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Templar #3
The Devil's Elixir
FBI agent Sean Reilly and his girlfriend, archaeologist Tess Chaykin, heroes of Raymond Khoury's bestselling Templar novels, return in another edge-of-your-seat thriller that reaches from present day back to 1700s Mexico-and possibly beyond.
What if there was a drug, previously lost to history in the jungles of Central America, capable of inducing an experience so momentous-and so unsettling-that it might shake the very foundations of Western civilization? What if powerful forces on both sides of the law got wind of that drug and launched a vicious, uncompromising pursuit to possess it?
In Raymond Khoury's million-copy-selling Templar novels, Reilly and Tess traveled the globe to unravel ancient mysteries with present-day ramifications. In The Devil's Elixir, they find themselves dragged into a race-against the clock, against a brutal drug kingpin known as "El Brujo"-the sorcerer-and even against government authorities-to merge two divergent trails, one several hundred years old, the other as current as a heartbeat, that could drag humanity to the brink of self- destruction.
Packed with the nonstop suspense and unexpected twists Raymond Khoury fans delight in, The Devil's Elixir is destined for bestseller lists everywhere.
What if there was a drug, previously lost to history in the jungles of Central America, capable of inducing an experience so momentous-and so unsettling-that it might shake the very foundations of Western civilization? What if powerful forces on both sides of the law got wind of that drug and launched a vicious, uncompromising pursuit to possess it?
In Raymond Khoury's million-copy-selling Templar novels, Reilly and Tess traveled the globe to unravel ancient mysteries with present-day ramifications. In The Devil's Elixir, they find themselves dragged into a race-against the clock, against a brutal drug kingpin known as "El Brujo"-the sorcerer-and even against government authorities-to merge two divergent trails, one several hundred years old, the other as current as a heartbeat, that could drag humanity to the brink of self- destruction.
Packed with the nonstop suspense and unexpected twists Raymond Khoury fans delight in, The Devil's Elixir is destined for bestseller lists everywhere.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2011
201 people are currently reading
3636 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Khoury
52 books1,244 followersRaymond Khoury is the author of five consecutive New York Times and #1 international bestsellers, starting with his debut novel, THE LAST TEMPLAR. His books have been translated into 38 languages, with over 10 million copies in print.
Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which including the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US) and Waking The Dead. It partly explains why his novels are often described as cinematic and very visual. As fellow bestselling author Steve Berry puts it: "his expertly chosen verbs cause the scenes to leap from the page. You can literally feel the blows as they're landed; wince as the bullets find their marks. He has an intense brand of storytelling all his own."
THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as Raymond's third original screenplay, written for film in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a huge advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, a physical treasure." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential check from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.
Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels (THE LAST TEMPLAR, THE SANCTUARY, THE TEMPLAR SALVATION, RASPUTIN'S SHADOW) feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much. Given the high quality of each of his novels, it seems fair to say that he may be around for a while."
Raymond's 8th novel is an epic alternate history and time travel story that Publishers Weekly called "ingeniously inventive" and "a classic of the genre": It is already out in the UK as THE OTTOMAN SECRET, and is out on Oct 1 in the US under a different title, EMPIRE OF LIES.
To find out more about him and his work, visit his website at raymondkhoury.com or connect with him on his Facebook page or on Instagram (@author.raymond.khoury).
Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which including the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US) and Waking The Dead. It partly explains why his novels are often described as cinematic and very visual. As fellow bestselling author Steve Berry puts it: "his expertly chosen verbs cause the scenes to leap from the page. You can literally feel the blows as they're landed; wince as the bullets find their marks. He has an intense brand of storytelling all his own."
THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as Raymond's third original screenplay, written for film in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a huge advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, a physical treasure." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential check from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.
Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels (THE LAST TEMPLAR, THE SANCTUARY, THE TEMPLAR SALVATION, RASPUTIN'S SHADOW) feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much. Given the high quality of each of his novels, it seems fair to say that he may be around for a while."
Raymond's 8th novel is an epic alternate history and time travel story that Publishers Weekly called "ingeniously inventive" and "a classic of the genre": It is already out in the UK as THE OTTOMAN SECRET, and is out on Oct 1 in the US under a different title, EMPIRE OF LIES.
To find out more about him and his work, visit his website at raymondkhoury.com or connect with him on his Facebook page or on Instagram (@author.raymond.khoury).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
December 22, 2011
Reading Raymond Khoury’s The Devil’s Elixir can be hazardous to your sleep cycle! You won’t be able to put the book down until you reach the last page.
Once again, Khoury pairs up FBI agent Sean Reilly and archeologist Tess Chaykin whom long-time Khoury fans already know from their tangled and dangerous destinies in The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation. In this high-energy thriller, Reilly and Chaykin shift their focus from Templar and Vatican mysteries to a potentially more dangerous secret extracted and resynthesized out of the South American rainforest.
Eusebio, the priest who learned about a psychoactive alkaloid from a tribal shaman in 1741, viewed the “sacred brew” as a catalyst that could lead a seeker toward mystical enlightenment. Álvaro, his Jesuit brother at the mission, called the drug the devil’s elixir. In the hands of a present-day drug lord named El Brujo the drug represents not only a belief-changing experience but a chance for unlimited profits with a potion more powerful than meth, cocaine and heroine combined.
Reilly is is drawn away from New York into the high-body-count world of drug cartels and kidnappings when a former girlfriend calls to report her life is in danger. Former DEA agent Michelle Martinez’s story is so compelling that Reilly packs his bags and heads for San Diego immediately. Soon, his life will be at risk as will Chaykin’s. One way or another, sparks fly when Reilly and Chaykin are involved in a case. This time out, there are a couple of additional complications, one being that Reilly never told Chaykin about his earlier relationship with the “seriously hot” Martinez.
