King of Thieves (Knights Templar Mysteries 26) [Paperback]

Michael Jecks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 2008 | Series: Knights Templar Mysteries 26

Baldwin and Simon uncover a deadly assassination plot in Michael Jecks's latest novel in his hugely popular medieval crime series. It's 1325, and Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock are in France to join Prince Edward and Bishop Walter's entourage as they make their journey to the palace of the French king, Charles IV. The Prince must make a demeaning submission in order for the English to keep hold of their French territories. Meanwhile, Queen Isabella has been causing a scandal in the French courts with English traitor Roger Mortimer. The Prince's entourage are delivered into the Queen's custody, but it becomes clear that they have enemies within the palace walls. Simon and Baldwin soon discover a murderous plot that threatens England's future...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jecks's 26th Knights Templar mystery (after 2008's The Prophecy of Death). In 1325, England's Edward II prepares to pay homage to the French king, Charles IV, in order to retain two precious territories in France. At the last minute, Edward decides to send his willful and untested teenage son in his place, with orders to Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Baldwin's longtime friend, Simon Puttock, to watch over his son on the journey. In Paris, Queen Isabella, Charles's sister and Edward's wife, is trying to keep the peace, though she bitterly resents her husband's relationship with his intimate adviser, Sir Hugh le Despenser. Meanwhile, the Procureur of Paris, Jean de Poissy, has two murders to investigate—that of a man who was on a mysterious visit to the Louvre palace, and that of a naked woman found near the palace. Frequent scene shifts help move the complex, multilayered plot. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Fans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jeck's 26th Knights Templar mystery."  —Publishers Weekly

"The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular."  —Library Journal

"Memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background . . . a commendable achievement."  —Kirkus Reviews

"The most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels."  —The Times

"Really difficult to put down."  —Historical Novels Review

"Each page is densely packed with cuckolding, coarseness, lewdness, lechery, gore galore, but also with nobility. A heady mix."  —North Devon Journal

"A gem of historical storytelling."  —Northern Echo

"Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras."  —Ellery Queen

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Headline Hardbacks (November 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755349032
• ISBN-13: 978-0755349036
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,531,864 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

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The King of Thieves, December 6, 2009

By 

S. Heltzel "Rocker63" (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: King of Thieves (Knights Templar Mysteries 26) (Paperback)

I started with one of the later books in The Templar Mysteries, The Templar, the Queen and her Lover.
Loved this book so much, I started reading the whole series.

Well written, superbly researched, it gives you a believable inside of medieval life.
This is a series, that I highly highly recommend.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The plot thickens!, January 24, 2010

By 

John Little (Stockton, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The King of Thieves (Knights Templar Mysteries (Headline)) (Paperback)

Jecks' style is really showing the polish that practice and diligent research can bring. The story is very smooth, with intrigue going on at several different levels. If you want to--or have to--learn the history of 14th-century England, this is the way to do it--a good, gripping tale set against an historically accurate background.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and Well-Plotted Mystery, July 25, 2010

By 

E. Clinton (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The King of Thieves (Knights Templar Mysteries (Headline)) (Paperback)

This mystery, part of a long series by Michael Jecks, is well-researched and carefully plotted. This was my introduction to the series about two English Knights who solve crimes in the murky Middle Ages reign of Edward II. This mystery was set in 1325 and it concerns multiple killings that occurred in Paris, France near the palace of the French King, Charles IV.

What made this book so entertaining is that many of the major characters, King Charles IV of France, King Edward II of England, Sir Hugh le Despenser, Roger de Mortimer, Bishop Walter Stapledon, Queen Isabella of France, were real people who lived during 1325 and did the things that are set forth in the book. In 1325 Queen Isabella was on a diplomatic mission from England to France. (The French King was her brother). When Edward II ordered her to return, she refused.

The series will continue and eventually cover the 1326 invasion of England by Queen Isabella and Roger de Mortimer. I can't wait to read more books in this series.