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The Witch Hunter (Crowner John Mysteries)
 
 

The Witch Hunter (Crowner John Mysteries) (Paperback)

by Bernard Knight (Author) "Robert de Pridias was feeling out of sorts on this hot Tuesday afternoon ..." (more)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 370 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket Books; paperback / softback edition (5 April 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0743449894
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743449892
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 70,406 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #13 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > K > Knight, Bernard

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 (he examined all twelve bodies that were recovered) and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of ten novels, a biography and numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written six books in the Crowner John mystrey series.

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Robert de Pridias was feeling out of sorts on this hot Tuesday afternoon. Read the first page
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Eighth in the Crowner John Series, 17 Dec 2006
By J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
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 Pathology at the University of Wales College of medicine, 1980. He has written the extremely successful Crowner John series of medieval mysteries, of which there are now ten or eleven books, His character Crowner John is certainly among my favourite characters in medieval mysteries.

Exeter, 1195. Sir John de Wolfe is facing the wrath of the wife of one of Exeter's most prominent citizens. He has refused to hold an inquest on a prominent burgess and guild-master. The man had fallen dead across his horse's saddle, but this happened in front of witnesses and the man had recently been complaining of chest pains, plus there was no sign of injury on the body. However events take a turn when a straw doll with a spike through its heart is found under the saddle cloth of the dead man.

The dead man's wife is adamant that a spell had been cast upon her husband. A spell put on him at the behest of one of his business rivals who wants to acquire his business. With the help of her cousin, who happens to be a canon at the cathedral she begins a campaign in the name of mother church against witchcraft and the women in the town who are thought to practice the black arts. Sir John refuses to be drawn into the campaign, until, that is Nesta, his young Welsh mistress is accused of witchcraft. The only way Crowner John can save her is by finding the real culprit before the noose slips around Nesta's beautiful neck.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars The Strange Case of the Missing Mystery, 5 Mar 2006
By Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Lovers of medieval mysteries will find plenty of medievalism and precious little mystery in this John Crowner yarn. It is a sound enough adventure, with plenty of blood and open sewage flowing through the streets of an authentic twelfth-century Exeter, but don't expect to be presented with a puzzle or dazzled by the deductive powers of the sleuth.

The style is rather stilted, often reading like a dry history text rather than an entertainment. I know fans of this genre crave plenty of historical fact with their fiction, but it should be woven seamlessly into the story and not be too obviously and intrusively crammed in, as it is here. It was interesting to discover that the word 'exchequer' comes from the practice of using a chessboard to help tally piles of coins, but when this is related in a 'this is how it came to be known as' fashion, it destroys the illusion. This is not quite as bad as JT Edson's habit of adding footnotes to his Western novels, but almost. On the same theme, the characters often talk as if they were quoting legal documents or delivering a lecture.

The book is also prone to misprints, which is annoying. Thus we have a character who is afraid he will be in trouble "...if he failed to go back empty handed", when of course the opposite is meant. And Chapter 8 is heralded as one "In which Crowner John rides off with lady" when in fact he does no such thing. And there are others, all serving to trip the reader up and spoil the flow of the story.

Although they mostly have the same voice, the characters are well drawn. Gwyn and Thomas make perfect companions for Crowner. They are reminiscent of Pigsy and Monkey, Tripitaka's companions in the 'Monkey' legends. Gwyn's brutishness and Thomas's scholarly air make perfect complements to the noble warrior Crowner.

At 370 pages, this is long for a mystery. Knight tends to be prolix. Where other authors would be content with showing us one or two witches being persecuted, Knight has to throw in several covensfull. And scenes are played out at length when a shorter version would suffice. Perhaps Knight, an ex forensic pathologist, wants to ensure that his report will stand up in court!

Verdict: Patient readers who demand authenticity above all else and who value character above plot, even in so-called mysteries, could give this a try.

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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, highly recommended, 24 Jan 2005
By R. Hall "Anglophile" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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!!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Crowner John
This book series is excellent, a good read with historical content to boot. More please
Published 1 month ago by Morpeth Ken

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witch Hunter
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... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sarah

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