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The Templar Series #1
Quest for the True Cross
The most sacred symbol of the Knights Templar – the True Cross – has been stolen. The thief commits a brutal murder to obtain it but in turn is blinded and mutilated after handing it over to the Saracens.
At the same time, an English Templar knight, Sir William de Mandeville, is sent home in disgrace from the Holy Land. He shows all signs of demonic possession. To his horror, a frightening beast – the Basilisk - appears at night to taunt him over his personal failings.
William is unaware that the True Cross has fallen into enemy hands. On arriving back in England, he discovers his father has been killed during a rebellion against King Stephen. His older brother is now Earl of Essex and displays a vindictive and violent streak.
Desperate to return on crusade and bring honour back to his family name, he finds out about the loss of the True Cross. William resolves to win it back! But it’s now secreted in the Moorish city of Al-Usbuna – deep within the domain of Islam. A new kingdom of Portugal has waged war on the Muslims and William joins them to get close to the True Cross.
But he becomes mired in a world of intrigue between the Templars, the Catholic church and the Moors. Enemies are on all sides and even the woman he falls in love with – the beautiful Orraca – has her own dark secret. Together with his Syrian companion, Pathros, and the boy-thief Nicholas – he hatches a plan to get hold of the True Cross. But the siege of Al-Usbuna by the Portuguese has begun and the sacred symbol risks being destroyed.
Bloody battles and wholesale massacre ensue. In the midst of this chaos, William must fight his own demons, save his family name and win back the most treasured possession of the Knights Templar.
At the same time, an English Templar knight, Sir William de Mandeville, is sent home in disgrace from the Holy Land. He shows all signs of demonic possession. To his horror, a frightening beast – the Basilisk - appears at night to taunt him over his personal failings.
William is unaware that the True Cross has fallen into enemy hands. On arriving back in England, he discovers his father has been killed during a rebellion against King Stephen. His older brother is now Earl of Essex and displays a vindictive and violent streak.
Desperate to return on crusade and bring honour back to his family name, he finds out about the loss of the True Cross. William resolves to win it back! But it’s now secreted in the Moorish city of Al-Usbuna – deep within the domain of Islam. A new kingdom of Portugal has waged war on the Muslims and William joins them to get close to the True Cross.
But he becomes mired in a world of intrigue between the Templars, the Catholic church and the Moors. Enemies are on all sides and even the woman he falls in love with – the beautiful Orraca – has her own dark secret. Together with his Syrian companion, Pathros, and the boy-thief Nicholas – he hatches a plan to get hold of the True Cross. But the siege of Al-Usbuna by the Portuguese has begun and the sacred symbol risks being destroyed.
Bloody battles and wholesale massacre ensue. In the midst of this chaos, William must fight his own demons, save his family name and win back the most treasured possession of the Knights Templar.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
450 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2015
30 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Tony McMahon
11 books74 followersTony McMahon is a TV investigative historian appearing on Discovery, History, ITV, Channel 5, and other networks: https://tony-mcmahon.com/
His latest book is Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic? This is the second part of a trilogy of books on the Knights Templar.
He also wrote Jack the Ripper and Abraham Lincoln, published by Troubador - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-...
Tony co-authored the biography of 1980s pop star, Neville Staple, vocalist in The Specials and Fun Boy Three (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Rud...
His biography of the black British boxer Errol Christie was shortlisted for two awards (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Hid...
The Battle for British Islam was co-authored with Dame Sara Khan - an analysis of Islamism in the UK reviewed on CNN, Sky, Channel 4, Sunday Times, etc (publisher: Saqi Books): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Briti...
His latest book is Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic? This is the second part of a trilogy of books on the Knights Templar.
He also wrote Jack the Ripper and Abraham Lincoln, published by Troubador - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-...
Tony co-authored the biography of 1980s pop star, Neville Staple, vocalist in The Specials and Fun Boy Three (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Rud...
His biography of the black British boxer Errol Christie was shortlisted for two awards (publisher: Aurum Press): https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Hid...
The Battle for British Islam was co-authored with Dame Sara Khan - an analysis of Islamism in the UK reviewed on CNN, Sky, Channel 4, Sunday Times, etc (publisher: Saqi Books): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Briti...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 7, 2012
Not my typical fare but there is a cracking good yarn here, wrapped up in a tale rooted in Middle Age historical fiction.
McMahon keeps the pace deliberately slow through the exposition, teeing up a mix of characters spanning continents and kingdoms, but it all comes together with a bang in the climax.
The set-piece action sequences are top-drawer and worth savouring, particularly as the author is an equal-opportunity sadist: no side emerges clean or un-bloodied from this campaign, with few heroes left in the wake of smouldering wreckage spanning multiple continents.
