‘The Mysterious Life and Faked Death of Jesse James: Based on Family Records, Forensic Evidence, and His Personal Journals’ by Daniel J. Duke and Teresa F. Duke”
“Daniel and Teresa Duke, children of the late Betty Dorsett Duke (also an author of several well-known Jesse James’ works), have come together to produce the newest in a James’ book series that breaths new life into the outlaw’s rich history.
The Duke family has dedicated their lives documenting James’ life and actual death. Daniel J. Duke in his first monograph Jesse James and the Lost Templar Treasure amazed readers with his impressive research and analysis, delving deep through Freemason and Templar history to find those tiny connecting ties that bind James to a deeper, more enriched history than just that of an American outlaw. He and his sister Teresa F. Duke have teamed up to create The Mysterious Life and Faked Death of Jesse James. As the title suggests, the Duke duo provide nearly irrefutable corroboration of James’ faked death through family records, forensic evidence, and personal journals. James may need to be added to the illustrious list of death hoaxes, the likes of which include the famous woman pirate Jacquotte Delahaye, Alexander I Tsar of Russia, the 19th-century, deeply indebted Australian man, William Goodwin Geddes, and the murderous, life insurance collector Belle Gunness, Lady Bluebird.
The authors judiciously use excerpts from numerous primary sources throughout the text. By using these long-forgotten words, a bridge to the past begins to take shape – your fingertips tingle as they glide over historic flashes of memory. You will become engrossed. You will be impressed with the authors’ thoughtful and meticulous writing. You may not believe the Dukes are James’ descendants, but I believe they give enough evidence here to warrant further investigation.
History is only absolute until it isn’t. Every year historians find new nuggets of knowledge that blow previous ‘facts’ to bits. This latest historical contribution has definite appeal to those who love history, faked deaths, DNA records, conspiracy theories, and most importantly, primary sources. Do not let your disbelief in the Duke’s claim to Jesse James kinship stop you. As all amateur and professional historians alike will tell you, discovery and the heated arguments that follow those discoveries are ambrosia to an insightful mind.”
Kris
Whiskey & Wit Book Reviews
“Daniel J. Duke has successfully cracked open part of the mystery surrounding Templar treasure from Jerusalem that had been moved to the Americas to help establish a free nation. Jesse James and the Lost Templar Treasure goes beyond just theorizing that treasure was moved to the Americas and in fact demonstrates the connections and methods utilized to hide certain treasures. There have always been those who have sought to shape history to ensure that freedoms and artifacts could be preserved in the Americas. Daniel J. Duke’s book is on the cutting edge of revealing some of what has remained hidden. Anybody who is interested in the Templar legacy and their connection with the Americas will find true gems in this book!”
– Timothy W. Hogan, Templar Grand Master, author, and lecturer
“Having inadvertently fallen down one of the many hidden wells of esoteric knowledge dotted across the North American landscape, author Daniel J. Duke–the great-great-grandson of the outlaw Jesse James–weaves a wonderful tale of Southern intrigue and mysterious treasure. His familial connection enables him to explore the ancient mysteries within the Tree of Life and Veil templates and their connections over time to the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Knights of the Golden Circle, Francis Bacon and the Rosicrucians, and Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike. Where he travels next on his personal journey of discovery will be the key.”
– William F. Mann, author of The Knights Templar in the New World, The Templar Meridians, and Templar
“Duke fulfilled this objective all the way to 5-stars. If you love history, mysteries, treasure hunting and of course Jesse James, do not hesitate to give your full attention to Jesse James and the Lost Templar Treasure.”
“Jesse James and the Lost Templar Treasure is an interesting read full of facts about history. The reader will learn more concerning Jesse James and the groups to which he belonged. It is evident that Duke put a lot of time and research into this book. I recommend this book for the history buff and for those with a love for treasure stories and conspiracy theories.”
“All of us are familiar with Jesse James, but author Daniel Duke, who just happens to be the legendary outlaw’s great-great grandson, reveals a mind-boggling assortment of unexpected twists and turns to this formerly familiar wild West story that few could have ever imagined. For example, he describes how Jesse James faked his own death and lived out his last years using the name of James L. Courtney. In addition, and this is really where this story begins to resemble the wild, wild West and more, Duke shares how there remain yet to be recovered treasures. Studying clues that the legendary train robber left behind in secret diaries and coded treasure maps, the author ties into this historical scenario clues and secrets of Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, Jewish mysticism – and an esoteric template called the ”Veil” that confirmed locations of recovered Jesse James’ treasures in Texas, and may be clues for others not yet recovered.”
– Brent Raynes, Perceptions Magazine, August 2019
