Cabal of The Westford Knight: Templars at the Newport Tower

Templars in America #1

by David S. Brody

A modern-day mystery novel rooted in recently-discovered ancient artifacts left by Templar Knights during a secret mission to North America in 1398. Attorney Cameron Thorne is thrust into a bloody tug-of-war involving secret societies, treasure hunters and keepers of the secrets of the Jesus bloodline. There is no shortage of people willing to maim and murder to prevent Cam from uncovering the shocking truths behind this ancient Templar mission. Joined by Amanda, a beautiful British researcher with secrets of her own, Cam races around New England with only two choicesunravel the 600-year-old mysteries encoded in the ancient artifacts, or die trying.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Adventure, Suspense, Historical

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 22, 2009

About the author

David S. Brody is a Boston Globe bestselling fiction writer named Boston's "Best Local Author" by the Boston Phoenix newspaper. A graduate of Tufts University and Georgetown Law School, he is a former Director of the New England Antiquities Research Association (NEARA) and is an avid researcher in the subject of pre-Columbian exploration of America. He has appeared as a guest expert on documentaries airing on History Channel, Travel Channel, PBS and Discovery Channel.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its so hard to be critical of a book that is so well written and researched but I respectfully have to voice my opinion. The characters are well fleshed out and likeable and the story flows well. My issue has more to do with certain facts presented in the book as reality without acknowledging that there are things which will have to remain ambiguous. This is a novel, so things should be read as part of the story, not necessarily proven fact and I hope that readers make that distinction.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Legend is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man but legend tells us about a million men.”

Another templar-mason-married Jesus-Virgin Mary as Isis-evil Vatican techno-thriller. Better than Brown’s but that’s a low bar. Got halfway through but couldn’t see wasting the time to finish.

“A colleague of mine likened the study of the Templars to a kind of academic pornography. Everyone is fascinated by the subject but nobody wants to get caught with their nose in the book.”

[Jim Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got so bored with this book that I stopped reading it before the end. I don't think the author could make up their mind whether to write a factual novel or an adventure novel. It has turned out to be neither in the end. I don't know if the "facts" are facts but if he was trying to prove someone else discovered America before Columbus then he's made a hash of it in this book. If you're looking for another Da Vinci Code then you'll be disappointed.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable book.
Though it is a work of fiction the research done into the Sacred Feminine and the way the plots are weaved together to form one single plausible theory was amazing.
Loved it.

[Amy Hagberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 46%.

I had high hopes for this book, especially with its intriguing premise of Templar Knights, ancient artifacts, and secret societies. Unfortunately, it fell short in too many ways.

The story follows attorney Cameron Thorne and British researcher Amanda as they race around New England, trying to uncover 600-year-old mysteries. It sounded like a thrilling adventure, but the execution left much to be desired. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, making it a struggle to stay engaged.

One of the major issues was the book’s strong anti-Christian tone. It felt heavy-handed and detracted from the story rather than adding any meaningful depth. The author’s handling of religious themes was off-putting and could be quite offensive to some readers.

Moreover, the audiobook narration was poor, which made the experience even more frustrating. The narrator’s delivery was dull and lacked the energy to bring the story to life.

At 442 pages, the book was simply too long; I was bored and often wished it would just end. It’s disappointing because I had been looking forward to reading this book for a long time, but it never captured my attention. I give it 2 stars.

[Dutch DeGay · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance people may think of Brody’s book as “an American DaVinci Code” and while some similar information is used (Brody’s characters even mention the book in their discussion) he weaves a new tale of the Knights Templar, the church and their connection to America.

Recently discovered artifacts in the New England area, tied to others across the U.S. (that have a “debated” history) kicks off a quest that involves murder, intrigue, history and questions not only the Jesus bloodline but the very foundations of the Catholic Church and how the Templars were a key to it all. A fast paced story that connects a whole new set of dots when it comes to Jesus and religion as a whole.

The book had me within the first few pages and didn’t let go until the end. Living in New England I now have to visit the spots mentioned in the book for myself and I want to read more from Brody in this series.

[Uma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, fascinating, never before never after book!!!

I expected the book to be interesting but did definitely not expect it to be so mind boggling and the kind that one can not put the book down without finishing it !!! The topic is one that has been broached in different ways but this book takes off where the others left it and goes very far far away. The story is taut, fast paced with a wonderful narrative and all the characters including Salazar are very lovable. I felt extremely at home with the concept of the Sacred Feminine having been familiar from birth with the concept of the Supreme , powerful Goddess ( Shakti ) feel totally joyous!!

Thanks for a superb book, Mr. Brody. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Bruce Nordstrom · Rating 1 out of 5]

I reached page 50, and I decided NOT to finish it.

