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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
History in a novel --, 13 Aug 2004
I first became acquainted with the novels of Michael Jecks a bit more than a year ago, when an unkown-to-me resident of my community gave a book to our library that she had bought in England, read on the plane coming home and decided to let others share her enjoyment. That book was 'Squire Throwleigh's Heir'. What a treat! And what a good idea, too, as the library is now ordering the books, directly, instead of relying on gifts. Even though I've now read two of the books out of sequence, I don't think it's a problem, although certainly I'll have to read more to find out how Simon and Baldwin got together in the first place. Michael Jecks is one terrific storyteller, in my opinion. He makes the characters as well as the time in which they live come alive, in ways that other novels seem to miss. And, from reading other reviews here, perhaps sometimes his research is not 100% accurate; but if I really wanted to learn more history, I wouldn't choose fiction as the means of doing so. I've read enough of the medieval period, however, to believe that Mr. Jecks has done more than a little homework. I believe his version of the 1300s is more realistic-noisier, dirtier and less nice than that of many another author. On the other hand, his way with dialogue is masterful, and he chooses to forward his story by using that device more often than not. In this episode, a troup of mercenaries-hard, coarsened men of war-stop to rest in the small town of Crediton, not far from Exeter, and before anyone has time to do much more than blink, two women of the town are found dead. A robbery occurs, and as it happens, the Keeper of the King's Peace, Baldwin Furnshill along with his friend, Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford Castle are visiting the local priest to celebrate a visit by the bishop. Simon and his wife Marguerite have recently lost their baby son to a childhood illness and have not yet been able to reconcile this loss to or with each other. This leaves Simon to spend perhaps more time than usual with Baldwin and his investigations. It certainly does appear that the culprit is a young recruit named Cole, but if he really did steal the plate from the mercenary captain, Sir Hector, what did he do with it all before he got conked on the head? Baldwin methodically and carefully investigates all the possibilities before yet another body is discovered. With none of the modern detection methods available, Baldwin and Simon use their wits and various skills to eliminate the impossibilities and find the improbable culprit. A very satisfying and enjoyable book!
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by Michael Jecks
by Michael Jecks
by Michael Jecks
by Michael Jecks
by Michael Jecks
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