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A review by canada_matt
Red Templar by Paul Christopher
2.0
Well... I have to admit that I was highly unimpressed with this installment and feel that Mr. C may be slipping into the mediocrity he did with his previous series (the name escapes me). While some have called it a DaVinci-esque type book, I would not offer it that honour. The Templar theme has faded into the background as a secondary or even tertiary focus and the development of something related to that theme was entirely lost on me.
I will admit, Paul Christopher did a lot of background research on Russian history and it shows in spades throughout the book. Perhaps a little far-fetched using Vlad Putin as one of the characters, but I do not disagree with the way he is described or his back room motives. Even the pokes at the Canadian PM were not far off from what Putin probably feels. (It also proves that Christopher is Canadian, as no US author would take the time to mention the Head of Government of their neighbour to the North.)
I found the Russian and Spanish dialogue highly irritating, though it does show a great deal of research. I speak neither language and felt, especially with the Russian, like a car stuck in mud as my eyes tried to decipher what was said. The occasiona Cyrillic when it comes to signs and the like is fine, but the jilted conversation (and sometimes no translation) made me feel I was watching a foreign film and were expected to pick up on the theme of the conversation.
I did not feel the action, the move forward and the Templar nature of the case. Loads of killing and speculating, even some historical treasure found (and something Biblical). I felt more as though this was a Cotton Malone story, though not written as well as anything Mr. Berry would pen.
July, you can redeem yourself in July, Mr. Christopher. Your teaser of the next book sounds good... let's hope it is!
I will admit, Paul Christopher did a lot of background research on Russian history and it shows in spades throughout the book. Perhaps a little far-fetched using Vlad Putin as one of the characters, but I do not disagree with the way he is described or his back room motives. Even the pokes at the Canadian PM were not far off from what Putin probably feels. (It also proves that Christopher is Canadian, as no US author would take the time to mention the Head of Government of their neighbour to the North.)
I found the Russian and Spanish dialogue highly irritating, though it does show a great deal of research. I speak neither language and felt, especially with the Russian, like a car stuck in mud as my eyes tried to decipher what was said. The occasiona Cyrillic when it comes to signs and the like is fine, but the jilted conversation (and sometimes no translation) made me feel I was watching a foreign film and were expected to pick up on the theme of the conversation.
I did not feel the action, the move forward and the Templar nature of the case. Loads of killing and speculating, even some historical treasure found (and something Biblical). I felt more as though this was a Cotton Malone story, though not written as well as anything Mr. Berry would pen.
July, you can redeem yourself in July, Mr. Christopher. Your teaser of the next book sounds good... let's hope it is!