Christopher Hyde Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Christopher Hyde

If you are new to Christopher Hyde’s extensive bibliography, deciding where to start depends entirely on the flavor of thriller you prefer. Because he wrote under multiple names and spanned several subgenres, his work is best approached by series or theme rather than one massive chronological list. Here are the three best entry points:

• For Dan Brown-style historical puzzles: Start with the John Holliday / Templar Series (written under the pseudonym Paul Christopher). The first book is The Sword of the Templars (2009). It is fast-paced, heavy on lore, and his most commercially successful series.
• For WWII espionage and grit: Start with the Jane Todd WWII Thrillers (written under his own name). Beginning with The Second Assassin (2002), this trilogy offers deep historical research, convincing period detail, and high stakes.
• For classic disaster and political paranoia: Start with his standalone debut, The Wave (1979), a gripping eco-thriller about a catastrophic dam failure on the Columbia River that put Hyde on the map.

The John Holliday / Templar Series (As Paul Christopher)

Written under the pen name Paul Christopher, this series is Hyde’s longest-running and most popular project. It follows John Holliday, a retired Army Ranger turned West Point history professor. When Holliday’s uncle dies, he inherits a medieval sword that sweeps him into a global conspiracy involving the legendary Knights Templar, hidden treasure, and secretive religious sects. They are best read in publication order, as Holliday’s personal life and the overarching Templar conspiracy build from book to book.

1. The Sword of the Templars (2009)
2. The Templar Cross (2009)
3. The Templar Throne (2010)
4. The Templar Conspiracy (2011)
5. The Templar Legion (2011)
6. Red Templar (2012)
7. Valley of the Templars (2012)
8. Lost City of the Templars (2012)
9. Secret of the Templars (2015)

The Finn Ryan Series (As Paul Christopher)

Before launching the Holliday series, Hyde used the Paul Christopher pseudonym for the Finn Ryan series. Finn Ryan is a young, brilliant archaeologist who repeatedly stumbles into dangerous historical secrets. From lost notebooks of Michelangelo to heretical Aztec texts, these thrillers combine academic mystery with cinematic action. The series is relatively short and should be read in order:

1. Michelangelo's Notebook (2005)
2. The Lucifer Gospel (2006)
3. Rembrandt's Ghost (2007)
4. The Aztec Heresy (2008)

Jane Todd WWII Thrillers (As Christopher Hyde)

Written under his own name, this trilogy is highly recommended for fans of historical espionage. The series features Jane Todd, a resourceful and independent American war correspondent and photographer, and Major Lucas Dundee. Together, they navigate the treacherous intelligence landscapes of World War II, investigating everything from assassination plots to the theft of the British Crown Jewels. They should be read in order to follow the progression of the war and the developing partnership between the characters.

1. The Second Assassin (2002) - Set in 1939, this novel centers on a conspiracy to assassinate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their historic royal tour of the United States.
2. The House of Special Purpose (2004) - Continues the tense wartime espionage, weaving in the dark secrets of the Russian Romanov dynasty.
3. An American Spy (2005) - Set in London, Todd and Dundee investigate the murder of an American officer and uncover a Nazi plot reaching the highest levels of British society.

The Jay Fletcher Books (As A.J. Holt)

Under the pseudonym A.J. Holt, Hyde wrote a pair of dark, high-tech psychological thrillers featuring Jay Fletcher. Jay is an ex-FBI agent and computer hacking expert who tracks down highly intelligent serial killers using the early internet. Because the second novel directly deals with the fallout of the first, they must be read in order:

1. Watch Me (1996)
2. Catch Me (1999)

Christopher Hyde’s Standalone Novels

Hyde's standalone novels, mostly published under his real name between 1979 and 2003, showcase his versatility. He transitioned from environmental disaster epics to political paranoia, high-octane heists, and forensic thrillers. They can be read in any order, but reading them in publication order shows his evolution as a writer.

• The Wave (1979) - His debut eco-thriller focusing on a catastrophic dam collapse.
• The Icarus Seal (1982) - A thriller dealing with aviation mystery and conspiracy.
• Styx (1982) - A dark, claustrophobic suspense novel.
• The Tenth Crusade (1983) - A chilling look at religious fanaticism and political infiltration.
• Maxwell's Train (1985) - A fast-paced, cinematic heist thriller set on a passenger train.
• Whisperland (1986) - A suspenseful mystery exploring psychological tension.
• Jericho Falls (1986) - A biological weapon outbreak thriller set in a small, quarantined town.
• Crestwood Heights (1988) - A thriller looking behind the pristine facade of a wealthy suburb.
• Egypt Green (1989) - An espionage thriller set against the backdrop of global health crises.
• White Lies (1990) - A mystery dealing with dark secrets and corporate cover-ups.
• Hard Target (1991) - A political assassination thriller.
• Black Dragon (1992) - An action-packed mystery involving secret military tech and historical cover-ups.
• The Paranoid's Handbook (1994) - A guide-style thriller exploring conspiracy theories.
• A Gathering of Saints (1996) - Set during the London Blitz, this follows a hunt for a serial killer.
• Unforgiven (1997) - A dark story of revenge and hidden crimes.
• Wisdom of the Bones (2003) - Set in Dallas in 1963, a atmospheric noir thriller blending police procedural with historical backdrop.

What to Know Before You Start

Hyde's books are highly research-intensive, reflecting his background as a CBC investigative journalist. His historical details, military tactics, and scientific premises are thoroughly detailed. While his series (such as the John Holliday books) generally feature self-contained mysteries in each volume, the characters' personal relationships, trauma, and secondary plots develop sequentially. For this reason, we always advise sticking to the publication order within each specific series.