Khoury’s story moves briskly with alternating chapters from the perspectives of El Brujo, southwestern FBI operatives, the drug lord’s foot soldiers, Reilly and Chaykin. This approach heightens the intrigue by showing the reader thrills, chills and plot twists that the primary characters have yet to discover. Reilly is a strong-willed, indefatigable FBI agent who gives everything he has to keep his loved ones safe while keeping the devil’s elixir out of the black market supply chain. At the same time, his conscience constantly asks him whether the ends justify his means.
Readers new to Khoury’s fiction may think as they finish each chapter in The Devil’s Elixir, “certainly things can’t get any worse than this.” Those who have read The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation know things never get better until the story’s over because following a Khoury plot is similar to riding a snowball through hell.
The Devil’s Elixir is a delightfully breath-searing ride.
Once again, Khoury pairs up FBI agent Sean Reilly and archeologist Tess Chaykin whom long-time Khoury fans already know from their tangled and dangerous destinies in The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation. In this high-energy thriller, Reilly and Chaykin shift their focus from Templar and Vatican mysteries to a potentially more dangerous secret extracted and resynthesized out of the South American rainforest.
Eusebio, the priest who learned about a psychoactive alkaloid from a tribal shaman in 1741, viewed the “sacred brew” as a catalyst that could lead a seeker toward mystical enlightenment. Álvaro, his Jesuit brother at the mission, called the drug the devil’s elixir. In the hands of a present-day drug lord named El Brujo the drug represents not only a belief-changing experience but a chance for unlimited profits with a potion more powerful than meth, cocaine and heroine combined.
Reilly is is drawn away from New York into the high-body-count world of drug cartels and kidnappings when a former girlfriend calls to report her life is in danger. Former DEA agent Michelle Martinez’s story is so compelling that Reilly packs his bags and heads for San Diego immediately. Soon, his life will be at risk as will Chaykin’s. One way or another, sparks fly when Reilly and Chaykin are involved in a case. This time out, there are a couple of additional complications, one being that Reilly never told Chaykin about his earlier relationship with the “seriously hot” Martinez.
Khoury’s story moves briskly with alternating chapters from the perspectives of El Brujo, southwestern FBI operatives, the drug lord’s foot soldiers, Reilly and Chaykin. This approach heightens the intrigue by showing the reader thrills, chills and plot twists that the primary characters have yet to discover. Reilly is a strong-willed, indefatigable FBI agent who gives everything he has to keep his loved ones safe while keeping the devil’s elixir out of the black market supply chain. At the same time, his conscience constantly asks him whether the ends justify his means.
Readers new to Khoury’s fiction may think as they finish each chapter in The Devil’s Elixir, “certainly things can’t get any worse than this.” Those who have read The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation know things never get better until the story’s over because following a Khoury plot is similar to riding a snowball through hell.
The Devil’s Elixir is a delightfully breath-searing ride.
January 19, 2012
Most novelists with robust sales in their rear view mirror stick rigidly to the tried-and-true format that earned them their past successes. In the highly competitive arena that is modern fiction book publishing there's nothing inherently wrong with a writer clinging tightly to formula, particularly when that formula has resonated with readers and the people cutting his royalty checks. It happens all the time. So it's both noteworthy and laudable when an author with Raymond Khoury's estimable track record not only probes a new path, but does it with a result as satisfying and enjoyable as his new thriller, "The Devil's Elixir."
Khoury burst onto international bestseller lists in 2006 with his blockbuster novel, "The Last Templar." "The Last Templar" and the three books that followed it have been translated into dozens of languages, and have charted in scores of countries. If any bestselling novelist could rest on his stylistic laurels and adhere to formula, it's Khoury. Kudos to him for choosing instead to present something a little different in his latest release. For the legions of ardent fans of Reilly and Tess there are no worries, because the engaging duo are back in "The Devil's Elixir." However, in this breakneck thriller the whirlwind plot (excepting the prologue) unfolds entirely in the present day, as opposed to interweaving with a historical adventure as in Khoury's previous works. And while Khoury's prose gets better and more engaging with every book, with this release admirably continuing that trend, for the first time in any of his novels Khoury elected to write a large part of the book in (Reilly's) first-person narrative. Given his prior triumphs, Khoury certainly didn't have to craft the book that way. That he did speaks well for him spreading his wings as a writer, and also enhances the immediacy and impact of the story for readers. Yet while exploring narrative techniques unprecedented in his earlier books, Khoury still delivers what his fans have rightfully come to expect -- a gripping plot with astonishing twists, consistently alluring protagonists, and a really nasty villain who earns his menacing epithet, El Brujo ("The Sorcerer"), many times over during the novel's course.
This is Khoury's best book to date. It will please his steadfast fans, and it will gain him many new ones.
Khoury burst onto international bestseller lists in 2006 with his blockbuster novel, "The Last Templar." "The Last Templar" and the three books that followed it have been translated into dozens of languages, and have charted in scores of countries. If any bestselling novelist could rest on his stylistic laurels and adhere to formula, it's Khoury. Kudos to him for choosing instead to present something a little different in his latest release. For the legions of ardent fans of Reilly and Tess there are no worries, because the engaging duo are back in "The Devil's Elixir." However, in this breakneck thriller the whirlwind plot (excepting the prologue) unfolds entirely in the present day, as opposed to interweaving with a historical adventure as in Khoury's previous works. And while Khoury's prose gets better and more engaging with every book, with this release admirably continuing that trend, for the first time in any of his novels Khoury elected to write a large part of the book in (Reilly's) first-person narrative. Given his prior triumphs, Khoury certainly didn't have to craft the book that way. That he did speaks well for him spreading his wings as a writer, and also enhances the immediacy and impact of the story for readers. Yet while exploring narrative techniques unprecedented in his earlier books, Khoury still delivers what his fans have rightfully come to expect -- a gripping plot with astonishing twists, consistently alluring protagonists, and a really nasty villain who earns his menacing epithet, El Brujo ("The Sorcerer"), many times over during the novel's course.
