6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful storytelling!, February 21, 2002
I first became acquainted with the novels of Michael Jecks a bit more than a year ago, when an unknown-to-me resident of my community gave a book to our library that she had bought in England, read on the plane coming home and decided to let others share her enjoyment. That book was 'Squire Throwleigh's Heir'. What a treat! And what a good idea, too, as the library is now ordering the books directly, instead of relying on gifts.
Even though I've now read two of the books out of sequence, I don't think that's a problem, although certainly I'll have to read more to find out how Simon and Baldwin got together in the first place. Michael Jecks is one terrific storyteller, in my opinion. He makes the characters as well as the time in which they live come alive, in ways that other novels seem to miss. And, from reading reviews of some of his other books here, perhaps sometimes his research is not 100% accurate, I really don't know, not having lived during the time being written about. I do know, however, that if I really wanted to learn more history, I wouldn't choose fiction as the means of doing so.
I've read enough of the medieval period, however, to believe that Mr. Jecks has done more than a little homework. I believe his version of the 1300s is more realistic--noisier, dirtier and less nice than that of many another author. On the other hand, his way with dialogue is masterful, and he chooses to forward his story by using that device more often than not.
In this episode, a troup of mercenaries--hard, coarsened men of war--stop to rest in the small town of Crediton, not far from Exeter, and before anyone has time to do much more than blink, two women of the town are found dead. A robbery occurs, and as it happens, the Keeper of the King's Peace, Baldwin Furnshill along with his friend, Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford Castle are visiting the local priest to celebrate a visit by the bishop.
Simon and his wife Marguerite have recently lost their toddler son to a childhood illness and have not yet been able to reconcile this loss to or with each other. This leaves Simon to spend perhaps more time than usual with Baldwin and his investigations. Initially, it certainly does appear that the culprit is a young recruit named Cole, but if he really did steal the plate from the mercenary captain, Sir Hector, what did he do with it all before he got conked on the head?
Baldwin methodically and carefully investigates all the possibilities before yet another body is discovered. With none of the modern detection methods available, Baldwin and Simon use their wits and various skills to eliminate the impossibilities and find the improbable culprit. A very satisfying and enjoyable book!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Mystery for Sir Baldwin, August 21, 2006
This is the fourth book in Michael Jeck's entertaining Knights Templar Mysteries. The main characters Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace and his friend the Bailiff Simon Puttock are starting to feel like old friends to the reader. Combine this with the beautiful background of west country Devon and it would seem that Mr. Jeck's has hit on a winning formula.
Medieval novels are becoming increasingly popular with the reading public and there are a number of well written books by authors such as Paul Doherty, Bernard Knight, Susanna Gregory, to name but a few. Michael Jecks has a way to go in numbers of books written before he catches up with these stalwarts, but his content is good and his writing style makes for easy reading.
14th century Devon and a gang of mercenaries are becoming a nuisance to the local villages. Mercenaries are a common enough site in these troublesome times but this group are particularly troublesome, showing no respect for anyone and seducing what local girls they can get hold of. Then one of the young girls is found murdered and hidden in a chest. Is the killer one of the mercenaries, or is it one of the locals? Sir Baldwin needs to find out as quickly as possible before another murder is committed.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The 4th Sir Baldwin Furnshill/Baliff Simon Puttock Adventure!, October 23, 2006
The arrival of an unsavory band of mercenaries in 14th century Crediton is just the start of some nasty doings involving the popular detective team of Simon Puttock and Baldwin Furnshill. As if the unruly mercenaries aren't enough trouble, the bodies of murdered women start turning up all over the Devonshire town. Despite having several suspects including the leader of the mercenaries, Sir Hector de Gorsone, Furnshill and Puttock are hardpressed to uncover the truth.
I enjoyed this book for several reasons. As with others in the series, Jecks does a marvelous job of recreating life in a 14th century English town. Secondly, though the book is obviously concerned with murder most foul, I enjoyed another visit with Furnshill, Puttock & Co. In each book of the series I've read, they've come across as real people, human beings with problems, hopes, dreams, etc. Even Sir Hector, a cad and a bounder of the first order, is revealed to be a frail human being.
As fas as the unraveling of the murders go, the plot is serviceable enough. Furnshill and Puttock doggedly follow the clues and try and make sense of everything but I wanted to say, "guys, think outside the box!" I thought the killer was spookily done, a very nasty piece of work that one. And I enjoyed the "just desserts" ending but you'll have to read the book to find that out.
In any case, this is an enjoyable tale of a fascinating time and place populated by memorable characters.
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