- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (2 April 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 074329498X
- ISBN-13: 978-0743294980
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15 x 4.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,118,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Bernard Knight has long been one of the most reliable and sheerly entertaining practitioners of the historical crime novel, and it's not hard to see why. His particular skill is the marrying of astute historical detail with ingenious plotting, and The Noble Outlaw is a perfect example of that synthesis. In 12th century Exeter, a school is in the process of being renovated when a mummified body is discovered in the rafters. Inevitably, it is the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe who is commissioned to investigate. In fact, it is Sir John’s brother-in-law, Richard de Revelle, the founder of the school, who supplies an instant (and rather too glib) an explanation, blaming a youthful rebel knight who has been reduced to sleeping rough on Dartmoor. Sir John discovers other corollary evidence against the young man, but he is never one to accept the obvious explanation, and digs deeper. And then a second violent murder takes the whole investigation into a critical phase.
All of the things that have made Bernard Knight's previous outings in the historical crime field so pleasurable are evident here (without, perhaps, quite the verve of earlier books); the best writing involves that crucial sleight-of-hand of the genre: refracting ancient sensibilities through modern modes of speech (who could accept a whole novel written in the authentic idiom?), but convincing us -- at every opportunity -- of the verisimilitude of what we’re reading. The Noble Outlaw adds more lustre to Bernard Knight's already solid reputation. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
"Brings medieval Exeter to life with gritty realism, smells and all, but with an underlying sympathy and humor." --"Historical Novels Review"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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. He has now written eleven books in the much read Crowner John series and Bernard Knight is certainly one of my favourite authors among those who write medieval mysteries.
Crowner John or to give him his correct title, Sir John de Wolfe, is one of my all time favourite characters in medieval mysteries and if you read or are going to read this or any other of Bernard Knight's Crowner John Mysteries, you will probably understand why.. Dour and more than a little fierce looking but totally honest and incorruptible and a staunch follower of King Richard the Lionheart. He is the total opposite of his brother-in-law the ex-Sheriff of Exeter, apart from the fact that the both have an eye for the ladies.
The place is Exeter, the year 1195. Renovations are taking place at the new school in Smythen Street, a school funded by Crowner John's brother-in-law and ex-sheriff Richard de Revelle. A partially decomposed body is found in the loft of one of the out-buildings. John as Coroner is called to investigate. When it becomes apparent that the dead man is the missing treasurer of the guild of Cordwainers, de Revelle immediately seeks to put the blame on a young outlaw, a Cornish knight by the name of Nicholas de Arundell whose Devon manor the wily ex-sheriff has appropriated while Arundell was away at the Crusades.
Richard claims that the body has been dumped there in order to discredit his new school. The investigation becomes even more complex when another guild-master is found dead on the road from Tavistock to Exeter. Is Nicholas de Arundell, really responsible for the deaths, or is the ex-sheriff just putting up a smoke screen to confuse Crowner John?
Crowner John or to give him his correct title, Sir John de Wolfe, is one of my all time favourite characters in medieval mysteries and if you read or are going to read this or any other of Bernard Knight's Crowner John Mysteries, you will probably understand why.. Dour and more than a little fierce looking but totally honest and incorruptible and a staunch follower of King Richard the Lionheart. He is the total opposite of his brother-in-law the ex-Sheriff of Exeter, apart from the fact that the both have an eye for the ladies.
The place is Exeter, the year 1195. Renovations are taking place at the new school in Smythen Street, a school funded by Crowner John's brother-in-law and ex-sheriff Richard de Revelle. A partially decomposed body is found in the loft of one of the out-buildings. John as Coroner is called to investigate. When it becomes apparent that the dead man is the missing treasurer of the guild of Cordwainers, de Revelle immediately seeks to put the blame on a young outlaw, a Cornish knight by the name of Nicholas de Arundell whose Devon manor the wily ex-sheriff has appropriated while Arundell was away at the Crusades.
Richard claims that the body has been dumped there in order to discredit his new school. The investigation becomes even more complex when another guild-master is found dead on the road from Tavistock to Exeter. Is Nicholas de Arundell, really responsible for the deaths, or is the ex-sheriff just putting up a smoke screen to confuse Crowner John?
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The continuing tales of Crowther John and to a new reader of the series is a tale that can be picked up and read without having read the previous installments. As to who this book is perhaps best for I would suggest that fans of Ellis' Brother Cadfael as well as fans of crime novels. Whilst this may confuse the odd reader, being exposed to the medieval world is not only refreshing but allows the reader to become fully engrossed within its pages and if that isn't enough, theres also a list of terms and an explanation of them within the book. What more could you want. For those who are currently wondering as to whom Bernard Knight is, he is perhaps Britain's most predominant retired Coroner and as such brings what many would term as his macabre expertise to the tale. It is this that adds another depth to the tale and for many a reader will increase their enjoyment no end.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like the others who have written reviews, l also have now read all the Crowner John books...l too wish l could read at a slower pace...Dr Knight, has the ability to incorporate actual facts from the 12th centuary, with fun, laughter and a real sense of taking you into the castles, taverns and villages, bringing the characters to life, and no, l defy anyone to guess who done it before being well into their lives.
Although John De Wolfe is a real man's man, Bernard Knight also shows that he has a soft spot for the ladies, one in particular. So girls, turn the phone off, put the kettle on and get into the life, loves and mysteries that are Crowner John.
Although John De Wolfe is a real man's man, Bernard Knight also shows that he has a soft spot for the ladies, one in particular. So girls, turn the phone off, put the kettle on and get into the life, loves and mysteries that are Crowner John.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book
My husband loves Medieval and historical mysteries, and has found this just as good as other Bernard Knight books that he has read recently
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. V. J. Prince
Crowner John series
Because the main characters are the same in each of the Crowner John novels, the reader gets to know and expect the characters to act to their foibles, strengths and weaknesses. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2010 by Geoffrey H. Haberfield
Great to find a writer that has done the research
This book was my first introduction to Bernard Knight and his Crowner John series. I always have a look when I see a shop selling cheap books and that is when I often end up with... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2009 by AnetteF
Another who dunit
Another Bernard Knight Crowner John, a little different ftrom some of the others, a bit of a chase around Dartmoor. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2009 by Mr. Stephen J. Jackson
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
The Noble Outlaw
I have not read the book yet but I was pleased with the condition of the book.
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by Dr. A. W. Lewis
Bernard Knight, a True Knight of a Gentleman and Author
As a U.S. reader, I trust you will not object to some observations from "across the pond" (as we former military used to call it). Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2007 by P. Schaum
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