Fanthorpe, Lionel and Pamela. Mysteries of the Templar Treasure and the Holy Grail. Boston: Weiser, 1992, revised 2004 (ISBN 1-578-63315-X).
The Fanthorpes, members of a contemporary Templar Order, have written an exhaustive account of the symbolism and mystery surrounding Rennes le Chateau. Updated since The Da Vinci Code‘s publication and with a new forward by Tim Wallace-Murphy.
Hahn, Scott. Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei. New York: Doubleday, 2006 (ISBN 0-385-51924-9).
A very positive and personal account of Opus Dei, written by a renowned professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, this work received high praise from Church authorities.
Hutchinson, Robert. Their Kingdom Come: Inside the Secret World of Opus Dei. New York: Thomas Dunne, 2006 (ISBN 0-312-35760-5).
A reporter’s investigation of Opus Dei, this focuses on financial machinations, political intrigue, and alleged ties to the Mafia. The most recent edition of this title includes an exploration of the current pope and his ties to this organization.
Olsen, Oddvar, ed. The Templar Papers: Ancient Mysteries, Secret Societies, and the Holy Grail. Franklin Lakes, N.J.: NewPage, 2006 (ISBN 1-564-14863-8).
Olsen, founder and editor of The Temple, a periodical about the Knights Templar, has assembled a panel of mostly British experts to unravel some of the mystery about the Knights Templar.
Picknett, Lynn, and Clive Prince. The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ.New York: Touchstone, 1997 (ISBN 0-684-84891-0).
This is a background investigation of the Knights Templar, Freemasons, and the Priory of Sion, written by researchers who specialize in historical and religious mysteries. Its focus is on the symbolism in Da Vinci’s art and its relevance to the bloodline of Jesus.
Walsh, Michael. Opus Dei: An Investigation into the Powerful, Secretive Society Within the Catholic Church. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004 (ISBN 0-060-75068-5).
Walsh, a renowned Church historian, explores the influence of Opus Dei on the Church. He also provides background on the founder, St. Josemaria Escriva, and his rapid canonization.
Young, John K. Sacred Sites of the Knights Templar: Ancient Astronomers and Freemasons at Stonehenge, Rennes-le-Chateau, and Santiago de Compostela. Gloucester, Mass.: Fair Winds Pr., 2003 (ISBN 1-592-33017-7).
This is an unusual approach to the history of the Knights Templar that links them to the Freemasons through an examination of their astronomic themes in rituals.
Truth or Fiction?
Burstein, Dan, ed. Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries behind The Da Vinci Code. New York: CDS Bks., 2004 (ISBN 1-593-15022-9).
Burstein, a journalist, has created a compilation of essays and interviews of theologians, archaeologists, art historians, philosophers, and scientists, all designed to help readers of The Da Vinci Code who want to know more.
Ehrman, Bart D. Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code: A Historian Reveals What We Really Know about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Constantine. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Pr., 2004 (ISBN 0-195-18140-9).
Ehrman, scholar and commentator, carefully leads the reader through an examination of the documents and explains their historical significance to the early Christian Church.
Newman, Sharan. The Real History behind the Da Vinci Code.New York: Berkley Bks., 2005 (ISBN 0-425-20012-4).
Noted medievalist and author Newman has created an encyclopedia of The Da Vinci Code. Her examination of the art, documents, history, and people is fascinating reading.
Welborn, Amy. Decoding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of The Da Vinci Code. Huntington, Ind.: Our Sunday Visitor, 2004 (ISBN 1-592-76101-1).
Welborn, a columnist and book reviewer for Our Sunday Visitor, presents a textbook-like approach to decoding The Da Vinci Code.Each chapter presents a concept that she explains and provides suggestions for follow-up reading. She takes the reader through a series of questions that reinforce what she’s explained in the essay.
Fiction
Fiction finds more imitators, or publishers who are hoping to capture the readership by either launching new titles or repackaging older ones. As with nonfiction, there are elements or appeal factors that each reader is seeking in a read-alike novel. And some of the elements are similar to the nonfiction subjects, particularly Mary Magdalene, secret organizations, and the Holy Grail.
Ashcroft, Mary Ellen. The Magdalene Gospel: Meeting the Women who Followed Jesus. New York: Doubleday, 1995 (ISBN 0-385-47855-0).
This carefully crafted work, mixing fiction and scripture, tells the stories of the women at the crucifixion and at the tomb on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. It is a feminist account of the relationships of Jesus with his mother, Mary Magdalene, and other female followers.
Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose.San Diego: Harcourt, 1994 (ISBN 0-156-00131-4).
Considered by many to be one of the best religious historical mysteries, this medieval whodunit has all the elements of a great mystery, including a missing manuscript, poison, and a series of murders. Should appeal to those who like the religious history and mystery combination of The Da Vinci Code.
Frederiksson, Marianne. According to Mary Magdalene. Charlottesville, Va.: Hampton Roads Pub., 1999 (ISBN 1-571-74120-8).
