Backtracking his father’s movements and contacts quickly puts Bravo in touch with Jenny Logan, who has a multitude of secrets of her own. Even as they’re making introductions, mutually deciding not to trust the other for reasons of their own, they’re attacked by the Knights of St. Clement, who are the bad guys who killed Dexter.
The action is fast and furious. Lustbader is a seasoned pro at getting the most bang out of his buck when it comes to this kind of writing. His character-building is spare, done in the rush of events that move with the speed and urgency of whitewater rafting. I had a great time trying to keep up with the rollicking plot, back-and-forth dialogue, and all the back story that kept cropping up when it was necessary.
An interesting note is that not only do the good guys buy the farm in this book, but so do some of the villains. The hit team that first goes after Bravo and Jenny are extremely memorable, and their back story fits right into the tale, deepening the characters effortlessly and giving them more reasons to kill our hero and heroine than simply, “I’m the bad guy. It’s my job.” In fact, I was surprised when I felt sorry for them. That was totally unexpected.
The crux of the plot revolves around “The Quintessence,” a miraculous element that brought Jesus Christ back to life – unknown to anyone else. There is also a testament (which gives the book its name) written by Jesus that outlines the rest of his life. The Order of the Gnostic Observatines chooses one person for life to be the keeper of this most fabulous of secrets that promises immortality. Dexter Shaw was the last keeper of the testament, and he’s left that dangerous job to Bravo.
The Testament is a great thriller read. It’s a little light on history and legends compared to The Da Vinci Code (but even that book got some things wrong, as evidenced by the reactions that swiftly followed publication), and other practitioners like Steve Berry, but what Lustbader offers is what he’s been selling all along: fantastic action that zips along at a breakneck pace. Will it change your life or give you more research at your fingertips than any of the other Da Vinci-style thrillers out there? No. But what the book will give you is hours of reading pleasure and vicarious thrills. And just enough of a puzzle to keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
A white-knuckler review--enjoyed it.
2 - Katie McNeill
This sounds really great. I'll have to add it to my ever growing list. And I have to agree with Gordon, a great review. :)
3 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
4 - Jack
Read a couple of books from your recommended list, which are entertaining, truly. But they are all so far off the reality. Maybe, try some more serious books instead. One great book I just read may interest you: China and the new world order: how entrepreneurship, globalization, and borderless business are reshaping China and the world, by the outspoken Chinese journalist george zhibin gu, which offers sweeping ideas on changing global politics, business and life.
5 - HDC
Is this the same writer that gave us the Bourne series? Or just some hack using his name? Such drivel is rarely encountered as is provided here. Does this writer have even the remotest concept of what it is to be a human being--kill the knight, kill the guardian, doesn't matter which, just keep the ridiculous story moving.
Amazing, what does it matter that one guardian kills another 3 or 4? The plot could be forgiven for a first novel, but the delivery? No higher than a D for a sixth grader. Oh, I forgot, the sexual romps, not higher than a 7th grader, totally embarassing.