Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for this eCopy to review

I didn’t expect a centuries-old mystery to keep me up at night, but The Resurrection Maker did just that. Glenn Cooper delivers a gripping dual-timeline thriller that blends Arthurian legend, secret societies, and modern-day peril into a story that’s as brainy as it is breathless.

🕰️ Plot Summary
The novel opens in present-day England with Arthur Malory, a historian and reluctant adventurer, who stumbles upon a cryptic message linked to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Arthur’s quiet life is upended when he’s drawn into a deadly game involving a secret brotherhood, ancient relics, and a centuries-old conspiracy that could change the course of history.

Parallel to Arthur’s journey, we follow the 14th-century scribe Geoffrey Chaucer yes, that Chaucer, who becomes entangled in the same mystery during his time as a courtier and spy. As the two narratives unfold, Cooper masterfully weaves together past and present, revealing how Chaucer’s coded writings may hold the key to the Grail’s location.

The stakes escalate quickly: assassins, cryptic manuscripts, and a race across Europe all converge in a finale that’s both satisfying and steeped in historical intrigue.

🔍 What I Loved
Arthur as Reluctant Hero: He’s no Indiana Jones, and that’s what makes him compelling. He’s flawed, sceptical, and deeply human, yet he rises to the occasion in a way that feels earned.

Historical Depth: Cooper’s background as a historian shines. The Chaucer chapters are rich with period detail, and the interplay between fact and fiction is seamless.

Pacing and Structure: The dual timelines are expertly balanced. Just when one thread reaches a cliff hanger, the other picks up with equal momentum.

Themes of Faith and Doubt: Beyond the action, this is a story about belief, what we choose to believe, and what we’re willing to risk for it.

📚 Final Thoughts
The Resurrection Maker is a smart, fast-paced thriller for fans of Dan Brown, Kate Mosse, or Steve Berry. It’s got all the hallmarks of a great historical mystery: secret codes, ancient texts, and a protagonist you root for. If you love stories where the past refuses to stay buried

Historical fiction ✅
Archaeology trails ✅
Conspiracy theories ✅

We follow Arthur Mallory, a descendant of the Mallory who gave us Le Morte d'Arthur, Arthur is grieving the death of his best friend when he gets pulled into a centuries spanning hunt for the Holy Grail, from Cornwall to Renaissance England to Barcelona's Sagrada familia through a modern physics facility in Modane France and then to Jerusalem.

It's not just a Grail chase. It's about belief, science and the lengths people will go to keep their stories alive.

What I loved..

📌the dual timelines - the mediaeval time and the present time

📌 Arthur, the lead character, is very relatable, nothing extraordinary about him. More of a grieving smart stubborn nerd than a superhero

📌 The historical details and settings

What I didn't like

📌 The logic behind the whole Grail trail wobbled in some places, it made me raise my eyebrow.

📌The ending!!!! It ended with a mystery. I silently screamed at the author, WHAT HAPPENED? WHO CAME BACK?

This one had me turning pages. I enjoyed the dual timelines, the puzzle-hunting energy, and the globe-trotting from Cornwall to Barcelona to Jerusalem. I don’t believe in the Holy Grail and some of those theories? Had me side-eyeing 👀… still, it was a fun, enjoyable thrilling ride.

It gave me “Dan Brown vibes with a twist” fast-paced, cinematic, but you’ve got to suspend disbelief here and there.

⭐ My verdict: a 7.5/10 entertaining, eyebrow-raising, and perfect if you love a conspiracy-filled treasure hunt.

Throughout time, various groups have quested to find the Holy Grail. The Resurrection Maker follows one such young man who is a descendant of Thomas Malory. Chapters take readers from ancient times to modern day with the constant search for the grail by both good and evil people. A lot of discussion of what constitutes "dark matter" and how physicists are currently searching for a way to prove its existence tend to bog down the action. A predictable betrayal comes near the end which readers will be expecting.

Altogether, an interesting theory, an exciting quest with plenty of "bad guys" and action throughout European and Middle Eastern cities but suffers from too much explanation of the physical science and an ending that was fully expected.

