Death of a Squire

Templar Knight Mystery #2

by Maureen Ash

When a squire's body is found hanging from a tree, Templar Bascot de Marins is given the task of unearthing the truth before an unprecedented meeting of kings at Lincoln Castle.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Medieval, Fiction, British Literature

243 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 2, 2008

About the author

Maureen Ash was born in London, England, and has had a lifelong interest in British medieval history. Visits to castle ruins and old churches have provided the inspiration for her novels. She enjoys Celtic music, browsing in bookstores and Belgian chocolate. Maureen now lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Reviews

[Morgiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author doesn't disappoint - I really liked this book starting from the story to the characters.
Sir Bascot de Marin's second investigation was a helluva ride, and I enjoyed it wholeheartedly.
Learned so much again about how the forest was used, what (or who) is a wolf's head, how the outlaws lived (believe me they have nothing to do with Hollywood movies;))).
Enjoyed the recurring characters as the new ones, the plot was really interesting, so enjoy this book if you are interested in medieval history and crime stories.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second of the series, and for once the second I've read, each in order. Although the sequence is of little significance, the main character does change and circumstances do alter over time. Plus, events in the previous book do have slight impact on the story in this one. Templar knight Bascot de Marins lives in the time of King John, and this time he's trying to find out who killed an obnoxious, nasty squire, and why.

Meanwhile, the story is complicated by poachers, bandits in Sherwood forest (yes, they really were there, although no Robin Hood in this story), and local dignitaries in charge of the King's Forest and other related lands.

Ash provides as useful primer at the beginning regarding the definition of "forest" at the time and how it was broken up in terms of a complex set of various officials keeping charge over the territory. Sometimes the jurisdictional and power structure is a bit baffling in Medieval times, particularly before Edward restructured the laws.

These legal systems and peoples play a notable role, as do peasants and various persons in the region. Maureen Ash has a bit too much a sense of modern attitudes of equality for medieval times but most writers do for these kind of books, but she does bring a lot of good historical feel and in particular treats faith and Christianity of the time as matter-of-fact without the hero being the One Person Who Doubts© as in too many historical novels.

The mystery is quite complex, and I did not guess at much of any of it, unusual in these stories and particularly compared to the first. Overall a pretty solid read, and the main character is particularly likable although so far he's not been tested in combat, so its unclear that blind in one eye and wracked with physical issues from being in a Outremer prison he's up to it any longer, despite being a Templar.

[Tory Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death of a Squire by Maureen Ash is the second in a series entitled A Templar Knight Mystery. Bascot de Marin's is a Templar Knight who is called upon to solve the mystery of the murder of a young squire. Previously he had successfully solved another mystery and finds himself again called upon by his patroness Nicolaa de la Haye. Complicating his task is the coming visit by King John and some intrigue concerning John's cousin Arthur. Ash does a good job of researching the time period so the mystery feels authentic.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10
Slightly along the formula of the last one, but great characters and good development while protecting the nice mystery.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good medieval mystery series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder and a visit from the king!

Templer Night mysteries #2

Another murder for Templer Bascot de Marins and Gianni his mute servant to solve. This time a young squire is found hung in a tree and rumors abound that he was involved in a treasonous plot against King John. Bascot is again asked by Lady Nichola de Haye to solve the mystery with a sense of urgency. The rumors of the plot must be resolved quickly as King John is only days away from making a visit to Lincoln castle. There are many twist and turns to the mystery and as always in trying to solve the murder many peoples secrets are exposed. The mystery is well done, I had not guessed the answer but it made sense once it was revealed.
Maureen Ash does a wonderful job in recreating the medieval environment. The feeling of being among the castle's inhabitants exits throughout the story and you can feel their excitement at the arrival of King John. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. 3.5 stars!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second mystery in the Templar Knight series. These are fun to read because the author has obviously done her research with regards to the era and is good at dropping in historical details without creating a big clunking sound in the middle of the story. I had a conversation with a regular customer at work who has been reading these too and she wasn't sure she liked them because of the light characterization but I think that might be what makes them work for me. It's almost like reading historical nonfiction where the author didn't want to read too much into things if that makes sense.

There was a bit at the end of this one that didn't quite make sense to me but I'm not sure if I just misunderstood something.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

These novels are so good. Such a twist in this one! And the relationship between Bascot and Gianni is so tender and makes for an excellent ongoing B plot. It's been long enough since I read these the first time that I can't remember who the killer is, and so I'm enjoying them even more than the first read.

My only beef with this one is that Green Jack's motivation for wanting to capture Bascot seem forced. He and Fulcher get such a drive-by character background that it might have been better if they'd gotten none at all. And I was disappointed Fulcher died, because by the time his story ends he's become so likable, if only in comparison to the other outlaws. It felt unfair.

[Scot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in a new series set in Lincolnshire, 1200 A.D. Our detective is a one-eyed Templar knight who cares for a mute servant boy he brought home from Italy as he returned from the Crusades. This installment is even stronger than the first with regard to plot, and makes interesting connections to the well-founded fear that King John had concerning conspiracies to replace him and the outlaw life of crafty hunters in Sherwood Forest. Conveys social history, clarifies medieval laws about rights and obligations for different people at various levels in the class heirarchy, and enriches vocabulary without slowing down plot. Not demanding yet rewarding, a good summer read.