It's based on an interesting premise: The Templars reached America a hundred years before Columbus. Truth or fiction?

I found myself being taken on a guided tour of every unexplained historic and archaeological site in New England. (American Stonehenge?) Illustrated with photos of the site. I could not get involved in the life and death chase, and felt the author was trying to make it all simple enough for the reader to understand it.

I didn't finish it, and I'm not planning to read the sequals either.

[Richard Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I don’t know if I can write a review that will do justice to this book. There is so much information coming to the reader and it sounds reasonable and not far fetched. I will get the other books in the series as soon as possible!

[Coleen Dailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story that takes actual archaeological sites in New England and Canada and weaves them into a story involving the Knights Templar and the Freemasons in the early settlement (pre-Columbus) of America. Add to that the bloodline of Jesus and the sacred feminine and you havr a very captivating story. It was very well narrated.

[Dory · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried to read this for historical fiction book club. Could not get past the prologue and first chapter. It was embarrassing and ridiculous.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. Really enjoyed it.

[Cindy Paulos]

Fascinating insights

Loved this book! Page Turner with much hidden truth revealed. Thank you for the depth of the essene truths



eaning

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Major mistake

David S. Brody went to Georgetown law school, a university run by Jesuits. He makes the glaring mistake of calling the miracle of the birth of Jesus the Immaculate Conception. It makes me question some of his other research. A simple reading of the Catholic Catechism would show him that the Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary was conceived without Original Sin in order to prepare her to be the vessel to give birth to Jesus. She calls herself the Immaculate Conception when she appears to Bernadette at Lourdes. Scripture speaks of God as spirit with both male and female attributes. God isn't limited to the attributes of just one sex. The miracle of the birth of Jesus is known as the Virgin Birth.
The rejected scriptures that he mentions were not rejected because they contained elements the Catholic Church was afraid to be found. They were either simply repetitious of what was already in the four gospels or they made no sense when compared to the four gospels. For example. One of those gospels talks about Jesus performing miracles as a child and people being healed by the bath water of Jesus. If that had happened, you wouldn't see the incident in scripture stating that Jesus couldn't perform miracles in His home town because the people had no faith in him. Other gospels show signs of being written much later than what we have.
This book has exciting moments of danger and a growing romantic relationship between the two main characters. It kept me reading even though I felt it's main goal was to be a tutorial for worship of the devine feminine.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read fiction for adventure and escape. With that in mind, I tend to rate fictional novels on the following criteria:
-world building (with current fiction, this is relatively simple),
-character development,
-plot (very important),
-plausibility (if I suspect two people enter a spooky location, while chasing a gang of killers, then split up with one moron entering the dark and creepy basement, with the other sprinting for the equally dark and dusty attic...wasted money),
-entertainment factor (ALL authors please, for the LOVE of all that is good and right, get your copy edited or don't publish!).

Although Mr. Brody has some areas to grow in the clandestine and covert capabilities, in every other aspect of his story telling - HUGE kudos. Sir, I love your writing, your sense of adventure, your intellectual courage, your research and information gathering, and pushing the boundaries of the Judea-Christian-Muslim limits we have adhered to for so long - much too long.

I'm currently on Book 6, Echoes of Atlantis: Crones, Templars and the Lost Continent (Templars in America Book 6). I'll be continuing with any and all books by this well prepared and thoughtful author. When I retire from the government in the next few years, I may even hit him up as his next research assistant...

[Barbara Williford · Rating 1 out of 5]

What started out as an interesting book with intriguing content, mystery, murder and hidden treasure quickly fizzled out. I enjoyed some of the “history” presented, the adventure and intrigue as the main characters begin their journey or flight for the truth. It fizzles out when the author started to go on these “left field” tangents.....diabetes, DaVinci Code, rewriting the Bible, attack on the Catholic Church, attack on all religions, psychology of being under stress, yada yada yada. It’s as if the author wants to throw in as much facts and content regardless whether it fits the storyline or not. An author doesn’t need to psychoanalyze every aspect. Just tell the story. Oh yeah, don’t forget about the “romance” aspect too (which was also psychoanalyzed to death). There are many parts where after a tangent, he can’t even remember his own storyline and comes back to contradict himself. Not even sure what he was trying to accomplish with this book. It had so much potential. Didn’t even finish when they started rewriting the Bible.

[Yulenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the book. Besides Da Vinchi Code, I don't think I've read much of the books of this genre, but I enjoyed this one. And it made me think, and do my own research. Now I am kinda sad I never heard of any of those artifacts when I lived on East Coast so I can actually go and see :) I can see how archaeologists can dismiss them as fakes, but it never made sense to me that this land was completely unknown before Columbus. There are just too many centuries when people navigated the oceans for them not to stumble onto such a huge piece of land. The book is a fiction, but it presents actual discoveries and presents it in a very nice and logical manner. I like the writing style. It wasn't boring, it wasn't too prolonged. The heroes were a little too good, but the bad guy wasn't all that bad. Of course I wish they would have searched for the treasure more...or to find out if they ever contacted the synagogue as planned, but may be in following books.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you’ll enjoy Cabal of the Westford Knight.

The intrigue begins as lawyer Cam Thorne helps his clients fend off an overaggressive buyer for their land. The couple has no intention of selling their home but the over the top offers and the veiled threats continue. This guy simply won’t take no as an answer.

It would seem that this man believes that something very important was buried on that land- something worth killing for. Finding out the truth is difficult. Figuring who to trust is almost impossible.

Essentially, Cabal of the Westford Knight is a Da Vinci Code puzzle with the truth buried right here in America. However, the Grail connection is only part of the story. The deeper secrets predate Christ.

[Janice Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I found it very interesting. The usual dangers of various kinds came along to threaten Cameron, Amanda and Astarte. However, when I got to a particular place in the book, I was stunned and couldn't read on. I didn't finish the book, and (with apologies to the author) I won't be reading any further of these books that come along. Whatever the reason for this event happening, it did not need to. I haven't been this disappointed in something that happened in other books for a long time.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little ridiculous. I wish I had a nickel for every time the main characters said “That makes sense!” and assumed their ideas and theories were fact. The story just took so many weird turns, I couldn’t figure out what the point was. It started out wanting to prove there were Scottish settlers in America before Columbus, and ended up with God being a woman. Crazy.

It cracks me up that there’s a warning in the blurb to not read the book if you’re religious. But if this trail of nonsense shakes your faith, you might have bigger problems….

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

An okay way to pass some time, it is well written if one can maintain a suspension of disbelief. I struggled.

Decent enough read, but I did do an AWFUL lot of eye-rolling every time Oak Island was mentioned as I’m so very tired of the citation of blatantly non factual things as plausible even in a fictional setting. There’s a reason no-one with functional critical thinking skills watches the History Channel anymore. The premise of this book is pretty much on that par, so don’t expect anything else from this series, I certainly am not.

[John P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

A wate of time

The DaVinci Code has already been written once and it's better. DON'T hope to learn anything here. Too much distorton of facts to make it enjoyable. Shakespeare's admonition about the willing suspension of disbelief is insufficient for any reader of this book. If he got anything right, it was too insignificant to be memorable. I dont recommend this book to anyone.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I forced myself to finish this book, but it was a struggle. The premise is interesting and the characters are likable...but the author went on and on and ON about church history and dogma, repeating the same facts over and over.

[Theresa Kobylka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring drivel. Long descriptions of mundane tasks. And what was up with the diabetes thing. A bad Da Vinci Code

[Bill Guillermo · Rating 1 out of 5]

A boring half truth non factual novel as an excuse for Vatican-Catholic bashing.

[Lezlie Duke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this book. I met the CIA/Librarian/Illuminati lady and couldn't get past the ridiculousness of the plot.

[Carlos Mock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cabal of The Westford Knight by David S. Brody

The book opens in May of 1399 when Henry Sinclair is exploring North America loses his best friend James Gunn to a Native American arrow. After mourning the loss of his friend, he decides to bury him in the new land, but not before having someone carve the symbol of a knight on his stone head.

Flash to the present (2007), Cameron (Cam) Thorne gets involved with a couple, Marvin and Emily Gendron, who has been accosted by Alistair McLovick because he wants to buy their home in Westport.

Soon, Cameron finds himself dangerously immersed in an ancient conspiracy. Forced on the run with researcher Amanda Spencer--a British expat--with deadly stalkers from two extremist factions hot on their trail, they begin to piece together information that ties together clues scattered across the Northeast. These clues reveal centuries-old efforts by the Catholic Church to suppress information about Prince Henry Sinclair and the Templars that could tear the church apart if they survive long enough to reveal them. The theories run wild: from Jesus' bloodline, Mary Magdalene who had Jesus' daughter, Sarah, The RexDeus, the Templars, the Masons, the Feminine, the fact that God is a woman--you name it Brody has found a way to intertwine them all and uses current artifacts and places to give it credence. The amount of research is amazing.

The story is narrated from the third person point of view. The plot is interesting and the book is hard to put down. It reads easily. My only concern is that it felt that Mr. Brody wanted to include every conceivable theory and try to make sense of all of them at the same time. It became exhausting by the time I was done.

