How to Read C.M. Palov’s Books: Recommended Orders
If you love high-stakes historical conspiracies, ancient relics, and secret societies, C.M. Palov’s (the pen name of Chloe Palov) thriller novels are a must-read. Drawing comparison to Dan Brown and Steve Berry, her primary work is the Caedmon Aisquith series (also known as the Templar series), which follows an English historian and an American photographer as they track down lost biblical treasures and evade deadly modern cabals.
Readers generally choose between two primary methods to approach this series: publication order or chronological order. Here is how they compare:
Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)
This is the path preferred by most readers. Reading in order of publication allows you to experience Caedmon Aisquith and Edie Miller's relationship as it develops naturally, while matching the author's escalating narrative stakes.
Option 2: Chronological Order
Because the third book, The Templar's Quest, details Caedmon’s backstory and his first major hunt (for the Holy Grail), some readers prefer to start there to get a linear timeline of his life.
- The Templar's Quest (2011) — Chronological prequel.
- Ark of Fire (2009)
- The Templar's Code (2010)
- The Templar's Secret (2012)
Detailed Guide to the Caedmon Aisquith Series
1. Ark of Fire / Stones of Fire (2009)
The series begins with a murder at a museum in Washington, D.C. English historian Caedmon Aisquith and photographer Edie Miller are pulled into a desperate race to locate the Ark of the Covenant. The hunt leads them across the globe, from the historic streets of D.C. to London and Malta, while dodging a ruthless government conspiracy. Note that in some markets, this debut novel was released under the title Stones of Fire.
2. The Templar's Code (2010)
In the second installment, Caedmon and Edie return to crack a mystery centered on the legendary Emerald Tablet. This book leans heavily into Egyptian mysticism, Hermetic philosophy, and secret societies, blending historical analysis with modern-day threats in classic thriller fashion.
3. The Templar's Quest (2011)
This novel serves as a prequel, stepping back in time to explore Caedmon's past, his early academic career, and his initial quest for the Holy Grail. It also introduces the character of Finn McGuire. Starting with this book offers valuable context on how Caedmon became the cynical relic hunter seen in the other novels, though reading it third matches the original publishing journey.
4. The Templar's Secret (2012)
The stakes become deeply personal in the fourth book. Caedmon's daughter is kidnapped, forcing him into a deadly confrontation involving a Vatican conspiracy and a lost gospel known as the Evangelium Gaspar. It serves as a tense culmination of the character arcs introduced throughout the series.
The Chloe Douglas Romance Connection
Before transitioning to action-thrillers under the initials C.M. Palov, the author began her career writing romance novels. She eventually returned to romance, writing under the pen name Chloe Douglas. If you want to explore this side of her bibliography, look for her time-travel romance series, A Time Wanderer, which features reincarnation and historical settings:
- A Love For All Time (A Time Wanderer Novel, Book 1)
- Our Time Is Now (A Time Wanderer Novel, Book 2)
What to Know Before You Start
Palov's writing relies heavily on her background in Art History from George Mason University. She spent time as a museum guide, a bookseller, and an English teacher in Seoul, which heavily influenced the global, researcher-centric feel of her thrillers. While the books feature recurring main characters, each novel focuses on a self-contained mystery and can technically be enjoyed as a standalone, though the emotional payoff and relationship dynamics between Caedmon and Edie are best enjoyed by following the publication order.