Customer Reviews

The Leper's Return: A Knights Templar Mystery (Avon))

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Murder most foul invades a medieval English village and soon the team of Sir Baldwin Furnshill and baliff Simon Puttock are once again trying to unravel the mystery. To complicate matters, the locals are inveighing against a local leper house and - did I mention? - Sir Baldwin also has romance on his mind. Michael Jecks does his usual marvelous job in interweaving all these plot elements in this sixth, enormously entertaining volume in his 'Medieval West Country Mystery' series.

Jecks simply has no equals when it comes to this genre. His books ring with authenticity; his characters are engaging and eminently human; and the plots well constructed and imaginative.

'Leper's Return' is entertaining from start to finish, a first rate page-turner. Highly recommended as is the whole series!

Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, has his hands full. The town's leper hospital has a new master and a town suddenly turned violent against the hospital and its residents. Godfrey of London, the town's most prominent citizen, has been murdered, his daughter and servant attacked. Everyone is quick to place the blame on the local conman and womanizer, John of Irelaunde, but Baldwin doesn't believe it. He has the help of his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock. Simon and his wife have come to visit, bringing the young woman Jeanne, whom Baldwin hopes to marry. Finally, there is Jeanne's maid servant, Emma, and an enthusiastic Mastiff "Chops."

Jecks brings his characters to life with humor, insecurities, determination, and resolve. He presents a view of life in Medieval England that illustrates the role of religion and superstition in people's lives. Jecks provides a story that is layered and twists satisfactorily along the way. I learned, I laughed, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.