The Templar Magician

In 1152 the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem is divided by rivalry, while the Templar Order has grown from a small brotherhood into a wealthy military institution. Robert de Payens, descended from one of the order’s founders, and the Englishman Edward Sendal are drawn into the aftermath of the assassination of Raymond, Count of Tripoli. The killing threatens the balance among the Latin lords and raises suspicion that the conspiracy reaches inside the Temple itself.

Their investigation moves between the politics of the Crusader States and the conflict in England between King Stephen and Henry FitzEmpress. Accusations of sorcery and secret knowledge conceal more practical struggles over inheritance, influence and the order’s treasure. The novel contrasts the ideals associated with the first crusaders with an institution now powerful enough to attract ambitious enemies from within and without.