The Bloodstained Throne (Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Simon Beaufort (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2010 | Series: Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Mysteries

The new ‘Sir Geoffrey Mappestone’ mystery - When the former crusader knight Geoffrey Mappestone and his friend Roger of Durham try to slip out of England to the Holy Land, a ferocious storm destroys the ship they are on and casts them ashore. The two knights are unwillingly thrust into the company of other shipwrecked passengers, and while attempting to evade the unwelcome attention of the more dangerous members of the group, they become unwillingly drawn into a plot to overthrow the king and return England to Saxon rule . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An overly convoluted plot mars an otherwise solid historical, the seventh to feature Sir Geoffrey Mappestone (after April 2010's Deadly Inheritance). In September 1103, Geoffrey and his friend, Sir Roger of Durham, both former crusader knights, must try to solve two murders after surviving a shipwreck off England's south coast. A fellow passenger aboard the Patrick, Philippa, claims that she saw Juhel, a Breton, throw a Norman named Paisnel overboard. Another shipmate, the elderly Vitalis, winds up on the English shore strangled to death. While trying to identify the killer or killers, Geoffrey and Roger find themselves on the run from the Patrick's crew, who turn out to be pirates. Keeping characters and motives straight is more challenging than it should be, especially as one of two former academics sharing the Beaufort pseudonym has written numerous intricate, more coherent puzzles under the name Susanna Gregory. (Nov.) (c)
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From Booklist

Beaufort serves up a fine medieval-era mystery that’s also a rollicking adventure. This new entry in the Sir Geoffrey Mappestone series has Geoffrey setting off for Jerusalem to confront his former patron Tancred and find out why he’s lost Tancred’s favor. But the ship on which he’s sailing sinks off the coast of England, with only a few survivors, one of whom claims to be the rightful heir to the English throne. Also among the survivors are a mysterious merchant, a dangerous group of pirates, and two women who may be murderers. Setting off to a nearby abbey to seek shelter, some of the survivors soon show their true colors—and Geoffrey begins to fear for his life. Are the two women really killers? Is King Henry’s reign in danger from the man who claims he is the rightful heir to the throne? Is the mysterious merchant a friend or a foe? And who wants to kill Geoffrey and why? Entertaining and cleverly plotted. --Emily Melton

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727869175
• ISBN-13: 978-0727869173
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Medieval Series, November 11, 2010

By 

Sandra "mystery lover" (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bloodstained Throne (Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The Sir Geoffrey series is an enjoyable exploration of an underused medieval era (the years following the Norman Conquest, when Henry I was intriguing against his elder brother Robert).

However, I much prefer the books that are set in England, rather than the ones that take place in Jerusalem during the Crusades.

The best part of the entire series lies in Geoffrey's difficult relationships with his family, and I ended up wanting more of that and less of swordplay and adventurings.