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Knights Templar #23
Dispensation of Death
It's January 1325 and England is a hotbed of paranoia under the reign of the increasingly unpredictable King Edward II and his lover, Sir Hugh le Despenser. When the Queen’s lady-in-waiting is slaughtered and the hideously mutilated body of a man is found behind the throne, Edward demands to be avenged. Despenser appoints experienced investigator Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend, Bailiff Simon Puttock, to track down the killer. In an age of corruption—where torture, blackmail, and murder are common political tools—Baldwin and Simon soon realize that uncovering the truth can be a deadly affair.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 28, 2007
20 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Michael Jecks
121 books620 followersMichael Jecks is a best-selling writer of historical novels. The son of an Actuary, and the youngest of four brothers, he worked in the computer industry before becoming a novelist full time in 1994
He is the author of the internationally popular Templar series, perhaps the longest crime series written by a living author. Unusually, the series looks again at actual events and murders committed about the early fourteenth century, a fabulous time of treachery, civil war, deceit and corruption. Famine, war and disease led to widespread despair, and yet the people showed themselves to be resilient. The series is available as ebooks and all paper formats from Harper Collins, Headline and Simon and Schuster. More recently he has completed his Vintener Trilogy, three stories in his Bloody Mary series, and a new Crusades story set in 1096, Pilgrim's War, following some of the people in the first Crusade on their long pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He has also written a highly acclaimed modern spy thriller, Act of Vengeance.
His books have won him international acclaim and in 2007 his Death Ship of Dartmouth was shortlisted for the Harrogate prize for the best crime novel of the year.
A member of the Society of Authors and Royal Literary Society, Jecks was the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 2004-2005. In 2005 he became a member of the Detection Club.
From 1998 he organised the CWA Debut Dagger competition for two years, helping unpublished authors to win their first contracts He judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for three years.
Michael Jecks is a popular speaker at literary festivals and historical meetings. He is a popular after-dinner and motivational speaker and has spoken at events from Colombia to Italy, Portugal to Alaska.
His own highlights are: being the Grand Marshal of the first parade at the New Orleans 2014 Mardi Gras, designing the Michael Jecks fountain pen for Conway Stewart, and being the International Guest of Honour at the Crime Writers of Canada Bloody Words convention.
Michael lives, walks, writes and paints in North Dartmoor.
He is the author of the internationally popular Templar series, perhaps the longest crime series written by a living author. Unusually, the series looks again at actual events and murders committed about the early fourteenth century, a fabulous time of treachery, civil war, deceit and corruption. Famine, war and disease led to widespread despair, and yet the people showed themselves to be resilient. The series is available as ebooks and all paper formats from Harper Collins, Headline and Simon and Schuster. More recently he has completed his Vintener Trilogy, three stories in his Bloody Mary series, and a new Crusades story set in 1096, Pilgrim's War, following some of the people in the first Crusade on their long pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He has also written a highly acclaimed modern spy thriller, Act of Vengeance.
His books have won him international acclaim and in 2007 his Death Ship of Dartmouth was shortlisted for the Harrogate prize for the best crime novel of the year.
A member of the Society of Authors and Royal Literary Society, Jecks was the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 2004-2005. In 2005 he became a member of the Detection Club.
From 1998 he organised the CWA Debut Dagger competition for two years, helping unpublished authors to win their first contracts He judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for three years.
Michael Jecks is a popular speaker at literary festivals and historical meetings. He is a popular after-dinner and motivational speaker and has spoken at events from Colombia to Italy, Portugal to Alaska.
His own highlights are: being the Grand Marshal of the first parade at the New Orleans 2014 Mardi Gras, designing the Michael Jecks fountain pen for Conway Stewart, and being the International Guest of Honour at the Crime Writers of Canada Bloody Words convention.
