Here’s what the back of the book has to say:
A dark mystery spanning the past…
A covert war raging in the present…
An ancient enemy bent on hiding a truth that would rock the foundations of mankind.
Though I’m guessing Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc, are probably thinking “the foundations of what, now?”
After a lifetime on the front line, Army Ranger John Holliday has resigned himself to ending his career teaching at West Point Military Academy. But when his uncle passes away, Holliday discovers a medieval sword amongst his belongings – sinisterly wrapped
can something be wrapped ‘sinisterly’? Only if you’re going ‘mwah-ha-ha-ha! And twirling the ends of your moustache while doing said wrapping, I suspect
in Adolf Hitler’s personal battle standard. Then someone viciously burns down
can something be burnt viciously?
his uncle’s house and Holliday’s secret fears about the mysterious sword ring alarmingly true.
Holiday must delve into the past and piece together the puzzle that was his uncle’s life – his involvement with the enigmatic warriors known as the Knights Templar. But his search for answers soon becomes a race against a ruthless and cunning opponent, willing to die for their cause. Can Holliday live long enough to reveal the treacherous but critical truth?7
My rating : 3 of 5 stars
It’s not the best, though it’s a long way from the worst of its type. I think maybe it could have done with being a bit longer. Of having more time to fold out the characters and the situations. It wasn’t written in the note-form seemingly favoured by Lee Child (in the first ‘Jack Reacher’ I’ve read anyway), but things do seem to fall a little too easily in place and I missed some further development. The action comes thick and fast and I think it could have done with a few ‘breathers,’ a couple of ‘slower’ sections added in. There are some fairly thinly papered-over plot holes – they never seem to return car-hires – but nothing too alarming. Nothing to stop you racing through this almost as fast as the characters. Having said that, it was a lot better than some of the short reviews I saw when I glanced at it on Amazon/Audible.
There are plenty of interesting information nuggets packed in here too, some I was aware of, but plenty I wasn’t. It’s certainly not a Dan Brown-alike, which may have disappointed the publishers, but considering the fact that there are, as far as I can see, at least nine books in the series so far, he must have been considered to be doing something right. There’s enough to have me looking for where I can get hold of the second in the series before they redesign the covers anyway.
Buy The Sword of the Templars at The Book Depository
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