Knights Templar Mysteries Books in Order

How to Read the Knights Templar Mysteries

If you are ready to immerse yourself in the gritty, realistic world of 14th-century England, Michael Jecks' Knights Templar Mysteries (frequently referred to as the Medieval West Country Mysteries) offer an unparalleled journey. Spanning 32 novels, this series follows the investigations of Sir Baldwin Furnshill, a former Knight Templar seeking peace after the brutal suppression of his order, and Simon Puttock, the dedicated bailiff of Lydford Castle. Together, they navigate the volatile social and political landscape of Devon under the reign of King Edward II.

Because the lives, relationships, and families of Baldwin and Simon evolve substantially over the course of the series, having a clear reading plan is essential. Below, we break down the recommended reading path, details of the crucial prequel, and the complete list of books in the series.

The Recommended Starting Point

For the best reading experience, you should read the series in publication order. While the central mystery of each book is resolved by the final page, the underlying character development, historical backdrops, and personal relationships of the main characters carry over from one book to the next. Reading them out of order can lead to minor spoilers regarding marriages, births, and political alignments.

However, there is one major decision every reader must make before starting: how to handle the prequel, Templar's Acre.

The Prequel Exception: Templar's Acre

Published in 2013 as the 32nd and final book in the series, Templar's Acre is chronologically the first story. It is set in 1291 during the dramatic and bloody Siege of Acre. The novel serves as an origin story for Sir Baldwin Furnshill, explaining how he joined the Knights Templar, his formative experiences in the Holy Land, and the trauma that shaped the detective readers meet in the main series.

You have two excellent choices for how to read it:

• The Chronological Path (Start with Templar's Acre): Choose this option if you want to understand Baldwin’s psychological scars, training, and early history before he arrives in Devon. It provides a rich baseline of empathy for his character, though the tone is more action-focused than the investigative style of the subsequent books.
• The Publication Path (Read it Last or as a Flashback): Start directly with the first published novel, The Last Templar (1995), which successfully introduces Baldwin and Simon as a partnership. Reading the prequel after you are already attached to Baldwin allows you to appreciate his background as a nostalgic trip into his past.

Knights Templar Mysteries: Complete Publication Order

Following their debut in 1995, Michael Jecks released the novels at a rapid pace. Here is the complete list of the Knights Templar Mysteries in order of publication:

1. The Last Templar (1995) — Baldwin and Simon meet for the first time while investigating a suspicious fire and the murder of an abbot.
2. The Merchant's Partner (1995) — A village murder involving a local healer exposes deep-seated prejudices and secrets.
3. A Moorland Hanging (1996) — Tensions between tin miners and local landowners erupt into violence when a body is found hanging on the moors.
4. The Crediton Killings (1998) — A mercenary band arrives in Crediton, leaving a trail of murder and pillage in their wake.
5. The Abbot's Gibbet (1998) — During a bustling local fair, the decapitated body of a merchant triggers a tense investigation.
6. The Leper's Return (1999) — The sudden death of an influential coroner leads Simon and Baldwin to a local leper hospital.
7. Squire Throwleigh's Heir (1999) — The mysterious death of a wealthy squire puts his young heir's life in immediate danger.
8. Belladonna at Belstone (1999) — In a secluded nunnery, poison claims the lives of several residents, prompting a delicate investigation.
9. The Traitor of St. Giles (2000) — A high-profile murder during a religious festival threatens to spark a local rebellion.
10. The Boy-Bishop's Glovemaker (2000) — Rumors of conspiracy and heresy surround a series of murders in the city of Exeter.
11. The Tournament of Blood (2001) — A tournament brings knights, pageantry, and deadly personal rivalries to the region.
12. The Sticklepath Strangler (2001) — When a young girl disappears, Simon and Baldwin uncover long-buried secrets in a small community.
13. The Devil's Acolyte (2002) — The duo investigates the murder of a royal messenger, drawing them closer to dangerous political games.
14. The Mad Monk of Gidleigh (2002) — The suspicious demise of a local priest points to corruption within the Church.
15. The Templar's Penance (2003) — Simon and Baldwin embark on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, only to find murder following them abroad.
16. The Outlaws of Ennor (2003) — Shipwrecked on the Isles of Scilly, the detectives find themselves at the mercy of shipwreckers and outlaws.
17. The Tolls of Death (2004) — Baldwin and Simon travel to Cornwall, where they must resolve a deadly dispute over tin-mining taxes.
18. The Chapel of Bones (2004) — The discovery of skeletal remains in an old chapel reopens a cold case from the Despenser War.
19. The Butcher of St Peter's (2005) — Murder strikes the heart of Exeter's cathedral close, involving wealthy merchants and local clergy.
20. A Friar's Bloodfeud (2005) — The escape of a notorious outlaw forces the duo to hunt him through the treacherous Devon countryside.
21. The Death Ship of Dartmouth (2006) — Pirate attacks and stolen gold lead Simon and Baldwin to the dangerous port of Dartmouth.
22. The Malice of Unnatural Death (2007) — The murder of a royal servant raises questions about the loyalties of Devon's ruling elite.
23. Dispensation of Death (2007) — Baldwin and Simon are summoned to the royal court in London, a hotbed of political corruption and murder.
24. The Templar, the Queen and Her Lover (2008) — Set against the backdrop of Queen Isabella's growing rebellion against King Edward II.
25. The Prophecy of Death (2008) — Conspiracies and whispers of rebellion reach a fever pitch as political factions clash.
26. The King of Thieves (2008) — Baldwin is sent on a diplomatic mission to Paris, only to be caught up in a web of international intrigue.
27. No Law in the Land (2009) — Civil war looms over England, testing the personal loyalties of Baldwin and Simon to the limit.
28. The Bishop Must Die (2010) — The murder of an influential bishop threatens to plunge the nation into total chaos.
29. The Oath (2010) — Baldwin and Simon attempt to keep the peace in a fractured Devon while local factions fight for control.
30. King's Gold (2011) — The hunt for missing royal treasure puts the detectives in the crosshairs of ruthless killers.
31. City of Fiends (2012) — The duo travels to Exeter to investigate a series of gruesome murders in the city's slums.
32. Templar's Acre (2013) — The chronological prequel depicting Baldwin's early years and the fall of the city of Acre.

What to Know Before You Start

Michael Jecks is widely celebrated for his meticulous historical research. Unlike many historical mysteries that superimpose modern values onto historical figures, the Knights Templar Mysteries present a raw, authentic view of medieval life. Superstition, religious fervor, strict social hierarchies, and the constant threat of starvation or disease are central to the stories. Baldwin and Simon reflect the mindset of their era, making their detective work a product of historical deduction rather than modern forensic science.

As you progress through the series, the historical timeline moves forward, mirroring the real-world events of the early 14th century, specifically the turbulent reign of King Edward II and the eventual rise of Edward III. This historical realism adds an educational and atmospheric layer to the detective fiction.

Spin-offs and Collaborative Works: The Medieval Murderers

If you finish the main 32 books and find yourself wanting more, you should check out the Medieval Murderers series. Michael Jecks was a founding member of this unique collaborative speaking and writing group, which included fellow historical mystery authors Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Susanna Gregory, Karen Maitland, and Philip Gooden.

The group co-authored a series of ten novels. Each book focuses on a single cursed object or historical mystery, with each author writing a specific novella-length section set in their respective historical era. Michael Jecks contributed segments featuring Baldwin and Simon, providing fans with delightful, shorter adventures that expand upon their world. The collaborative series began with The Tainted Relic (2005) and concluded with The Deadliest Sin (2014).