An Argumentation of Historians by Jodi Taylor

April 2, 2023

An Argumentation of Historians by Jodi Taylor

The historians of St. Mary's (aka disaster magnets) are back. Hawking Hanger has been repaired after villain Clive Ronan nearly destroyed it (see And the Rest is History), young Matthew Farrell is safely in the future with the Time Police, and Max's husband Leon is slowly recovering from injuries sustained at the destruction of Constantinople. With their pods repaired and ready for service, Max and her fellow historians are off to observe Henry VIII's disastrous joust in January 1536, then on to Persepolis while setting a trap for Ronan. But things go disastrously wrong (no surprise there) and Max finds herself separated from her people by several centuries.

Very entertaining series, just what I needed after finishing a really depressing lit fic title. This is book #9, and one of the differences from previous books is that while the historians are usually in and out quickly, Max has an adventure that lasts much longer. They still haven't captured Ronan and we still don't know if Markham and Hunter are married and/or if they are pregnant. I guess I'll have to get the next book.

Life in a medieval town

Prince Edward's Warrant by Mel Starr

February 23, 2023

Prince Edward's Warrant by Mel Starr

After he eased Prince Edward's discomfort at Limoges in France, surgeon Hugh de Singleton is summoned to London to once again aid the ailing prince. But shortly after they arrive in London, one of Hugh's traveling companions dies while dining with the prince. Prince Edward tasks Hugh with determining the cause of death and unmasking the culprit.

Enjoyable historical mystery series set in 14th century England. This is a well-researched series and the reader is immersed in the daily life of 14th century England. I also enjoy Master Hugh's meditations on God, religion, life, and the nobility, and his devotion to his Kate and family. The town of Bampton, Hugh's home, still exists today and was used for the village scenes for the Downton Abbey series. The glossary of medieval terms is appreciated. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy this series.

Map of Kennington Palace in London, Edward of Woodstock's main residence and site of most of the action in the mystery

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

November 7, 2022

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

A history of five English queen consorts from the 14th and early 15th centuries, well-researched with a focus on the lesser known royal women. They influenced politics and economics as well as fashion and the cult of courtly love. The narrative flows smoothly, intended for a popular audience rather than a scholarly audience. The bibliography and notes at the end are extensive, should the reader want to consult primary sources.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Philippa of Hainault, queen consort to Edward III

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

June 30, 2022

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

Adapted from Chaucer's Wife of Bath tale in the Canterbury Tales. The author imagines Eleanor's life (called Alisoun in the Canterbury Tales, but the name change is part of the story) with her five husbands.

One of the current trends in fiction that is popular right now is retelling stories and fairy tales. I didn't love this as much as I wanted to or as much as other readers did, maybe because I studied Chaucer in graduate school and I know a lot about the Wife of Bath's tale. If you don't know the Canterbury Tales, you'll like it just fine. Disappointing.

One of the many images of the Wife of Bath

The Deadliest Sin by Jeri Westerson

March 9, 2022

The Deadliest Sin by Jeri Westerson

London 1399 - At the Boar's Head tavern, where they are relaxing over a mug of ale and catching up on the political gossip, Crispin Guest and Jack Tucker are summoned to a London priory. Two nuns have been murdered in a manner that suggest the Seven Deadly Sins. Meanwhile, Crispin's old friend Henry Bolingbroke, now Duke of Lancaster, has returned to England to overthrow his cousin Richard II and take the throne. Will Crispin back the king or will he join Duke Henry's forces and commit treason - again?

This is the last of the Crispin Guest books, and I'm so sad. Westerson does wind in the threads of Crispin's story in a good way. Hopefully the author will have a new series for Crispin's fans - maybe Jack will become the Tracker 2.0?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Coronation of Henry IV (I don't know which one is Crispin)

Spiteful Bones by Jeri Westerson

February 3, 2022

Spiteful Bones by Jeri Westerson

London 1398 - Lawyer Nigellus Cobmartin and his companion John Rykener take on the task of restoring Nigellus' family's manor in London. When workmen unearth a skeleton from one of the walls, holding a family relic that vanished 20 year earlier, Nigellus calls in their friend Crispin Guest for help. Who do the bones belong to, and how did they end up in the wall with the relic?

This is the 14th book in the Crispin Guest series, and the author has announced that there will be one more book to finish the series. Over the course of fourteen books, Crispin has gone from traitor to tracker, from loner to family patriarch with his found family with Jack and Isabel Tucker and their children. He also has a relationship with his natural son with Philippa Walcote. 

I'm not looking forward to the end of the Crispin Guest mysteries. Maybe Jack will take over and become the Tracker 2.0?

Sword of Shadows by Jeri Westerson

January 6. 2022

Sword of Shadows by Jeri Westerson

London 1396 - When Crispin Guest and his apprentice Jack Tucker visit a swordsmith's shop, they run into a Cornish artefact hunter. He tells Crispin that he has a map that he is convinced will lead him to Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur, and he persuades Crispin to help him find the sword. Traveling to Cornwall, Crispin unexpectedly meets an old flame who is also hunting for the sword. But when first one body turns up, and then a second one, the treasure hunt becomes the search for a killer.

Crispin's stories always focus on relics, but this time, he is seeking a historic artefact, rather than a religious relic. As always, there are plenty of twists and turns. His old girlfriend is trouble on two legs, and if Crispin was smart, he would run the other way. The local villagers are suspicious of Crispin's group, and also of the druids who live in the forest and practice the old religion. #13 in the Crispin Guest series.

Excalibur, King Arthur's mythical sword in the stone

Deeds of Darkness by Melvin Starr

December 26, 2021

Deeds of Darkness by Melvin Starr

When the Bampton coroner is found dead on the Oxford road, surgeon and bailiff Hugh de Singleton is tasked with finding the killer. He soon discovers that there is a band of goliards committing crimes in the area of Bampton Castle. Hugh must find the killer and bring justice for the coroner's family.

Goliards were medieval students or clerics who, for a variety of reasons, did not complete their studies. It may have been a matter of funding or boredom or poor scholarship or loss of patronage. Many of the goliards were younger sons of wealthy or noble families. While many goliards were traveling musicians, some formed gangs that went on crime sprees. Their prominent families them from punishment.

This is #10 in the Hugh de Singleton series. While the mysteries are relatively simple, the daily customs, characters, and atmosphere are the real draw of this historical mystery series. You can get lost in the 14th century - other series that take you back to the Middle Ages are the Crispin Guest noir mysteries and the Matthew Shardlake books.

Goliards

Traitor's Codex by Jeri Westerson

December 7, 2021

Traitor's Codex by Jeri Westerson

Crispin Guest, aka the Tracker of London, is enjoying an ale at the Boar's Tusk, his favorite tavern, when a stranger drops a package on his table, with a remark that Crispin will know what to do with it. When he opens the packet, Crispin finds an ancient text written in an unknown language. He inquires of a priest friend, who directs him toward the secret Jewish community in London. A hidden rabbi tells him that the book is the gospel of Judas, a forbidden gospel account that challenges the foundations of Christianity. The rabbi is later found dead, and Crispin discovers that a lot of people want the book, mainly to destroy it.

This is #12 in the Crispin Guest series. Like previous books, the characters, history, and atmosphere of 14th century London draw the reader in immediately. Judaism was forbidden in England, yet there was a thriving community who practiced their religion in secret, much as Catholics continued to follow their religion after it was outlawed in the 16th century. The Gospel of Judas does exist, although most traditional biblical scholars dispute its authenticity - naturally, it offers a different slant than orthodox Christianity does. If you're interested in different views of Jesus, you may want to try The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, which tells the story of Jesus from the viewpoint of his wife (yes, at the time Jesus lived, as a Jewish man, he would have been expected to marry) or The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin (written from the viewpoint of the Virgin Mary, Jesus' mother).

As in all the Crispin Guest books, there are a number of different threads that come together at the end. Highly recommended.

An example of a 14th century codex

The Gospel of Judas does exist, although some scholars dispute its authenticity

The Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson

October 13, 2021

The Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson

There is something strange going on at St. Modwen's church in London. Someone or something has been disturbing the graves in the churchyard. The terrified priest calls Crispin Guest, the Tracker, to the scene to investigate. Crispin suspects that it's the living rather than the departed who are to blame for the trouble. At the same time, his former lover Philippa needs his help. Her seven year old son Christopher has been accused of murder and attempting to steal a relic from a neighbor. Crispin needs to prove the boy's innocence before the sheriffs hang him (yes, in the 14th century, children were executed if convicted of a serious crime).

This is the 11th book in the Crispin Guest mysteries and it is one of the best. Old characters return, there are a pair of new sheriffs who are a good contrast to each other, and Crispin finds himself the patriarch of his household as he approaches the ripe old age of 40, with Jack and his wife Isabel and their growing brood of children (who adore Crispin).

St. Modwen or Modwenna

Lucifer's Harvest by Mel Starr

September 25, 2021

Lucifer's Harvest by Mel Starr

Prince Edward (aka Edward of Woodstock, known to us as the Black Prince) is raising an army to go to France to win back English territory taken by the King of France. Lord Gilbert Talbot is required to provide soldiers for Edward's army, and he wants his surgeon, Master Hugh de Singleton, to accompany him and his men. Hugh's old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, is also with the army. When Sir Simon is found dead, Hugh finds himself as both suspect and sleuth as he must work to clear himself of the crime.

Shorter than previous books in the series, but Hugh gets a lot done in fewer pages. Great characters in this series as well as solid historical research. This is the ninth book in the series. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Tomb of Edward of Woodstock

A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien

September 19, 2021

A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien

Constance of York, Lady Despencer (sometimes spelled Dispencer) is part of a magnificently dysfunction family, the Plantagenets, aka the House of York. She is a willing tool of her husband and her two brothers in their quest for power. When King Richard II (Constance's cousin) is overthrown in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt and another one of Constance's cousins, seizes the throne to become King Henry IV. No sooner is Henry on the throne than Constance and her male relatives begin plotting to restore Richard to the throne. Their plot fails but Constance is able to talk her way back into Henry's good graces. So what does she do? She immediately becomes involved in ANOTHER traitorous plot to overthrow Henry. This one fails as well, but there are more serious consequences for the plotters.

Constance is a little-known historical figure, remembered only for being at the center of two treasonous plots, and the author has spun an interesting historical novel around her. Lady Constance is maddening at times, allowing her family's ambition to override her good sense. There are lots of secret meetings, plots, and many unlikeable characters. Constance's character is deeply flawed and at times she is TSTL (romance novel term for "too stupid to live"). Still, this was a very good read and I recommend it for fans of historical fiction set in the medieval period.

Constance of York, Lady Despencer

Season of Blood by Jeri Westerson

August 26, 2021

Season of Blood by Jeri Westerson

England 1390 - Disaster has occurred at Hailes Abbey: their most precious relic, a vial of Jesus' blood, has vanished from the locked cabinet where it was kept. The relic's power was to take liquid form when touched by the innocent and the worthy, and remain in powder form for sinners and the unrepentent. Relics were important revenue sources for churches, monasteries, and other religious houses, since the faithful came to venerate the relics and leave a donation for the privilege.

Following the relic's disappearance, two monks are found murdered. Crispin Guest is summoned to locate the relic and solve the mystery surrounding the monks. He finds the relic and attempts to return it, but it keeps finding its way back to him. In addition, the monks at Hailes Abbey are in dispute with the monks at Westminster  Abbey regarding who is the rightful owner of the relic. Crispin becomes involved with a beautiful and dangerous woman (he should really steer clear of them) while trying to prevent a former adversary from being charged with murder. Crispin must sort through the tangled layers to find the truth.

Another great entry in the Crispin Guest series, this one with Crispin trying to help the monks at an abbey as well as one of the former sheriffs who enjoyed plaguing him in the past. Jack Tucker and his wife Isabel are prominently featured, as well as their growing brood (who adore Crispin). Crispin finds himself unexpectedly assuming the role of patriarch in their lively household.

