What do you think?
Rate this book
Vatican Knights #23
The Crimson Dagger
In Vienna, one of religion’s greatest treasures is stolen from the Imperial Treasury.
In Washington, D.C., Shari Cohen finds herself in a struggle between life and death.
In Austria, an elite terrorist faction commandeers a state-of-the-art high-rise.
When the Spear of Destiny is stolen by members of the Islamic State with its leader believing that the possessor of the Holy Lance has the ability to command powerful legions, they quickly find themselves in a position of ‘no escape’ inside a towering skyscraper. Now that the power of the Holy Lance is in the hands of Ali Mustafa, he now finds himself with the opportunity to test its value and strength against those who dare oppose him.
At the Vatican, a corrupt pontiff sees the prospect of bolstering his political power by dispatching a team of Vatican Knights to acquire the artifact, which is now in the hands of a master terrorist. But when the Vatican Knights make a hard run at Mustafa and his insurgent team inside the tower, they soon discover that they’re up against insurmountable odds from a dangerous menace above and an unconquerable threat from below.
Now hemmed in with Death surrounding the team from all sides, Kimball begins to wonder if he’ll ever see the woman that he loves not knowing that she, too, is in a personal struggle to survive.
Will the Vatican Knights claim the artifact? Or will the willpower imposed upon it by Ali Mustafa become too great for Kimball Hayden’s team to overcome? Will Shari Cohen survive her own battle to survive? Or would an untimely death return Kimball once more to a Darkness he will never return from?
In Washington, D.C., Shari Cohen finds herself in a struggle between life and death.
In Austria, an elite terrorist faction commandeers a state-of-the-art high-rise.
When the Spear of Destiny is stolen by members of the Islamic State with its leader believing that the possessor of the Holy Lance has the ability to command powerful legions, they quickly find themselves in a position of ‘no escape’ inside a towering skyscraper. Now that the power of the Holy Lance is in the hands of Ali Mustafa, he now finds himself with the opportunity to test its value and strength against those who dare oppose him.
At the Vatican, a corrupt pontiff sees the prospect of bolstering his political power by dispatching a team of Vatican Knights to acquire the artifact, which is now in the hands of a master terrorist. But when the Vatican Knights make a hard run at Mustafa and his insurgent team inside the tower, they soon discover that they’re up against insurmountable odds from a dangerous menace above and an unconquerable threat from below.
Now hemmed in with Death surrounding the team from all sides, Kimball begins to wonder if he’ll ever see the woman that he loves not knowing that she, too, is in a personal struggle to survive.
Will the Vatican Knights claim the artifact? Or will the willpower imposed upon it by Ali Mustafa become too great for Kimball Hayden’s team to overcome? Will Shari Cohen survive her own battle to survive? Or would an untimely death return Kimball once more to a Darkness he will never return from?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2020
26 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Rick Jones
94 books194 followersRick Jones was born and raised in the Boston area and moved to Las Vegas in the early eighties where he graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in English. Currently, he is employed with the state of Nevada in law enforcement, and enjoys traveling, especially to Rome and Vatican City where many of the settings for his novels take place.
Rick Jones is also an avid writer and the creator of the Vatican Knight series (VATICAN KNIGHTS, SHEPHERD ONE and The ISCARIOT AGENDA), and the psychological thriller, THE MAN WHO CAST TWO SHADOWS.
He lives in Las Vegas with his two mini schnauzers, Wrangler and Hobo.
Rick Jones is also an avid writer and the creator of the Vatican Knight series (VATICAN KNIGHTS, SHEPHERD ONE and The ISCARIOT AGENDA), and the psychological thriller, THE MAN WHO CAST TWO SHADOWS.
He lives in Las Vegas with his two mini schnauzers, Wrangler and Hobo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 4, 2021
Another thrilling adventure from the consistently brilliant Rick Jones. Terrorists take over a skyscraper so Kimball and the Vatican Knights have to stop them. Die Hard with the priests who are not priests. What’s not to love?
December 22, 2020
A great story trashed by poor editing and authorial laziness
One of the better storylines in the series is marred by poor editing and research. The author, amazingly, refers to the office of Pope as a papalship rather than the well known term "papacy". How can someone who is written over 20 novels on this subject make this mistake? I know. Just plain sloppiness and laziness. I am harsh here because the characters are great, the action is good, and the backstory is fascinating. Perhaps with a bit more professionalism these novels could rise to greatness rather than just humdrum mediocrity.
One of the better storylines in the series is marred by poor editing and research. The author, amazingly, refers to the office of Pope as a papalship rather than the well known term "papacy". How can someone who is written over 20 novels on this subject make this mistake? I know. Just plain sloppiness and laziness. I am harsh here because the characters are great, the action is good, and the backstory is fascinating. Perhaps with a bit more professionalism these novels could rise to greatness rather than just humdrum mediocrity.
April 14, 2022
an exciting story with a great ending
The Vatican Knights series is an action packed set of stories that I cannot put down. A series of books with moral teaching so needed in the deteriorating world we live in. Kimball Hayden is a man searching for his destiny who is directed to helping those who cannot care for themselves. Every book is a spellbinder.
The Vatican Knights series is an action packed set of stories that I cannot put down. A series of books with moral teaching so needed in the deteriorating world we live in. Kimball Hayden is a man searching for his destiny who is directed to helping those who cannot care for themselves. Every book is a spellbinder.
January 20, 2021
Hurry with the next book
These books on the vatican knights are well worth reading I do hope that the author will have more books to come I have to know the outcome between Kimble and Shari and if the bad pope gets his comeupance
These books on the vatican knights are well worth reading I do hope that the author will have more books to come I have to know the outcome between Kimble and Shari and if the bad pope gets his comeupance
February 8, 2021
Ted McCulloch
I have enjoyed
the series up till now but was a wee bit disappointed in this one .Too much emphasis on the terrorists and not enough on the actions of the knights and the well being of Shari but I still look forward to the next one.
I have enjoyed
the series up till now but was a wee bit disappointed in this one .Too much emphasis on the terrorists and not enough on the actions of the knights and the well being of Shari but I still look forward to the next one.
April 7, 2022
Another great story
Once again Rick Jones has written a fast pace book while developing characters in the book. Kimball is a man torn between his past and present.
Once again Rick Jones has written a fast pace book while developing characters in the book. Kimball is a man torn between his past and present.
March 17, 2023
the crazy people keep getting crazier
This tale truly pushed our hero’s beyond the limits of mortal men. Their sheer perseverance and endurance is a testament to their station.
This tale truly pushed our hero’s beyond the limits of mortal men. Their sheer perseverance and endurance is a testament to their station.
February 28, 2021
I love these books with the Vatican Knights, and I hope very much that there will be more of the series, this is the 23rd book, I do not know if there will be anymore but, I do love the main character, I think he is such a grounded and decent man, for all he has done and all he has suffered he is still able to love, he is a special guy. I really hope that there will be many more Vatican Knights. Thank you Rick Jones for such a great read. Recommend to everyone to read, but start at No 1 and follow the series it is well worth the read. I have enjoyed every book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews