Rating: 
Summary: If I vanish after this review appears, I was wrong!
Review: Where to I begin? In the middle, like Baigent et al.? Everywhere at once, like Umberto Eco in his fabulous sendup, Foucault's Pendulum? It makes a difference where you begin, if (as in this case) you know where you're going and are determined to end up there no matter what, even if you have to plow some entirely new trails to get there. The authors explore the ancestral DNA of conspiracy theories, the central illusion that is of interest because it touches on all other conspiracies, including this one. (Work with me, here.) The authors relate some fascinating oddities, but their task is really to sew them all together in a systematic way. No one could possibly do that; Baigent and is co-conspirators at least manage to fail entertainingly. The premise of the book is accessible in any of the other reviews posted here, so I won't bother to relate the line of reasoning except to say that it isn't spun from whole cloth as much as it is stitched together like a crazy quilt from a host of Old World paranoias of varying antiquity. It's about Them: The Templars, the Illuminati, the Elders of Zion, the Men in Black; those who would rule the world (and may be doing so now). They are out there, and we'd rather not annoy Them. But they deny they exist; or they claim to exist, but since they must always lie, they don't. With me? The quilt is held together by sheer joyful cross-eyed tautology and, more important, by a reasoning commonly infecting conspiracy theories, more blatant here than usual. It goes like this: "There is a delicate thread of evidence that A may be true; if A is true, isn't it possible that B is also true? And if A and B are true, couldn't C be true?" If this sounds absurd, look for the passages in the book that shamelessly chant this reasoning. But the authors are innocent of conditional probability; by the time they get to C, the combined probability has the mass of a quark. If you ignore the premise, there is a lot of fun speculation in Holy Blood, Holy Grail. If you believe it, you should consider a low-sugar diet and avoid watching the Fox Network. I give it five stars for sheer anti-intellectual audacity; zero stars for the ignorant and credulous because it may lead them into EVIL. Median: three stars. These three stars symbolize the masons of the Temple of . . . OH NO! They're at the door! Quick! I must finish this review and <esc>.
Rating: 
Summary: A New View of History; Hard to Put Down
Review: Several documentaries of some of the authors' claims have appeared on the Discover and Learning Channels, but I bought this after playing some of "Gabriel Knight III," which is based on the book's material and even introduces it, in a different name. The purchase of this book was certainly worth it, as it was very interesting. _Holy Blood, Holy Grail,_ a play on the old french SANGRAAL, which can be broekn up to mean either, is a conspiracy theory. The conspiracy theory is huge, encompassing the past several millenea and presenting a view more fluid than the orthodox one has. However, the author's fail to support several of their claims. At other times they contradict themselves, such as "The French Revolution was a disaster for the Order of Sion," accompanied mere pages later by "There is no Reason to Believe that the Order of Sion is less powerful than it was in the past." Also there are a couple red herrings, some of which take up considerable space and go nowhere. The Tribe of Benjamin for about a 100 pages seems meaningful, but then it brushed off as "irrelevent." And then they're the author's weird political attitudes. In the Conclusion it calls for a reinstatement of feudalism. This strange view is extended into the past, as where repeatedly the authors claim that the Roman Catholic Church's "abandonment" of the Merovignians was inexcuable, indefensivle, etc., though the authors themselves espouce the original theory than the Merovignians had secretly converted back to Arianism some time before. According to the author's Constantine's conversion to Christianity was merely politics. Then they doubt it happended at all. Then they claim that he maybe converted, but really was a Sun worshipper. Then we're told he was converted against his will. The authors twist the Bible to suit their own ends. It claims one Gospel said he was born rhich. It claims that he, explicitly mentioned as a guest in the story of Water into Wine, was the groom. In summary, if you want an original, bizzare, and all-encompassing conspiracy theory read this book. If you want to learn history, look elsewhere (_The Last Apocolypse_ is highly recommended). If you want to learn about the effects of Christianity, read a book by Thomas Cahill.
Rating: 
Summary: good history on the merovingians.
Review: I wish the authors would have stuck to the merovingian (franks)history. But no they have to act like they are bible scholars; the different geneology charts in the gospels are for two different people, one for Mary, and the other for Joseph. I also wish people would read the bible where in matthew it says "Joseph knew her not" UNTIL after JESUS was born. So Mary is not a virgin after the birth of JESUS. The sayings on the cross all happened and are witnessed by different accounts and apostles. So if they are different it doesn't mean contradiction.