First published in Sweden, this novel is considered a serious work of “visionary” fiction. It’s the story of Mary Magdalene, from her early years as a blonde, blue-eyed child whose family is torn apart during the wars between Greece and Rome. Her relationship with Jesus and the apostles is the framework for this story and while as a work of fiction it is speculative, it is also a very human picture of Jesus.
George, Margaret. Mary, Called Magdalene. New York: Viking, 2002 (ISBN 0-670-03096-1).
Margaret George recreates daily life in Judea through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and gives the reader a sense of a woman’s experiences. Mary, in this novel, is possessed by demons and seeks out a prophet named Jesus, who drives them out. She becomes one of his disciples, joining three other women and twelve men.
Hassinger, Amy. The Priest’s Madonna.New York: Putnam, 2006 (ISBN 0-399-15317-9).
The mystery surrounding Rennes le Chateau and its relationship to the Priory of Sion is at the center of this complex novel. In parallel stories, the relationship of priest Bérenger Sauntière and his housekeeper Marie Denarnaud is contrasted with Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene.
Hunt, Angela Ewell. Magdalene.Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Pubs., 2006 (ISBN 1-414-31028-5).
This more traditional story of Mary Magdalene presents a convincing picture of a woman seeking revenge for the death of her family. She’s a follower of Jesus, who walks beside the disciples but is not considered one of them. Through her relationship with Jesus, she finds a path to forgiveness.
Joyce, Graham. Requiem.New York: Tor, 1996 (ISBN 0-312-86088-9).
Set in contemporary Jerusalem, a high school teacher mourning the death of his wife seeks comfort. Haunted by mysterious spirits, he comes into possession of fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls that identify Mary Magdalene as the wife of Jesus. Full of fantasy and magical realism, this is also a thriller.
Kazantzakis, Nikos. The Last Temptation of Christ.New York: Simon and Schuster, 1960 (ISBN 0-671-40710-4).
Written more than forty-seven years ago and considered one of the most controversial novels of its time, this book follows the stories of the gospels to the climax at the crucifixion when Jesus imagines his final temptation in life: marriage and family.
Lira, Gonzalo. Counterparts.New York: Putnam, 1997 (ISBN 0-399-14312-2).
Why is someone trying to kill Sister Marianne? This fast-paced thriller takes the reader from New Hampshire to the Vatican through the world of Opus Dei and the catacombs of Rome.
Malarkey, Tucker. Resurrection: A Novel. New York: Riverhead, 2006 (ISBN 1-594-48919-X).
The gnostic gospels play a major role in this thriller, set immediately after the Second World War, when the papyrus codices containing the gnostic gospels were found in Nag Hammadi, Egypt.
McGowan, Kathleen. The Expected One. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006 (ISBN 0-743-29942-6).
Two thousand years ago Mary Magdalene left a series of scrolls that chronicled her life with Jesus. And now a journalist must try to find them, hidden in the secretive area of the French Pyrenees called Languedoc. First of what could be a series about the Magdalene line.
Morrell, David. The Fraternity of Stone.New York: St. Martins, 1985 (ISBN 0-312-30360-2).
Religious intrigue and revenge combine to make this conspiracy thriller. A former terrorist is trying to repent for his past and find a peaceful life in a monastery that is the target of a right-wing religious group.
Reich, Christopher. The Patriot’s Club. New York: Delacorte, 2005 (ISBN 0-385-33728-0).
A conspiracy that began with the Founding Fathers of the United States is now a super-secret organization of political and economic leaders whose machinations could bring about the fall of the republic.
Ricci, Nino. Testament.Boston: Houghton, 2003 (ISBN 0-618-27353-0).
A picture of Jesus, told from four sides: Judas, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and a poor shepherd named Simon (not to be confused with Simon Peter).
Silva, Daniel. The Gabriel Allon Novels: The Kill Artist. New York: Random House, 2000 (ISBN 0-375-50090-1); The English Assassin.New York: Putnam, 2002 (ISBN 0-399-14851-5); The Confessor.New York: Putnam, 2003 (ISBN 0-399-14972-4); A Death in Vienna. New York: Putnam, 2004 (ISBN 0-399-15143-5); Prince of Fire.New York: Putnam, 2005 (ISBN 0-399-15243-1); The Messenger. New York: Putnam, 2006 (ISBN 0-399-15335-7).
Gabriel Allon, Silva’s hero, is a former Israeli agent who works as an art restorer. He is haunted by his past and tries in vain to stay out of his former life. But he’s constantly challenged by events that bring him back into this world of terror, espionage, and conspiracy.
Van Lustbader, Eric. The Testament.New York: Forge, 2006 (ISBN 0-765-31463-0).
A mysterious group called the Order of Gnostic Observatines is out to save secret documents (lost gospels) whose contents will rock the Christian world. A rival organization called the Knights of St. Clement is hot on their tracks. Quick- paced and full of action, the theology takes a back seat to the thriller in this one.