This is the second Glenn Cooper book I have read in recent weeks, so perhaps my rating for this one is lower because the other was so much more concise and engaging. This one started out promisingly but then got bogged down in all the many, many layers.. It was all a bit more weighty than enveloping, more like history I would be quizzed on than an escapist adventure read. Not the worst thing I have read but also not satisfying.

Arthur Malory like many of his ancestors has a passion for finding the grail. When his friend and fellow grail hunting enthusiast is murdered, Arthur finds himself on a hunt spanning the centuries and multiple countries, all the while trying to avoid the killers.
This has the making of a great historic mystery adventure book, however unlike the authors previous work, the story did not grab and hold me.

The story and my thoughts:

Echoes from the past guides Arthur Malory on a dangerous quest for the Holy Grail. Seems that Mr. Cooper has once again woven an impossible tale or maybe for some one that is almost believable.

Arthur Mallory works at a scientific science research center and spends his spare time combing the countryside with his metal detector and is interested in finding the Holy Grail. Then enters a mysterious woman warning him of danger….an adventurous traipse starts through Britain, Europe and the Middle East ….

Told through deferent time periods:

England, 15th century with Sir Thomas Malory and his lifelong search for the Holy Grail…the famous tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table….and it goes on and on and on.

England, the present day with scientist and amateur archaeologist Arthur Malory following a centuries-old trail of clues left by his ancestor.

This thriller is a mix of Arthurian legend, medieval secrets and cutting-edge science I surely felt very similar to Dan brown’s religious thrillers I enjoyed very much. It gives us a story with all the great elements of religious, historical one can expect from Mr. Cooper but was this plot as engaging? What happened? I Expected a story with action with good character development, it met my expectation for the first 80 pages or so then the story turned, it became a little disjointed, familiar and very predictable. I totally lost interest and of course reading became tedious……too much information dumps, very boring result….

Totally disappointed with this one.

Initially I was put off by the Big Bang - Zero time ideas fashioned into the prologue, having to reread it a couple of times for better understanding. There were, eventually, whilst reading forward, interesting spurts of narrative. However, I mostly found the reading rather ponderous with the many details regarding the stories behind King Arthur, Excaliber, and the Holy Grail, the Qem, physics, switching of time frames from ancient to more recent, and the like. No doubt the author must have put a great deal of research into the stories behind these topics as evidenced throughout the narrative. The onus could possibly be on me but I also took exception to the twisting of biblical stories that were intertwined to make them fit in with the life or rather, resurrection of Jesus.

There were exciting lengths of chronicle but overall, I didn't quite enjoy the story despite the ingenius creativeness of the mystery/thriller novel. I have read other of Glenn Cooper's works and found satisfaction therein. Perhaps it is the subject matter and my personal dislike of having biblical accounts maligned. Nevertheless, I believe that those potential readers who are 'into' science, namely physics and alchemy, may well find themselves drawn into this particular work by this well-seasoned and accomplished author.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

August 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Nit really sure how I feel about thus one yet. It an interesting alternative story about the Holy Grail. It certainly makes you stop and think. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Wow! What a thrill ride!

Author Glenn Cooper sends main character Arthur Mallory on a quest for the Holy Grail (the chalice Jesus drank from at “The Last Supper,” which is thought to have magical healing powers).

Taking Mallory, and readers, from England to France, to Spain, to Israel, to the beginning of time, to the time of Christ, to the 5th, 19th, and 21st centuries, he explores a variety of legends, scientific theories, and famous places and people, including:

- King Arthur, his knights, and their search for the Holy Grail;
- the monastery at Montserrat;
- Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi and Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia church;
- Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection;
- quantum physics, string theory, dark matter, and the multiverse.

Of course, no adventure would be complete without a love interest and a fiendish adversary, and Mallory is blessed and cursed with both. Indeed, as he and beautiful French physicist Claire Pontier search for “the cup of Christ,” they are also on the run from assassins sent by "the Khem," a group of powerful men and women intent on securing the grail for themselves.

It’s a sweeping tale of adventure that manages to blend religion, world history, and science. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy it, I thought I learned something from it.