An example of a reliquary containing a saint's blood

Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr

August 13, 2021

Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr

Master Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of Bampton Castle and the surrounding countryside, attends the annual Midsummer Eve bonfire with his wife Kate and their children. Early the next morning, Hugh is awakened by the tolling of the church bell, followed by pounding on his front door. He is summoned to the site of the bonfire, where workers have discovered bones in the ashes. Checking Bampton and the nearby villages, he learns that a number of men have gone missing recently. But after thorough investigation, all except one are accounted for (either living or dead). The one exception is the bailiff of a nearby manor who is still missing, and the charred bones are determined to be him. The killer put the body into the bonfire to destroy any evidence.

Bailiffs are generally not popular with the local people. They are responsible for collecting taxes and rents, ensuring that the villagers perform their assigned work duties for the lord of the castle, investigate crime, and do other unpleasant tasks for the lord. Hugh must investigate and find out who killed the bailiff and why.

This is the eighth book in the Hugh de Singleton series. Like the previous books, it is well-researched and provides a wealth of details about daily life in the 14th century, which are some of the best parts of the book. One of the interesting tidbits about Bampton (which is a real village in the Cotswolds) is that it was used as the village setting in the PBS TV series Downton Abbey.

A street in Bampton 

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well-written historical fiction.

A Maiden Weeping by Jeri Westerson

July 25, 2021

A Maiden Weeping by Jeri Westerson

After a night of drunken sex, Crispin Guest wakes up in a strange bed with a dead young woman. Although the sheriffs are suspicious, they take Crispin's statement and let him go. But when more women turn up dead in similar circumstances, Crispin finds himself in prison as the only suspect. It's up to his apprentice Jack Tucker to solve the crime. But fortunately Jack has some friends to help him: Nigel, a young lawyer; Isabel Langton, the fetching niece of Eleanor and Gilbert of the Boar's Tusk tavern; and John Rykener, their cross-dressing friend who goes by Eleanor the seamstress at times. 

There is a missing relic, too. What happened to the Tears of the Virgin relic? Is it real? Why do so many people want to find it?

Jack takes the lead in this installment of the Crispin Guest series. Not only does he solve the mystery and free Crispin, he meets a pretty young woman. It's bittersweet to see our Jack growing up - it seems like only a few books ago that he was a homeless street kid who wormed his way into Crispin's care.

Love this series! This is book #9, and the stories never disappoint.

A medieval prison cell

The Abbot's Agreement by Mel Starr

April 14, 2021

The Abbot's Agreement by Mel Starr

Surgeon and bailiff Hugh de Singleton is en route to Oxford to purchase a Bible when he finds the body of a young Benedictine monk. The novice master at the nearby abbey confirms that the body is one of their novices. Plague has been in the area recently but the boy did not die from the Black Death: he was murdered, stabbed in the back. The ailing abbot strikes a bargain with Hugh: if he will take on the task of finding the murderer, the monks in the abbey scriptorium will make a Bible for him.

But this is more than a murder for money or revenge. As Hugh investigates the boy's background and the other monks, a more serious conspiracy surfaces, one that will affect the abbey's very existence. Hugh soon begins to wonder if the promised reward of a costly Bible is worth the danger.

The seventh outing for Hugh de Singleton is an interesting mystery and will keep you guessing. But the series' real beauty is the historical context and the picture of daily life in the Middle Ages. At one point, Hugh speaks with the dying abbot about the afterlife and forgiveness, topics that we take for granted but that were considered heretical at the time. As one monk tells Hugh, if there is no purgatory, then no one would pay the monks to pray for the souls of their beloved dead, and the abbey's revenue stream would dry up. Highly recommended for readers of historical mysteries.

Stained glass window depicting Benedictine monks in the scriptorium

Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson

April 5, 2021

Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson

Returning home late one night, Crispin Guest (dishonored knight, aka The Tracker) sees someone fall from one of the buildings on London Bridge. He attempts to save the man but is too late - he is already dead. Crispin learns that the man was an armorer with a shop on London Bridge. The death is ruled a suicide but the man's family is dissatisfied with the verdict and so is Crispin.