This is Khoury's best book to date. It will please his steadfast fans, and it will gain him many new ones.
February 17, 2012
I actually loved the first book in the series, The Last Templar with its shifts between the ancient and current stories. Plus the TV miniseries was nice, even though there were quite a few changes in the conversion. The second book was interesting too, but much more action-oriented than is common to the "ancient treasure" genre.
And then, this book continues the same trend, and belongs a lot more to the pure action genre than the previous books.
I strongly believe I would have enjoyed this as a standalone book, but as a continuation of the character's previous adventures, it feels like this story doesn't belong (and my rating would probably be higher in that case).
In short, if you have read the previous books, I would recommend this, with the caveat that you shouldn't judge the book by its cover (or the previous leanings of the series). And if you haven't read the previous books, and like a good action story, go for it.
And then, this book continues the same trend, and belongs a lot more to the pure action genre than the previous books.
I strongly believe I would have enjoyed this as a standalone book, but as a continuation of the character's previous adventures, it feels like this story doesn't belong (and my rating would probably be higher in that case).
In short, if you have read the previous books, I would recommend this, with the caveat that you shouldn't judge the book by its cover (or the previous leanings of the series). And if you haven't read the previous books, and like a good action story, go for it.
March 4, 2012
I know Khoury mostly from his historical fiction. He has written several books in the genre and while they aren't the best of the category, they are often diverting and enjoyable. This book, about a mystic belieiving drug dealer intent on revenge for past deeds and in search of the perfect (and perfectly addicting) synthetic drug, wasn't his best work.
It was a quick and easy read (a beach read if you will), but it didn't really grab or hold my attention. The characters didn't ring true and parts of the story line were far fetched. The key to fiction like this is to make the reader care enough about the characters and the story line to ignore the most far fetched parts of the plot. The DaVinci Code for example, had portions of the story line that were completely ludicrous in the light of day. However, Brown pulled you in with the intrigue to the point where you stopped caring and just embraced the idea (or at least I did). That didn't happen here. I couldn't find enough realism in characters or narrative to suspend my disbelief. It is a fine line, but I don't think it works here.
Not a terrible read, but if you're looking for something to pull you in, there are better examples elsewhere.
It was a quick and easy read (a beach read if you will), but it didn't really grab or hold my attention. The characters didn't ring true and parts of the story line were far fetched. The key to fiction like this is to make the reader care enough about the characters and the story line to ignore the most far fetched parts of the plot. The DaVinci Code for example, had portions of the story line that were completely ludicrous in the light of day. However, Brown pulled you in with the intrigue to the point where you stopped caring and just embraced the idea (or at least I did). That didn't happen here. I couldn't find enough realism in characters or narrative to suspend my disbelief. It is a fine line, but I don't think it works here.
Not a terrible read, but if you're looking for something to pull you in, there are better examples elsewhere.
March 19, 2019
Σε γνωστά νερά με ταξίδεψε κι αυτή τη φορά ο Khoury,με μια ιστορία που τα είχε όλα:την αμεσότητα της πρωτοπρόσωπης γραφής,μυστήριο και αρκετή αγωνία.Μου έλειψε λίγη ένταση στο πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου,αλλά τελικά ισορρόπησε προς το τέλος.4⭐
June 29, 2020
"Forget intelligent design. This was perverse sadistic design"
I read this third Templar novel from Raymond Khoury on the back of the first two excellent outings: The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation. However, I must admit to feeling a little disappointed with this third caper for resourceful but troubled FBI agent Sean Reilly and his partner, the attractive and tenacious archaeologist-cum-novelist, Tess Chaykin.
Although badged as a third Templar novel because of the two leading characters, this novel doesn't have its roots in anything to do with the Knights Templar. Instead, this story is concerned with the Mexican drug trade and in particular with the obsession of a suitably ruthless and sadistic drug boss, Raoul Navarro aka El Brujo (The Shaman), to find the ingredients to a hallucinogenic drug. First uncovered by an 18th Century Jesuit priest - and then lost for good following Reilly's execution of Navarro's resident chemistry wiz, who had found it again, some five years earlier during a daring raid in Mexico - the medicina is wanted by Navarro so he can profit from a predicted explosion in its use when its effect on the mind becomes known. Indeed, the five year gap before El Brujo resurfaces, and the reason, is one of the intriguing threads to this tale.
It opens promisingly enough in the Mexico of 1741 (one of the things I liked about the two previous Templar novels was the switching back and forth from the middle-ages to the present day but apart from this opening chapter time slips never happen again throughout the book!) and the exploits of two Jesuit priests, one of whom comes across a tribe of indians who possess a drug that provides such a high that on trying it he abandons his ministry and disappears despite the best efforts of his colleague to find him.
Fast forward to the modern day and the plot embroils Reilly, and so by association Tess, when Navarro for some reason tries and fails to kidnap an old girlfriend from when Reilly was working with the DEA; she naturally calls on Reilly for help. A big reveal is given when the ex-girlfriend, Michelle, informs Reilly that her four year old child, Alex, is actually his son! It is the boy who becomes central to this whole story as events unfurl.