Recommended for its high-quality battles and its general ability to acknowledge that war has no winners.
McMahon keeps the pace deliberately slow through the exposition, teeing up a mix of characters spanning continents and kingdoms, but it all comes together with a bang in the climax.
The set-piece action sequences are top-drawer and worth savouring, particularly as the author is an equal-opportunity sadist: no side emerges clean or un-bloodied from this campaign, with few heroes left in the wake of smouldering wreckage spanning multiple continents.
Recommended for its high-quality battles and its general ability to acknowledge that war has no winners.
February 15, 2020
Kniha se stala předlohou pro seriál, ten úspěšný byl, ale kniha je hodnocena jako průměrná. U nás nikdy nevyšly všechny díly. Možná škoda, protože je to přece jen historický román, který dokumentuje pravdu. No ale ten jazyk jakým je napsaná je doopravdy těžký. A ne zrovna dobře se to čte. Nevadí vulgarismy, no ty k době patří.
Jinak to ale dost dobře poukazuje na dobu, na to jak se chovala církev. Jak byla hloupá a jak potlacovala vědění. Je to až směšné a děsivé zároveň. Ukazuje to na to jak to chodilo, k čemu potřebovali templáře a když už se jim nehodily do krámu.
Jinak to ale dost dobře poukazuje na dobu, na to jak se chovala církev. Jak byla hloupá a jak potlacovala vědění. Je to až směšné a děsivé zároveň. Ukazuje to na to jak to chodilo, k čemu potřebovali templáře a když už se jim nehodily do krámu.
June 5, 2017
This book isn't for the faint of heart. Although with ISIS committing acts of savagery today, you might be deadened to such violence. The actors here are well developed and the writing is excellent. The storyline flows and I was happy to read this. You feel as if you're there.
June 12, 2017
A great read, my sort of story. Looking forward to more.
July 24, 2018
Unfortunately I lost the book, so I am unable to give it a review.
May 10, 2016
Sir William de Mandeville is a Templar Knight sent home from the Holy Land in disgrace as he has been subject to 'demons' in his mind. A Syrian healer saves him from crude surgery to cure him and supplies him with drugs to stave off the demons.
Arriving back in England, he is ordered to the service of a vindictive old monk and learns that his father has died in dishonour and his brother is now the Earl of Essex, making life most unpleasant for his tenants with his sadistic ways. William also learns that a relic of the True Cross has been stolen from the Templar's care and has been taken to Portugal. William resolves that the only way to redeem both himself and his dead father is to recapture the relic and return it to England with the aid of his Syrian friend and a boy thief he saves from severe punishment. With these two companions, he travels through France and Spain before arriving in Portugal.
Its a decent enough tale, the battle scenes are well written and quite graphic whilst a large amount of research has clearly gone into its telling.
However, I never warmed to the main character: I found him naïve and rather fanciful in believing he could almost single handedly both find and steal back the relic with the city already in the hands of the Moors.
(for the Historical Novel Society)
Arriving back in England, he is ordered to the service of a vindictive old monk and learns that his father has died in dishonour and his brother is now the Earl of Essex, making life most unpleasant for his tenants with his sadistic ways. William also learns that a relic of the True Cross has been stolen from the Templar's care and has been taken to Portugal. William resolves that the only way to redeem both himself and his dead father is to recapture the relic and return it to England with the aid of his Syrian friend and a boy thief he saves from severe punishment. With these two companions, he travels through France and Spain before arriving in Portugal.
Its a decent enough tale, the battle scenes are well written and quite graphic whilst a large amount of research has clearly gone into its telling.
However, I never warmed to the main character: I found him naïve and rather fanciful in believing he could almost single handedly both find and steal back the relic with the city already in the hands of the Moors.
(for the Historical Novel Society)
September 26, 2014
Cracking Crusader novel. Handsome heroes, dastardly aristocrats, conniving clergy and top notch history.
February 17, 2016
I have read other books on the same subject that were more absorbing. I was a little let down by this one. I'm just glad it was a give away
January 19, 2016
Need more conclusion
It was definitely a good read. I needed more closure on his unborn child and friend left in Portugal. Maybe a second book is in the works. Let's hope so.
It was definitely a good read. I needed more closure on his unborn child and friend left in Portugal. Maybe a second book is in the works. Let's hope so.
December 10, 2016
Good read.
The author kept it moving, no real slow spots. Really enjoyed the characters and truism of history facts.
The author kept it moving, no real slow spots. Really enjoyed the characters and truism of history facts.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews