Customer Reviews

OUTLAWS OF ENNOR

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Michael Jenks is a talented writer. His myteries are generally full of atmosphere, well paced and populated with believable characters. This is one of the exceptions.

If "Master and Commander" and a Regency bodice ripper had a retarded (...)child, this would be it.

The first quarter of the book is devoted to a ship wreck and the repetitive whining of the "unserviced" and insatiable wife, the angst suffered by her floppy hubby, repeats of every euphemism known for male genitalia and constant references to what the wife needs "between her aching loins." The wife sues for divorce as the marriage has never been consumated. The events are based on a true case from the 1300's.

Given the title, you might wonder what this has to do with the story. Not much. Yet this rather thin back story takes up a substantial part of the book. You'll also learn more than you ever wanted to know about customs taxes in medieval England. I suppose the objective was to build atmosphere. It doesn't work and it's quite annoying.

There are better mysteries out there, many by the same author. Don't waste your time on this one!

I am a huge fan of this series, but not of this book. It seemed to take a departure from others in the series in several ways. It spent much time on philosophical issues like marriage, friendship, taking lives, etc. If i wanted that, I wouldn't be reading mysteries. Even his foreword is long and tedious! And one of his steadfast characters reveals a major character flaw, which I found very disheartening, and quite odd after 15+ novels. A long and unsatisfying book.

I have previously reviewed this author. He is superior and my only regret is that once I found his works that I read everything he has written within two months. I only wish he could write faster. British film and TV would be well advised to base a series on this mystery series rather than some of the current work they produce (stated by an American).

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry when he began writing the internationally successful Templar series. Well all I can say is the Computer Industries loss is the reader's gain. He has now written about a score of the Knights Templar mystery books featuring Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock and there are more to follow. Michael's books are full of intrigue and mystery and they are particularly well researched. Mr. Jecks lives in the area he writes about and I am sure this must assist him a great deal with his background research.

If my memory serves me correctly this is the first time that Sir Baldwin and Simon have been taken out of their Devon surroundings. I am not sure whether it is coincidence but I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the others.

Baldwin and Simon are returning from a Pilgrimage to Spain when their ship is attacked by pirates. After trying to fight their way out of the trouble Simon is distraught when he sees Sir Baldwin swept overboard.

Simon is washed ashore on the island of Ennor and but cannot get over the fact that his friend must surely be dead, but he has to put aside his grief when he is asked to investigate the murder of the Island's tax man. Meanwhile unbeknown to Simon Sir Baldwin has been saved, washed up on the neighbouring island of St. Nicholas. He is nursed back to health by the beautiful Tedia and forgets that he has a wife waiting for him at home.

Baldwin also begins to investigate the murder of the tax man and soon begins to realise that there is no love lost between the two local communities. Will their parallel investigations bring Baldwin and Simon together again?

Jenks knows how to write and tell a good story that is historically accurate. A really good "whodunit."

I've read several other books by Michael Jecks, but this was the first one that talked so much about sex and sexual customs. It also kept me guessing throughout the story. I had also never heard of the Scilly Isles. I actually went and looked them up and saw photos of them. This made reading the story all the more interesting. As always the people were interesting and the mystery engrossing.

Fans of this author's Medieval mysteries will be thrilled with yet another: a story of Baldwin and Simon's shipwreck and Simon's loss of a good friend in its aftermath. When a castle's master demands Simon investigate the murder of one Robert, a hated tax collector, he must put aside his grief and finds himself in the middle of a heated battle. Realistic settings and a fast-paced plot keep this inviting and fresh.