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Product Description
Product Description
Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-dolly is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart. The victim's stident wife declares her husband's death to have been the result of an evil spell, cast at the behest of a rival mill-owner who wants to acquire his business. Enlisting the help of her cousin, a cathedral canon with an eye to ecclesiastical advancement, the widow begins a campaign in the name of the Church against witchcraft and the so-called 'cunning women' who practise it. This escalates until Exeter is divided into two camps and a climate of fear predominates. Still the coroner refuses to get involved - until his beloved mistress is accused of witchcraft. Can Crowner John unearth the real culprit and save Nesta from the hangman's noose?
About the Author
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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Robert de Pridias was feeling out of sorts on this hot Tuesday afternoon. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Robert de Pridias was feeling out of sorts on this hot Tuesday afternoon. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Witch Hunter (Crowner John Mysteries)
I really enjoy Bernard Knight's writing. Bernard is an excellent story teller, adding authenticity where able in relation to history and historical events.
I have just completed, The Witch Hunter, a brilliant book. There is an error on page 336 where a cadaver has died of a wound to his stomach but it is written as a wound to his chest, then rectified in the following paragraph.
I find the series facinating and I glean snippets of information, which form a part of personal education from facts given. For example, the exchequer was derived from people using a checked cloth to count coins, as very few people were able to read.
Each book replicates information so a reader who starts say with The Witch Hunter, knows background information of the series. This can be tedious with an avid reader of the Crowner series and needs to be dismissed, as this does not stop a good story.
I have bought the full series to date and organised them into the right order for reading. I liken these books to a Winter evening, when there is a high wind and snow, I sit by my open fire and snuggle down warm to read a comforting story that transports my imagination back to the late twelth century. Brilliant, very few experiences can over ride this experience.
Happy reading
I really enjoy Bernard Knight's writing. Bernard is an excellent story teller, adding authenticity where able in relation to history and historical events.
I have just completed, The Witch Hunter, a brilliant book. There is an error on page 336 where a cadaver has died of a wound to his stomach but it is written as a wound to his chest, then rectified in the following paragraph.
I find the series facinating and I glean snippets of information, which form a part of personal education from facts given. For example, the exchequer was derived from people using a checked cloth to count coins, as very few people were able to read.
Each book replicates information so a reader who starts say with The Witch Hunter, knows background information of the series. This can be tedious with an avid reader of the Crowner series and needs to be dismissed, as this does not stop a good story.
I have bought the full series to date and organised them into the right order for reading. I liken these books to a Winter evening, when there is a high wind and snow, I sit by my open fire and snuggle down warm to read a comforting story that transports my imagination back to the late twelth century. Brilliant, very few experiences can over ride this experience.
Happy reading
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read all of Bernard Knight's book's. I've just finished reading the witch hunter and I think it was his best so far. He has a wonderful way of bringing the past. Just brilliant!! Read it, you won't be disappointed!!!!
Format:Paperback
I have enjoyed the previous seven books in the Crowner John series. Number eight, 'The Witch Hunter' is good, but I felt too many pages were given over to recap previous events.
I understand why this has to be, each book being a standalone, and new readers having to be informed of how previous events impact on the story. But eight books in, it is unavoidable annoyance.
That aside, this is a good story. The characters are strong and believable and given the witch trials in Britain and America, the storyline rings very true.
The author skilfully guides the readers sympathy towards the 'cunning women', those who deal in herb lore and to some extent 'magic', who are persecuted by the church. There is some fanciful stuff toward the end, but it doesn't detract from the overall story.
The sub plot is Crowner's brother in law, the Sheriff.
Fans of Robin Hood know no Sheriff is good and Richard de Revelle is no different. Scheming, money grabbing and generally amoral and a pain in Crowner's butt. Will he get his just dessert this time? Buy the book and find out!
If you have the read the previous novels, this one is a good exciting read and continues in the 'tradition' of the previous seven.
If you're a first time reader, Bernard Knights take on Medieval life is slightly different from other medieval novelist I have read, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed with this.
I understand why this has to be, each book being a standalone, and new readers having to be informed of how previous events impact on the story. But eight books in, it is unavoidable annoyance.
That aside, this is a good story. The characters are strong and believable and given the witch trials in Britain and America, the storyline rings very true.
The author skilfully guides the readers sympathy towards the 'cunning women', those who deal in herb lore and to some extent 'magic', who are persecuted by the church. There is some fanciful stuff toward the end, but it doesn't detract from the overall story.
The sub plot is Crowner's brother in law, the Sheriff.
Fans of Robin Hood know no Sheriff is good and Richard de Revelle is no different. Scheming, money grabbing and generally amoral and a pain in Crowner's butt. Will he get his just dessert this time? Buy the book and find out!
If you have the read the previous novels, this one is a good exciting read and continues in the 'tradition' of the previous seven.
If you're a first time reader, Bernard Knights take on Medieval life is slightly different from other medieval novelist I have read, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed with this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Witch Finder by Bernard Knight
A real insight into how corruption amongst officials and members of the public promoted and sustained the tragic events surrounding witchcraft in the middle ages. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. A. J. Clarke
Crowner John
This book series is excellent, a good read with historical content to boot. More please
Published on 18 May 2009 by Morpeth Ken
Eighth in the Crowner John Series
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
The Strange Case of the Missing Mystery
Lovers of medieval mysteries will find plenty of medievalism and precious little mystery in this John Crowner yarn. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2006 by Peter Reeve
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