In a twist of events, a friend of Crispin's from his former life as a knight was one of the armorer's clients and has been promised a relic that would make him unbeatable in battle. The knight suspects that the relic is the Spear of Longinus that was used to pierce Christ's side at the crucifixion. But a number of other people are also interested in locating the relic, including Crispin's old friend Geoffrey Chaucer, who seems to know a lot more about the Spear than the average person would.

This is the fifth Crispin Guest book. Crispin is a traditional noir detective set during the Middle Ages: he is honorable and lives by his own code, he is always broke so he takes cases that he probably shouldn't because he needs the cash, and there is always a damsel in distress that he falls for. I love the descriptions of medieval London and life in the Middle Ages, especially for those living in the Shambles area.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys mysteries set in the Middle Ages.

The shops on London Bridge in the Middle Ages

Rest Not in Peace by Mel Starr

March 2, 2020

Rest Not in Peace by Mel Starr

When a visiting knight complains of not being able to sleep, surgeon and bailiff Hugh de Singleton prescribes a sleeping draught of crushed lettuce seeds.  When the knight is found dead the next morning, his widow quickly accuses Hugh of murder.  To clear his reputation, Hugh must solve the crime and identify the true killer.  As Hugh begins his investigation, the suspect pool grows rather than shrinks as he learns more about the dead knight's family and personal life.

This is the 6th book in the Hugh de Singleton series set near Oxford in the 14th century.  The books are entertaining, well-researched historical mysteries, with a recurring cast of characters.  Hugh is an accomplished surgeon who gets to do a lot of surgery and doctoring in this one.  The younger son of a knight, he is a thinking man who acts slowly when performing his duties as a bailiff, since it was easy to get the wrong man hanged in the 14th century.  The author does a great job of portraying life in medieval England, from what's for supper to what people are wearing to how a doctor went about his job to the difference among the classes and family life.  I appreciate the glossary of terms no longer in use.  Readers who enjoy a gentler read (no sex, murder takes place off stage) and a well-written, well-thought out mystery will enjoy Hugh's adventures.

The Demon's Parchment by Jeri Westerson

November 28, 2019

The Demon’s Parchment by Jeri Westerson

Former knight Crispin Guest was convicted of treason and lucky to escape the king’s justice with his life.  Now living in the Shambles, one of the lowest sections of London, Crispin is known as the Tracker, a finder of lost items, lost people, and occasionally lost truths.  It’s not just the poor of London who seek out Crispin’s services, but also the wealthy and well-born, when they have problems that they prefer to keep confidential or away from the sheriff's notice.  Such is the case when Jacob of Provencal, a Jewish physician at the king’s court, approaches him about locating some stolen documents.  Crispin would prefer not to take the job, but clients are few and far between in the winter of 1384, so against his better judgment, he agrees to find the missing parchments.  But as he begins his inquiries, a suspicion grows that the stolen parchments are somehow connected to the murders of several young boys.

This is another solid entry in Westerson's Crispin Guest historical mystery series.  I enjoy how well-researched these books are, and the colorful descriptions that make the reader feel what it was like to live in London in the 14th century.  In this mystery, we learn more about accepted attitudes and misconceptions of the time, especially with regard to Jews.  We also learn that straight-laced Crispin has a friend who is a cross-dresser and works as a male prostitute!

It might sound strange to call Crispin a noir detective since we tend to think of noir as a 20th century concept, but he has all the characteristics of a Mike Hammer or Philip Marlowe:  he's always down on his luck, consistently short of money so he is forced to take cases that he knows he shouldn't, hooks up with the wrong kind of woman, drinks way too much, gets beaten up with regularity, and most importantly, lives by his own code of honor.  The third entry in the Crispin Guest series is based on a historical serial killer case from the 15th century (serial killers are another thing we tend to think of as modern rather than medieval).  As always, historical figures are skillfully and seamlessly interwoven with Westerson's creations.