Anyway, the plot starts to get slightly more bizarre as we move from California biker gangs, to horribly graphic drug trips, disturbing drawings by Alex and ultimately to the realisation that Navarro's belief in reincarnation (yes, really!) could be behind all that is happening. Throw in elements of a frankly ludicrous DEA/CIA off-the-books operation driven by one man's desire for revenge, with some law enforcement corruption thrown in for good measure, and I'm not sure the literary alchemy works if I'm honest.
Throughout all this the driving force of the novel is provided by Reilly as he moves from one strange encounter and location to another trying to piece things together, all the while employing a first person narrative to explain things. Indeed, the clever and analytical Tess only manages a relatively limited role in this novel, which basically consists of babysitting Alex and working out what his strange drawings are all about.
I came away feeling that whilst the book is entertaining enough with an original, if somewhat unbelievable, plot and the James Bondesque action scenes are as compelling as ever, it just didn't match the page turning quality of Khoury's previous Reilly and Chaykin adventures for me - The Devil's Elixir sadly does not do well by comparison.
I read this third Templar novel from Raymond Khoury on the back of the first two excellent outings: The Last Templar and The Templar Salvation. However, I must admit to feeling a little disappointed with this third caper for resourceful but troubled FBI agent Sean Reilly and his partner, the attractive and tenacious archaeologist-cum-novelist, Tess Chaykin.
Although badged as a third Templar novel because of the two leading characters, this novel doesn't have its roots in anything to do with the Knights Templar. Instead, this story is concerned with the Mexican drug trade and in particular with the obsession of a suitably ruthless and sadistic drug boss, Raoul Navarro aka El Brujo (The Shaman), to find the ingredients to a hallucinogenic drug. First uncovered by an 18th Century Jesuit priest - and then lost for good following Reilly's execution of Navarro's resident chemistry wiz, who had found it again, some five years earlier during a daring raid in Mexico - the medicina is wanted by Navarro so he can profit from a predicted explosion in its use when its effect on the mind becomes known. Indeed, the five year gap before El Brujo resurfaces, and the reason, is one of the intriguing threads to this tale.
It opens promisingly enough in the Mexico of 1741 (one of the things I liked about the two previous Templar novels was the switching back and forth from the middle-ages to the present day but apart from this opening chapter time slips never happen again throughout the book!) and the exploits of two Jesuit priests, one of whom comes across a tribe of indians who possess a drug that provides such a high that on trying it he abandons his ministry and disappears despite the best efforts of his colleague to find him.
Fast forward to the modern day and the plot embroils Reilly, and so by association Tess, when Navarro for some reason tries and fails to kidnap an old girlfriend from when Reilly was working with the DEA; she naturally calls on Reilly for help. A big reveal is given when the ex-girlfriend, Michelle, informs Reilly that her four year old child, Alex, is actually his son! It is the boy who becomes central to this whole story as events unfurl.
Anyway, the plot starts to get slightly more bizarre as we move from California biker gangs, to horribly graphic drug trips, disturbing drawings by Alex and ultimately to the realisation that Navarro's belief in reincarnation (yes, really!) could be behind all that is happening. Throw in elements of a frankly ludicrous DEA/CIA off-the-books operation driven by one man's desire for revenge, with some law enforcement corruption thrown in for good measure, and I'm not sure the literary alchemy works if I'm honest.
Throughout all this the driving force of the novel is provided by Reilly as he moves from one strange encounter and location to another trying to piece things together, all the while employing a first person narrative to explain things. Indeed, the clever and analytical Tess only manages a relatively limited role in this novel, which basically consists of babysitting Alex and working out what his strange drawings are all about.
I came away feeling that whilst the book is entertaining enough with an original, if somewhat unbelievable, plot and the James Bondesque action scenes are as compelling as ever, it just didn't match the page turning quality of Khoury's previous Reilly and Chaykin adventures for me - The Devil's Elixir sadly does not do well by comparison.
July 7, 2020
huh?
p40: "...Hell, the gun I took off one of them's probably the one they shot him with, and now it's got my prints all over it."
Remaining ammo can be counted, yeah?
p70: "...We were chasing down a new outfit that was cooking up some seriously pure crank that was hitting the street...."
p111: I was starting to feel pretty good about our chances despite the face that SoCal was rampant with one-per-centers which was what members of OMGs, to stick to the hip abbreviations--outlaw motorcycle gangs, not the more popular OMG that's usually followed by four exclamation marks or a smiley face--called themselves.
p203. He told me he'd made contact with the USACIDC--the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command--at MCB Quantico and requested the service histories that we needed.
p212: Lina Dawetta came through for Perrini, as he knew she would. wiz She told him that the target was using a new Verizon iPhone, which had helped.
Mind-boggling, indeed. And here I was waiting for the Templars to show up.
The truth is out there.
p40: "...Hell, the gun I took off one of them's probably the one they shot him with, and now it's got my prints all over it."
Remaining ammo can be counted, yeah?
p70: "...We were chasing down a new outfit that was cooking up some seriously pure crank that was hitting the street...."
p111: I was starting to feel pretty good about our chances despite the face that SoCal was rampant with one-per-centers which was what members of OMGs, to stick to the hip abbreviations--outlaw motorcycle gangs, not the more popular OMG that's usually followed by four exclamation marks or a smiley face--called themselves.
p203. He told me he'd made contact with the USACIDC--the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command--at MCB Quantico and requested the service histories that we needed.
p212: Lina Dawetta came through for Perrini, as he knew she would. wiz She told him that the target was using a new Verizon iPhone, which had helped.
Mind-boggling, indeed. And here I was waiting for the Templars to show up.
The truth is out there.