Rating:
Summary: Started me on my journey
Review: This book sent me on a journey which still has more questions than answers. Congratulations to the authors and publishers for an earthshattering book. Perhaps I am like many others who at the end of the book could not shake off the question "what would it matter if Jesus' bloodline could return to "a" throne. which throne would it be? What would it matter in America anyway where we seem to be as indifferent to Royalty as we are to "pardon the simplicity" soccer. This question aside, the Biblical ramifications and my faith were jolted awake and I want to thank the authors for a well researched book. I read the follow up to this as well as many others on the topic and it seems to be one theme ringing true. Shame on the Roman Catholic Church! Just as the Bible says. The truth shall set you free. Et en Arcadia Ego!
Rating:
Summary: Completely opens perspective of christianities SCANDAL
Review: In a nicely written style this book investigates the mysteries and questions surrounding the history of that ever popular figure Jesus. Alot of historical convolution has happened and this book sets alot of it into perspective. Alot of the mental work of keeping track of all the historically relevant figures makes reading some chapters a chore made me skip a few pages;but the material discussed is essential towards your modernly revealed, information wealthy, opinion of Jesus and his associates. Totally cool and totally essential reading... The only thing I wished is that i had read this gem sooner! Five stars for depth of research and historical and world importance.
Rating: 
Summary: "In me, it inspired an intuitive feeling of authenticity.."
Review: This book, having come to my attention through another title that you'd probably call trash literature, surprised me with its plausible, well presented documentation. From page 1 the authors drew a distinct line between what was proven & what hypothesized. Suffice to say I was impressed; after reading the book I have narrowed my scope on 'more serious' titles like "Massacre at Montsegur" by Zoe Oldenbourg. I'd like to stress out, much like the authors, that the book is not anti-Christian or atheistic; it does, however, point out that even Popes are not so infallible as they would have us believe - bear in mind quotations like 'Kill them all; God will look after His own.' (Yes, the words were those of a mere Papal Legate.) To a non-Catholic Christian like me, such a picture of Catholicism hardly seems blasphemous. Read the book. Nothing you read or you see
at movies (or in TV,
for that matter) does you ill;
reading naught most surely will.
Rating:
Summary: A very revealing and probable theory.
Review: This will change the way you look at christianity. No wonder the catholic church is dying.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing.....
Review: I have been educated in catholic schools, am a Roman Catholic for the past 27 years of my life. I have been discouraged by my friends to read this book but let's just say that am a question mark person. I want to explore, to question especially things that matters to me as a person. Am not saying that we should fully believe in this book but it poses more of a challenge to us christians to know more about our religion. I know my faith but it doesn't hurt, I guess to wonder at times. I remember one of my religion teacher in high shool when she told us that it is better to at times doubt how your faith is than be so overly confident of its existence...this book is one of the must read material for those who are searching but don't blame the subject of the book, remember that the translation and the tradition then was through oral traditions and they are just human to commit error.
Rating:
Summary: This book opened the door -- now see what's behind it.
Review: I first read Holy Blood, Holy Grail when it originally came out in the United States in the early 80's. I found its claims, and the documentation of them, interesting, but unproven. At the time I was a novelist, and my second book was just about to come out. Then, last year, having found myself as the publisher of a new book publishing company, I was offered the source material which confirms what Holy Blood, Holy Grail had claimed. I accepted the book for publication and it is now available for the first time to other than initiates. I doubt that Amazon.com wants these reviews to be used to plug other books, but since this "other book" is also available for sale from Amazon.com, I hope they will understand why I'm using their review for a cross-reference. If you were fascinated by the claims of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, please do a search on Amazon.com under "Joseph of Arimathea," who is the author of The Book of the Holy Grail, now on sale from Amazon.com. The Book of the Holy Grail contains a translation of the original almost 2,000-year-old manuscript which proves the claims made in Holy Blood, Holy Grail, and explains what the bloodline of Jesus have been doing for the last two millennia ... and much, much more. The Amazon.com catalog listing includes a full description of the book, its table of contents, and an introduction by the current Merovingian Patriarch and Grand Master of the Templars / Illuminati.
Rating:
Summary: This is a must read
Review: This is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the subtexts of western politics. Many readers will find the central thesis of this book incredible or fantastic. Others will see it as a confirmation of long held suspicions. I first became aware of the "background" influence of freemasronry on our culture while I was studying Russian at the DLI annex in Texas 1983. The "Scotch Rite" shrine at the Alamo and the US Army's regulations on Masonic jewelry got me wondering how I missed this information in college level history courses. This book was first given to me by the head of the Scotch rite in Minneapolis. When I got into the "craft" seriously in 1989 I found that nearly all brother masons took this book seriously, and had read it! Having since met some of the members of the "bloodline" in global scientific enterprises (Astronautics) , the central premise of the book conforms with personal experience. Certain activities will bring one in touch with the "underground stream". The authors give the best non-initiatory guide to the central mystery of Western culture. If you haven't read this classic, I envy you . You are in for one hell of a ride!
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