It is 1195, and Prince John still plots to seize the throne from his brother, Richard the Lionheart—and in his wicked schemes, he is supported by Philip of France. The French king offers to help John financially by sending him a mysterious alchemist, a Mohammedan named Nizam, who claims to be able to turn base materials into gold. But the ship that was transporting Nizam and his retainers is found wrecked off the south Devon coast—its crew savagely slaughtered. Shortly afterward, a Norman knight named Peter le Calve is foully murdered, his severed head stuck on the rood screen of Exeter cathedral. It’s up to Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, to find a motive and connection between the killings. And just what is his unscrupulous brother-in-law, the disgraced ex-sheriff and Prince John-sympathizer, Richard de Revelle, trying to hide?
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, became a Home Office Pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. During his 40-year career with the Home Office, he performed over 25,000 autopsies, and was involved in many high profile cases, including that of Fred and Rose West (he examined all twelve bodies that were recovered) and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of ten novels, a biography and numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written six books in the Crowner John mystrey series.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crowner John Mystery,
By J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Elixir of Death (Crowner John Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Crowner John or to give him his correct title is one of my all time favourite characters in medieval mysteries and if you read or are going to read this or any other of Bernard Knight's Crowner John Mysteries, you will probably understand why.. Dour and more than a little fierce looking but totally honest and incorruptible and a staunch follower of King Richard the Lionheart. He is the total opposite of his brother-in-law the Sheriff of Exeter, apart from the fact that the both have an eye for the ladies.
Prince John is continuing to plot the seize the throne of England away from his brother Richard and he has a staunch and influential ally in Philip the King of France. Philip offers to help solve Prince john's financial problems by sending him an alchemist who claims to be able to transform base metals into gold. But both the ship the alchemist was on and all of the crew are found ship wrecked and murdered off the Devon coast. Later a knight living close to Exeter is found murdered under mysterious circumstances. It's up to the Crowner to piece the puzzle together are two deeds connected and what is his brother the Sheriff and a staunch supporter of Prince John attempting to hide? I don't think that Bernard Knight has written a bad book, certainly not in the Crowner John series and this one certainly lives up to expectations. I loved reading it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Knight Writes an Elixer That Makes Reading Enjoyable,
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This review is from: The Elixir of Death (Crowner John Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)
I only hope that this author and friend continues to put out a book from time to time for those of us who enjoy good literature and good mystery with a good taste of history (and not revisionist history, but as the old U.S. TV show said, "But, You are There."
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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first finder, chief justiciar, pitch brand, kitchen hut, tithe barn Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Richard de Revelle, John de Wolfe, Raymond de Blois, Prince John, William Vado, Sir John, Thomas de Peyne, Count of Mortain, Alexander of Leith, Elixir of Life, Martin's Lane, Burgh Island, Henry de Furnellis, Hugh de Relaga, Hubert Walter, Sir Peter, Idle Lane, Jan the Fleming, Holy Land, Second Crusade, Father Walter, Fore Street, Bush Inn, The Cornishman, Brother Rufus Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
first finder, chief justiciar, pitch brand, kitchen hut, tithe barn Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Richard de Revelle, John de Wolfe, Raymond de Blois, Prince John, William Vado, Sir John, Thomas de Peyne, Count of Mortain, Alexander of Leith, Elixir of Life, Martin's Lane, Burgh Island, Henry de Furnellis, Hugh de Relaga, Hubert Walter, Sir Peter, Idle Lane, Jan the Fleming, Holy Land, Second Crusade, Father Walter, Fore Street, Bush Inn, The Cornishman, Brother Rufus Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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