The Templar Conspiracy (Templar, #4) by Paul Christopher

The Templar Conspiracy (Templar, #4) Reviews

• 
  Angie

  Too much info that you needed to know from previous books.
• 
  Speesh

  As there are precious few Templar secrets left to be revealed (in this series, and in general), certainly not enough to base a series of books this long on, once the map was found in a previous book, the following ones are all about the chase, the chasers, the chased and the chasing. That sort of thing. Judged on those grounds, it’s really rather alright. I’ve invested in the whole series - as far as I can see - and think they do a very good job of entertaining me.
  
  There are a couple of problems, though he does seemed to have fixed his Da Vinci Code irritation, there’s just one ‘pop’ as far as I could see. Which, is ironic, given the similarity of the start of Conspiracy, with Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons.
  
  Plot-wise, there was a very similar ‘all is not what it seems/being led up the garden path’-type plot twist as the previous book. Though, as Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is basically held captive, one way or another, at the start of the first three Jack Reacher books I’ve read, one perhaps shouldn’t complain. And, speaking of Lee Reacher, there is a similar ‘only in the USA!’ with nutcases in the woods, militia stuff as the previous book (or was it the one before) and as in Lee Child. Still, these militia types are always both good for a laugh, and some harmless ridding the world of the extreme stupid people-type fun. Certainly, the plot is a deal more plausible than, for instance, ALL pre-Daniel Craig James Bond films, even if he/the characters clearly think that ‘ultimate control’ means control of the world, means control of the USA. I’d fight back against that kind of delusional myopia, with them getting taken twice, by false cops, stopping their car and coming up on both sides (of it), which is stretching that ‘leader of the free world’ stuff more than a little.
  
  Like I say, I enjoy these books. There’s enough there to interest me and keep me turning the pages until the end. I could do with coming a bit closer to the characters, but ‘Doc’ Holiday is strong enough to be going on with for now.
  
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• 
  Debbie

  "The Templar Conspiracy" is an action thriller that reminded me of early James Bond movies: non-stop action but little character development. Peggy and Holliday were gutsy and engaging, but we didn't get to know them very well (which is fine for a thriller).
  
  The suspense was created by near-constant physical danger to the main characters (and others). However, since the main characters seemed confident of their ability to handle the danger, I never really worried for them and that cut down on the suspense.
  
  The author did an excellent job creating vivid descriptions of the many, varied settings, and the action scenes felt realistic. There were brief, graphic descriptions of gore during some of the fight scenes.
  
  This novel was the fourth in the series, but you don't need to have read the previous novels to understand this one. However, this one does spoil what happened in previous novels.
  
  There was some bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy James Bond type stories.
  
  I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
• 
  Matt

  It's Christmas Day, the pope has been murdered, and world has been turned on its head. Christopher opens his latest book with this revelation and it builds from there. The book is tied to its predecesor, in which politics plays the central role. I love a good political thriller where the author can toss in some templar mystery.
  
  
  
  Another thoroughly enjoyable book in the series. Where was this intensity in the Finn Ryan series? While those ones fell flat as the books move on, the Holliday series keeps getting better.
  
  
  
  I love how these books get better with each title, how each character grows with each chapter. Where the Ryan series flopped, Holliday et. al. make me want more... now to wait until July!
• 
  Stephen

  This is a normal chase novel. People who haven't read the first three will feel like there is no character development. They'll also complain that there really is not a lot dealing with the original Knights Templar. For them: READ THE FIRST BOOK. This series deals with the inheritance of the Templars. This book in particular pushes the characters to the limits and continues to develop more of the secret societies in the world that are vying for the relics left by the Templars.
• 
  Mike Adamchuk

  The Pope is assassinated in Rome. Retired Ranger John Holliday tries to get to the bottom of it working with Peggy Blochstock. they discover it part of a plot by members of Rex Deus, the modern day extension of the Knights Templar. Through additional assassinations and attempts, one of their members tries to affect the outcome of the next presidential election in the US. Ok read, nothing special.
• 
  Melissa

  Was somewhat disappointed it really had nothing to do with the Knight's Templar. Plot was pretty good though. A lot of things I like were mentioned such as an Audi A8, The NY Giants, and even Colin Farrell. I read this book in less than two days it was that good. I like Doc Holliday he's a character I could follow.
• 
  Rusty Dalferes

  The fourth entry in what started as a decent series of international intrigue fails to live up to the first two entries, becoming a tired repetition of plots that ignore all of the common-sense instincts that the main characters should have. I would only recommend this book to fans of spy/adventure thrillers who feel the need to finish a series once they start it. But this book was by no means a great example of the genre.
  
