The Outlaws of Ennor (Medieval West Country Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Michael Jecks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Medieval West Country Mysteries | Publication Date: January 2004

Shipwrecked, Baldwin and Simon are washed ashore on neigbouring islands. Both are independently charged with investigating the murder of a tax gatherer, embroiling them in the bitter rivalry between two island communities. Can they uncover the truth in time to prevent a massacre?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Jecks is one of the most reliable practitioners of historical crime writing, and all his idiosyncratic virtues are on show here. On their return home from their pilgrimage, Baldwin and Simon's ship is attacked off the coast of the Scilly Isles, and Baldwin is swept overboard. Washed ashore on the tiny island of Ennor, Simon has to put aside his grief when the master of the castle, Ranulph, orders him to investigate the murder of the island's tax gatherer. Meanwhile Baldwin has been washed ashore and is nursed back to health by the beautiful Tedia. He uncovers a different picture of the island as he too begins to investigate the murder. Jecks gave up a career in computers to concentrate on writing and the study of medieval history; readers have cause to be grateful for the career move.

About the Author

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry to concentrate on writing and the study of medieval history, especially that of Devon and Cornwall. He lives with his family in northern Dartmoor. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 396 pages
• Publisher: Headline; 1st ed/1st printing edition (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755301722
• ISBN-13: 978-0755301720
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,803,012 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

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars for the want of Viagra..., October 11, 2004

By 

Austen Fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Outlaws of Ennor (Knights Templar) (Mass Market Paperback)

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!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars tedious - not one of Jeck's best, November 12, 2004

By 

Anna I. Smith "mystery maestra" (St. Clair Shores, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Outlaws of Ennor (Knights Templar) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jecks, November 9, 2006

By 

P. Schaum "prussblue" (St. Louis area, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Outlaws of Ennor (Knights Templar) (Mass Market Paperback)

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).