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

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

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

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 Silence of Stones by Jeri Westerson

May 19, 2021

The Silence of Stones by Jeri Westerson

London 1388 - when the Stone of Destiny is stolen from Westminster Abbey during a festival service, Crispin Guest (aka The Tracker) witnesses the theft, as do hundreds of other Londoners. King Richard II's popularity has been declining drastically over the past two years due to high taxes and defeat in war. He can ill-afford more bad publicity. Although he hates Crispin for his part in a treasonous plot, he enlists Crispin's aid to find the missing Stone. To make sure Crispin does his best, the king holds Crispin's apprentice Jack Tucker hostage. Crispin has three days to find the Stone before Parliament convenes, or the king will hang Jack.

This is #8 in the Crispin Guest series and a very good mystery. Jack plays a larger part than in previous books and shows himself to be a clever young man. Richard II is depicted as not only a poor ruler, but a shitty human being. Great research, atmospheric, blends historical and political facts and people with fiction seamlessly.

The Stone of Scone, which the Stone of Destiny is based on

Richard II (he became king as a child - although he is in his 20's during this book)

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

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.