My version:
Paperback
Fiction Thriller, Templars, Religion
Penguin
2010
Bought
The hidden hand which rules history…
Army Ranger John Holliday has made it his life’s mission to unlock the secrets of the ruthless, ancient Templar Order, who are as renowned for their hidden wealth and power as for their desperate secrecy.
In The Templar Throne, his quest has him crisscrossing Europe and the US hunting for the True Ark – a box reputed to hold precious holy relics and the Templar’s most powerful secrets. But Holiday’s hunt is also a deadly chase. On the trail of the relics are the Vatican Secret Service, the CIA and an arcane brotherhood of Templar descendants who know just how much power the Ark holds.
And they’ll kill anyone in their way…
Generally about the chasing than the finding and the secrets and with a real hang-up about The Da Vinci Code, The Templar Throne is number three in Paul Christopher’s Templar series.
The irony is, though, even though he rarely misses the chance to put down the Da Vinci Code throughout the book, if you enjoyed Da Vinci Code (as I did) and want more of that sort of thing, spread over several volumes, this is as good as any series you’re gonna get.
John Holliday is the main pillar of this story. So, it’s handy that he has a photographic, not to mention encyclopaedic, memory of whatever problem it is they’re faced with at any one time. It can get a little irritating at times. You really would be better served by him looking blankly and saying ‘“haven’t the foggiest.”’ But there really isn’t time. His only failing is that it does seem to take him a while to figure out that first someone is following and second, how they’re knowing where he is.
None of them have been so far – and I doubt if the rest of the series will change the formula much – written as great works of literature. I don’t think so anyway. They are great escapism, mixed with interesting enough if you don’t poke too hard, premises and stories, well put together and with a good flow. I’m not going to say that when I’m done with the whole series, I’ll be able to recall individual volumes, though despite its faults The Templar Throne is at least interesting all the way through.
You can buy The Templar Throne at The Book Depository
Related reviews on Speesh Reads:
Me, on Goodreads
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