who will finally hold the key and the world in their hands.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me engaged from the very first paragraph. Filled with real history and biblical quotes had me mesmerized. The author did a fantastic job with the plot by melding it all together to make it sound intriguing and fluid. The characters were so well written that the readers mind did not need to fill in any gaps. Each new scene tied into the last so well with no gaps or hiccups. VERY well done by the author.
I had problems keeping up with the "history" that was written and described. At some junctures it was as if I were reading a textbook. The author did do a great job of explaining it afterwards though. My mind did a get a bit jumbled during those parts. It was also a little bit too much action at times that it seemed impossible to live through. At those times I just remembered that it is a book and not real life.
Overall and exceptionally well written book with a wonderfully intriguing plot.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me engaged from the very first paragraph. Filled with real history and biblical quotes had me mesmerized. The author did a fantastic job with the plot by melding it all together to make it sound intriguing and fluid. The characters were so well written that the readers mind did not need to fill in any gaps. Each new scene tied into the last so well with no gaps or hiccups. VERY well done by the author.
I had problems keeping up with the "history" that was written and described. At some junctures it was as if I were reading a textbook. The author did do a great job of explaining it afterwards though. My mind did a get a bit jumbled during those parts. It was also a little bit too much action at times that it seemed impossible to live through. At those times I just remembered that it is a book and not real life.
Overall and exceptionally well written book with a wonderfully intriguing plot.
January 11, 2013
If you like high drama and an action pack thriller your will love The Solomon Key by Shawn Hopkins. This pre-apocalyptic novel will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next twist to the plot.
I really like the way Shawn Hopkins developed the characters. Each character was both believable and easy to identify with. I like a book where it is hard to tell who the good guys vs. the bad guys ultimately are. It will keep you guessing and wanting more.
The storyline was well developed and easy to follow. With all the twist and turns in the story I never lost my place. I found it exciting and hard to put down. There was one section in the middle of the book where it got bogged down with describing history which was tedious but, in the end it added to the understanding of the ultimate plot. So plug through this section, it is worth it.
I really enjoyed The Solomon Key by Shawn Hopkins and I highly recommend this book.
I really like the way Shawn Hopkins developed the characters. Each character was both believable and easy to identify with. I like a book where it is hard to tell who the good guys vs. the bad guys ultimately are. It will keep you guessing and wanting more.
The storyline was well developed and easy to follow. With all the twist and turns in the story I never lost my place. I found it exciting and hard to put down. There was one section in the middle of the book where it got bogged down with describing history which was tedious but, in the end it added to the understanding of the ultimate plot. So plug through this section, it is worth it.
I really enjoyed The Solomon Key by Shawn Hopkins and I highly recommend this book.
September 1, 2012
It is very rare that I give a book a 5 star rating, but this one deserves it. The Solomon Keyheld me in it's grasp from beginning to end. I didn't want to put it down to cook or clean, or even sleep (though I reluctantly did so).
Mr. Hopkins takes us both backwards in time to the First Kingdom of Israel, and forward to what may be the end of America as we know it all based on Biblical prophesy and arcane practices of secret societies. Caught up between these two is a man, a good man, who is trying to atone for his own past bad behavior in a world gone mad.
Mystery, intrigue, politics,religion: you name it and this book has it all set in a corrupted America on the very edge of Apocalypse.
Mr. Hopkins takes us both backwards in time to the First Kingdom of Israel, and forward to what may be the end of America as we know it all based on Biblical prophesy and arcane practices of secret societies. Caught up between these two is a man, a good man, who is trying to atone for his own past bad behavior in a world gone mad.
Mystery, intrigue, politics,religion: you name it and this book has it all set in a corrupted America on the very edge of Apocalypse.
December 29, 2014
This was an definitely action packed story. At the end, though, I couldn't really decide what to consider it. Was it it a one world government conspiracy, an end times story, a archeological artifact mystery, or something else? Lots of elements I could enjoy, but when I finished I was left thinking "Hmm.". Didn't leave a bad taste, just that it didn't somehow come together quite right.