Michael lives, walks, writes and paints in North Dartmoor.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 13, 2025
This is the 23rd in the excellent 32 book, A Knights Templar Mystery series. Once again, Mr. Jecks gives us an adventure with Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, the keeper of the King’s Peace in Devon, and his friend Simon Puttock, Keeper of the Port of Dartmouth. I've been reading them in order for several years.
Sir Baldwin is a former Knights Templar who managed to escape the Friday the Thirteenth massecre in France with his life and little else. Of needs, he keeps his former life a secret. Shortly after returning, his elder brother died, and Sir Baldwin inherited the estate, meager though it was. He was befriended by Simon, who was at that time Bailiff of Tavistock Abbey. Both astute, they have solved a number of mysteries and brought the perpetrators to justice.
Against his better judgment, Sir Baldwin has agreed to become a Member of Parliament at the request of his friend Bishop Walter de Stapledon, the Lord High Treasurer to King Edward II. The King's favorite, and rumored lover, Sir Hugh le Despenser is the real power behind the throne and is ruthless, cruel, avaricious, and lets nothing and no one stand in his way when acquiring lands, money, and power, even to having his enemies murdered. At this moment, he is in a struggle with Queen Isabella, wife of Edward and sister of King Charles IV of France.
Jack atte Hedge is the favored assassin of Despenser. He calls Jack to meet him in the dead of night to take a job. He knows he will be hired to kill an enemy of Despenser, but this time, the enemy is none other than the Queen! Once hired, Jack goes to ground and can't be reached until the deed is done.
The Queen is a prisoner in the Palace, regardless of her rooms, make no mistake about it. Despenser has taken her lands, money, and children from her and is surrounded by Despenser's spies, including his wife, Eleanor. Isabella knows of the plan to have her marriage annulled, but what if the Pope doesn't agree? After all, her brother would be livid, and Edward’s lands in France would be forfeit. Maybe there's another plan.
Soon Despenser finds out that the Queen may be his virtual prisoner, but she's every bit as adept and cold-hearted as he is, and she not only knows he's hired an assassin but she's somehow gotten a message out to her brother, the King of France. He must stop Jack atte Hedge, but it's nearly impossible, so extra guards are put around the Queen. But Jack gets into the Palace and past the guards. As the Queen and her ladies are walking back from chapel, a man steps up with a long knife and slits open one of the ladies, Mabilla, sister of Despenser's trusted henchman Ellis. The killer is quickly dispatched by the guard, but another would-be killer is found dead in the palace!
The King is furious! He may not like his wife, but she is his queen, and an attack on her is an attack on him. He demands an investigation, and Bishop Walter suggests Sir Baldwin and Simon, as they are very good at it. Now, the two friends are in the middle of a very dangerous situation, with the fickle King, his deadly favorite, cunning Queen, and an assassin on the loose!
Believe it or not, this is just a small portion of the beginning of this book! Jecks is a master storyteller, and this one doesn't disappoint. His attention to historical accuracy while spinning a murder mystery with fictional characters is just a delight for someone like me, who loves and reads English history and murder mystery!
Jecks includes a list of characters (always handy), Author's Note (helpful in understanding the history at the time), maps, and a glossary. By this 23rd book, you do know a great deal about the characters, but honestly, you could read this at any time. You just wouldn't know the nuances of Sir Baldwin and Simon. This is my favorite historical mystery series! I highly recommend it.
Sir Baldwin is a former Knights Templar who managed to escape the Friday the Thirteenth massecre in France with his life and little else. Of needs, he keeps his former life a secret. Shortly after returning, his elder brother died, and Sir Baldwin inherited the estate, meager though it was. He was befriended by Simon, who was at that time Bailiff of Tavistock Abbey. Both astute, they have solved a number of mysteries and brought the perpetrators to justice.
Against his better judgment, Sir Baldwin has agreed to become a Member of Parliament at the request of his friend Bishop Walter de Stapledon, the Lord High Treasurer to King Edward II. The King's favorite, and rumored lover, Sir Hugh le Despenser is the real power behind the throne and is ruthless, cruel, avaricious, and lets nothing and no one stand in his way when acquiring lands, money, and power, even to having his enemies murdered. At this moment, he is in a struggle with Queen Isabella, wife of Edward and sister of King Charles IV of France.
