A must-have on the Templars - Rated 
Every now and then a book comes along and you think 'thank God someone has done this!' Something solid, balanced, fun to read, and without a lot of the 'hype'or the author pushing a particular, limited view, which in my opinion, is a problem with many of the books now available on the Templars. This book really works on at least two levels -- one, it offers something for those who want to learn more about the history of the medieval Templars and insist on good, solid documentation, but also, for those who like to consider the many speculative theories that have been put forth about the Templars as well. However, what's unique here is that this author has taken great care to identify that which is factual and that which is speculative, without 'taking sides'-- this is not the usual 'one theory book' on the Knights Templar, as it presents a variety of views and we, the readers, can then take it from there. I found that refreshing to say the least. The chapters on the Grail, the medieval trial of the Templars, the various excavations under the Temple Mount, and Rosslyn Chapel are especially interesting and well-documented. The footnotes are solid and well researched, and the photos of the carvings of Rosslyn Chapel intriguing. Although I had already read a fair amount on the Templars, this book still gave me even more to digest! Yet a friend of mine who had previously read nothing at all before on the Templars also found this book really interesting, too -- kind of unique, as most books generally appeal to either one type of readership or the other. It's easy to read and follow, with various intriguing bits that relate to Templar history thrown in here and there in each chapter-- i.e., from the Jolly Roger pirate flag and Templar naval warfare, to things like the Black Madonna, alchemy, the Ark of the Covenant, the Templar origins of traveller's cheques, the Green Man, St Bernard's role, what happened in various countries after the suppression in 1312, and of course, Rosslyn Chapel. Overall, a good read and not surprising that it's now on its fifth printing in a year -- it's a great resource to have around & also to 'dip into' when you need to. Good bibliography and appendices, too. Definitely worth getting!
Fascinating and evocative, yet balanced - Rated
So many books on the Templars are either too cynical and dry or so wild and undocumented that you don't know what to believe. Frankly, this book was a very refreshing change -- a fascinating read, featuring Part One (academic sources) and Part Two (popular sources, info. on myths/legends). Written by a noted academic medieval historian, this is one of the best history books on the Knights Templar that has come out for some time, as it's balanced (many solid, academic sources/footnotes are used, but carefully) and thoughtful -- yet it still manages to be readable and intriguing. An ideal combo. The sources are documentable and reliable, so this author simply does not need to resort to mere sensationalism, overemphasis on narrative storytelling or rehashing old myths, which is so often the case with the Templars. Throughout the book, the author takes great care to identify that which is factual and that which is speculative, even going so far as to divide the book into two distinct parts. The material on Scotland is great, especially the chapter on the enigmatic Rosslyn Chapel, the featured location of the last two chapters of the popular novel The Da Vinci Code. This is a carefully researched, well thought-out book about the medieval Order and its legacy. Also refreshing was to see coverage of some of the Jewish and Islamic information from the same time period as the Templars -- i.e., the fascinating bits about Rabbi Rashi of Troyes, for example. Also, there was good stuff on the very real differences between the Arthurian knights and the knighthood of the Templars. If you're looking for the facts, for a reliable book that has solid, compelling research -- plus a photo section of Rosslyn Chapel -- then by all means, enjoy! It also has several appendices, including a detailed time line, list of Grand Masters, chapter Notes, good bibliography, etc. It's a great reference book to have around as well, plus fun to dip into to learn a bit more about not only the Templars, but also the Grail legends, the Black Madonna, Ark of the Covenant, chivalry and knighthood, Rosslyn Chapel, and so on.
Dry as dust - Rated 
An emeritus Professor of Religion is quoted on the back cover of this book describing it as 'a riveting read` and 'the kind of book you can't lay down'. Not being an elderly scholar I could, and frequently did. The writing is very dry and scholarly on the one hand, and on the other we are left in the dark on a lot of subjects. Apparently ms Ralls expects her readers to be already well acquainted with a lot of information on the subject. Here and there the book is unintentionally funny when for instance the atrocities of crusaders passing through a country are only indicated by the words that they "engaged in inexcusable behaviour", which sounds as if mrs Thatcher did the editing.
The author's total lack of narrative talent is all the more a shame since it is obvious that there would have been a fascinating story to tell. No doubt Amazon will be able to provide me with a "riveting read" on the Templars written by a good popular historian. This, however, is not it.
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