Rest Not in Peace

The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #6

by Melvin R. Starr

Master Hugh is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle. Sir Henry, (with his wife, a daughter by a first wife, two knights, two squires, and assorted servants), has outstayed his welcome at Bampton Castle. The next morning after Master Hugh provides the potion, Sir Henry is found dead, eyes open, in his bed. Master Hugh, the target of the wife's wrath, is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death ...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Crime, Historical

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Reviews

[Cindy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olde English mystery with Christian-based morals, murder with death penalty, sexual restraint, and compassion with hope. Love this series for it’s well drawn plots and acceptance of decency. Narrator is entertaining throughout the series.

[Spuddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable entry in this series set in the 1360's, features Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and also Bailiff at Bampton Castle. It's odd, but I can nitpick a few things about the series that annoys me. First, there's a bit of God-bothering going on...the author often has the main character stop and ruminate God and churchly things, which normally might have me fling the book across the room. But he somehow manages to do it in an inoffensive and immersive way--after all, during that time period, anyone not a church-goer if not a downright believer would have been ostracized and certainly not held any important position. It doesn't come across and preachy, but I still tend to skim through those parts about being saved and the kingdom of heaven and all that malarkey. Second, it gets quite repetitive with the descriptions of the meals and the "common things" of that historical time period--the tugging of forelocks by the common folk when their "betters" pass by and such. After awhile I lost count of the number of times the terms "maslin loaf" and "forelock" were used.

And yet, I enjoy the books and so shall continue to read on in the series.

[Joseph Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review for book one.

This one, though, has always stood out as a favorite.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 6. The previous five books were on my E reader This is first one of this series in audiobook. Great narration. Set in the 1380s Hugh De Singleton is bailiff and surgeon in England . He is tasked with finding the identity of the person or persons who killed 2 people. I find the historical setting of time and place to be quite interesting and adds much to the overall novel. I’ve already started book 7 in series ( also audiobook).

[Melody McGowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series so far, but not so much this one. The plot seemed to move rather tediously. And then to top it all off, towards the last, Lady Petronilla, Lord Gilbert's wife, dies of the plague. She has been a character in the first five books. She seemed a likeable person, and encouraged Hugh's marriage to Kate. She had a child of an age similar to their Bessie. I thought when she became ill in the last chapter, surely Hugh would find a way to save her. But such was not to be.
The author's note said that Gilbert and Petronilla had been real people, and she really did die young. However this is fiction, and no one would know when Petronilla had died, or feel that the author had to hold strictly to historical fact, since he alters things when he wants to.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sixth adventure/mystery of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon, involves a murder in Bampton Castle where Hugh also works as bailiff to Lord Gilbert. Sir Henry, a former soldier who fought alongside Lord Gilbert, dies taking one of Hugh's remedies for sleeplessness. Lady Margery immediately accuses Hugh of murder, but Hugh discovers a very sneaky way in which Sir Henry was killed while he was sleeping deeply because of Hugh's remedy. More suspects start to line up among Sir Henry's knights and staff. Lady Margery makes herself decidedly unwelcome at Bampton Castle, and Lord Gilbert tries to hurry Hugh in his sleuthing, as always aided by Hugh's lovely and very insightful wife, Kate.

This series is just so consistently amazing in its accurate portrayal of life in a medieval English village near Oxford in the late 1360s. The author has certainly done his homework into life in Bampton; there really was a Lord Gilbert Talbot with his wife Lady Petronilla who lived at Bampton Castle during this time period. In fact, there are a few ruins of the castle still visible about the town of Bampton (where many of the village scenes from Downton Abbey were filmed). The living by the church bells and saints' days is shown as well as the dangers of the time, the food served both at the castle and at Galen House where Hugh, Kate, and Baby Bessie live, plus the different medieval occupations and levels of society are well-researched. Even the turn of phrase throughout the books never allows readers to forget the time period in which these mysteries are set.

I am now placing my order with the library for Book #7 in the Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon Chronicles. Such a brilliant series!!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series so much! This one had a Agatha Christie feel to it with lots of potential suspects. Despite the fact that this is a murder mystery series, there is something about the pace and style that is incredibly calming. Starr paints the period very well and it is not one I would have wanted to live in but reading the series nevertheless is a balm from the frenetic nature of modern lives for me.

