Customer Reviews

Squire Throwleigh's Heir (Knights Templar)

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

 

 

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.

During the trouble reign of Edward II Squire Roger Throwleigh fears that any day might be his last, as the pain in and around his heart increases. He is worried about the fate of his young son and heir, Herbert, but he takes consolation in knowing that his wife Katherine will protect the boy.

Unfortunately just days after Roger falls dead from his horse in the middle of an argument with a tenant he is about to evict, a cart driver runs over Herbert, in what seems to be a cruel accident.

Sir Baldwin is already at the Throwleigh property as he had gone there to attend the funeral. Against the mother's wishes he quickly examines the boy and sure enough, the skull shows signs of being crushed by a heavy object, but Sir Baldwin is not convinced and decides to investigate further.

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

This historical mystery is thoroughly researched and well plotted. Set in the West Country of medieval England, the story uses the remote moorland setting to good advantage as Sir Baldwin and his friend Simon investigate the death of a young lad who was said to have fallen under a cart. This was a common enough occurence, hardly something for the Keeper of the King's Peace to investigate. But this lad, who recently inherited a large estate on the death of his father, had many enemies - starting, apparently with his mother.

This book has an unusually intriguing cast of characters, from the evil yet all-too-human priest to the charming foreign knight who is not what he appears to be. Even the children in this book are characters to be reckoned with. If you enjoy the medieval mystery buy not just this book but the whole series.

A good mystery, although it did tend to get bogged down at times. Not as intriguing as the previous mysteries in the series but enjoyable nontheless. Part of the problem I suspect is that few of the characters are likeable; it is especially difficult to feel any real empathy for Lady Katherine, who looses both her husband and son in a matter of days. However the book is rich in detail and atmosphere, and is, as I had already noted a rather good mystery.

I started this series somewhat accidentally 5+ years ago. It was a later title. Needless to say I now have read all titles in this series. It is difficult for most authors to sustain a series over time, but Jecks does his historical research well and then tells a plausible tale within the historical context. There are few modern authors who have so kept my interest over time especially in the genre of historical fiction.

I know my reviews of this series are always positive, but they are so good.

First Sentence: If he'd known that this was the day he was going to die, Squire Roger of Throwleigh would have behaved more coolly, but lacking this prescience, he lost his temper instead.

The wedding of Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, is fast approaching. His good friends, Bailiff Simon Puttock and his wife, have come to help him celebrate. Before the wedding, they receive news that one of their expected guests, Roger, Squire of Throwleigh, has died leaving behind a wife and five-year-old son and heir. Soon after the Squire's funeral, they receive news the child is also dead. Baldwin comes to believe the child's death wasn't an accident, but murder.

This book was really a traditional country house mystery set in the Middle Ages. The quality of Jecks writing and research are clear in the details of the story.

The story is very well plotted with twists right up to the last paragraph. There were plenty of suspects, each with a good motive. Jecks does a wonderful job of balancing the harshness of the period with the friendship of Baldwin and Simon.

Baldwin's questions about his marriage, having been a Templar Knight, provide some interesting questions and insights into the character. This series improves with every book and I'm delighted to know I've many books ahead of me.