The Bishop Must Die (Knights Templar) [Paperback]

Michael Jecks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Knights Templar | Publication Date: January 1, 2010

As the threat of war hangs over England, Sir Baldwin and Bailiff Puttock must work desperately to prevent murder, in the latest thrilling mystery in this hugely popular series

 

1326. In France, King Edward II’s estranged wife Queen Isabella shames him by refusing to return to England and humiliates him further by flaunting her adulterous relationship with the king's sworn enemy, traitor Sir Roger Mortimer. When the king hears she has betrothed their son to the daughter of the Count of Hainault, all England fears an invasion of Hainault mercenaries. Meanwhile the Treasurer of England's life is threatened. He has made many enemies in a long political life, and Sir Baldwin and Simon must do all they can to find the would-be assassin before he can strike.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 28th entry in Jecks's Knights Templar series (after 2009's No Law in the Land) takes its time bringing series lead Baldwin de Furnshill into the main plot, but readers won't mind the wait. In 1326, Walter Stapledon, the bishop of Exeter, begins to receive threatening letters that place him in fear for his life. Almost half the book goes by before the bishop asks his old friend de Furnshill, keeper of the king's peace and investigator of suspicious death, for help in identifying the author of the threats. The letters somehow managed to find their way into the bishop's inner sanctum from a number of possible culprits. Political turmoil—in particular, the prospect of a French invasion—also keeps the medieval detective busy. The sprawling cast of characters can be a bit overwhelming, but Jecks once again captures the spirit of the period with another exciting visit to 14th-century England. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"The most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels."  —Times

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing; Reprint edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755344219
• ISBN-13: 978-0755344215
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry when he began writing the internationally successful Templar series. There are now twenty books starring Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, with more to follow. The series has been translated into all the major European languages and sells worldwide. The Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association for the year 2004-2005, Michael is a keen supporter of new writing and has helped many new authors through the Debut Dagger Award. He is a founding member of Medieval Murderers, and regularly talks on medieval matters as well as writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Queen Has Landed, April 19, 2010

By 

Braedynth "The Scribe" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bishop Must Die (Knights Templar) (Hardcover)

If you're a Jecks fan, this book does not disappoint. Sweeping towards a climactic moment in British history, our beloved Baldwin and Simon are again caught in national events. Jecks deftly handles the weaving of fictive characters and actual events.

The plotting is different from the other books; instead of a traditional murder mystery, we get a suspenseful plot leading to "who is going to commit the murder" that we know historically happened. I'm as caught up in the history now as I am in the characters. A great historical mystery series!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After changes upon changes..., April 6, 2011

By 

M. Hohn "Mike H" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bishop Must Die (Knights Templar) (Paperback)

I have to date read all of Jeck's Knights Templar mystery novels and have enjoyed them very much. The interweaving of throughly researched historical events and characters with fictional events and characters makes for a highly entertaining read that really brings the era to life. He certainly is getting a lot of good material out of the Edward II debacle. Jeck's rendering of the main and secondary characters are typically nuanced and mutli-dimensional. Characters are not depicted in black and white terms. For me, Jeck's depiction of medieval life at all levels of society is the most fascinating aspect of his writing.

That being said, readers should be aware that with this novel (and the next) Jecks is moving away from his usual murder mystery plots and concentrating more on the political machinations and social upheavals of the times. For me, frankly, the murder mystery aspect of his novels was secondary to my enjoyment. However, readers new to Jeck's writings expecting something along the lines of the Brother Cadfael series, Candace Robb's Owen Archer novels, or the offerings of other "medieval mystery" writers may find themselves wondering where the murder mystery is buried. Also, my familiarity with the main characters (Baldwin, Simon, Bishop Walter, etc.) blinds me to the experience of a reader beginning the series with this novel. I think it probably holds up on its own, but you would be missing the pleasure of following the characters as they develop over the course of the series.

Overall, Jeck's is a skilled writer who does a wonderful job of bringing the medieval era to life in an entertaining and accessible form. I would highly recommend any of the books in the Knights Templar Mystery series.

5.0 out of 5 stars good series, August 22, 2011

By 

alma russell (Lakeside, OR, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bishop Must Die (Knights Templar) (Hardcover)

this series of books by Michael Jecks has been very interesting. He does a good job of detail and makes you feel like you know the characters. I have read them all so far and enjoyed every one.