January 13, 2012
I won an ARC of this book. Having never read any books by Mr. Khoury, I can say this, I will be reading his other works. WOW, what a read. Kept me on the edge of my seat. So much action it was almost hard to keep up. Loved all the characters, even the evil ones. Would'nt have been good without them. The story line was interesting in itself. Made you think about it. If his other books are as good as this one, then I will definitely enjoy them. Won't discuss story line because if you have read his books before, then you know what to expect, if not, give it a try anyway. You won't regret it!
May 13, 2019
very good , did not want to put it down
May 2, 2019
I first came across Raymond Khoury when I became incredibly interested in Templar history, and since his debut historical-thriller, The Last Templar took historical fact and turned into a piece of action packed fiction, well I couldn’t really resist could I? That and its sequel were extremely entertaining, and when I heard that a third book in the series was to be released, featuring indefatigable FBI agent Sean Reilly and Archaeologist Tess Chaykin once more, I instantly pre-ordered it.
The third book in the series is perhaps the most adventurous in terms of personal connection for the main protagonists. When Reilly receives a phone call from an ex-girlfriend telling him she’s in danger, the FBI agent finds himself mixed up with Mexican drug cartel and hardcore biker gangs. Reilly world is instantly changed when Michelle, his ex, reveals a secret to him, and he suddenly realises there’s more at stake than ever before. And why is a narcotic killer known as ‘El Brujo’ after ancient drug that could change the way in which drugs affect the world, and what has it got to do with the ramblings of a Jesuit priest called Eusebio?
It sounds incredibly dramatic doesn’t it? At first, I have to admit, that I was a little apprehensive about this one. Simply because Khoury strays from the Templar background altogether, so The Devil’s Elixir is pretty much a thriller. He also takes the brave step in writing it in the first person, from Reilly perspective, which again differs from the previous instalments. But, in all honesty, it is one hell of a thriller. It is so full of action, you simply get so absorbed by the thrill-rides, you could almost forget your train. What is so addictive about Khoury’s stories, is that they are always dramatic in the good sense; you could easily see the scenes play out in your own mind as if you were watching a brilliant high-octane TV drama. (A resemblance to his TV writing days perhaps?)
The change in perspective is actually a bold move that paid off, as it makes the whole book much more personal. you really do get into the head of Reilly, especially as you follow the action along with him. You feel for him, cheer for him, even shout at him; forgetting where you are, urging him to get a move on! This is not just your average macho, testosterone-fueled FBI agent, this is a man that discovers a secret that has been kept from him for years, and you can’t help but admire how he steps up in such a mature way to deal with the situation. One of my qualms with The Templar Salvation (previous book) was how Tess Chaykin was portrayed as perhaps a dim secondary character, and I was pleasantly surprised how much she progressed as an adult as well as a character in this. She’s smart and practical, and you sympathise with her more for it.
I loved the twists and turns this Book seemed to have, as they felt much more smooth flowing and natural. I especially loved ‘El Brujo’ the sadistic antagonist in here as sometimes you just love a bad baddie, don’t you? He’s insane, twisted, and believes the stuff he shouts about, which gives way to some pretty gruesome scenes, so if you are a little squeamish, be prepared.
I was a little disappointed to not find any long-lost mystery here, simply because you get so accustomed to these revelations, but instead imagine my surprise when I got to the last third of the book, only to discover a slightly paranormal angle. Paranormal elements in thrillers are pretty unheard of, so it was exceptionally refreshing to read it, and put in such an authentic way too. Khoury doesn’t mock or embellish either, so it reads perfectly. I loved this aspect of the book, and in fact the last third was so addictive, I devoured it in two sittings, which is unusual for me. Sometimes, you have to love the types of books where the hero and baddie meet for the first time and the ending fight begin.
On reflection, I did find a few points though that troubled me slightly. This is very much an adult book, and such a specialised book too in terms of genre, but the amount of acronyms in here was a little mind boggling at times. SDPD, EMS, DEA, NCIC, UCB … and that is just the start! Sometimes they are perhaps a little unnecessary, although for a reader used to reading this sort of terminology may disagree with me. Khoury does explain the terms upon first use, but when you get two hundred pages or so in and you see one that was told towards the early stages of the book, you can be excused for forgetting that particular term, can’t you?
I also was a tad disappointed about the lack of location in this book. In his previous books, you get accustom to travelling to deserts, cliffs, abandoned monasteries hidden in rock-faces, old libraries of the Vatican – well you get the picture. and when reading the blurb, you can picture deep South American rain forests, jungles, but sadly these hardly feature. It is a very urban book, with city-scapes, safe houses, biker garages etc. It’s not necessarily a huge downside, but I thought this gave to a slightly false blurb, and when the paperback was released with a different title (Second Time Around) with a different blurb and tag-line, I understood why.
There is no denying it however, The Devil’s Elixir is one exciting, thrilling, absorbing and you know what, fun-to-boot thriller. It has characters we’ve become familiar with and turned things even more authentic. This isn’t about chasing after religious and clandestine secrets anymore, this is a very real, very modern story. It’s all about characterisation and Khoury proves to pretty darn good at it. It has a few shocks along the way, as well as an original paranormal element too, which doesn’t cheapen the story, but rather strengthen it. If you are a fan of the Reilly and Tess Templar series, then I assure you, despite the deviation, you’ll enjoy this even more so, I did. This can even be read as a standalone novel too, so if you are just a fan of thrillers, action-orientated novels, then this will easily suit you.