January 10, 2014
Another book with a good concept but poorly executed. I found myself skipping huge chunks of text that would have been fine as the author's research but had no place in the story. I very rarely skip pages!
February 25, 2015
This was an excellent read. It's a religious thriller revolving around locating two artifacts, conflicting factions, a conspiracy, and those intent on a New World Order. Well researched and well paced. I highly recommend it as your next book to read.
March 2, 2015
Sorry. This story just went on and on, adding more occult and secret society mystery without ever bringing it all together. For all the research that was obviously done for this book, the result is just not that interesting.
August 23, 2015
Good story
If you've easily bored with research you won't like it. The plot is good and would make a good movie. There is a lot of research tho.
If you've easily bored with research you won't like it. The plot is good and would make a good movie. There is a lot of research tho.
September 19, 2022
Review: Three Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Action packed, very fast paced and, at times, very convoluted.
The future is bleak in this post-apocalyptic backdrop where the story takes place. It is a place where every person living in what was called the United States, lives under 24/7 surveillance by the Police State.
Matthew is a tragic hero kinda guy with a troubled and very dark past. He has been this CIA spy type (I think?) and had obviously seen, and done, some very bad things. So much so that his mind had become numb to much of the violence that surrounded him.
In the beginning, it felt like I was a watching a Jason Bourne movie. It was very descriptive, heart pounding, and kind of had astonishingly violent imagery. This was kind of a dichotomy, in a sense, as there was a lot of hints that this book was also going to be a religious type of book (many Bible references and concepts of God, guilt, forgiveness, and ultimately redemption found throughout the book).
Matthew was a pretty messed up guy. I mean, who wouldn’t be with what he had to see and go through? He seemed to have given up on life, but deep inside was still searching for meaning and truth.
I enjoyed reading his struggle with himself and his thoughts on God, as his emotions were raw and something that anyone who has been through a dark time in their life could relate.
But then I feel as if the author felt like his real purpose for writing this book was to share the Gospel. And, although, I have no qualms about this by any means, it was poorly executed as it became very awkward and preachy.
The struggle and fight that Matthew had within himself regarding his doubts, fears, and anger were more dimensional than the supposed answers he found. The “answers”, if you could even call them that, felt copied and pasted and devoid of anything that truly held meaning. It felt like something was missing.
Also, I have to say, the author’s go at writing “romance” was even more cringe, and brought how much I liked this book down even lower.
I enjoyed the first part of the book that was filled with action, pretty rad spy/war scenes, and the emotional struggles of the main character that seemed to flow naturally for the author to write. Then he lost me after it seemed like he was trying too hard to preach and make whatever message he wanted to get across.
Action packed, very fast paced and, at times, very convoluted.
The future is bleak in this post-apocalyptic backdrop where the story takes place. It is a place where every person living in what was called the United States, lives under 24/7 surveillance by the Police State.
Matthew is a tragic hero kinda guy with a troubled and very dark past. He has been this CIA spy type (I think?) and had obviously seen, and done, some very bad things. So much so that his mind had become numb to much of the violence that surrounded him.
In the beginning, it felt like I was a watching a Jason Bourne movie. It was very descriptive, heart pounding, and kind of had astonishingly violent imagery. This was kind of a dichotomy, in a sense, as there was a lot of hints that this book was also going to be a religious type of book (many Bible references and concepts of God, guilt, forgiveness, and ultimately redemption found throughout the book).
Matthew was a pretty messed up guy. I mean, who wouldn’t be with what he had to see and go through? He seemed to have given up on life, but deep inside was still searching for meaning and truth.
I enjoyed reading his struggle with himself and his thoughts on God, as his emotions were raw and something that anyone who has been through a dark time in their life could relate.
But then I feel as if the author felt like his real purpose for writing this book was to share the Gospel. And, although, I have no qualms about this by any means, it was poorly executed as it became very awkward and preachy.
