Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cowleys Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so.
Unhallowed Ground
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Unhallowed Ground" is the fine fourth installment of the Hugh de Singleton series by Mel Starr. Hugh de Singleton is a 14th Century English surgeon who is also the bailiff, or general manager, for the estate of an important nobleman in the southeastern part of England. A perceptive and principled man for the times, de Singleton has emerged into kind of early police detective, who is kept busy by a continuous stream of crimes--major and minor--ranging from curfew violation to game poaching to murder. "Unhallowed..." opens with the death of a village one-man-crimewave, Thomas atta-Bridge. Bailiff de Singleton quickly concludes that the death, staged to look like suicide, is actually a murder. There is immediately a long list of suspects. The victim was hated by virtually everyone in the village of Brampton, where he and de Singleton live. The Bailiff himself has reason to rejoice at att-Bridge's death as the man had twice tried to kill him. From this point forward, the novel follows a classic police procedural course as de Singleton works to pare down the list of murder suspects. Early into the process, he and his new wife Kate become murder targets, effectively opening a second storyline.
There are a couple of things that made this novel above average reading for me. The characters are mostly well sketched and accessible. While the protagonist is not Mensa-smart, he is logical, fair-minded and a credible everyman kind of guy. This storyline sends him into one sleuthing blind alley after another, and after each dead end, he doggedly and convincingly reassesses and moves on.
The second element that I liked about this book--and others in the series--is the great amount of detail about daily life in medieval England that is included in the stories. Author Starr has done an enormous amount of research for this series and provides a helpful glossary at the beginning of the books. The overall result is to give palpable authenticity to the work.
A good read and recommended.
There are a couple of things that made this novel above average reading for me. The characters are mostly well sketched and accessible. While the protagonist is not Mensa-smart, he is logical, fair-minded and a credible everyman kind of guy. This storyline sends him into one sleuthing blind alley after another, and after each dead end, he doggedly and convincingly reassesses and moves on.
The second element that I liked about this book--and others in the series--is the great amount of detail about daily life in medieval England that is included in the stories. Author Starr has done an enormous amount of research for this series and provides a helpful glossary at the beginning of the books. The overall result is to give palpable authenticity to the work.
A good read and recommended.
23 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hugh, the bailiff-cum-surgeon, is at it again with delightful results.
November 8, 2011
By Mark Reid
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unhallowed Ground is an intriguing historical mystery with likable characters, dry humor, and genuinely thoughtful commentary on the nature of humanity and Christianity. I find Mel Starr's writing refreshingly straightforward and this is another fine story in an excellent series. There are revealing references to previous books and few words wasted getting you up to speed, so read them in order: "The Unquiet Bones", "A Corpse at St. Andrews", "A Trail of Ink", "Unhallowed Ground", and hopefully many more.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are a dyed-in-the-wool Mel Starr fan (as I am), you'll like "Unhallowed Ground."
In the fourth book of a series, young Hugh de Singleton continues his career as a bailiff, surgeon, and detective. Violence has invaded the small 13th century community of Bampton, England, with suicide, murder, arson, and attacks on Hugh's life. As bailiff for Lord Gilbert Talbot, Hugh must solve the interlocking crimes.
One helpful aid for modern readers is a glossary with definitions of such words as "leirwite," "suffusio," and "toft." Placement of the list at the front of the book makes it easy to check a meaning without having to stop and hunt.
In comparison with the rest of the series, "Unhallowed Ground" is a bit more slowly paced, but will undoubtedly satisfy readers who seek out the quieter air of medieval life.
I was pleased to see that a fifth Hugh de Singleton book, "The Tainted Coin," is already planned, and I eagerly await its coming.
In the fourth book of a series, young Hugh de Singleton continues his career as a bailiff, surgeon, and detective. Violence has invaded the small 13th century community of Bampton, England, with suicide, murder, arson, and attacks on Hugh's life. As bailiff for Lord Gilbert Talbot, Hugh must solve the interlocking crimes.
One helpful aid for modern readers is a glossary with definitions of such words as "leirwite," "suffusio," and "toft." Placement of the list at the front of the book makes it easy to check a meaning without having to stop and hunt.
In comparison with the rest of the series, "Unhallowed Ground" is a bit more slowly paced, but will undoubtedly satisfy readers who seek out the quieter air of medieval life.
I was pleased to see that a fifth Hugh de Singleton book, "The Tainted Coin," is already planned, and I eagerly await its coming.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a great series!
I read the first of the Hugh De Singleton series as a lark, and quickly became entranced. I have since read each of the books up through the latest and can not wait for the next... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Joanne A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Thoroughly Enjoyable Reading Experience
Mr. Starr has created a series of books that, although they have to do with certain crimes committed, are amond the most relaxing, tranquil stories that I have ever read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rita Book Daly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this character and his mysteries
Hugh de Singleton is a great character in a fascinating time period -- and he has to solve his mysteries over the time it takes to ride a horse or walk miles to various locations... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marian E. Misner
5.0 out of 5 stars
a crisis of conscience
this installment sees Hugh's investigation complicated, not because he can't solve the crime, but because he doesn't want to if it means implicating a good man. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ivan Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent fun!
I have really enjoyed reading this series of medieval whodunits and since I grew up not that far from where they are set, that just makes them even more interesting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Aurelius
4.0 out of 5 stars
For lovers of medieval mysteries
Once I started reading this series featuring Hugh de Singleton by Melvin R Starr, I couldn't stop. Searching for historical fiction that really captured a specific era (I was... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Karen B
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love this series!
I am hooked - am reading yet another right now. I love Hugh, the whole cast of characters, and events as they take place serve to make a great yarn. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jacque L
5.0 out of 5 stars
Always Dependably Good!
Each book in this series is something to look forward to reading. Hugh is an engaging and interesting hero who is served well by Mel Starr's writing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by AllBookedUp
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of a series that is habitforming
I am just finishing this series of books. I must admit surgeon Hugh has just performed cataract surgery on a monk.... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Powderpuff
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
Again a terrific addition to this series about Hugh Singleton, Bailiff and Surgeon. Equal amounts of humor and mystery. Characters are wonderfully described and memorable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Windywoman
