The Crediton Killings (Knights Templar) [Paperback]

Michael Jecks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998 | Series: Knights Templar

A company of mercenaries is in residence in the town of Crediton. Although they are commonplace in 14th-century England, this group is particularly troublesome, seducing the local girls and showing no respect for anyone. When a robbery takes place among the mercenaries, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Simon Puttock are on hand to investigate. Then a young girl is discovered murdered, hidden in a chest. This is only the first of the Crediton Killings—and as murder follows brutal murder, Furnshill and Puttock must discover the killer's identity before he strikes yet again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A Medieval mystery to rank with the best.” (Northern Echo (England) ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747255970
• ISBN-13: 978-0747255970
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,055 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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful storytelling!, February 21, 2002

By 

kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crediton Killings (Knights Templar) (Paperback)

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!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Mystery for Sir Baldwin, August 21, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crediton Killings: A Knights Templar Mystery (Knights Templar Mysteries (Avon)) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

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

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crediton Killings: A Knights Templar Mystery (Knights Templar Mysteries (Avon)) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.