May 1195, and Sir John de Wolfe is faced with a strange series of serial murders, which begins with the suffocation of a Jewish money-lender and proceeds through that of a London harlot, a dissolute priest and a burgess suspected of abusing young boys. The common factor is that an appropriate Biblical text is left at each murder scene, the mode of which reflects the alleged sin of the victim. This means that a literate and Bible-learned killer is involved - which, in an age where only 1% of the population can read or write - can only be a priest. There are at least twenty-five parish churches in Exeter, so the killer could be any one of more than a hundred clerics. Crowner John sets about to discover the identity of the homicidal priest.
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Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, became a Home Office Pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. During his 40-year career with the Home Office, he performed over 25,000 autopsies, and was involved in many high profile cases, including that of Fred and Rose West, and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written thirteen novels in the Crowner John mystery series. Professor Knight lives in Cardiff.
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A thunderous knocking on the street door dimly penetrated Sir John de Wolfe's consciousness and triggered a throbbing headache that told of too much wine the previous evening. Read the first page
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A thunderous knocking on the street door dimly penetrated Sir John de Wolfe's consciousness and triggered a throbbing headache that told of too much wine the previous evening. Read the first page
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:Paperback
In Plantagenet England religion was a far more powerful factor than it is today. The Church had plenty of land and wealth meaning it influenced the day to day lives of everyone. An advantage of working for the Church was the education you received as you would become one of the select people able to read and write. Therefore, when a murder would occur which was linked to some writing the suspect list was greatly reduced. This is the situation that Sir John de Wolfe finds himself investigating after a Jewish money lender is butchered. He must investigate some of the most intelligent and wealthy men in the area.
`The Grim Reaper' is a surprisingly modern feeling book when considering its Norman England setting. The case itself is atypical of many crime novels as a deranged serial killer is on the loose. However, the setting means that it is unlike any modern version and for that it stands out. De Wolfe is a great central character and you appreciate his straight minded justice throughout. It's unfortunate that the techniques of the time are so backwards as you imagine a modern version of him would make a great detective. As a fast paced crime book I enjoyed this, but felt that the story went around in a few too many circles and that the conclusion was a little disappointing. Bernard Knight is able to balance the classic crime elements of the story with historical interest very well; it is the nature of the crimes themselves that make the book feel a little average.
`The Grim Reaper' is a surprisingly modern feeling book when considering its Norman England setting. The case itself is atypical of many crime novels as a deranged serial killer is on the loose. However, the setting means that it is unlike any modern version and for that it stands out. De Wolfe is a great central character and you appreciate his straight minded justice throughout. It's unfortunate that the techniques of the time are so backwards as you imagine a modern version of him would make a great detective. As a fast paced crime book I enjoyed this, but felt that the story went around in a few too many circles and that the conclusion was a little disappointing. Bernard Knight is able to balance the classic crime elements of the story with historical interest very well; it is the nature of the crimes themselves that make the book feel a little average.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By P. Schaum
Format:Paperback
Knight has been writing this and other genre for some time and he never falls short of the goal of good story telling. He and Michael Jecks are my favorite medieval murder mystery writers.
Format:Paperback
Utterly engrossing, well written, such a pleasant read. The only downside is that the story ends. Life in medieval England is so well described and so well explained. Truly superb.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Grim Reaper
By far, this is the best of Bernard Knight's book, that I've read until now.
Just amazing. As usual, I couldn't work out the murderer....
Well worth reading.
Just amazing. As usual, I couldn't work out the murderer....
Well worth reading.
Published on 26 April 2011 by Cath Edinburgh
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good twist at the end
I think this author's virtues and vices must be well known by now. The three central characters are fairly strongly drawn, and one's interested to see what happens to them. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2011 by Michael
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not historically accurate
I've read four of the first six crowner mystery's and this story is just as good as any of the others, but for a series that prides itself on historical accuracy there is a few... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2010 by A. N. Other
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting, unpredictable, medieval murder mystery...
Each novel is stand alone, but builds on what has gone previously. If you have been reading in sequence, by this time John, Gwyn and Thomas are now like old friends. Read more
Published on 29 July 2010 by Dodster
4.0 out of 5 stars
Murder Mystery
If you like historical murder mysteries then this is the one for you. An easy read with a few twists in the plot
Published on 18 May 2009 by Morpeth Ken
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Series is Highly Enjoyable
Bernard Knight, or to give him his correct title, Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, was a pathologist to the Home office until 1980 when he was appointed Professor of Forensic... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2006 by J. Chippindale
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