I also found some of the characters to be unbelievable. Jacob Whitewolf Salazar, a Native American, ex-commando who's a killer for hire behaves inconsistently with his cruelty. Monsignor Marcotte, a Catholic priest, Pastor of St. Catherine's Church has views that I find rare in a priest. All of the random societies and mini-cults are hard to swallow.

Nevertheless, I had fun reading the book. I would recommend it to anyone who liked Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. It has plenty of conspiracy theories to keep you interested and entertained. I liked it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing!

This book was absolutely just that- astonishing! Though this is a book of fiction, the way the evidence all comes together, backed by real photographs or real places and real archeological findings is amazing! Incredible care was taken in the research and the whole of the premise is logical and will resonate with some readers. My own faith is in the duality of Divinity and this book highlighted why so many believe in the Duality and why we believe that the Mother, or Lady, or any of another number of names used for the feminine side are equated to Mother Earth and the cycles of life. The wedding, or joining, of Heaven, or the Celestial, with Earth is at the heart of these beliefs.

I will not belabor the point, but will say this book takes all the evidence and produces what many will see as a logical theorem, just as " The DiVinci Code " did, but taking a different route and using real photographs, maps and evidence to enforce the theorem. Personally, I feel it far outstrips "The DiVinci Code" and leaves one with a feeling, as it did, that you want to learn more about the places and items mentioned. This book will slowly reel you in (but not too slowly! Action from almost the very beginning!), and hold you spellbound and in the moment with the characters until the very end.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed "The DiVinci Code", or "The Last Templar" or any other interest in the Jesus Bloodline, the Templars, or the Freemasons. Or anyone else! You will not regret the read whether you agree with the evidence, plot progression and conclusions or not.

Now, I am off to study more of the reference materials used and recommended!

On the critical side, there were a few typos, etc, which another through proofreading would correct, but even those were very few and in no way detracted from the story.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked “The DaVinci Code,” you’ll enjoy “Cabal of the Westford Knight.” I was a big fan of Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” and “Angels and Demons,” so I gladly gave Brody’s “Cabal of The Westford Knight: Templars at the Newport Tower” a shot. As with Brown and others, this is a work of fiction, which does focus on the concept of the Sacred Feminine.

The story opens in a flashback to May of 1399. Henry Sinclair is exploring North America when he loses his best friend James Gunn to a Native American arrow. After mourning the loss of his friend, he decides to bury him in the new land, but not before having someone carve the symbol of a knight on his stone head. Thus begins the first clue of the premise that the Templars reached America a hundred years before Columbus. Flash back to the present (2007), Cameron (Cam) Thorne gets involved with a couple, Marvin and Emily Gendron, who are being harassed by Alistair McLovick who wants their land. From this initial involvement, strange and violent events begin as the mystery slowly unfolds.

I really enjoyed the book. Now I do confess to being a Templar junkie. Regardless, the research done into the New England clues and the Sacred Feminine was cleverly woven into the plot. The actual story of Cam’s friend being in an explosion and losing his leg, Cam’s dog being killed, and the two main characters being kidnapped and shot at was great! The main characters were very well developed and credible. There are some editing problems which result in several typos and other errors. Regardless, the plot was cleverly woven with strands of fact and fiction to make an enjoyable read. Interestingly, when I skimmed the reviews, it seemed that in general readers either liked it or hated it. I really enjoyed it and I do recommend it.

[Gerald Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treasure hunt?

Firstly, you need to remember this is a work of fiction. It’s got intrigue, romance, murder and betrayal. The book takes well worn fictional ideas about Jesus and tries to spin a connection between an alleged bloodline and Native American tribes. While pushing the old chestnut that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child the whole story revolves around this without saying why this would matter, (apart from completely undermining Christianity). The author has nothing new to say, makes assumptions that are not correct, then proceeds to construct an entertaining story. As I said, a work of fiction, but unfortunately seems to push ideas so beloved by Richard Dawkins that to have faith means you must suspend your brain and follow blindly what the church ( the Roman Catholic Church) tells you. As both a Christian and a scientist I’m afraid I don’t agree but as I said it is a work of fiction. It’s built on a similar premise to the Da Vinci code, taking themes from “the holy blood and the holy grail” (I’ve read them both)but what is the reason? World domination? A secret group of people who run the world? I had already bought the book before I saw the warning for people of faith but there’s nothing here that’s new and if you know what you believe and why it won’t challenge your faith. People have been twisting the story of Jesus for many centuries ( including the Roman Catholic Church) but this isn’t going to have much impact as a serious challenge to truth. After all it is fiction. Incidentally as someone who has diabetes Cam’s management of his condition was not terribly believable.