The Machiavelli Covenant

by Allan Folsom

Book Overview

For five hundred years a despotic order of the supremely rich and powerful has kept a little known manuscript by the political thinker Niccolo Machiavelli hidden away under heavy guard: "THE COVENANT," a terrifying blueprint for the gaining and keeping of true political power. Bonded by complicity in ritual murder and dedicated to a singular vision of global domination, the group, guided by Machiavelli's document, has prospered far beyond any dreams of power and avarice.In Washington, D.C., former LAPD detective Nicholas Marten comes out of hiding when he learns his former girlfriend, her child and husband, a U.S. congressman, have been mysteriously murdered. Marten discovers her husband had just uncovered a top-secret and illegal bioweapons program, and when the feds fail to investigate, Marten resolves to go after the killers himself.Meanwhile, on his way to a NATO summit in Warsaw, President John Henry Harris is confronted by a secret cabal inside his own White House who demand he authorize the assassinations of the Chancellor of Germany and the President of France at the NATO meeting. He angrily refuses, knowing full well that in doing so he has put his own life and the fate of the country in jeopardy.Fleeing for his life, Harris joins forces with Marten and the beautiful but enigmatic French photo-journalist Demi Picard. Together they uncover the truth about the most devastating and powerful group the world has ever known. Swept from Washington to Paris, from Berlin to Malta, Madrid to Barcelona they flee a ruthless circle of the president's here-to-fore most trusted advisors, military leaders and transnational corporate chieftains all of whom want them dead. Out manned, outnumbered and outgunned, these three stand alone against the age-old secrets of "THE COVENANT."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765313057
• ISBN13: 9780765313058
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 554 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Fast paced thriller!

I could not read fast enough. It grabs you and puts you right in the middle. This was right along the lines of Angels & Demons and Da Vinci Code; a book you just don't want to stop reading. I found it very interesting that I could look up the locations in which are referred to in the book and get a better visualization of the images so brilliantly written of throughout the novel. This made the book that much more intense! It is a must read!

I hope there's another installment....too good to end!

"The Day After Tomorrow" is one of my all-time favorite novels and one I recommend constantly. So I had extremely high hopes when I stumbled upon "The Machiavelli Covenant," and it did not disappoint! [I had not read "The Exile" but it did't interfere with my enjoyment or understanding of this book.] I am so confused by the negative reviews of this book, since I thought it was supurb from start to finish - a carefully and intricately woven plot with twists and turns throughout the novel and an entirely suspenseful and intriguing tale of possible worldwide terrorism, the likes of which we have never experienced. I thought the subject matter was timely and fascinating...the possibility of an oranization so far-reaching and powerful as to have the ability to take down entire civilizations at its whim and for its advantage. Mr. Folsom is a brillant writer and I can't recommend this book highly enough for those interested in this type of fiction. If you like Ludlum, David Baldacci, Nelson DeMille, Dan Brown, etc., you will love this! I truly hope there is a sequel coming soon, because I can't get this book out of my mind an am not prepared to let these characters go!

Another Folsom Winner

I've been anxiously awaiting another Folsom book since I finished The Exile days after it was released. Machiavelli Covenant didn't disappoint - the same type of action packed, page-turning suspense that I had been waiting for. Just like I did when reading my first Folsom book, The Day After Tomorrow, I've been awake late and up early just to keep reading. Friends? Coworkers? If they're not talking about this book, they can wait until I'm done.

Fast-paced entertainment in the Davinci Code tradition

This was an entertaining action novel starring an ex-LAPD cop named Marten who is summoned to the bedside of a dying girlfriend. When the girlfriend claims she was deliberately poisoned Marten begins to look for the killer uncovering a conspiracy which dates back hundreds of years. This was an entertaining novel in the spirit of the DaVinci code. I did think the ending was a *bit* over-the-top especially when the main characters are down in the abandoned mines. I also felt the Secret service was portrayed as blisteringly incompetent and Marten a tad super-human. Overall good, and an excellent setup for a sequel. This was a fast, furious novel sure to delight fans of Ludlum or other thriller novels.

An Edge of Your Seat page Turner

Almost a year ago now I was browsing in the local public library during my lunch break looking for a new author to add to my cadre of favorites. Allan Folsom's book, "The Exile" jumped out at me so I pulled it from the shelf for a few minutes perusal. I quickly decided that it looked like it would be a good read, so I brought it home. WOW! It turned out to be one of those books you just do NOT want to put down. I read it in short order and went right back to the library for another Folsom read. That was followed by the third and final book. Now what do I read?! HaHa Thankfully I discovered authors, Barry Eisler and Lee Child! Last summer I discovered that book #4 was due out the end of the year, and that it would be another book featuring, John Barron, aka Nicholas Marten. Needless to say I pre-ordered "The Machiavelli Covenant". It arrived a week or so ago and I just finished reading it. Like Allan's other books I had an extremely hard time putting it down. "The Machiavelli Covenant" is a real edge of your seat, hard to put down page turner of a thriller, one that I would HIGHLY recommend. Read, "The Exile" first though, so that you can be properly introduced to the hero, Nicholas Marten. Thank you Mr. Folsom!! That we will again encounter Nicholas Marten was obvious by the book's ending. The burning question is; How long before we do?!! Not long I hope. Daniel J. North