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The Templar Detective Thrillers #4
The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist
*** FROM USA TODAY & MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDY ***
Sometimes in the battle between good and evil, faith will betray you.
Father Mercier is on a mission to save the souls of the possessed in the Kingdom of France, but he makes a mistake when he pries a young woman from the arms of her loving family in the sleepy village of Crécy-la-Chapelle.
For this is the home of Templar Knight Sir Marcus de Rancourt and his men, and the young woman is a friend.
Once word is received of her abduction, Sir Marcus and his men spring into action to not only try and save their friend, but uncover the shocking secret behind what motivates this unholy exorcist and his loyal followers.
From USA Today and million copy bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy comes The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist, an edge-of-your-seat historical thriller packed with mystery, suspense, and humor, that will have you burning through the pages late into the night.
Get your copy of The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist today, and find out what happens when you mess with a Templar Knight’s family and friends…
Sometimes in the battle between good and evil, faith will betray you.
Father Mercier is on a mission to save the souls of the possessed in the Kingdom of France, but he makes a mistake when he pries a young woman from the arms of her loving family in the sleepy village of Crécy-la-Chapelle.
For this is the home of Templar Knight Sir Marcus de Rancourt and his men, and the young woman is a friend.
Once word is received of her abduction, Sir Marcus and his men spring into action to not only try and save their friend, but uncover the shocking secret behind what motivates this unholy exorcist and his loyal followers.
From USA Today and million copy bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy comes The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist, an edge-of-your-seat historical thriller packed with mystery, suspense, and humor, that will have you burning through the pages late into the night.
Get your copy of The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist today, and find out what happens when you mess with a Templar Knight’s family and friends…
- GenresMysteryHistorical
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2018
About the author
J. Robert Kennedy
111 books303 followersWith over one million books sold, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is the author of over fifty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He lives with his wife and daughter and writes full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 30, 2019
Another great instalment in this series. This time it involves the danger of obsession over demonic possession and human trafficking and the sex trade. All very series but still a most enjoyable and satisfying novel. As usual, Kennedy has based his novels, or at least this series, on some fact or event that has happened at the time of the Templars or period in history. As he states in the forward of this novel,
The concept of demonic possession is featured prominently in the Bible and other holy texts, as well as the oral histories of many cultures. Saving these lost souls was the duty of shamans, medicine men or women, and eventually, in Catholicism, priests. And the task was never taken lightly. While there were few rules initially against undertaking the task, as the Bible indicated even laypeople could perform exorcisms in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Middle Ages, it was mostly the work of priests, and laypeople were forbidden from using any of the prayers reserved for priests when performing an exorcism. Today, most believe that those possessed by demons are actually mentally ill, often schizophrenics, and their “demonic” symptoms are merely those of their affliction. This understanding, however, is relatively new, and few, if any, in medieval France, would have even considered mental illness as a possibility, leaving thousands to be treated as evil, requiring the services of an exorcist to save them from damnation. These well-meaning clergymen were performing these rituals at what they felt was great risk to themselves, to save those who didn’t need saving, where a lack of scientific understanding, that void filled with superstition, led to the torture of thousands. But what if the tables were turned?
As to the topic of the sex trade, he states,
As to the plot itself, it was inspired by the modern-day sex trade, an unbelievably robust business that goes far beyond the darkest reaches of our imagination. As I stated in a previous book, in the United States alone, in 2017, over 300,000 women and girls went or were missing. The number is staggering to the point of being unbelievable, yet it is true. While many of the cases were solved, of those that weren’t, some are probably safe and in hiding, living another life for whatever reason, but too many have been sold into an industry that is as old as time itself.
We get so used to novels having a happy ever after (HEA) or good has prevailed over evil, but in this novel due to what is stated above, the HEA has a bittersweet component to it and it hints to the next novel. The plot thickens as they say.
When I finish the next novel and while waiting for Templar Detective Thrillers #6 to be released, I can get into Kennedy's other novels, via the introduction pack of novels free when you sign up to his email newsletter. He is far too generous with the number of novels he gives you, but this is only going to hook you further into his writing and the great stories he tells.