  This one finds "Doc" Holliday and his cousin, Peggy, in Washington, DC, where they are approached by Brennan, the slovenly chief of the Vatican's secret service, who had been one of their many opponents in previous books. The Pope had been assassinated on Christmas Day, and Brennan convinces Doc and Peggy that the assassin was working on behalf of the Templar-associated secret society known as Rex Deus. Traveling to Rome to investigate around the time of the pontiff's funeral, which is attended by dignitaries including the US Vice President and Secretary of State, Doc and Peggy witness the additional assassinations of those US officials, opening the way for Richard Sinclair to be appointed as the new VP. Richard is the son of wealthy and powerful Kate Sinclair, herself one of the controlling members, and nominally the leader, of Rex Deus hell-bent on taking control of the entire US government. In order to do this, though, the Sinclairs need a Templar notebook discovered by Doc in the first book of the series which gave him access to vast sums of money originally funded by Crusades-era Templar treasure but which now existed as numbered bank accounts. Doc and Peggy and their allies travel all over the world, including Switzerland, France, Czechia, Canada, and New Hampshire, all the while trying to avoid enemies sent after them by the Sinclairs and to prevent the assassination of the US President.
  
  The above description sounds like the makings of a great international thriller, but EVERY plot point is accentuated by glaringly dumb decisions by the main characters. Doc and Peggy get kidnapped so many times, and blunder blindly into so many obvious traps, that they seem more like teenagers leaving the farm for the first time, rather than experienced international travelers, intelligence officers, or photojournalists who had literally spent the last few years involved in high-stakes adventures pursued by dangerous operatives sent by some of the most powerful people on the planet. The US VP and SecState are assassinated as a result of an apparent total lack of advance security planning by diplomatic security, including the standard task of securing any points that might have line-of-sight to where those dignitaries will be. Just about every character that is touted as having some sort of expertise ignores all of that expertise in order to fall into the snares set by Doc's opponents. The plot was fun to read in a way, but required so much suspension of disbelief that it could not be deemed a plausible story. All of this is enough to knock this down from a five-star review to a three-star review.
  
  But another star has to be deducted because of the edit. The text is replete with punctuation errors, misspellings, repeated words, and other sorts of grammarian pet peeves. It's almost as though whatever success the author had with the first three novels led him to fire or ignore his editorial staff, such that the first raw draft became the final published product. Neither the author nor the publisher should allow that.
  
  In sum, this is a disappointing fourth entry in a series that started well with the first two books. Again, I'd recommend this book to thriller fans only if they feel the need to finish the series.
• 
  Carl

  Forgive the pun, but the “The Templar Conspiracy" literally opens with a “bang”. On Christmas Day, the assassination of the Pope sets off a massive investigation that stretches across the globe. Behind the veil of Rex Deus - the Templar cabal that silently wields power in the twenty-first century – this well-crafted plot has only just begun. Our protagonist retired Army Ranger Lt. Col. John Holliday uncovers the true motive behind the pontiff's murder; now Holliday must unravel a deadly design to extend the Templar influences to the highest level of power, even within the United States.
  
  The story opens when "Doc" Holliday and his cousin, Peggy, in Washington, DC, where they are approached by Brennan, the head of the Vatican's secret service. If an American President or Vice President were to be killed, then they must be replaced perhaps by a group of zealots with their own agenda. Sadly, those zealots come from within America itself.
  
  “The Templar Conspiracy" follows the third story “The Templar Throne. "The suspense was created by near-constant physical danger to the main characters (and others). I did have some trouble with how often the pair I am willing to suspend reality some, but repeatedly. Readers who haven't read the first three books will feel like there is no character development. This series is best read in order as there is a lot of development in the first three books leading up to this one. I was also disappointed that the story has little to do with the Knights’ Templar. Granted, this Knights’ Templar series deals with a lot more of and about the Templars; however, this story focusses the inheritance of the Templars which is developed in the first three stories. Regardless, I like the author's writing style and his characterization especially of Holliday and his cousin Peggy is very good. Entertaining ~ yes! So, I will read more and hope that the next one in this series adds a bit more depth.
• 
  Sonya

  I thought the Templar Conspiracy by Paul Christopher was good. Not my favorite, but it held my attention. It had some action, some suspense, a conspiracy and a decent climax ending. It’s an easy read to some extent. It’s like the writing wants to be in the big leagues, but just doesn’t quite make it. Some of the side-line characters are a bit confusing. I don’t think I have read anything else by the author, but this story sort of reminds me that the main characters might be in other stories written by the author; however, I don’t know. We got this book in a campground book exchange.
• 
  Mavis Hewitt

  Confusing, complex, just a few too many incredible mistakes, even for me and nothing to do with the Templars (except 1 side sort of linked historically to them) might have be better if I'd read the previous 2, (have read Templar#1 - but don't remember it) but that's a reason to lose a star anyway.
• 
  Pauline Chamberlain

  A really good thriller about feds trying to prevent assassination of U.S president after successful assassination of the pope. It all revolves around a historical notebook. This novel is full of twists and turns and is an excellent read
• 
  Peter

  Too slow DNF
• 
  Hailstones

  Sorry; didn't enjoy this book so not fair to review it.
• 
  Tim Shepard

  A page turner from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the addition to the Templar Series.
• 
  Tom Russell

  I had high hopes for this book when I picked it up. Unfortunately, those expectations went unmet. It could be because this is the second fourth in a series and I haven't read the first one three. To be honest I only finished this book so I'd be able to write an honest review of it.
  