Jack atte Hedge is the favored assassin of Despenser. He calls Jack to meet him in the dead of night to take a job. He knows he will be hired to kill an enemy of Despenser, but this time, the enemy is none other than the Queen! Once hired, Jack goes to ground and can't be reached until the deed is done.
The Queen is a prisoner in the Palace, regardless of her rooms, make no mistake about it. Despenser has taken her lands, money, and children from her and is surrounded by Despenser's spies, including his wife, Eleanor. Isabella knows of the plan to have her marriage annulled, but what if the Pope doesn't agree? After all, her brother would be livid, and Edward’s lands in France would be forfeit. Maybe there's another plan.
Soon Despenser finds out that the Queen may be his virtual prisoner, but she's every bit as adept and cold-hearted as he is, and she not only knows he's hired an assassin but she's somehow gotten a message out to her brother, the King of France. He must stop Jack atte Hedge, but it's nearly impossible, so extra guards are put around the Queen. But Jack gets into the Palace and past the guards. As the Queen and her ladies are walking back from chapel, a man steps up with a long knife and slits open one of the ladies, Mabilla, sister of Despenser's trusted henchman Ellis. The killer is quickly dispatched by the guard, but another would-be killer is found dead in the palace!
The King is furious! He may not like his wife, but she is his queen, and an attack on her is an attack on him. He demands an investigation, and Bishop Walter suggests Sir Baldwin and Simon, as they are very good at it. Now, the two friends are in the middle of a very dangerous situation, with the fickle King, his deadly favorite, cunning Queen, and an assassin on the loose!
Believe it or not, this is just a small portion of the beginning of this book! Jecks is a master storyteller, and this one doesn't disappoint. His attention to historical accuracy while spinning a murder mystery with fictional characters is just a delight for someone like me, who loves and reads English history and murder mystery!
Jecks includes a list of characters (always handy), Author's Note (helpful in understanding the history at the time), maps, and a glossary. By this 23rd book, you do know a great deal about the characters, but honestly, you could read this at any time. You just wouldn't know the nuances of Sir Baldwin and Simon. This is my favorite historical mystery series! I highly recommend it.
January 27, 2012
This was the first book where I had to get into the politics of the day from the perspective of London. It was hard to move my characters from their homes in Devon, but it was important to show how the King and his adviser, Hugh Despenser, were ruling the nation. Despenser was, in effect, running the country in the King's name, and abusing it as though he was in charge of a massive protection racket.
It was thoroughly enjoyable to write. I was able to take the example of a poor woman in the service of the Queen and look at how her murder could affect people, bearing in mind the killer was almost certain to be one of the most powerful people in the land. Baldwin and Simon had to walk a tightrope between conflicting interests amongst nobles, the King and his advisers, and a ferociously alarming woman who sought to recover her lost fortunes: the Queen.
It was thoroughly enjoyable to write. I was able to take the example of a poor woman in the service of the Queen and look at how her murder could affect people, bearing in mind the killer was almost certain to be one of the most powerful people in the land. Baldwin and Simon had to walk a tightrope between conflicting interests amongst nobles, the King and his advisers, and a ferociously alarming woman who sought to recover her lost fortunes: the Queen.
November 21, 2020
Another Knights Templar mystery by Michael Jecks. Sir Baldwin and his sidekick Bailiff Simon are at the royal court when the Queen’s attendant is murdered. Immediately thereafter a known assassin is found dead and mutilated in theGreat Hall Sir Baldwin is tasked by the King himself to unravel the mystery that entwines the King’s unhappy marriage, the malign influence of Sir Hugh Despenser and the complicated rivalry between Edward II and Charles of France. Dispensation of Death recreates 14th c England but with a 21st c sensibility.