The struggle and fight that Matthew had within himself regarding his doubts, fears, and anger were more dimensional than the supposed answers he found. The “answers”, if you could even call them that, felt copied and pasted and devoid of anything that truly held meaning. It felt like something was missing.
Also, I have to say, the author’s go at writing “romance” was even more cringe, and brought how much I liked this book down even lower.
I enjoyed the first part of the book that was filled with action, pretty rad spy/war scenes, and the emotional struggles of the main character that seemed to flow naturally for the author to write. Then he lost me after it seemed like he was trying too hard to preach and make whatever message he wanted to get across.
November 18, 2022
Difficult to follow the storyline
The book started out well and then it got confusing and extremely hard to follow. The story was constantly interrupted with quotes from other sources and there were too many people introduced to remember how they related to the story.
This was not an enjoyable read for me. It felt like a book of quotes instead of an action thriller.
There was plenty of death and destruction but the characters changed so often that nothing made sense.
I did only find one mistake in grammar when the word. “Site” was used in place of “sight”.
This was not a book I would recommend.
Then, to make CNN matters worse, Lou Dobbs was listed as a reference. If that is the television personality being referred to, that is just weird.
The book started out well and then it got confusing and extremely hard to follow. The story was constantly interrupted with quotes from other sources and there were too many people introduced to remember how they related to the story.
This was not an enjoyable read for me. It felt like a book of quotes instead of an action thriller.
There was plenty of death and destruction but the characters changed so often that nothing made sense.
I did only find one mistake in grammar when the word. “Site” was used in place of “sight”.
This was not a book I would recommend.
Then, to make CNN matters worse, Lou Dobbs was listed as a reference. If that is the television personality being referred to, that is just weird.
July 21, 2021
You know how some books try to overwhelm the reader with minutiae? Well, this book has so much history between the actual excerpts from historical texts and alleged experts giving their opinions it takes up a full third of the book.
The story is set in a world where 1984 is a reality rather than a book and the governments run everything. The MC used to be a CIA operative and did their dirty work for them. Now he's living off the radar.
Not my cup of tea and desperately in need of an editor
The story is set in a world where 1984 is a reality rather than a book and the governments run everything. The MC used to be a CIA operative and did their dirty work for them. Now he's living off the radar.
Not my cup of tea and desperately in need of an editor
March 4, 2025
I loved the storyline and the 'tortured soul' aspect of the main character, but this book is a combination of every religious and governmental conspiracy theory I've ever heard, and it's hard to follow at times.
It was action-packed and definitely drew me in, but when the story jumps from the Knights Templar to Free Masons, to manufactured alien invasions, the Apocrypha, New World Order, and everything in between, it's a lot to keep track of. I would have given it a much higher star rating had there been fewer theories and plot twists to keep track of.
It was action-packed and definitely drew me in, but when the story jumps from the Knights Templar to Free Masons, to manufactured alien invasions, the Apocrypha, New World Order, and everything in between, it's a lot to keep track of. I would have given it a much higher star rating had there been fewer theories and plot twists to keep track of.
August 12, 2017
Solomon Key
This book is an exciting blend of history, intrigue and action. Though the story if filled with Old Testament information, it also includes a melding of masonic, illuminati, knights Templar and other obscure secret society world view. This imaginative work of fiction comes very close to explaining current geopolitical events in a cohesive story of subterfuge and conspiracy. A must read!!!
This book is an exciting blend of history, intrigue and action. Though the story if filled with Old Testament information, it also includes a melding of masonic, illuminati, knights Templar and other obscure secret society world view. This imaginative work of fiction comes very close to explaining current geopolitical events in a cohesive story of subterfuge and conspiracy. A must read!!!
