A discovery of an ancient manuscript, clues to the hidden treasure of the Knights Templar, and a violent murder in the Vatican Secret Archives sets off a fast-paced race between an intrepid group of archeologists and the Muslim Brotherhood. The chase quickly escalates to involve the British Monarchy, MI5, and the Israeli Mossad in a frantic and dangerous quest for the Holy Grail and the skull of John the Baptist! After their defeat at the hands of the Muslims in 1291 AD and the subsequent demise of many of their members in the Inquisition of 1307 AD, the remaining Knights Templar went into hiding throughout Europe. The story of the Templars, the legend of the Holy Grail of Christ at the Last Supper, and the Templars' mysterious treasure and ships which vanished from the port of La Rochelle, persist to this day. This fictional mystery novel is based on fact and a real scientific discovery in the Middle East. It is a pulse-pounding modern day quest for the Holy Grail that begins where Mystery at the Thirteen Sycamores leaves off, in Scotland at Saint Mary Chapel.
About the Author: Dr. Frank R. Faunce is a retired United States Army colonel. He was commissioned as a captain during the Vietnamese War, was activated for duty during Operation Desert Storm, and his last assignment overseas was in Mogadishu, Somalia. He was the command dental surgeon of the Third United States Army and served overseas in most of the Middle Eastern Countries and in East Africa. In between deployments, he maintained a private dentistry practice, was an associate professor and department chair at Emory University in Atlanta, wrote many scientific papers and articles, and lectured extensively at universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. He is an officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem whose sovereign head is Queen Elizabeth II. Dr. Joe C. Rudé joined the United States Air Force after medical school and internship, and served in Vietnam as a flight surgeon, flying 48 combat missions as the weapons systems operator in the back seat of F-4 Phantoms. For this he was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. After a radiology residency and fellowship at Emory University, he practiced diagnostic and interventional radiology for 37 years in Atlanta, Georgia. During that time, he was elected chief-of-staff and was appointed to the Board of Trustees of one of his hospitals and served as a clinical associate professor at both the Emory University School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry. He has held multiple offices in the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and in many genealogical and heraldic organizations, and was awarded several knighthoods.