The third book in the series is perhaps the most adventurous in terms of personal connection for the main protagonists. When Reilly receives a phone call from an ex-girlfriend telling him she’s in danger, the FBI agent finds himself mixed up with Mexican drug cartel and hardcore biker gangs. Reilly world is instantly changed when Michelle, his ex, reveals a secret to him, and he suddenly realises there’s more at stake than ever before. And why is a narcotic killer known as ‘El Brujo’ after ancient drug that could change the way in which drugs affect the world, and what has it got to do with the ramblings of a Jesuit priest called Eusebio?
It sounds incredibly dramatic doesn’t it? At first, I have to admit, that I was a little apprehensive about this one. Simply because Khoury strays from the Templar background altogether, so The Devil’s Elixir is pretty much a thriller. He also takes the brave step in writing it in the first person, from Reilly perspective, which again differs from the previous instalments. But, in all honesty, it is one hell of a thriller. It is so full of action, you simply get so absorbed by the thrill-rides, you could almost forget your train. What is so addictive about Khoury’s stories, is that they are always dramatic in the good sense; you could easily see the scenes play out in your own mind as if you were watching a brilliant high-octane TV drama. (A resemblance to his TV writing days perhaps?)
The change in perspective is actually a bold move that paid off, as it makes the whole book much more personal. you really do get into the head of Reilly, especially as you follow the action along with him. You feel for him, cheer for him, even shout at him; forgetting where you are, urging him to get a move on! This is not just your average macho, testosterone-fueled FBI agent, this is a man that discovers a secret that has been kept from him for years, and you can’t help but admire how he steps up in such a mature way to deal with the situation. One of my qualms with The Templar Salvation (previous book) was how Tess Chaykin was portrayed as perhaps a dim secondary character, and I was pleasantly surprised how much she progressed as an adult as well as a character in this. She’s smart and practical, and you sympathise with her more for it.
I loved the twists and turns this Book seemed to have, as they felt much more smooth flowing and natural. I especially loved ‘El Brujo’ the sadistic antagonist in here as sometimes you just love a bad baddie, don’t you? He’s insane, twisted, and believes the stuff he shouts about, which gives way to some pretty gruesome scenes, so if you are a little squeamish, be prepared.
I was a little disappointed to not find any long-lost mystery here, simply because you get so accustomed to these revelations, but instead imagine my surprise when I got to the last third of the book, only to discover a slightly paranormal angle. Paranormal elements in thrillers are pretty unheard of, so it was exceptionally refreshing to read it, and put in such an authentic way too. Khoury doesn’t mock or embellish either, so it reads perfectly. I loved this aspect of the book, and in fact the last third was so addictive, I devoured it in two sittings, which is unusual for me. Sometimes, you have to love the types of books where the hero and baddie meet for the first time and the ending fight begin.
On reflection, I did find a few points though that troubled me slightly. This is very much an adult book, and such a specialised book too in terms of genre, but the amount of acronyms in here was a little mind boggling at times. SDPD, EMS, DEA, NCIC, UCB … and that is just the start! Sometimes they are perhaps a little unnecessary, although for a reader used to reading this sort of terminology may disagree with me. Khoury does explain the terms upon first use, but when you get two hundred pages or so in and you see one that was told towards the early stages of the book, you can be excused for forgetting that particular term, can’t you?
I also was a tad disappointed about the lack of location in this book. In his previous books, you get accustom to travelling to deserts, cliffs, abandoned monasteries hidden in rock-faces, old libraries of the Vatican – well you get the picture. and when reading the blurb, you can picture deep South American rain forests, jungles, but sadly these hardly feature. It is a very urban book, with city-scapes, safe houses, biker garages etc. It’s not necessarily a huge downside, but I thought this gave to a slightly false blurb, and when the paperback was released with a different title (Second Time Around) with a different blurb and tag-line, I understood why.
There is no denying it however, The Devil’s Elixir is one exciting, thrilling, absorbing and you know what, fun-to-boot thriller. It has characters we’ve become familiar with and turned things even more authentic. This isn’t about chasing after religious and clandestine secrets anymore, this is a very real, very modern story. It’s all about characterisation and Khoury proves to pretty darn good at it. It has a few shocks along the way, as well as an original paranormal element too, which doesn’t cheapen the story, but rather strengthen it. If you are a fan of the Reilly and Tess Templar series, then I assure you, despite the deviation, you’ll enjoy this even more so, I did. This can even be read as a standalone novel too, so if you are just a fan of thrillers, action-orientated novels, then this will easily suit you.
August 21, 2022
Maintenant que j'ai lu plusieurs livres de cet auteur, je peux le dire : c'est vraiment très nul (et celui-ci encore plus que le premier que j'avais lu).
Je suis étonnée que ce livre ait été publié en l'état étant donné :
-que certains personnages ne portent pas le même nom de famille au début qu'à la fin (Lina Ruiu devient Lina Dawetta sans aucune raison valable si ce n'est que l'auteur a...oublié quel nom de famille il lui avait attribué au début de l'histoire)
-que l'auteur s'embrouille dans ses personnages (quand Alex sauve...Alex, la situation devient cocasse)
Manque d'attention de la part de l'auteur donc, mais aussi de la part de l'éditeur puisque la relecture avant publication laisse fortement à désirer...
Il y a aussi un paquet de passages assez inintéressants et qui n'apportent rien à l'histoire. On dirait qu'ils sont là juste pour donner un côté ésotérique au livre, mais comme ça ne donne pas de véritable valeur au récit, ils sont plutôt inutiles.
Je suis étonnée que ce livre ait été publié en l'état étant donné :
-que certains personnages ne portent pas le même nom de famille au début qu'à la fin (Lina Ruiu devient Lina Dawetta sans aucune raison valable si ce n'est que l'auteur a...oublié quel nom de famille il lui avait attribué au début de l'histoire)
-que l'auteur s'embrouille dans ses personnages (quand Alex sauve...Alex, la situation devient cocasse)
Manque d'attention de la part de l'auteur donc, mais aussi de la part de l'éditeur puisque la relecture avant publication laisse fortement à désirer...
Il y a aussi un paquet de passages assez inintéressants et qui n'apportent rien à l'histoire. On dirait qu'ils sont là juste pour donner un côté ésotérique au livre, mais comme ça ne donne pas de véritable valeur au récit, ils sont plutôt inutiles.
September 2, 2025
really good, I was a bit skeptical that he was going to make us try to believe that the reincarnation was real, but the final twist at the end tied that up. it was also a bit too obvious that Munro was bad with how unlikeable he was written. I genuinely had to take a second during the flashback scene when he killed McKinnon's girlfriend and daughter.
I do think the ending may have gone too fast, but then again I think that with a lot of books so it may be moreso that I speed up near the end to tie up the story.
all of the reincarnation stuff was also very thought provoking about what gives us our consciousness and all of that. I honestly really want to try Navarro's drug and see my past lives, but seeing all of my hardships and deaths might've made me go insane
I do think the ending may have gone too fast, but then again I think that with a lot of books so it may be moreso that I speed up near the end to tie up the story.
all of the reincarnation stuff was also very thought provoking about what gives us our consciousness and all of that. I honestly really want to try Navarro's drug and see my past lives, but seeing all of my hardships and deaths might've made me go insane
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2021
A good action thriller. My first by Khoury. Will look into the Templar novels.
February 19, 2018
Fast paced thriller. A maniacal Mexican drug lord is the centerpiece of the story. Early into the book we get a big revelation about Agent Reilly. The inerplay between Tess and Reilly is nice, some loose ends in Reilly's story are left for later.
May 29, 2025
A little bit slower than the previous one but I still enjoyed it.
June 18, 2019
So boring! It started out so well! Franciscan monks in the New World. One of whom gets welcomed into the fold of one of the most arcane native tribal groups and vanishes both figuratively and literally into an intense, psychedelic-drug-induced exile. Then one of the other monks loads up with a band of natives and marches off into the jungle to find his lost friend. Freakin' epic! Heart of Darkness with monks and psychedelic edibles! I'm 100% on board!
Except that's just the prologue. The rest is a contemporary, by-the-numbers detective story. Except boring-er. Pages, literally pages of this novel are devoted to adults trying to make sense of a child's low-quality crayon drawing. Seriously. Pages of, "I don't know, that bean looks like he's holding a gun." "No, I think he's holding a Ben10 doll." You think I'm joking, but that's actually not far off from the actual dialogue.
But it does offer a couple twists that play more like gimmicks than anything of value.
*Spoilers*
.
Except that's just the prologue. The rest is a contemporary, by-the-numbers detective story. Except boring-er. Pages, literally pages of this novel are devoted to adults trying to make sense of a child's low-quality crayon drawing. Seriously. Pages of, "I don't know, that bean looks like he's holding a gun." "No, I think he's holding a Ben10 doll." You think I'm joking, but that's actually not far off from the actual dialogue.
But it does offer a couple twists that play more like gimmicks than anything of value.
*Spoilers*
.
April 17, 2012
This book started off as a sort of abridged version of Don Winslow's Power of the Dog, with a lot of FBI and DEA vs. drug kingpins backstory and then went off in a mystical direction before coming back down to earth. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style but once I got used to it, I did end up zooming through many of the action sequences, especially toward the end.
I picked this book up based solely on the jacket copy, which maybe isn't the best way to choose reading material because the first two thirds of the book really wasn't about a substance "previously lost to history in the jungles of Central America capable of inducing an experience ... that might shake the very foundations of Western civilization," an idea that I find intriguing on several different levels. After the backstory, it was more about a seriously twisted drug kingpin that liked to hunt people down and kill them off in quite disturbing and graphic ways.
One pet peeve I had was that the detective elements of the book were written like action sequences, which was annoying at first and then mildly amusing as it continued throughout the novel. Example: "She'd spent a couple of hours roaming through [the] website, and by the end of it, questions were accosting her from all sides while competing insights jostled for supremacy inside her, all of them demanding she push them through to their rightful conclusion."
I picked this book up based solely on the jacket copy, which maybe isn't the best way to choose reading material because the first two thirds of the book really wasn't about a substance "previously lost to history in the jungles of Central America capable of inducing an experience ... that might shake the very foundations of Western civilization," an idea that I find intriguing on several different levels. After the backstory, it was more about a seriously twisted drug kingpin that liked to hunt people down and kill them off in quite disturbing and graphic ways.
One pet peeve I had was that the detective elements of the book were written like action sequences, which was annoying at first and then mildly amusing as it continued throughout the novel. Example: "She'd spent a couple of hours roaming through [the] website, and by the end of it, questions were accosting her from all sides while competing insights jostled for supremacy inside her, all of them demanding she push them through to their rightful conclusion."
January 24, 2012
“The Devil’s Elixir” by Raymond Khoury, published by Dutton.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Sean Reilly receives a frantic phone call from Michelle Martinez asking for assistance. Her young son, Alex, and she have just thwarted an attempt to abduct them. She has no where to turn to other than Sean who as an FBI Agent worked with her on a drug bust years ago in Mexico. Michelle also informs Sean that Alex is his son.
The drug bust in Mexico was unique in that they were trying to rescue a scientist who was being forced to find a way to duplicate a drug that would change the world. A drug so powerful and addictive that it would make all current drugs obsolete. The scientist was killed in the attempted rescue and his formula died with him.