Love the humor in the books as well. In this one, the charming host, Sir Gilbert, cannot wait to get his annoying guests on the road!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating mystery carved out of ancient England

Two murders in the castle with very little hard evidence and a diverse cast of characters, each with the potential to know far more than they are telling drives this outstanding who-done-it and forces Hugh de Singleton to dig deeply into the lives and relationships of commoners and nobility. An excellent addition to a great series and well worth the time

[Peter Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

#6 in a series and a very entertaining well conceived and well written by an author who has studied the late middle ages sound Oxford england. There are numerous facets to his novels which. Keep the reader interested; his compelling forensic analysis further enhances his novels as well as description of surgical procedures in those times.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm doing a review for the whole series as I've left it so long since I started listening to them.

I would highly recommend this series and in fact I have done so to a number of people already. Very impressed with the writing, the research that seems to have been done and the historical accuracy is excellent.

Nice characters, good pace, interesting stories. Really interesting to see the ability of surgeons then and the ways Hugh deducts things.

[Jenn Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying the series. Although, at times, the repetition of the thoughts of the characters drives me a bit nuts. The author seems to get more into 1300’s vocabulary with every new book. Sometimes I wish there were recipes to accompany the descriptions of the various courses mentioned at all the meals.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery set in 14th-c England with great historical accuracy. I enjoy reading the glossary in these books to add to my knowledge of the Middle Ages although Starr does a good job of making the general idea clear in context. A lot of the glossary is foods. I'd love to see him come out with a 14th-c cookbook so we could try the recipes.

[Maurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of mysteries gives a glimpse into life in the middle ages. Hugh de Singleton is accused of poisoning a visiting lord when he gave him a sedative. Hugh must prove that the man was murdered. But by whom in the lord's retinue? There seems to be many suspects and many motives, which Hugh must ferret out.

[A J Nel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Master Hugh is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a knight and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle, the next morning his valet finds him dead. Master Hugh is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death - despite accusations from Sir Henry's grieving widow that Hugh caused Burley's death. Another well developed and cosy whodunnit by Starr.

[Conrad Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who dunit??

I enjoyed this 6th in the series but in this as in book 5 (spoiler) Hugh does not completely solve the case. The first four books were great but these last two leave too much of the mystery unsolved for my taste. I would have given it five stars otherwise.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot. I can't imagine what it was like to live during the 1300's, but Starr does a good job of describing the time period. The issue with Lady Margery was never resolved. I'm sure she was complicit with Walter in the death of Sir Henry.

[Mel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy and enjoyable read. Only after I bought it did I realise it was part of a collection, that didn’t matter though as it was its own story. It has made me want to go back and read the rest of the series from the start and enjoy the story of the main character and those of the castle.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series. The settings, characters and dialog are so perfectly Medieval. They had so little to go on to solve a murder. The Bailiff is patient and observant. He manages to put the clues together.

[Yibbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now here is an author that I will seek out again. He created a mystery that kept me baffled till just the right point, engaged in deep philosophical ponderings without straying from the plot or tripping up the pacing, and painted a picture of changing times and the bitterness evil creates. I really enjoyed the way he painted life. The petty annoyances that crop up between people, and the deeply hidden hatreds that motivate everyday actions, are worked into a truly medieval setting.
I would highly recommend this one.

[Valarie A. Whitcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Some Ways Dismal

This book uncovers the more difficult realities of 14th century medieval England. To read of these realities was nor easy but given what I know of our one world situation reminds me of the words of the Bib!e, "There is nothing new under the sun."

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked on this series. Not looking forward to the plague.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clean, intriguing mystery set near Oxford during the Middle Ages. I enjoyed the story itself and learned a lot about the Middle Ages at the same time.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This plot is more like a traditional who-dun-it by Christie! There are several possible killers to choose from. The reader jumps from one suspect to another.

[Kimberlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.girllostinabook.com/2014/1...

[Red Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent medieval murder mystery absolutely rooted in both the mores and the historical facts of the period.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably just me, but this could have been a lot shorter book. The plot was fine, interesting murder, a twist or two, but you can skip a lot. I've already purchased the next three so on I go...

[John McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say that i've not added to the other reviews. Brilliant series, delightful characters. Audio makes it even more enjoyable.

[Ryan Handley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to get my sixth Hugh de Singleton done before the end of the year.

If it’s more of the same I’m definitely gonna end up reading all 15+ of these.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Lala G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting story in the series.