The Mad Monk of Gidleigh (Knights Templar) [Paperback]

Michael Jecks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Knights Templar | Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Alone in his isolated, windswept chapel on the edge of Dartmoor, his only companions moor men and poverty–stricken serfs, who could blame the young priest, Mark for seeking affection from Jane, the local miller’s daughter? But when Jane’s body is found brutally stabbed, Mark is the obvious suspect—and the discovery that Jane was pregnant seems to confirm his guilt. Called in to investigate, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Simon Puttock soon begin to have their doubts. Could it not have been one of Jane’s many admirers who murdered her in a fit of jealousy? Or her father, the miller, who is acting in an increasingly disturbed manner? And what exactly is the local Baron trying to hide? In their search for the truth, Furnshill and Puttock unwittingly place themselves and their families in the greatest danger they have ever faced.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A delightful medieval series.” -- Publishers Weekly

“Memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background… a commendable achievement.” -- Kirkus Reviews

“Nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving and memorable characters… belongs in any collection where historicals are popular.” -- Library Journal

From the Publisher

In this richly atmospheric series of medieval murder mysteries, Michael Jecks gives us tales steeped in intrigue and historical detail. Skillfully evoking the colorful, but often brutal tableaux of the Middle Ages, Jecks has drawn comparison with Ellis Peters. Now former Knight Templar Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, his savvy sleuths, are on the case again in another compelling, well–crafted tale.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755301692
• ISBN-13: 978-0755301690
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #793,485 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the end, everything is as it should be..., March 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mad Monk of Gidleigh (Knights Templar) (Paperback)

If you're here because you read all adventures of Brother Cadfael and you found, like I did, that you wanted more stories about medieval England then you have come to the right place!

Let me say that although the mystery in the story is sufficient, it's in the characters and in the reality of everyday life that the story comes alive. The author (who, btw, knows medieval history so well he plays with his inexperienced readers from time to time) is fascinated with the imbalance of power between the serfs and their masters: the nobles and the clergy. He describes with passion the abuse of power perpetrated by the not-so-noble knights on the submissive local serfs. The knights think themselves invulnerable as they believe they have the support of the most powerful family in the kingdom. Yet, their plotting leaves them with no real friends and their newly acquired castle is guarded by hired soldiers who have their own agenda in mind.

A girl is viciously murdered and the priest who had an affair with her is accused, but soon we find out he's not guilty of killing her and her death is somehow tied to another murder of a man whom she has never known, but who held some secrets of the lord of the castle. Into that complicated web of local gossip and vicious plotting for yet more power Sir Baldwin arrives. He's an ex-Templar, now married and for the first time since the destruction of his Order daring to be happy. He's been charged by the king with finding the truth. He's a worldly man, a little cynical from his experiences, yet a kind man despite his ruling manner. By the time he's figured out the depth of evil contained in the murder mystery the reader will believe the medieval times were indeed very dark. Yet, things are at their darkest just before sunrise. It's the good act that redeems the cruel man and there is no act that can't be redeemed. We see the men get up and live their simple lives in dignity because the justice was done just as our knight marches off on a pilgrimage to pay for his mistake.

I think Brother Cadfael would say "things are as they should be."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars subpar, January 12, 2008

By 

Rojogaix (Davie, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Mad Monk of Gidleigh (Knights Templar) (Paperback)

I have read all previous books in this series, and find this to be the least laudable. It is as wordy as Dickens with descriptions of place unnecessarily and inappropriately long. Too much text is spent in ascription of emotions and attitudes to the characters--most of which are either repetitious or irritatingly conventional and perfunctory (or both).
I found the plot too complex for the novel's perameters. Normally, Jecks's establishes and develops several subplots, then ties them all together in a grand climax. This had too many small loose ends which had to be dealt with at the end, producing a leaden climax--so different from his usual neat and powerful conlusions.
I wish to make clear that I like reading Michael Jecks and will continue to read the series. It's just that at times I thought this one might have been written by someone else.
Robert Gaines 1/13/08

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Small actions bring big consequences, December 3, 2008

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mad Monk of Gidleigh (Knights Templar) (Hardcover)

First Sentence: In the darkened room, the man's shattered body gave a final convulsive jerk.

Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and Bailiff Simon Puttock must leave their families and travel to the village of Gidleigh. The beautiful daughter of the town's miller has been found dead, the young monk, by whom she was pregnant, the obvious suspect. This wouldn't have involved Simon but that a miner has also died, and that is under his jurisdiction.

Upon their arrival at Wonson Manor, they find Sir Ralph is the new owner and his son Esmon in charge of a band of mercenary soldiers. Tension in the village increases as truths are exposed and more die.

Jecks is one of the better historical writers. There is excellent attention to period detail and a very strong sense of time and place.

All the characters are fully dimensional and well drawn. I like that the two protagonists' lives have changed through the series. They come through as real people with great strengths and realistic weaknesses and consequences. They are not the only characters who change, others do as well.

The story is very well plotted. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it turned. I particularly liked that the point was made that small actions can have big consequences.

This was another very good book in an excellent series and I'm happy to know I've many more books to go.