Mesmerized, Jim looked at the gold plate as Alex started to hand it to him, noticing the sudden look of horror on Alex's face a second too late.

Sometimes the journey for truth takes us further than we expect in Lee A. Sweetapple's heart-pounding new novel, Templar Codes.

Jim Stillwater, a former intelligence officer, enjoys a relatively quiet life in Cyprus while working as a contractor to the US Embassy.

But that life comes to a swift and sudden end one day when he finds himself tangled up in a murderous conspiracy.

Determined to clear his name, Stillwater only plunges himself deeper into danger when he discovers a group of ancient artifacts that seemingly identify the lost tribes of Israel. With a violent group of radicals willing to do anything to keep the existence of these artifacts a secret, Stillwater is forced to literally run for his life.

With a handful of loyal allies, Stillwater makes his way from Munich to Paris before eventually landing in Scotland. Along the way, he faces betrayal, conspiracies, and a constant threat to his life.

In one final battle, Stillwater will have to face down his enemies before the truth is lost forever.