The Da Vinci Code was a mega success in the literary and movie worlds. Dan Brown’s historical thriller meshed together exciting action with historical factoids in a race to clear the name of Harvard symbology professor Robert Langdon. An entire subgenre was given more attention due to the book’s popularity and a theme that has been a subject of conspiracy theories for centuries, that of Jesus’ resurrection and love life. You’ll love these recommendations if you love books that include history, famous figures, conspiracy theories, and action.
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Any book by the masterful Berry will fulfill your historical thriller sweet tooth. But, the first book in the currently 15-book Cotton Malone series follows a retired justice department turned rare books dealer as he gets dragged into a fast-paced action-packed thriller that spans several countries and centuries. Murder and conspiracy abound in the search to reveal the truth of Jesus’ life and last moments. Berry’s a savant when it comes to interweaving fact and fiction; you’ll have to read the historical fact section at the back of the book to see what he created and what he didn’t.
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
When four men dressed as medieval knights on horseback arrive at the Met during an exhibition of Papal artifacts decapitate a security guard and ransack the museum, an archaeologist and FBI agent are charged with finding and arresting the suspects. The investigation spans three continents as Tess and Sean outwit murderers who want to uncover a secret that links the Knights Templar and the Catholic Church. A movie adaptation of this historical thriller was released in 2009.
The Grecian Manifesto by Earnest Dempsey
Similar to Berry, Dempsey’s protagonist is a former US government agent. Sean Wyatt is charged with finding a missing treasure by the President in order to stop a megalomanic from finding it and destroying the world’s economic foundations. You’ll like the puzzles and riddles involved in this guns-a-blazing history-altering thriller.
The Lost Codex by Alan Jacobson
This one has been compared to the Da Vinci Code and Mission Impossible. A group comprised of various US government agencies is tasked with a recovery mission and a dead-or-alive directive to stop a terrorist attack. Ancient documents on several religions are uncovered over a few decades that could change the face of religion as we know it. The OPSIG team travels through 4 countries to save millions.
The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw
Harvard linguistics professor vs secret branch of the Catholic Church, sound familiar? Rather than the treasure leading to the secret of Jesus’ bloodline, this one may well lead to the discovery of the lost continent of Atlantis. But what could the Catholic Church have to hide that would be linked to a continent that went missing millennia before its creation? This novel is equipped with short chapters that keep the fast pace of the historical thriller novel moving without being rushed.
On the Third Day by Piers Paul Read
Archaeologists find the skeletal remains of Jesus Christ under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. One Archaeologist is murdered and his assistant sets out to find answers to whether this is a hoax or a coverup that would change the face of religion.
The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
800 years separate the parallel storylines of this historical religious thriller. Mosse takes you on a journey to discover the secrets of the Holy Grail. From the fall of Carcassonne to the discovery of the elaborate etched labyrinth in the Pyrenees mountains near that once great city, follow as two remarkable women do what must be done to keep a secret so great it could alter the world. This is the first book in a trilogy with well-developed characters and historical facts interwoven with creative fiction.
The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan
In book one of the Magdalene Line Trilogy, McGowan explores the ideas of Jesus as a man and as as the son of God. This story will immerse you in two worlds that have collided by design and bloodline over the course of 2000 years; the discovery of documents that would rewrite the truth behind who Jesus was, how the church was to be founded, and the lives of Jesus and his followers. Maureen Paschal’s unique abilities mark her as the Expected One, the one to bring the truth to light. Can she do what others have tried and failed to do, or will she be sacrificed too?
The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra
Leonardo Da Vinci and his work have been the center of conspiracy theories worldwide. Sierra’s unique interpretation of the legendary artist’s famous Last Supper will have you looking at the painting in an all-new light. Fast-paced, short chapters, and enough mystery, history, and puzzles to keep you wanting more.
The Secret of Giza by Ken Warner
What do the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Bermuda Triangle, and Area 51 have in common? That’s the riveting question in this thriller with protagonists who seem to possess special abilities. Race along with Jaden and Malia as they figure out who they are and how they’re connected to some of history’s greatest locations in an effort to save humanity.
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