May 27, 2022
mind numbing
Power, ego maniacs, politics, priest, Jews, Mossad, God, Jesus, the ark of the covenant, secret decoder rings. Devil and deception, disinformation, misinformation., plans bringing world population down to 500 million. A theologian or scholar would have understood all versions and thousands of years history included in this story. Way deep, yet planting seeds of possibilities
Power, ego maniacs, politics, priest, Jews, Mossad, God, Jesus, the ark of the covenant, secret decoder rings. Devil and deception, disinformation, misinformation., plans bringing world population down to 500 million. A theologian or scholar would have understood all versions and thousands of years history included in this story. Way deep, yet planting seeds of possibilities
April 2, 2018
Loved ir!
If you are into dystopian futures, historical fiction, espionage, murder and mayhem, and a little bit of the supernatural thrown in just for s%i&a and giggles, then I HIGHLY recommend this book!
It is well written, exciting, and truly fascinating from many different points of view. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
If you are into dystopian futures, historical fiction, espionage, murder and mayhem, and a little bit of the supernatural thrown in just for s%i&a and giggles, then I HIGHLY recommend this book!
It is well written, exciting, and truly fascinating from many different points of view. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
September 7, 2025
I liked the action, but it was a bit too detailed on the blood. I appreciated the focus on a Christian theme, but I got bogged down in details about possible various aspects of the New World Order, and too many new plot twists were added it became confusing. It was hard to separate the true Biblical details from probable historical ones, and then again from off-the-wall ones.
April 17, 2020
Spellbinding
I gave it 5 star for totally holding me spellbound for days.. if you enjoy stories connected to the Bible, then you will love this one. I enjoyed the modern day connected to pre-history bring it full circle with a happy ending.. Thanks for the entertainment..
I gave it 5 star for totally holding me spellbound for days.. if you enjoy stories connected to the Bible, then you will love this one. I enjoyed the modern day connected to pre-history bring it full circle with a happy ending.. Thanks for the entertainment..
July 16, 2022
MY OPINION:
.
.
This is a really bad, stupid, ignorant, trite, lousy, rotten, meaningless, moronic, idiotic, creepy, hackneyed, fokked up story and book.
I stopped reading a dumped the book at page 141.
.
.
.
.
This is a really bad, stupid, ignorant, trite, lousy, rotten, meaningless, moronic, idiotic, creepy, hackneyed, fokked up story and book.
I stopped reading a dumped the book at page 141.
.
.
September 3, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
October 14, 2023
The author did enough in this book to make me want to read more of his books.
January 28, 2025
I’m sure this would be better read than listened to. There are many characters and many historical details.
February 11, 2025
Just wasn’t for me. Hard to follow and a lot of history. Would probably be perfect for someone who was into the conspiracy theories surrounding the cabal etc.
March 27, 2025
Love Matthew’s character, and all the different plot twists and turns!!!
August 28, 2023
Wow! This was not what I expected... It was even better! You'll be blown away by the witness of a Christian man close to the end. This is a good Christian fiction book. The main character doesn't believe. You get the idea it's because of all the horrible things he's seen and done in the line of duty. As you read, you'll see the worst and the best of man. You'll see how we misuse and abuse God and His Word. And you'll see how desperately everyone needs our precious Lord. You'll also see how amazing it is when a Christian obeys the Lord and truly loves everyone in word and deed. May we all strive to live that way! Yes, I definitely recommend this book.
November 6, 2013
Shawn Hopkins delivers an action packed thriller with the best of them.
I love the flow of his prose and how naturally he delivers the written word. Historical details were good but sometimes bogged down the story. As with "The Progeny", fact checking always leads to interesting details. You always learn a great deal with this authors books.
All-in-all a romp to the possible future of mankind in the end-times that makes you say hmmmm. I would recommend this to biblical fiction buffs as well as historical fiction lovers.
I love the flow of his prose and how naturally he delivers the written word. Historical details were good but sometimes bogged down the story. As with "The Progeny", fact checking always leads to interesting details. You always learn a great deal with this authors books.
All-in-all a romp to the possible future of mankind in the end-times that makes you say hmmmm. I would recommend this to biblical fiction buffs as well as historical fiction lovers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews