Customer Reviews

The Alehouse Murders (Templar Knight Mysteries, No. 1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first installment, in what I really do hope will be a long running series, "The Alehouse Murders" was a treat to read from the first page to the last -- riveting and full of wonderful period atmosphere and nuances, I spent a happy few hours satisfactorily glued to the pages. They were hours well spent.

When news that four murdered bodies have been found in an alehouse reaches Nicolaa de la Haye, the castellan of the castle, she immediately knows that she must see to it that the murders must be investigated swiftly and competently. After all the midsummer's fair is about to take place and gossip that there is a mad killer loose in the city of Lincoln will not help Lincoln's reputation at all. And so the lady turns to Templar Bascot de Marins for help in discovering who murdered these unfortunates and why.

Held captive by the Saracens for eight years, de Marins has returned to England broken in body and spirit. Plagued with self doubts and afraid that he has lost his faith, de Marins had hoped to regain his faith and purpose in Lincoln. But would investigating a horrific murder help him rediscover his faith? Determined to ferret out the truth, de Marins soon finds himself enmeshed in the middle of the family intrigues and quarrels of a local landowner's family, and confronted with the cold blooded determination and ruthlessness of a very single-minded killer...

While I could go on and on raving about Maureen Ash's ability to colour her novel with
fantastic period detail, and how her characters ring true in tone and type, what I really enjoyed about this novel was how the author was able to keep me guessing for quite a while. And that is no mean feat! What really carries this novel through though, and what makes it so very readable and absorbing is the sympathetic central character, de Marins, and how Maureen Ash was able to successfully convey all of de Marins self doubts and pain, as well as intelligence and integrity. De Marins angst made a nice counterpoint to the mystery and gave the book a deeper and more complex tone. Riveting and compelling, "The Alehouse Murders" was a wonderful read, and one that I would recommend for anyone looking for a good medieval-era mystery novel to read.

I generally don't read narrative prose, but I do love a good murder mystery especially the classic "who-dunnit" type. Although I'm not inclined to read historical types because they are often very pedantic--they bluntly try to "teach" you about the author's beloved period of history--I've run into authors who can very skillfully do so: Van Gulik (Judge Dee, for which see: Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (Dee Goong An) (Detective Stories), The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story (Judge Dee Mysteries), and The Chinese Bell Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story), Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael, for which see: A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, and One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael) and Candace Robb (Owen Archer, for which see: A Gift of Sanctuary: The Sixth Owen Archer Mystery (Owen Archer Mysteries)and The Nun's Tale: An Owen Archer Mystery). Now I am delighted to find that Maureen Ash is another.

Ash's character, a Templar Knight named Sir Bascot de Marins, is a combination Owen Archer-Brother Cadfael. The disillusioned member of the Templar order of fighting brothers, de Marins is an individual looking for meaning in a world filled with violence, inequity, and unfairness. He is a handsome sort, a perfect, sensitive kind of guy, with the exception of those crucial "flaws" that make men so dear to the women who love and empathize with them. He lacks an eye, damaged by his captors during a lengthy sojourn as a slave in the Holy Land, and suffers a weak ankle sustained in an escape from a pirate ship where he was a galley slave. If nothing else one knows he's a survivor.

The setting, like two of the above, is Norman-Angevin England and the dynasty established by William the conqueror and his immediate successors. The period for this particular series is the time of "wicked" King John--Ever wonder what became of good old Robin Hood after wicked Prince John gained the throne?--and the author is probably pretty accurate in her assessment of the unease of the nobility over the shifting political scene. Some of the characters are historic ones, and the author has used selected resources for her background material.

The book The Alehouse Murders is very cleverly written. The author follows the "rules" of the game, especially that which insists that the end not be a distortion of the plot to "fix" a faulty story line. Even though you can probably figure out who did the deed by the end, the clues come from throughout the context of the story; they aren't just introduced at the end to prevent you form forming an opinion.

Though the story seems to drag in places as the author tries to create the atmosphere of the period, it was still a good read. In stories of this type the key to a successful series is in the personalities of the central, recurring characters, ie are they arresting enough to bring you back for more. Their strengths and foibles--think of the "little grey cells" and the moustache/paten-leather shoes!--are what make them memorable to and engaging for the reader.

Of all the characters in this book, I think that Nicolaa de la Haye and her husband Sheriff Gerard Camville are among the most real to me. This is probably due to the fact that they are balanced--the personality of one against that of the other, and their privileges in society with their obligations to it. I had almost wished that these more peripheral entities would take a more active part in the investigation. In part because I liked them, but mostly because I could see the Templar becoming a maudlin romantic hero full of angst in the future, his case of arrested development based on the need to keep the reader involved with his turmoil. I could see the Knight becoming much like Inspector Jury in the Martha Grimes' series (for which see: The Old Fox Deceiv'd, and The Old Wine Shades (Richard Jury Novels)), where his side-kick, Melrose Plant, is so much more entertaining, self aware, and good humored, and Aunt Agatha a wonderful foil for Plant. Some may enjoy that kind of tormented hero character, but I can't help thinking, "get counseling, fella; you've got a problem." (Maybe it's the nurse in me.)

