This book is great. What's not to like?I fully admit that this is the only one of Jecks' Knights Templars mysteries that I've read, but I somehow suspect I'm not being unfair in claiming that this is, essentially, a series about a man who solves crimes by looking at people WITH HIS EYES and liki...
Some long running detective series may claim to be "stand-alones" but they definitely are not.Death Ship of Dartmouth presents this problem as it remains a tricky one to get into, with its hugely complex cast to sort out when one is unfamiliar with impinging past events in the series. It seemed ...
Well, if you like murders by necromancy, this is for you.Again, this is a genuine case. There was an attempt to kill the King and his friends by use of sorcery. A known performer of the magical arts was hired to shape wax into the likeness of the King and the other victims, and to try to use sorc...
I stumbled on to this series and this, the third in the series, is the second one I've read. Jecks does a great job of setting the scene. He's obviously done his research. As a result it's easy to connect with the characters and their assumptions, concerns, and devotion to duty. The major pro...
Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.I found this novel from Jecks' Simon Puttock series more difficult to get into than most of them; it doesn't seem to flow quite so easily. The setting is rather different, being the city of Exeter rather than the wilds of medieval Dartmoor, and...
When a villager's property is burned to the ground, the locals think no further misfortune could befall him—until they find his son's body among the ruins. As a sinister twist emerges in what seemed to be a tragic accident, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock arrive to unravel the mys...
Shipwrecked, Baldwin and Simon are washed ashore on neighboring islands. Both are independently charged with investigating the murder of a tax gatherer, embroiling them in the bitter rivalry between two island communities. Can they uncover the truth in time to prevent a massacre?
In 1321, the King's favorite, Hugh Despenser, is using his position to steal land and wealth from the other lords. His rapacity has divided the nation, and civil war looms. In Tiverton, rape and murder have unsettled the town, which is preparing for the feast of St. Giles; Philip Dyne has confess...
THE CREDITON KILLINGS (Historical-UK-1300s) – G+Jecks, Michael – 6th in seriesHeadline, 1997 – UK Paperback*** Ex-Knight Templar Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace and Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford, and his wife Margaret, have come to Crediton for the arrival of the Bishop of Exete...
Murder is again polluting the Exeter Cathedral close, but this killer will not be easily caught. The victim, Henry Potell, was feared by many, and held secrets that some wished to keep hidden. For Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock, events beco...
The book is a murder mystery set in medieval England. I expected the author would take me to the Holy Land given that date and the title of the book. We never left the English town where the tale began. Why leave when so much was going on where we were? Leprosy and a leper hospital were the ...
Alone in his isolated, windswept chapel on the edge of Dartmoor, his only companions moor men and poverty–stricken serfs, who could blame the young priest, Mark for seeking affection from Jane, the local miller’s daughter? But when Jane’s body is found brutally stabbed, Mark is the obvious suspec...
Amidst the myth and folklore of Tavistock, one tale above all others strikes fear into the hearts of the townspeople—that of the murders on the Abbot’s Way. One cold winter, many years ago, a young acolyte led a group of fellow novices in the theft of their abbot’s wine store. Later, consumed by ...
After their grueling journeys to Galicia and Scilly, Simon Puttock and Baldwin Furnshill are at last back on the English mainland, dumped unceremoniously when their shipmaster partakes of his intoxicating cargo and almost sinks the ship. Eager to get home, Baldwin and Simon set off on horseback, ...
It is 1323, and Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock have been granted leave to go on pilgrimage, each seeking solace after the recent traumatic events in Gidleigh. Together, they travel across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but danger is never far away. Foreign travel is peril...
I was just about ready to pull the plug on this series but having bought this book, I decided that I should read it before trading it in. The characters were drawn out much more comprehensibly. I'm starting to see definite characterizations for Simon and Baldwin, and the secondary characters are ...
The Knights Templar They had all joined taking three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience…for they were monks: warrior monks, dedicated to theprotection of pilgrims in the Holy Land -- until stories spread by anavaricious king who wanted their wealth for his own destroyed the order.There was on...
It is 1322, and Lord Hugh de Courtenay's plan to host a tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the money-lenders of Oakhampton. When the defeated knights find themselves unable to pay the traditional ransoms to their captors, they will have only one course open to them—accruing interest by the...
This was the first book where I had to get into the politics of the day from the perspective of London. It was hard to move my characters from their homes in Devon, but it was important to show how the King and his adviser, Hugh Despenser, were ruling the nation. Despenser was, in effect, running...
Nick, bless him, always wanted to see the best in people. It would lead him into trouble one of these days. Well, it already had, hadn’t it? Thing was, Gervase was more worldly wise than his castellan. He had always enjoyed the company of women, had had plenty of dealings with them and knew their...
