The Judas Apocalypse by Dan McNeil
On the eve of the Second World war, Dr. Gerhard Denninger, a German archeologist is approached by infamous Grail seeker Otto Rahn who tells him a fantastic story of Templars, Church scandal, a long-buried manuscript, and the key to finding the famous lost treasure of the Cathars. In 1944, with the help of a group of American soldiers, Denninger continues his quest for the secret of the Cathar treasure. With dangers dogging them at every step, will they find what they’re seeking? And will they be prepared for the shocking discovery that awaits them?
Read an Interview with the Author
Listen to Dan McNeil’s interview on the Tony Kay radio show
What Other Readers Have Said:
I was blown away by this book, it twists and turns, leading you on an amazing journey. Really enjoyed the historical and biblical references, but it’s mixed with non-stop action! This guy’s obviously done some homework! - Steve @ Barnes & Noble
Great reading for the holidays. [...] I have purchased several copies for family and friends. - a reviewer @ Barnes & Noble
A truly compelling blend of history and page-turning suspense. Highly recommended! - a reviewer @ Barnes & Noble
Riveting Story. [...] One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommend it. - a reviewer @ Barnes & Noble
Dan McNeil’s vivid description, compelling and lyrical prose will submerge you into a fascinating read with this page turning, fictional, and historical suspense. Emotional, charging and an excellent novel, which I highly recommend. - Selena Robbins @ Amazon.ca
I really enjoyed this book. Having never heard of Dan McNeil, my expectations weren’t high but I was riveted from the first page. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to his next book. - Mike @ Barnes & Noble
Wow! Just finished reading The Judas Apocalypse. I even put my current book aside just to see if it was as good as you said. I found that I never went back to the book I was reading as the JA captured my attention. What an exciting read. Everything that I ever believed in has been put into question. I was raised in the Evangelical faith and this certainly gives one food for thought. If it is to be believed then the whole Christian Faith could be turned upside down, inside out and back to front. Still Faith is all any of us have and that at the end of the day is what we hold on to isn’t it? I doubt that the Catholic Church would see it that way somehow. I am still pondering the revelations in the book and I am sure will be for a while. I loved the whole story line and it was certainly not ludicrous as Dan Brown’s Books were. Well the story line that is. Dan Brown eat your heart out. Move over - here comes the next best seller! - Miriam Campbell
Highly recommended. I ordered this book on the recommendation of a friend and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I found myself drawn into the story very quickly. I usually read more contemporary books, but this story about a treasure hunt in the middle of World War 2 was fascinating and the ending really makes you think. If you’re looking for a really good wintertime read, this is a good book to curl up in front of a fire with. I would highly recommend this one. - Derek King “for Carole Wood” @ Amazon.com
This book is outstanding from both a historical and fictional mystery perspective. Dan Mcneil’s book possess all the ingredients of classic mystery novel both intellegent and entertaining. Bravo! - Mier Lawy @ Amazon.ca
Move Over Dan Brown - There is a new Dan in town.This was a very exciting read. It is a well crafted, well written, and especially a well researched book similar in many ways to the Da Vinci Code. Books generally take me 2 - 3 weeks to read but i finished this over a weekend!!! Anyone who has enjoyed Dan Brown’s work will enjoy this superb first book by Dan McNeil. - bobbydelan @ Barnes and Noble
Entertaining Adventure.The book is a definite must read if you don’t mind a modern take on the early days of Christianity. If you have enjoyed Da Vinci Code and Master and Margarita and are a blockbuster fan - read The Judas Apocalypse. The brave take on a New Testament transforms into a treasure chasing adventure through the thick of The World War 2. Germans, Frenchmen and Americans - all mixed in action, sometimes giving the author hard time with the dialogs. Regardless - the dialogs are written in such a great converse manner that you may start seeing and hearing the characters standing out from the pages. Small details, like Hitler-Jugend fighters using lumber measured in Imperial Inches, direct flight from yet non-existent in 1944 Tibet airport to Germany or exotic submarine trip from Germany to France - are great additions to the feeling of reading a screenplay to the box-record Hollywood blockbuster. When it hits the screens I will be the first in the line to the ticket office. Recommended reading! - Andrei Fillippov @ Amazon.ca
An Intriguing Spin. If you have a passion for stories about the lost treasure of the Cathars and love mysteries surrounding the Templars and you enjoy adventures linked to the Holy Grail and Church scandals, you will probably love this novel. With “The Judas Apocalypse” Mr McNeil puts an intriguing spin on these subjects.