One caution: readers seeking a novel with an ending that fully resolves the tale may be disappointed. Mr. Cooper leaves us with something of a cliffhanger. Perhaps he’s planning a sequel. Or perhaps he prefers to have readers imagine the ending for themselves. For me, it wasn’t a problem. For others, it might be.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Glenn Cooper, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

Another great story from Glenn Cooper. A thoroughly enjoyable action adventure following the hunt for the Holy Grail. Lots of treachery, clues to follow, and interesting characters. I just didn't expect it to end like it did ... a bit disappointing!
Thanks to Netgalley, Book Whisperer, and Glenn Cooper for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

An exciting modern-day search for the Holy Grail, with an interesting cast of characters forming a club of scholars (not adventure-hunters) tracing the relic. This story has as much excitement and country-hopping as an Indiana Jones tale, but with a solid base of historical and biblical information. And then metallurgy and alchemy are woven into the intrigue, blurring the religious and scientific origin. The story is just the right mix of danger and adventure, science and Christianity, fact and fiction. There are enough twists to leave you questioning allegiances, possibilities, even alternate dimensions as a form of Heaven. The end truly leaves you on the edge of something magical, mystical or holy - and I can't wait to find out what happens next! This is clearly a series starter, and it sets the bar high for next in the series! Thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for a courtesy copy of this book - I am excited to continue the series, and will be following this author!

The author is the master of blending history, archeology, and faith into an engaging tale. He’s done it again, both teaching and inspiring.

This encompassed some wonderful writing that is finite in presentation. There is a fair cast of characters that traverse a detailed history.

For those who love myths and legends from long ago or enjoy a treasure hunt, this book should be on your list to read. I enjoyed this book and I liked the little things that separated the book from the others. The book raised a number of questions, but didn’t actually challenge Christian beliefs which it could so easily have done. I love when a book makes me question certain beliefs.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

I love Glenn Cooper but this book failed to engage with me, maybe the subject matter, maybe the long historic chapters, I was bored and couldn’t wait to get to the end which turned out to be an anticlimax. His later books are much better.

A beautifully written and atmospheric novel that blends suspense, emotion, and just the right touch of mystery. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world the author created—rich in detail, layered with secrets, and driven by characters who felt authentic and emotionally complex.

The pacing was well-balanced, with enough intrigue to keep me turning pages, and the writing style was elegant without being overly ornate. I especially appreciated the emotional depth of the protagonist and the way the story unfolded with subtle tension rather than dramatic twists.

This is a book that lingers after the final page—thoughtful, immersive, and quietly powerful. I would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven suspense with a literary edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

I loved this... until the end. The end completely ruined it. Total cop out and not satisfying AT ALL. 😭🤦‍♀️

Until the end it was really interesting and I loved the writing and the subject matter. For the modern timeline at least. I'm not a big fan of the annoying dual timeline fad these days, and in this book it was completely unnecessary and really boring. The sections in the past really really dragged the book down.

Still would have given a 3.5 or even 4 star rating though if it weren't for that *ridiculous* ending. 🤦‍♀️

Glen Cooper’s The Resurrection Maker delivers a gripping cloak-and-dagger adventure, mixing intricate plotting with real-world references that ground the reader in a convincing sense of place and time. As a fan of Cooper’s work—and with The Last Conclave and The Sins of the Flesh ranking among my favourite reads this summer—I approached this title with high expectations.

The novel’s well-played-out narrative brims with twists and turns, expertly keeping suspense taut from start to finish. Cooper’s signature ability to interweave historical intrigue with present-day stakes is on full display here, ensuring that the story feels both imaginative and plausibly anchored in reality.

However, The Resurrection Maker fell just short of earning a full five stars for me. Unlike Cooper’s previous works, which offered the kind of definitive closure I have come to enjoy, this book left some threads unresolved, making the ending feel somewhat open. This may appeal to some readers, but it left me wishing for a more conclusive finale.

Despite this, I have no hesitation in recommending The Resurrection Maker to anyone who loves a smart, suspenseful adventure filled with layers of deception and historical mystery. It’s a solid four-star read and a worthy addition to Cooper’s body of work. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this free copy to review.

This book had a fun concept but the writing didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to. Not sure if it was the writing style or the subject matter, but something didn’t quite click for me.

I’ve read Coopers other books and liked them. This book is well written. However, I did not care for the subject matter and his interpretation. I found it sacroreligious.