He nodded understandingly, and asked who was intending to stay in the room with him and his men. Suddenly the inn was full of men contemplating their drinks and avoiding involvement in the discussion. ‘I think you will find that the room is now empty,’ he said to the innkeeper. ‘I will use it wit...
He knew that the man had been injured, after all – his stiffness and occasional winces had been noted, and John had explained that he had pulled a muscle – but he felt that John had a curiously shifty look about him now, and he moved off in a hurry as though eager to be away from the door. ...
On this side there was a small suburb. Orders were given to torch the place. Soon flames were shooting up into the sky, and Berenger watched as men cavorted and cheered at the face-scorching fires. The whole of the countryside was blanketed in smoke. Orange-red sparks danc...
I think he said some way east of Oakhampton, but I—”“And you’re sure he said the money was on the horse?”“Yes.” His voice was becoming bored, as if he found the questions tedious now.“So—” Simon began, but he was cut off by a shrug from the young man, a tiny gesture of indifference.T don’t care, ...
Discovered by Brother Richard Yaxley, the feretarius or guardian of the shrine, in the early hours of Sunday, it was at first thought he was dead. Brother Richard’s immediate concern was that there would be disastrous consequences for the earning potential of the priory. And right at the start of...
In the past months he had slept on the roof, but with the recent rains he had taken Ivo’s advice and now slept in this comfortable chamber. He would never have thought to live in such luxury. Soft linens made his bed, and even though others said it was chill at night, for ...
As dawn broke, Berenger was already leading the men to the eastern shores, where Sir John had told him to meet the vessel that was to take them over the Channel. ‘Sir John,’ Berenger greeted him as they walked into the little harbour. ‘Fripper, I ho...
When that bastard son of a Moorish slave and a Venetian whore, that piece of hogshit, Matthew, had wandered away from the square looking so smug, Afonso had felt the strings of his gut and bowels start to tighten like he was about to be sick. He couldn’t help it. He’d chased off after him, runnin...
Like a battering ram, he separated the crowd, leaving a path for her, and not once did he apologize or beg permission. He had been given an order to protect Jeanne as she sought out and questioned this woman, and that he would do. There was no need to apologize to churls standing in his way. &nbs...
The clouds were all low and rimmed with black, and the views were of greyness in every direction. It was hard to remember a time when the sun had shone, he sighed as he mopped at the back of his neck with a square kerchief. He had been out to squat, his bowels playing merry blazes after too many ...
The bodies were viewed, stripped naked before the jury, and then rolled over and over to show all the injuries sustained. Witnesses were called to describe the events of the previous day, first Cook, then other guards from the gate, then the two bishop’s men who had struck...
Henry hadn’t noticed Gregory walk in, and he couldn’t answer for a moment. He just turned and looked at him, while in his mind’s eye he saw Alice, her lithe body, her spirit. ‘Do you feel nothing for her?’ he managed. Since the death of Alice, Grego...
‘You said in there that Constance and young Hugh were both dead, but you implied …’ Baldwin brought his horse nearer Simon’s. ‘Simon, Edgar and I have seen men burned at the stake. You’ve seen bodies brought out from burned-out cottages, too. A man doesn’t simply burn away.’ Edgar nodded. ‘A man ...
Edgar stood, his eyes flitting about all the others in the room, watching carefully for any sign of danger to his master – and keeping all those who might have wished to listen at bay. His was not a demeanour that would brook any argument about whether or not he had the right to prevent others fr...
‘He has a man there. Did you hear?’ she asked. ‘I had heard that he suffered an embarrassment,’ Jacquot said. He leaned back on his stool and eyed the room behind her. ‘You think I have brought the King’s men with me? That I want to see you dead?’ H...
He felt only a wonder and delight, but soon, as he listened, he found his thoughts growing more confused. He adored his wife Jeanne, and what he had just done was against his oaths to her. He had betrayed her. He was a traitor. Other men would take any available woman, he knew. His own principles...
She’s a good lass.”“I am, am I?“ Constance said, reappearing in the doorway. ”And you’re a dreadful old woman, Joan.““Now then, Sister. Don’t forget, we nuns always maintain a polite distance in front of men,” Joan said disdainfully, and then laughed, slapping her thigh with delight at her wittic...
The departure of the king, together with his Treasury, had been preying on her mind. It was some relief when, later, the vessel returned, with the king and his adviser still aboard, but Margaret had heard the comments of the people in the Tower. ‘They all said he was running,’ she said in a low v...
The way that the rock had moved had brought home to Matthew just how immense was the weight of stone used to build this great place. He glanced up nervously at the walls and ceiling as he knelt, thinking how easy it would be for one of the massive blocks to tumble down and leave him as a splash o...