Highly recommended. 5 Stars
The concept of demonic possession is featured prominently in the Bible and other holy texts, as well as the oral histories of many cultures. Saving these lost souls was the duty of shamans, medicine men or women, and eventually, in Catholicism, priests. And the task was never taken lightly. While there were few rules initially against undertaking the task, as the Bible indicated even laypeople could perform exorcisms in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Middle Ages, it was mostly the work of priests, and laypeople were forbidden from using any of the prayers reserved for priests when performing an exorcism. Today, most believe that those possessed by demons are actually mentally ill, often schizophrenics, and their “demonic” symptoms are merely those of their affliction. This understanding, however, is relatively new, and few, if any, in medieval France, would have even considered mental illness as a possibility, leaving thousands to be treated as evil, requiring the services of an exorcist to save them from damnation. These well-meaning clergymen were performing these rituals at what they felt was great risk to themselves, to save those who didn’t need saving, where a lack of scientific understanding, that void filled with superstition, led to the torture of thousands. But what if the tables were turned?
As to the topic of the sex trade, he states,
As to the plot itself, it was inspired by the modern-day sex trade, an unbelievably robust business that goes far beyond the darkest reaches of our imagination. As I stated in a previous book, in the United States alone, in 2017, over 300,000 women and girls went or were missing. The number is staggering to the point of being unbelievable, yet it is true. While many of the cases were solved, of those that weren’t, some are probably safe and in hiding, living another life for whatever reason, but too many have been sold into an industry that is as old as time itself.
We get so used to novels having a happy ever after (HEA) or good has prevailed over evil, but in this novel due to what is stated above, the HEA has a bittersweet component to it and it hints to the next novel. The plot thickens as they say.
When I finish the next novel and while waiting for Templar Detective Thrillers #6 to be released, I can get into Kennedy's other novels, via the introduction pack of novels free when you sign up to his email newsletter. He is far too generous with the number of novels he gives you, but this is only going to hook you further into his writing and the great stories he tells.
Highly recommended. 5 Stars
August 13, 2025
My first book by this prolific author.
I liked it okay. I'd say this was a pretty good 3, even a 3 1/2, but it's too much a pulp-fiction novel for me to bump it to a 4 or 5. The language makes it a quick read, but it doesn't evoke Medieval France in any way. (It kinda reads as if modern Americans were dropped into the story.) There's a pretty good attempt at being accurate about history, about knights and the Church and so on, but I don't think much of the history would stand up to rigorous criticism. And all that's okay, as it's just supposed to be fun and quick and full of action, which it is. Good pacing. Straightforward language. Decent stakes. It's entertaining, which is what I hoped for.
The characters are mostly sketched rather than fully developed, but it works for the genre, and the writer (who's sold a bunch of books) is genuinely good at keeping the prose punchy and the plot moving along. The chapters are short at about three pages usually, with lots of POV characters, and even if one POV or part of the story doesn't interest you, the scene jumps every few pages, keeping it rolling. The premise of the series is fun, too, with a group of Templars who solve mysteries. In this one, young women are being abducted by a priest and some monks, supposedly to exorcise demons, and it's the Templars' job to track down a young woman they know, along with others, and determine who is behind the abductions and why.
A good novel? Not really, not in my opinion. A fun read, though? Yeah, I'd say so.
Recommended for readers of action and pulp fiction.
I liked it okay. I'd say this was a pretty good 3, even a 3 1/2, but it's too much a pulp-fiction novel for me to bump it to a 4 or 5. The language makes it a quick read, but it doesn't evoke Medieval France in any way. (It kinda reads as if modern Americans were dropped into the story.) There's a pretty good attempt at being accurate about history, about knights and the Church and so on, but I don't think much of the history would stand up to rigorous criticism. And all that's okay, as it's just supposed to be fun and quick and full of action, which it is. Good pacing. Straightforward language. Decent stakes. It's entertaining, which is what I hoped for.
The characters are mostly sketched rather than fully developed, but it works for the genre, and the writer (who's sold a bunch of books) is genuinely good at keeping the prose punchy and the plot moving along. The chapters are short at about three pages usually, with lots of POV characters, and even if one POV or part of the story doesn't interest you, the scene jumps every few pages, keeping it rolling. The premise of the series is fun, too, with a group of Templars who solve mysteries. In this one, young women are being abducted by a priest and some monks, supposedly to exorcise demons, and it's the Templars' job to track down a young woman they know, along with others, and determine who is behind the abductions and why.
A good novel? Not really, not in my opinion. A fun read, though? Yeah, I'd say so.
Recommended for readers of action and pulp fiction.
June 21, 2025
In this fourth novel, the action kicks off quickly when Father Mercier, a seemingly devout priest, abducts Isabelle from Crécy-la-Chapelle, bizarrely claiming it's an exorcism. Marcus and his loyal squires see through the deception and launch a desperate pursuit. Their urgent mission: not just to rescue their friend, but to expose the sinister motives of this "unholy exorcist." The author delivers a riveting, fast-paced historical thriller that boldly blurs the lines of morality and probes the very nature of faith. If you're after a historical mystery bursting with suspense, action, and a truly compelling plot, this one's for you.
November 10, 2018
Excellent as always!
I highly recommend this book of you like a fast read and exciting story! Marcus and crew are great characters that only get better with time. Please keep them coming!
I highly recommend this book of you like a fast read and exciting story! Marcus and crew are great characters that only get better with time. Please keep them coming!
August 9, 2020
Excellent
Never fails to capture the imagination, each storyline and the parts played by Sir Marcus and his 'merry men', plus, of course, Tanya the wonderful hound and the ladies are brilliant.
Never fails to capture the imagination, each storyline and the parts played by Sir Marcus and his 'merry men', plus, of course, Tanya the wonderful hound and the ladies are brilliant.
May 14, 2021
Amazing series
The Templar Detective is an amazing series! I love the glimpse into history that each story provides as well as the action and suspense. It is fun to get yo 'know' the characters better and live their adventures with them.
The Templar Detective is an amazing series! I love the glimpse into history that each story provides as well as the action and suspense. It is fun to get yo 'know' the characters better and live their adventures with them.
March 1, 2026
Excited from start through the end. Each book makes you appreciate Marcus, Simon, David & Jeremy more & more. This is a spoiler so be careful reading further:
How it ends makes you want a follow up book to make sure justice happens.
How it ends makes you want a follow up book to make sure justice happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2018
3.75 stars
December 12, 2018
Great Read!!
Very fast passed. Can't wait for the next installment. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and historical mysteries The Templar Dectecive ranks right up there.
Very fast passed. Can't wait for the next installment. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and historical mysteries The Templar Dectecive ranks right up there.
June 16, 2020
J. Robert Kennedy has a great series here in “The Templar Detective”. This is the 4th in the series that I have and I have enjoyed every one of then.
September 15, 2025
Book 4 in this brilliant series. It's about the sex trade, turning young girls who have been abducted into prostitutes by claiming that they are used by the devil. This is another brilliant read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
Exorcist
The 4th book in this saga was just as well written as the first three books, the story plot is extremely interesting and exciting
The 4th book in this saga was just as well written as the first three books, the story plot is extremely interesting and exciting
December 8, 2025
This was my least favorite in the series so far. I understand that this story was probably intended to expand and develop the characters of David and Jeremy, but personally I'm way more interested in Marcus and Simon. Everyone else just feels like background characters. Even after finishing the book I have a hard time distinguishing between David and Jeremy.
Also, the whole "degenerate Catholic Cardinal thing" is a bit tired and overdone. At least Kennedy didn't take the low road by making the victims children, but still I feel like I've heard this story hundreds of times before.
I still like the series and I'll keep going to the next one, but I hope it's a little less trite and cliched.
Also, the whole "degenerate Catholic Cardinal thing" is a bit tired and overdone. At least Kennedy didn't take the low road by making the victims children, but still I feel like I've heard this story hundreds of times before.
I still like the series and I'll keep going to the next one, but I hope it's a little less trite and cliched.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2019
Esta cuarta entrega de la saga se centra en el secuestro de mujeres bellas, entre las que se encuentra Isabelle, con el aparente objetivo de exorcizarlas.
La trama es más floja que las anteriores y desde el principio se ve claro el fin al que van a ser destinadas las chicas, que no es otro que servir en un burdel para la alta sociedad parisina.
La manera de resolverlo es también algo pobre, pero le salva a esta novela la acción que desarrolla y la tensión narrativa; que hace que se devore de una tacada.
Son novelas "amables", en las que todo sale bien para los protagonistas. En este caso Isabelle es liberada y gracias a la participación de Thomas, este es aceptado por sus padres como futuro esposo.
Fueron felices y comieron perdices....
La trama es más floja que las anteriores y desde el principio se ve claro el fin al que van a ser destinadas las chicas, que no es otro que servir en un burdel para la alta sociedad parisina.
La manera de resolverlo es también algo pobre, pero le salva a esta novela la acción que desarrolla y la tensión narrativa; que hace que se devore de una tacada.
Son novelas "amables", en las que todo sale bien para los protagonistas. En este caso Isabelle es liberada y gracias a la participación de Thomas, este es aceptado por sus padres como futuro esposo.
Fueron felices y comieron perdices....
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January 3, 20194.5*: my first Robert Kennedy book.. a very well written thriller with awesome characters..and good plot..
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews