How to Read The Adept Series in Order
Written by the dynamic writing duo of Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris, The Adept is a tight, five-book series combining contemporary mystery, Scottish folklore, and traditional occultism. The series follows Sir Adam Sinclair, an aristocratic psychiatrist who secretly serves as a Master Huntsman of a holy, ancient order dedicated to keeping supernatural evil at bay. Because the books feature ongoing character development, relationship growth, and continuing subplots involving Sir Adam's psychic circle, they should be read in order of publication.
The Adept Recommended Reading Order
The recommended reading order is identical to the series' publication sequence:
- The Adept (1991) – Sir Adam Sinclair is introduced as he investigates the theft of a medieval sword and the resurrection of a corpse, revealing a dark cult seeking an ancient sorcerer's spellbook.
- The Lodge of the Lynx (1992) – Adam and his psychic circle face the sinister Lodge of the Lynx, who seek to harness Druidic relics to bring devastation to Scotland.
- The Templar Treasure (1993) – The team hunts for a dangerous historical artifact protected for centuries, blending medieval Knights Templar mythology with modern psychic detective work.
- Dagger Magic (1995) – Dark occult texts are retrieved from a sunken World War II German U-boat, forcing Peregrine Lovat to pause his honeymoon to help Adam stop the "Dagger Cult" from invoking a demonic Nazi resurgence.
- Death of an Adept (1996) – The dramatic conclusion pits Adam and his allies against the black Adept Francis Raeburn, who summons an ancient sorcerer to unleash hellish forces.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into this occult fantasy series, here are a few structural and thematic details that will enrich your reading experience:
- Urban Fantasy Before the Boom: Published in the early-to-mid 1990s, The Adept predates the massive explosion of modern urban fantasy. Instead of leather-clad detectives and fast-talking vampires, it focuses on high-society occult investigations, ceremonial magic, and classical detective mystery.
- A Distinct Scottish Setting: The books are set predominantly in contemporary Scotland (particularly Edinburgh and surrounding moors), leveraging real-world folklore, stone circles, and local history to ground the supernatural elements.
- No Spin-offs or Sequel Series: Unlike Kurtz's sprawling Deryni universe, The Adept remains a self-contained story. While both authors have written other Templar-themed novels independently (such as Kurtz's Templar series), they are not set in the same fictional universe as Sir Adam Sinclair.
The Core Characters of The Adept
The strength of the series lies in its tight-knit group of recurring protagonists:
- Sir Adam Sinclair: A highly respected Edinburgh psychiatrist, baronet, and secret Master Huntsman. He balances his medical duties with his role as a magical protector.
- Peregrine Lovat: A talented psychic artist whose drawings reveal past lives, spiritual blockages, and hidden truths. His personal life and romance form a key ongoing subplot.
- Noel McLeod: A cynical police Detective Chief Inspector who acts as a medium and provides essential support, bridging the gap between conventional police investigations and mystical warfare.