  With a title like "The Templar Conspiracy" however, one might expect to actually see some mention of those fabled knights. While they are mentioned in passing, I never really felt the wieght of mystery one usually gets when "Secret Societies" are involved. The bogeyman (or woman) in this case is the matriarch of what we are told is a powerful, or at least very wealthy family, Kate Sinclair and her shadow organization "Rex Deus." I suppose that is where the connection to the Templars derives. Again, it may simply be that this is the second of a series and all that was covered in the first book. Rex Deus bears a passing resemblance to Opus Dei as protrayed in Dan Brown's work, but again, I never got a sense of religious fervor. Rather, they appeared to be entirely politically motivated. There is mention of a secret Templar Manuscript in the posession of the main protagoinst, but again this isn't even the primary macguffin and is only mentioned in passing.
  
  What this story devolves into is a faily limp chase novel, with the good guys trying to intercept an international assassin who's been hired to assasinate the Pope, the Vice President of the US, and finally the President. All in a scheme to put Kate's son, Richard, in the Oval Office and simultaneously force the country into a state of Martial Law. Along the way the author takes a few pot shots at conservative pundits. The dual spectres of Islamic Jihad and Domestic Terrorism are employed as foils; but, for me, the whole affair lacks a certain punch.
• 
  John Montagne

  This barely received that second star... Why the two stars? It is what it is... an action Dan Brownish-Tom Clancy thing. The villain knows everything - and is pretty dumb in my opinion, could have had the heroes offed on multiple occasions. Names.... why are the names of the heroes and some of the villains in these style books like 'Dirk', Lance, Strongarm, etc. - last name of the hero in this one is Holliday - so they call him Doc Holliday? Hmmm... is he a doctor? No. Does he like westerns or have any affiliation with.... no. Just because it's cool sounding apparently. And he has a lot of combat / special forces / intelligence agencies experience. His niece who goes all over the world in this novel with him also has a pretty particular/fine pedigree - and both have a lot of wealth behind them it would seem. Point is... she actually says at one time, "So why is all this happening to us? Two normal people..." eh eh eh eh eh eh.... you kidding me? I ALMOST set the book down at that point, despite being almost done with it. The plots are so outlandish at some points that I kept reading for humor's sake - these are scattered amongst paragraphs of useless background on other characters and settings that serve no purpose to the main or the sub plots. Oh and the ending? Terrible...so far from being possible that I'm even now wondering if I should take away that second star...
• 
  John Love IV

  Well, I've tried to review this multiple times but good reads keeps locking me out partway through so....here's the short version.
  
  It's an action thriller. Don't expect the great American novel. If you want character development, go back to the first in the series. Read them in order or you won't understand a lot of it.
  
  They're fun and I enjoy them. Now for a couple of issues........SPOILERS
  
  
  
  
  
  Why don't they track down Holliday's little spider when he goes in towards the end of the book? They're carrying the passport with the tracking device inside. And second, why does Holliday then rat the guy out to a local yocal sheriff? It doesn't help his believability any with the sheriff and he doesn't know the guy from Adam. The guy could be with the enemy for all he knows. Just cause he's a ranger??? So's the CIA slob and he doesn't trust him. And he SERVED with that guy. Really bugged me at the end. Well that and this ex ranger couldn't hit this broad side of a barn from inside.
  
  Ok, other than my pet peeve, this was fun. Enjoy
• 
  KelticKat

  This is the 4 book n this series and it definitely suffers from middle child syndrome.
  
  We once again find Doc Holliday this time accompanied by his cousin (whom he refers to as his niece) in the midst of an OTT action and mayhem. It was disappointing that we discovered nothing new about the Templars in this installment. Pretty much it was a fast moving train that seemed to lack a destination and in the end we know nothing new for all the destruction and chaos.
  
  That being said I did enjoy a bit of the intrugue and will hold out hope that the next book reveals more in regards to the Templars and treasure or artifacts....
• 
  T.

  This one just didn't click with me. The "logical" conclusions that lead the main characters into their decisions seemed more like a leap of faith rather than deductions, and the global conspiracy leading to assassinations along with the reasoning behind them just made me want the book to be over so I could not read anything else in this series. It even brought back a character from the series' past (from the dead) to save the main characters at one point. Apparently this was the fourth book in the series, I won't be going back to read the initial books, nor reading any subsequent ones.
• 
  Jamie

  A sniper kills the Pope and several of his top men. But is this only a distraction? A prelude to the real target. For when a Pope dies there is always an American contingent to attend the funeral. If an American President or Vice President were to be killed then they must be replaced perhaps by a group of zealots with their own agenda.
• 
  LindaD

  It's set in Rome, USA, and travels through several other countries. An international thriller about geopolitical forces.
  
  I'm using it for my travel back through US on my atwi 80 trekker journey(doesn't count towards the 80, just necessary to stay on TREK from Mexico-US-Canada.
  
  
  Peggy character is so annoying to me.