The drug lord, Raoul Navarro, believes that he can still get the formula for the drug. The problem is who is he targeting and why. Is he after Michelle, Sean, or Alex? Are there more people involved in finding this drug than Raoul? There is also the problem of who you can and cannot trust.
A wonderful mystery that is full of action, adventure, and twists and turns. In fact, it is difficult sometimes to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Sean Reilly receives a frantic phone call from Michelle Martinez asking for assistance. Her young son, Alex, and she have just thwarted an attempt to abduct them. She has no where to turn to other than Sean who as an FBI Agent worked with her on a drug bust years ago in Mexico. Michelle also informs Sean that Alex is his son.
The drug bust in Mexico was unique in that they were trying to rescue a scientist who was being forced to find a way to duplicate a drug that would change the world. A drug so powerful and addictive that it would make all current drugs obsolete. The scientist was killed in the attempted rescue and his formula died with him.
The drug lord, Raoul Navarro, believes that he can still get the formula for the drug. The problem is who is he targeting and why. Is he after Michelle, Sean, or Alex? Are there more people involved in finding this drug than Raoul? There is also the problem of who you can and cannot trust.
A wonderful mystery that is full of action, adventure, and twists and turns. In fact, it is difficult sometimes to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
March 6, 2021
Some solid action prose here, less in line with the Dan Brown-esque historical conspiracies of Khoury's previous novels and more just a straight-forward thriller involving drug trafficking (there's also an incongruous pseudo-science plot-twist shoehorned into the last few chapters but it's so brief that it barely registers). Compared to other popular action thrillers, this is unfortunately bereft of any humor but Khoury has a strong feeling for the narrative dynamics that keep the plot moving along. There's one odd tonal slip-up I noted though where it takes an bizarrely dark turn when the characters have to extract a chemist from a drug lab and end up killing several entirely innocent characters (not exactly what you expect from your action hero, it isn't even truly acknowledged either which made me re-read the passage several times over thinking I must have missed something). As a final thought, this book weirdly makes the repeated analogy about two different character's puzzled reactions being compared to seeing their cats killed/strangled and I'm not sure if the author intended it to be a bit of dark humor? It's such an inexplicable moment that's treated like as though it were a normal thought and completely threw me for a loop. Weird novel, good action.
April 8, 2012
I have read every one of Raymond Khoury's books, and I have truly enjoyed them all. The most current one, "The Devil's Elixir" is fascinating as it addresses so many different things going on in the scientific world today, in addition to the touching upon pharmaceutical companies trying to develop statin drugs from plants in the Amazon. I found the last few chapters especially fascinating because of the attention the author gave to research into reincarnation, which is not as "out there" as it once was. Of course, the "villain" in the book, missed the point entirely on why one would want to revisit a past life in the first place. I am sure that if indeed reincarnation is a fact, many, many people have done terrible and/or immoral things, and it would be painful to have to re-experience something like that. All in all, I found this book to be a very entertaining escape from the dreary mundane and other trials we are all subjected to. I loved it!
September 21, 2012
A really good read! Great story, interesting characters, lots of suspense, a very unusual twist and turn to the tale; one I never imagined....but, for me the best part was the synchronicity........ I write about all things energetic, all things metaphysical and this adventure/mystery tale has a surprise for its readers as the solution to the mystery lies in the realm of metaphysics. I won’t say any more for fear of revealing too much...Suffice it to say, for all you out there, who enjoy a good mystery and who are intrigued by the world beyond this physical one, you are going to learn something you never expected. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And, thanks Raymond for sharing this ‘mystery’ subject in such an interesting and understandable way..... I wonder where you will take us in your next book.............I can’t wait. Elaine Seiler
December 26, 2012
This book is up to Raymond Khoury's usual brilliant standard. I first came across FBI agent Sean Reilly and his partner, Tess Chaykin, in his book 'The Last Templar' and, as on that occasion, I was hooked from the very beginning of the book. There are several unexpected twists as this resourceful couple pit their wits against the enemy and the suspense is sustained until the very end of the book. Although you know that in the end, good must win out against evil, there is always that little doubt. An excellent read.
January 19, 2014
The Devil’s Elixir delivers as promised in the suspense-thriller genre with little character development or sense of atmosphere. The rapidly shifting, multiple POV mixed with the first-person account of the protagonist makes for a jarring narrative at first, but the breakneck action scenes and brutal violence propel the plot forward at a frenetic pace to a satisfying conclusion. Great beach read!
December 29, 2011
Drugs, drug lords, the FBI, scientists being kidnapped, old flames resurfacing, murder and rainforest tribes....a thrilling combination that makes for a fast paced read that is hard to put down. Each chapter alternates between characters in the story, with bits and pieces coming together in the end reaching a twisting plot line that will keep you guessing right up to the end!!
February 6, 2013
I really loved this book. I read two of his books with the Sean and Tess characters and really enjoyed their growth. The characters fit well with this new story without weakening the characters and I have found that to be something I look for in an author. I am looking forward to any more books that Khoury may write about with these characters.
December 13, 2017
What can I say, Raymond is an expert in the art of story-telling. But this book like others is more filmy and lacks strong plot. Previous 2 books had a lot of content and historical research associated however this one is almost a U-Turn for Raymond. If anyone makes a film based on this novel it surely is going to be a blockbuster!!
December 19, 2011
Loved this book!! Its filled with great fight scenes, twists and turns...I seriously didn't see the big twist at the end!! Fabulous read! :)
December 15, 2012
Stellar, keeps you addicted from the very first page- this is why I adore Raymon Khoury's books!
September 27, 2012
Finished it in less than 2 days. Great read. Made me want to travel to Peru.
December 13, 2012
Very realistic characters. Plot thickened constantly in believable ways.
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