Falconer's Judgement (A William Falconer Medieval Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ian Morson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1997

In Rome, Pope Alexander IV lies dying. From the East, an assassin is sent by a powerful royal family. In Wallingford Castle a young man is held prisoner, charged with a murder he did not commit...

In the swirling mists of Oxford, Regent Master William Falconer, Aristotelian philosopher and amateur sleuth, searches for the whereabouts of his mentor, Roger Bacon. But a political intrigue is about to explode. The Papal Legate's brother-a master cook-is killed with an arrow during a student riot. While authorities crack down on the disorder and zealots warn of the Apocalypse, Falconer begins an investigation. Now the man of reason must enter a labyrinth or madness-where ambition, deceit, and murder are the order of the day.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1261, England's King Henry III faces nobles and commoners disaffected with his foreign advisers, while factions in Europe vie for control of the papacy as Alexander IV lies dying in Rome. Into this turbulent stew falls William Falconer, Regent Master of the University of Oxford (first encountered in Falconer's Crusade), who attempts to save some students accused of killing Sinibaldo, the master of cooks and brother of the much-unloved Bishop Otho, Papal Legate to England and a candidate for the Holy See. After the chief suspect is murdered, Falconer applies Aristotle's deductive logic, which he has learned from his friend Roger Bacon, to sift though ecclesiastic and worldly plots. He is aided by Knight Templar Guillaume de Beaujeu, sent from Rome to pursue his own order's ends, and Ann Segrim, the unhappy wife of one of the local plotters. Based on a true incident, this lively tale of medieval Oxford offers period detail along with a first-rate mystery in which the coerced aid of a doom-preaching Dominican friar becomes part of the solution.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

As Pope Alexander lies dying in 1264, potential replacements in England flex their muscles. In Oxford, Cardinal Otho attracts more attention when a student allegedly murders Otho's brother. Master Regent William Falconer, of course, saves this student and others. Solid historical mystery?second in the series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (February 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312961510
• ISBN-13: 978-0312961510
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,523,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother, March 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Falconer's Judgement (A William Falconer Medieval Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a fan of medieval mysteries, but found this one very disappointing. The tale is told through brief glimpses of the activities of a number of characters, none well developed. By the middle of the book I still didn't know who everyone was, and I didn't care. I left the book unfinished. Stick with Ellis Peters, Candace Robb, and Margaret Frazer for GOOD stories in the genre.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable!, July 8, 2009

By 

Sharon H. Shearouse "abknk" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Falconer's Judgement (Hardcover)

I'm a fan of Medieval Mysteries & Ian Morson is one of my favorite mystery authors of this genre. His books are usually set in Oxford University & it's environs. His character, Regent Master William Falconer, is a progressive (modern for the time) teacher and amateur detective & as a result of this has a lot of trouble with his church, his fellows & the other Masters & Regents at Oxford. Falconer is a medieval Sherlock Holmes...or so it seems to me.
In this book(second in the series)Pope Alexander is dying, the brother of one of his likely successors is killed by an arrow. At the same time students in Oxford are rioting (thus some of the confusion in the book). Many believe it's one of these students who killed the victim, but Falconer wonders...?
There are a lot of characters & you have to go back & forth, but I liked this as that's the way real life is.
It's not one of his best, but still a good read.