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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another great mystery!, January 3, 2007
The mysteries of Michael Jecks are like the Brother Cadfael books only in their setting: medieval England. But, where Ellis Peters is lyrical and mystical, Jecks is gritty and dark. I am reminded of G.R.R. Martin's books when I read Jecks', but, unlike Martin, Jecks has someone for the reader to identify with, his detectives, Sir Baldwin of Furnesshill and his friend Simon Puttock. Both are admirable and well-drawn characters, and both have suffered loss: Baldwin is a former Templar who escaped their purge by the French king, Phillip, miscalled the Fair. Simon has lost a child, his beloved Peterkin. They are both driven to seek justice in a world where it is scarce. I have enjoyed the fourteen of the books I have read so far. This is not the best: I would rank "Squire Throwleigh's Heir" as that, but all have ther own excellences. Recommended.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Mystery for Sir Baldwin, August 21, 2006
This is the third book in Michael Jeck's entertaining Knights Templar Mysteries. The main characters Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace and his friend the Bailiff Simon Puttock are starting to feel like old friends to the reader. Combine this with the beautiful background of west country Devon and it would seem that Mr. Jeck's has it on a winning formula. Medieval novels are becoming increasingly popular with the reading public and there are a number of well written books by authors such as Paul Doherty, Bernard Knight, Susanna Gregory, to name but a few. Michael Jecks has a way to go in numbers of books written before he catches up with these stalwarts, but his content is good and his writing style makes for easy reading. As with most other land owners in 14th century Devon Sir William Beauscyr is Lord and master over all he surveys, both land and servants. When he is made aware that one of his serfs has run away to join the tin miners who eke out a living on the moors he is furious. Consequently when the serf is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Sir William is in the frame as the chief suspect. Will Sir Baldwin and Simon be able to come up with a solution to this one. The tinners, a nickname given to the miners, are a close knit community and Sir Baldwin fears he will get little information from them.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Third novel is terrific!, August 25, 2011
One reason I like reading historical mysteries is that I always seem to learn something new about life in different eras and far away places. Michael Jecks's A Moorland Hanging, the third in his series featuring Bailiff Simon Puttick and former Templar knight Sir Baldwin Furnshill, centers around England's tin mining industry in the early fourteenth century. Monarchs had granted miners special privileges during medieval times, giving them a broad range of freedoms. This leeway forms the basis of the mystery in A Moorland Hanging. When a miner is found hanged from a tree, it is soon discovered that he is an escaped villein from the local knight's service and has found refuge in the safety of the King's rules protecting tin miners. Was his murder an act of retribution by the knight Sir William or his sons? Or could he have run afoul of Thomas Smyth, the most powerful miner in the area who's strong-arming others into leaving, giving him more control and more wealth? Simon and Baldwin have a very daunting task. Everyone near the victim has secrets and does not trust anyone else. Not even the bailiff and his friend, the Templar knight, whose ideals are usually considered above reproach. Confounding the mystery is the favoritism shown to the victim Peter Bruther by Smyth. Simon and Baldwin discover that Bruther enjoyed unusual immunity from Smyth and his bullies who used heavy-handed techniques and assault to clear out other miners unwanted by him. Sir William's sons, Robert and John feud among each other as well. Robert as the oldest is the heir to the manor and all its lands. This understandably stirs up resentment in the younger brother, John who has been gone for several years training to become a knight. Robert thinks Joh is brash, wild and immature. John thinks Robert is soft, spineless and does not have what it takes to keep villeins in line and from disgracing the family name. Jecks describes early fourteenth century England with stark vividness. He can easily give the reader a clear image of the moors, the Beauscyr Manor and the stuffiness of an English summer; the hardships of the tin miners as they struggle to eke out a living off of the very-often harsh land; and the political environment of the current ruler. He illustrates this backdrop with the hierarchy and stations of Edward II's subjects and their opinions of him. This culture is fascinating and brought to life by Jecks's able story-telling. A Moorland Hanging is a complex mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.
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