While I didn't care for them as people--I don't suppose I was expected to do so--I found the de Kyme family in its many branches was very illustrative of the reality of the time. The trappings of knighthood, the castles, and fairs, etc. of Medieval England tend to create a mental image of vastness and power, something alien and foreign to modern life. In fact one needs to think in terms of farmers, some more successful than others, who owe the king a debt of military service. Some of the farmers are large land holders with well run establishments, others are barely making it, just like many farmers today. Some of the Medieval farmers were vastly wealthy and had large palisaded manor homes or even castles; others lived in houses hardly much better than the "hired hands" on the farm. The distances aren't/weren't vast; the communications of the period just made them seem so. If some of the farmers could afford the fancy trappings of knighthood, some of it came by way of creditors--as illustrated in the story--just as a modern combine or other equipment, and some of it came by way of the fact that most of the rest of the population had to be content with almost nothing. The de Kymes' situations makes this more visible for the reader.

A good start to an interesting series.

There seems to be no shortage of medieval/historical mysteries. Thank goodness, as it's quite a popular genre and one that has merits of its own.

"The Alehouse Murders" is a first novel by Maureen Ash and features Bascot de Marins, recently returned from the Crusades with the Templar Knights. The world-weary (and physically depleted) knight with his worldly knowledge and background looks to re-build himself, body and soul, following the grueling, decimating Crusades. And what more exciting profession should he turn to but that of sleuth! He's been gone for eight long years and, naturally, is a bit rusty. He settles down in Lincoln in the year 1200 and mid-summer activities are in full bloom. Alas, the pastoral side of Lincoln isn't to last, for, ironically, four bodies are found in a local alehouse and with complicated complications, ever-spiraling associations, and convoluted avenues which Bacot must pursue, the book takes off with a rapid, yet steady pace. Ash has complete control of the plot development, never leaving the reader dangling (or even confused). This is not to say that the story line isn't complicated. It is, but Ash keeps it in a controlled fashion. Her powers of description and episode easily carry the book, traits that most readers will applaud.

Bascot is quite an interesting man, of course, reminiscent of later fictional sleuths and heros and Ash gives us a good foundation for him and his character, noble, sensitive, intelligent, indeed, that he is. A second Knights Templar mystery by her ("Death of a Squire") is already on the shelf and, hopefully, this will become another of the successful historical mystery series. It's a good read!

I'll start off saying that this was a fun book. I nearly gave it two stars until I remembered that it kept me up past midnight trying to finish it - an accomplishment in its own right since I had to turn around and get up at 0400). Plus, the author has apparently done her research on life in the middle ages and, while there were inaccuracies, I reminded myself that this is a mystery novel, not a history book and told myself to lighten up and read. I also appreciate that the author wove the historical details in like a tapestry so that they complemented the story instead of overshadowed it. To accomplish that balance between setting the stage and giving a history lecture requires a certain amount of skill and I was pleased that the author pulled it off.

I have a couple points of contention, however. My first one involves the character development of Bascot. At the start of the book I really liked him and I did want to know about his past; I had this image of him as being a rather battle-hardened but soft-spoken man who moved with a detached air through the world. By the end of the book, there were times I wanted to punch him. I think the character needed to develop more subtly if he was to develop at all (as the detective-types in mystery novels often don't). He went from being detached and in his own world to longing for worldly desires (from women to glory) in several very abrupt, jerky steps. With each glimpse into his "deeper person", I felt like a bull that was being hit over the head with a mallet - stunned the first time and irritated on the subsequent occasions.

Then there was the author's description of Templar life and customs. It made me raise an eyebrow more than once and recall John Robinson's Dungeon, Fire and Sword because some of the inaccuracies might have been lifted straight from his book. Thus, I was not surprised - though I was moderately rankled - to find in the Author's Note that she had used Mr. Robinson's book as her reference for the Templars. Why she would choose cafeteria-style history over the many accessible, better-researched books on the Templars is beyond my comprehension.

Now, as for the transparent portion. I warn you, here be

*****SPOILERS!!!*****

If you are going to have a priest have a secret sin, for heaven sake, don't go with the old cliche. When Father Anselm was introduced I knew that he was going to have a secret sin and what that secret sin would be. I should not know the character's secret sin before it's even hinted that he HAS a secret sin.

And I saw Isobel coming like a bison stampede. Pious, beautiful, the only character that stirs "those" emotions in Bascot. Who else could have had the charisma to be the devious one? But perhaps I put too much as D&D players call it, "metagame thinking" into things.

In the end, it was a fun book and I'm seriously considering getting the second, just to see if Bascot becomes more like the troubled but thoughtful man in the first several chapters and less like the almost angsty man-boy of the latter part.

In her first of a new mystery series, Maureen Ash introduces the reader to Templar Knight Bascot de Marins, who has returned to England after years of captivity in the Holy Land at the hands of the Saracen. Injured in his escape to freedom, de Marins is on sojourn from the Order at the castle of Lincoln, to allow his leg to heal. The leave from the Templar Knights also gives him a chance to question and renew his fading faith.

Nicolaa de la Haye, the lady in charge of the castle and wife to the sheriff, charges Bascot to find the murderer of four people found dead in the alehouse. The deaths come on the eve of Lincoln's huge midsummer fair and she is concerned that the person responsible could disappear into the crowds.

As the temperature rises, so does the body count and Bascot finds himself dealing with a ruthless and very determined killer.

Ash creates a vivid picture of medieval life and culture against the backdrop of King John I's reign. Although the monarch does not appear in the story, his pressure is felt by all and his influence is palpable. It is interesting to read Ash's portrayal of John as king which is in contrast to the depiction of him as prince to his brother, Richard I. Sharon K. Penman's excellent Justin de Quincy series lays John's perfidy and malice (some of which seems genuinely justified) unapologetically open and exposed.

The most engaging of Ash's characters besides Bascot are his young ward Gianni, and the aging matriarch Hilde, who also recognizes the intelligence of the wounded Templar and becomes instrumental in helping him solve the mystery. Gianni, the mute Italian orphan rescued from the streets and starvation by Bascot, communicates with the Templar through a series of hand signals and captures the readers' hearts as well as attention. Gianni is devoted to Bascot as a son is to a father and the sentiment is returned. Bascot lost an eye during his captivity (reminding the reader of Candace Robb's one-eyed hero Owen Archer) and relies on the boy's visual acuity for finding clues.

Bascot de Marins is a complex character like another Templar sleuth, Michael Jecks's Sir Baldwin Furnshill.

Ash received kudos from Penman and another medieval mystery legend, Margaret Frazer, along with other accolades printed everywhere on the paperback edition. The glowing reports are deserved as this book is worthy enough to be put along side the other medieval whodunits from Frazer and Penman. Ash's writing style tends to be heavy on the passive voice, but this does not distract from the reading pleasure. I look forward to reading the next one.

What a great read. Interesting characters, a plot with twists and turns and historical elements throughout.

I have to admit, I've become fond of the middle age period. It started with The Name of the Rose (movie), then later I discovered Brother Cadfael on PBS. I only ever got to see a couple of those. My interest lay dormant for years, then not too long ago I came across the Cadfael series again and read the first book. This led me to other recommendations by Amazon of similar works, including The Alehouse Murders.

I found this to be a well-written, enjoyable mystery. I enjoy the descriptions of life during this time period, and the depiction of the period jives with other books I've read about the times.

The writing is first class in every aspect. Characters are 3 dimensional and the hero is likable. The settings are well sketched. The storyline was a very well drawn mystery.

I will definitely be checking out more of the Templar Night mysteries.

Not the best historical fiction I have read, but it was a quick and easy mystery. Unfortunately, it is forgetable.

I was very surprised by who done it,
but by the time I got there I was pretty bored, too.
Also by the time you get to the end, you think maybe the wrong people got murdered?
The upper class people described here would
engender very little loyalty in their serfs?
This feudal government was a society that pretty much lasted another 400
years intact. For that to happen people have to either like it
or not be able to do anything about it.
Here we see that as "not being able to do anything about it": not a happy bunch of care free serfs, dancing and part of the overall society?
So if you are writing an historical novel, you have to get your history and motivations right? King John very near this time signed the Magna Carta (1215) to stop a revolt of the barons.
The barons and other nobles weren't the bunch of happy campers
here and the legal system wasn't working at all well.

Maureen Ash is a new author to me and I believe that this is in fact her first book. As I always like to try new writers when I can find them I was happy to read this book. I found it good light and interesting reading. The type of book where you do not have to try too hard to understand the plot. A tried and tested storyline used by many of the top writers of historical mystery fiction.

A knight from the Templar Order, back in England after eight years of captivity in the Holy Land. Weary in both body and soul, Bascot de Marins injuries have affected his body quite badly but not his fertile mind and as he seeks to regain his strength and well-being while on a stay at the castle in Lincoln, he is on the look-out for something to exercise a mind that has lain fallow, during his long years of captivity.

Soon, while Bascot de Marins is trying to renew his faith in God, there is an event that will do just that. Man's inhumanity to man is never very far away in medieval England and what at first seems nothing more than a brutal end to a drunken row soon turns out to be something far more baffling. Just the thing for a convalescing Templar Knight to get his teeth into . . .