Customer Reviews

Death of a Squire (Templar Knight Mysteries, No. 2) (Templar Knight Mystery)

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

 

 

Young Squire Hubert de Tournay was possessed of a temperament only a mother could love, and it appears that only person grieving his death is his mother. In the autumn of 1200 A.D. in the county of Lincoln, his body is found hanging from a tree in Sherwood Forest and the gruesome murder incites a torrent of suspicion, falsehoods, and relief.

Hubert couldn't keep his hands to himself and wasn't above using force or blackmail to coerce a maiden's compliance. Was his death a vengeance killing by peasants angry at the assault of one of their own? What about his fellow squires who hated him and might have secrets that Hubert would have been pleased to exploit? Or was his end perpetrated by one of the victims herself? Complicating matters is a visit to Lincoln Castle from King John, who sensitive to any slight, real or imagined, has recently heard innuendos of a covert plan to depose him in favor of his rival Arthur. Hubert's lust for power may have been as hearty as his lust for women. Was he the victim of a desperate underclass of outlaws as many are hopefully asserting, or was he killed for knowing too much about the wayward ambitions of the land's most highborn noblemen?

A complex web of deceit and anger surrounds the death of the unsavory Hubert, and the inhabitants of Lincoln rely once again on Templar Knight Bascot de Marins to unravel the murder and dispel the pall of distrust that ensues. As de Marins goes about solving the crime, the reader learns more about characters introduced in the first novel, and meets other segments of medieval society that help to fill in the history of this place and time, and its inhabitants. I do enjoy these works and hope to read more Templar Knight mysteries in the near future. If you are looking for nighttime reading not so gruesome that you can't sleep, yet with enough complexity of character and plot to tickle the brain cells, I highly recommend this series by Maureen Ash.

First Sentence: The trees in the forest were nearly denuded of leaves.

Templar Knight Bascot de Marins is spending time at Lincoln Castle with his young, mute servant, Gianni. He is still recovering from the torture he suffered at the hands of the Saracans during his years of captivity in the Holy Lands.

King John and King William of Scotland are on their way to Lincoln Castle and everything must be perfect to receive them. The body of young Squire Hubert de Tournay is found hands bound and hung from a tree in the forest. The murder doesn't appear to have been done by poachers as the squire has not been stripped of his fine clothing or accessories. As castellan of Lincoln Castle, Lady Nicolaa de la Haye is responsible for the fife and ensuring peace within it., thus asking Bascot to uncover the killer.

I found this a much better book than the first, "The Alehouse Murders." While there were a lot of characters, each was distinct and easily identified. Lady Nicolaa is a wonderful, strong woman and it's nice to see that woman did play an important role during the time.

But it is Bascot who really draws me to the story. He is a Templar Knight who, while questioning his future, still honors the commitments he made. His care for Gianni, whom he admits feeling about more as a father than a master, adds a humanity and caring to his obvious intellect and strength.

The story is so well researched and plotted with excellent suspense and twists along the way. It was a wonderful read and I hope a series that will continue on for some time.

Maureen Ash provides the second of her Templar Knight series. The story is enjoyable and direct, with a touch of historic humor. The author has devoted a greater part of this novel to developing the supporting characters, and does a good job. However, this story is not as robust as the Alehouse Murders.

THIS BOOK WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED. IT ARRIVED PROMPTLY. I AM ENJOYING THIS SERIES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR.

#2 Bascot de Marins "Templar" mystery set in 1200 Lincoln. King John is coming to Lincoln so the whole town, and most certainly the castle, is astir with preparations. When the squire of Nicolaa de la Haye's brother-in-law is found hanged in the nearby forest, she is concerned that her brother-in-law is somehow involved and that a plot to overthrow the King might be involved--and she needs to know the score before the King's arrival.

Bascot de Marins, a Templar knight who is for now a temporary retainer of Nicolaa and her husband Gerard Camville, sheriff of Lincoln, helped her earlier in the year with another investigation, so she asks him once again to investigate and get to the bottom of the squire's death. Hubert de Tournay was not well-liked, being a nosy braggart who was always ferreting out secrets, and also tended to coerce young women to have assignations with him. Was his death the result of a political plot, or was there a more personal motive?

I enjoyed this second entry in the series more than the first, as we get to know the main character and his supporting cast better. I've read quite a few books set in this time period and this is the first one I recall where there was actually a supporter of King John among the major cast of characters--Nicolaa de la Haye was staunchly in favor of the King.

On a personal level, Bascot struggles with decisions in his own life--whether to rejoin the Templars now that his body and soul are somewhat healed after his years-long captivity in the Holy Land, or permanently become a knight of Nicolaa's household? And what of Gianni, his mute servant whom he rescued from a life of poverty and starvation? Looking forward very much to the next in the series.

Maureen Ash was a new author to me until I read the Alehouse Murders and I believe that was in fact her first book. As I always like to try new writers when I can find them I was happy to read the book and I found it good, light and interesting reading. The type of book where you do not have to try too hard to understand the plot. A tried and tested storyline used by many of the top writers of historical mystery fiction.

A knight from the Templar Order, back in England after eight years of captivity in the Holy Land. Weary in both body and soul, Bascot de Marins injuries have affected his body quite badly but not his fertile mind and as he seeks to regain his strength and well-being while on a stay at the castle in Lincoln, he is on the look-out for something to exercise a mind that has lain fallow, during his long years of captivity.

Well, after cutting his teeth in the novel The Alehouse Murders, Bascot de Marins is more than ready to try to solve another mystery and in this second book Death of a Squire he gets his chance. Templar Bascot de Marins is given the task of unearthing the truth when a young squire's body is found hanging from a tree. Could the young man have taken his own life? De Marins is certain that he did not. Is the squire's death related in any way to a meeting that is to take place within the confines of Lincoln castle, a meeting of King's no less . . .

First in a new templar knight mystery series.

I liked it and want to see how his journey of self and the mysteries he gets into will be solved.

He has been a templar, in the east. Got caught by the Saracens and suffered long years of captivity. Has lost an eye, gotten a bad leg, starting to lose his faith and has saved a mute Italian boy.

He arrives in England, as John becomes king. Thin and weary in mind and
body he is sent to Lincoln castle to regain his strenth. Then the mystery starts and I think we're on a ride to some good reading.