Dr Gerhard Denninger an archaeologist is approached by the infamous Grail hunter Otto Rhan, with a fantastic story about a long buried manuscript, a key to finding the famous lost treasure of the Cathars and needs his help to find it. If this was the entire premise, it would have been an average mystery but Mr McNeil adds more intriguing elements to the story: it takes place in the 40’s during WW11; Dr Denninger is working for the S.S. and a member of Himmler’s Ahnenerbe (the heritage bureau). Helping Otto Rhan will put him in a delicate situation and in a dilemma with both Hitler and Himmler who had dedicated much money to find the Holy Grail and religious artefacts believing it would help them win the war.
After a short introduction you mistakenly think the story is going to be on the drab side but things start to go wild and take many twists and turns when Dr Denniger finds himself in the back alley of Carlotta’s (a period club), from then on there is non stop action. The dialogs all through reflect the characters diversity as the story unfolds but I wonder if the language in the 40’s was as colourfully spoken …(Occasionally a little overdone on the raw side). Although the plots at times were far fetched and improbable (solders fighting amongst themselves while the enemy is in their proximity), just the same it made for a fantastic read.
I couldn’t help imagining a Hollywood screen play with Harrison Ford as the lead character :)….. Wishing Dr Denninger long life and hoping to see him in a sequel someday …. Congratulations Mr McNeil on a very entertaining first novel. - Toni Osborne, Chapters Indigo review
To review this book, log in and leave a comment.
Oh,oh! The book is highly provoking!! The controversial conclusion is all the more plausible being supported by an accuracy of facts interwoven throughout. (I’ve also read The DeVinci Code and by comparison, found Judas Apocalypse a better read.)
I notice on his website - he finished writing it in 2006 and am curious how long it took to write it?
Comment by North Borealis — August 9, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
Read The Judas Apocalypse & thoroughly enjoyed it. Amazed at the amount of research that went into it. My husband & I took a tour of the fortress in Carcassonne in ‘94 & it reminded us of the history of the Cathars. Well done Dan McNeil.
Comment by Kathy Kilroy — August 14, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Hello North Borealis:
When I started to work on the story, I figured it would be a few weeks of research and maybe a couple of months to write it. In actual fact, it took a little over a year to research it and another year to write it. After that it was months of revisions until it was finally finished. If I knew then that it would take over two years to finish it, I sometimes wonder if I would have even began the project. In the end though, I must admit that I’m glad that I stuck with it and I am very pleased with the way it turned out. I’m very happy that you enjoyed it.
Dan McNeil
Comment by danmcneil — August 18, 2008 @ 9:03 pm
Just a quick answer to Mr. Fillippov at Amazon.ca (if he should ever drop by):
Yes, it was decided to go with “two-by-four” —— to have to go into an explanation of standardized German metric lumber sizes, which the (presumably) North American readers of Judas would not be familiar with, would have been quite a distraction in that passage where the focus was on a street brawl. I’d probably have been more pedantic had it been in reference to carpentry.
The entire Tibetan episode was created pretty much entirely from Dan’s poetic license (there was an Ahnenerbe expedition to Tibet, but it was over by the time of the invasion of Poland). Since Dan created the expedition and the camp, it only followed that he was free to create an airplane hanger and runway there.
Thanks for your focus on details, Mr. Fillippov. We aim to meet our readers’ high standards!
Comment by Michelle — October 30, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
[...] The Judas Apocalypse by Dan McNeil [...]
Pingback by Passing the Word Around » Toni Osborne calls The Judas Apocalypse fantastic — November 7, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
[...] Read the whole review… [...]
Pingback by Passing the Word Around Canada » Toni Osborne calls The Judas Apocalypse fantastic — November 7, 2008 @ 10:45 pm