June 10, 2023
The slightly lower than usual rating had nothing to do with the story or the writing. It's just that I hated Sir Hugh SO MUCH and knew that he wasn't going to get what was coming to him at the end of the book. It was so frustrating, it kept me awake at night, fuming, which is actually a testament to the excellence of the author's work.
February 7, 2018
Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com
April 12, 2020
Sloppy writing. Jecks has trouble keeping his characters straight, especially the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. It's not as well plotted as the previous installment.
July 4, 2021
All the characters in Dispensation of Death (Knights Templar, #23) have dimension.
October 24, 2022
Much improved over the last few books in the series. I wait to see if the trend continues.
April 27, 2009
book 23
Now our duo are aging, both have families, and much to lose if they anger the wrong man! Both, however, are far from London and the mess that is the monarchy of the time - King Edward II, his lover the Despenser, his wife Isabella.
We are treated to a tale which puts Isabella in a favourable light, of course this may be author's bias, but the Church's stand on sodomy is such that the King has put his soul in jeopardy, he is happy to do the bidding of his lover. The lover is only concerned with aquisition of power and proberty and there are many facts for this in 'real' history
Because of the power of the Church, and because Simon is employed by the Church and Baldwin is a knight both are coerced into going to London, and getting embroiled in a murder - or 3
Now our duo are aging, both have families, and much to lose if they anger the wrong man! Both, however, are far from London and the mess that is the monarchy of the time - King Edward II, his lover the Despenser, his wife Isabella.
We are treated to a tale which puts Isabella in a favourable light, of course this may be author's bias, but the Church's stand on sodomy is such that the King has put his soul in jeopardy, he is happy to do the bidding of his lover. The lover is only concerned with aquisition of power and proberty and there are many facts for this in 'real' history
Because of the power of the Church, and because Simon is employed by the Church and Baldwin is a knight both are coerced into going to London, and getting embroiled in a murder - or 3
August 31, 2008
This is the twenty-third book in Jecks' series of medieval mysteries which makes it the largest I have read. Set in the in the early fourteenth century, they are particularly faithful to history which makes them all the more exciting. This time the protagonists, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, an ex Templar and Keeper of the King's Peace in Devon and his longtime friend Simon Puttock, Bailiff to the Abbot of Tavistock, are deep in the intrigue of the Court of King Edward II and his sinister advisor (and lover) Sir Hugh le Despenser where they have been asked to investigate the murders of one of Queen Isabella's ladies-in-waiting and her assassin. Good stuff!
February 9, 2013
Wow oh wow, I can not recommend Michael Jecks enough, if you love historical crime books you will love his.
This one involved King Edward II and his lover Hugh Le Despenser, Baldwin and Simon are charged with finding the killer of a Lady in waiting of the Queen and a mystery man found behind the throne in the Palace in London.
They find themselves in a dangerous world far from home and have to put their fear of death aside to find the truth.
Read it.
This one involved King Edward II and his lover Hugh Le Despenser, Baldwin and Simon are charged with finding the killer of a Lady in waiting of the Queen and a mystery man found behind the throne in the Palace in London.
They find themselves in a dangerous world far from home and have to put their fear of death aside to find the truth.
Read it.
September 27, 2014
Decent enough mystery.There are a number of instances of less than historical accuracy and the sexual proclivities of King Edward II is the main one. Whether or not the man was gay is much debated and Jecks comes down squarely on the side of yes. Some may not want to read this series if they disagree with this decision as much of this case rests on this decision.
August 22, 2012
new series for me and I enjoyed it....took a little bit to get into it but I am intrigued enough to read the earlier ones in the series.
December 30, 2012
Very Boring. Cannot finish it.
February 8, 2015
Excellent
I enjoy all sir Baldwin novels but especially like the historical insight given especially the view of Edward II. Fascinating.
I enjoy all sir Baldwin novels but especially like the historical insight given especially the view of Edward II. Fascinating.
February 15, 2018
978-0-7553-3281-6
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews