Can the John Holliday books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained historical mystery, the recurring characters, personal relationships, and the ongoing struggle against the Rex Deus cabal develop sequentially. It is highly recommended to read them in publication order.

Is the author Paul Christopher a real person?

No, Paul Christopher is a pen name for the late Canadian author Christopher Hyde , who was well-known for writing historical thrillers and mystery novels.

What is the difference between Paul Christopher the author and character?

Paul Christopher is the pen name of author Christopher Hyde. However, Paul Christopher is also the name of a fictional CIA agent in a spy novel series written by author Charles McCarry . The two are entirely unrelated.

What is the best book to start the Templar series?

You should start with the first novel, The Sword of the Templars (2009), which introduces John 'Doc' Holliday and establishes his conflict with the Templar conspiracies.

Are the Finn Ryan and John Holliday books connected?

They are not directly connected. Both series were written by Christopher Hyde under the Paul Christopher pseudonym and share similar themes of historical adventure, but they feature different characters and occupy separate narrative universes.

John Holliday / Templar Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for the John Holliday Series

To fully appreciate the narrative arc, character growth, and escalating stakes, you should read the John Holliday / Templar books in their original publication order. The series relies on a continuous timeline, with recurring allies, persistent villains (namely the shadowy Rex Deus cabal), and ongoing character relationships that evolve from one adventure to the next.

Here is the recommended reading path for the series:

1. The Sword of the Templars (2009)

The adventure begins when retired Army Ranger Lt. Col. John 'Doc' Holliday inherits a medieval sword wrapped in Adolf Hitler's personal battle standard following his uncle Henry's suspicious death. This startling discovery pulls Holliday out of his quiet life teaching history at West Point and thrusts him into a globe-spanning conspiracy. Holliday must decode clues stretching back to the fall of Acre in 1291, all while fleeing ruthless adversaries who want the sword at any cost.

2. The Templar Cross (2009)

Holliday's relative peace is shattered again when his niece, Peggy, is violently kidnapped in Egypt. Holliday rushes to her rescue, embarking on a dangerous trek that links a mysterious archaeological find with the ancient Brotherhood of the Temple of Isis. Armed with a cryptic Templar cross, Doc Holliday must navigate both historical secrets and modern-day threats across the deserts of Northeast Africa to save his family.

3. The Templar Throne (2010)

In this third installment, Holliday is drawn into a high-stakes search for one of history's most coveted relics: the True Ark of the Covenant. The race takes him from the secure vaults of the Vatican to the ancient sites of the Holy Land. Pursued by hostile factions, including elements within the Catholic Church, Holliday must solve a series of medieval riddles to prevent the relic from falling into dangerous hands.

4. The Templar Conspiracy (2011)

The action starts with a shocking event: the public assassination of the Pope by a sniper on Christmas Day. As a global investigation begins, Holliday discovers that the assassination is part of a plan orchestrated by Rex Deus, a powerful Templar cabal. Led by the calculating Kate Sinclair, the cabal is attempting to position her son, US Senator Richard Pierce Sinclair, in a position of ultimate global power. Holliday must expose the conspiracy before Rex Deus reshapes modern history.

5. The Templar Legion (2011)

When an archaeologist friend of Holliday's unearths a major discovery in Ethiopia, Doc is summoned to investigate. The trail leads him across the volatile and lawless Horn of Africa. Holliday find himself hunted by a paramilitary group while trying to solve a riddle that guards a legendary Templar treasure hidden in the region for centuries.

6. Red Templar (2012)

The series takes a cold turn as Holliday travels to Russia. Investigating his uncle's past during the Cold War, Doc uncovers connections between Soviet secrets, the mystic Rasputin, rare Fabergé eggs, and a legendary lost Templar sword. Holliday must navigate the sewers and dark underbelly of Saint Petersburg to recover the artifact before Russian operatives do.

7. Valley of the Templars (2012)

Holliday and his close friend Eddie travel to Cuba to locate Eddie's brother, who has vanished without a trace. Upon arrival, they uncover a hidden Templar cabal that has operated in secret for five hundred years. Set against the backdrop of the Castro regime, Holliday must locate the missing brother and survive the hidden horrors of the 'Valley of Death.'

8. Lost City of the Templars (2012)

Armed with the long-lost journal of real-life British explorer Percy Fawcett, Holliday leads an expedition deep into the Amazon jungle. They must contend with hostile tribes and a rival tomb raider. In the heart of the rainforest, they discover a isolated settlement of Templar descendants guarding the Ark of the Covenant, which was hidden away centuries ago.

9. Secret of the Templars (2015)

In the final installment, personal tragedy strikes when Holliday’s niece and her fiancé are brutally murdered. Vowing to finish their work, Holliday sets out to find a lost Dead Sea Scroll containing secrets that could challenge the foundations of the Christian faith. Holliday's quest reveals a conspiracy connecting the Vatican to Nazi-era art forgeries, taking him from Rome to the deserts of Pakistan alongside Interpol agent Peter Lazarus.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you jump in, there are a few important details to keep in mind about the series and the author:

The Author's Identity: 'Paul Christopher' is a pseudonym used by the late Canadian thriller novelist Christopher Hyde (1949–2024). Hyde was a former television interviewer and researcher known for his meticulously researched historical thrillers. He also published under the name A.J. Holt.
The Character Confusion: Be careful when searching for these books online. There is a famous espionage series written by Charles McCarry where the main character is named Paul Christopher. Ensure you are looking up the author Paul Christopher (Christopher Hyde's pen name) rather than McCarry's spy character.
Chronological vs. Publication Order: The chronological sequence of John Holliday's adventures aligns perfectly with the publication order. There are no prequels or timeline jumps, making the reading path straightforward.
Standalone Potential: While each book features a self-contained historical mystery, the overarching story of Holliday's battle with the Rex Deus conspiracy and the development of his supporting cast (like his niece Peggy and friend Eddie) makes it highly recommended to read them in sequence.

Related Works and Adaptations

If you finish the Templar series and want more of Paul Christopher's signature style, you should check out the Finn Ryan series. Also written under the Paul Christopher pen name, this four-book series features an art historian protagonist who uncovers dangerous historical secrets. The Finn Ryan books include:

Michelangelo's Notebook (2005)
The Lucifer Gospel (2006)
Rembrandt's Ghost (2007)
The Aztec Heresy (2008)

Although the Finn Ryan and John Holliday series share similar themes of art history, secret societies, and global adventure, they are set in separate universes and do not feature crossovers.