[Mister Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it started out promising: tortured knight with demons attempting to solve case of youth with a hang-up; well written and intelligient; however, somewhere between my interest and my consciousness, I surrendered to the dark forces of "WTF." In effect, it just didn't retain my interest. I hate to see a book with so much potential become a agonizingly dull read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just my speed. Good characters, reasonably good representation of medieval life, some good twists to the mystery. The best part is the relationship between Gascot and Gianni. Very endearing.

[Rev. M. M. Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Bascot de Marins is a Templar knight who is on a leave of absence after spending eight years in captivity in the Holy Land. He is attached to the castle at Lincoln where he serves Lady Nicolaa, the castellan, and her husband, the Sheriff of Lincoln. I think this is chronologically the second novel in the series, following The Alehouse Murders. This story begins with some outlaws poaching a deer from the Sheriff's chase (part of a forest) and swiftly escalates to the discovery of the hanged body of the eponymous squire of the title. Before the novel ends, there are three more murders, the hanging of some outlaws and the eventual unmasking of the squire's murderer after an attempt on Bascot's life and the kidnapping of his mute servant, Gianni.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read although I think the discovery of the murderer was something of a surprise. Usually, when this happens, I can go back over the text and discover the clues to the mystery that I somehow overlooked. That would follow in line with Msgr. Knox's rules for mystery writers that the reader must be able to figure out the mystery from clues in the text. The author here hints at something that Gianni finds out before he is kidnapped and he goes to find an answer but we never know what it was before the Templar explains it all at the end. In spite of that quibble, and it could be my fault that I didn't notice it, the book is still worth a read. Maureen Ash does a good job in creating the atmosphere of the time (1200 AD) which not only adds to this book but also to an overall understanding of the brutal conditions of the Middle Ages. They suffered from more than a lack of indoor plumbing.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Templar Knight Mystery series by Maureen Ash. Published in 2008. I read the first in this series some years ago and I think the Historical Mystery Group read that book at some point, but can't find my list at the moment to check.

Lincolnshire, 1200 AD. A squire, Hubert, is found hanging from a tree. Not a popular young man, but it's not immediately clear what would have prompted this killing. Templar Bascot de Marins is still in the household of his patroness Nicolaa de la Haye who is preparing for the arrival of England's King John and King William of Scotland at Lincoln Castle so William can swear loyalty to John in regard to land belonging to Scotland but within the boundaries of England. The hanging and the accompanying rumors of a plot against King John could complicate the visit. Nicolaa asks Bascot to find the truth behind Hubert's death. The investigation is complicated by more than the political issues, as about the same time poachers kill deer in a nearby forest/hunting ground, which is also close to Sherwood Forest, home to a group of outlaws.... Complicating the search for truth are the actions of the local populace and also of Bascot's ward Gianni, and more.

I'm a fan of mysteries with Templar connections. I found the details of everyday life in this complex layered society fascinating, the interweaving relationships at times hard to keep sorted, but the story unfolds across this broad spectrum of life clearly. The only quibble I had was with the very lengthy wrapping up of the actions and activities of all these different groups and people at the end. Granted every aspect was explained, but the pace of the story slowed considerably. It was still an exciting tale well told so it bumped up to 4 stars for me.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable. I had no idea who done it.

It was a little harder to get into than the first one in the series, but there was a very exciting scene which shows Bascot's deep affection for his young servant Gianni.

I learned more about forest law, which was quite hard on peasants. Not only would they get the death penalty if caught poaching even a little deer, they had to pay to gather firewood and nuts and to let pigs into the forest to fatten up on mast.

I liked the many children and teens, featured in n this book.

I learned more about the character of King John as well.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable second installment in the series. She develops the characters of Bascot and Gianni, with the latter even becoming more central as the novel goes on. Since the narrative has a lot of do with Sherwood Forest, and there is even an outlaw named Green Jack who is resentful of the rich, it's like a counter to the clean, sanitized Robin Hood image. Beyond the specifics of the murder mystery, there is the bigger question of what career Bascot will ultimately choose.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second of this series I have appreciated. Again it was well researched and well written but the characters are what draw me in .. the author has been able to offer interesting, diverse and quirky characters in a time and place that holds it's own story.. and is alluded to frequently .. from the need to keep favour with reigning monarch to the battles of those villagers trying to survive on a daily basis there remains a murder to solve .. definitely a good read.

[Melanie J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second Templar Knight Mystery and I enjoyed this, though not quite as much as the first one. This one was told from multiple POVs, where the first was primarily through the eyes of the main character.

The historical fiction seems well-researched and created an atmospheric vibe. It prompted me to do some further research on my own.

This wasn't super fast-paced, but it also didn't drag along.

Looking forward to reading more from Maureen Ash.

[Babylon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the series. I like the concept of these books, and the historical setting of medieval Lincoln is fantastic. The mystery is almost an aside to the setting, however, and the characters, who have their own detailed backstories, never really came to life for me. A good yarn and enjoyable and will read the rest in due course, not least for the setting.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good! This was my first Templar Knight Mystery and I found the writing style engaging with interesting characters, lots of history, political background and some intelligent investigating. Lots of medieval terms and spelling but you were able to understand what was meant through context. I felt I learned a thing or two about the period.

[Amy Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this faster than the first. A lot of the story seemed to be more peripherally rather than the central whodunnit - but was still an interesting read. I liked the bits with the outlaws in the forest in terms of social group interactions - refreshing break from courtly mannerisms.

[Daniel Casciato · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Enjoyable Tale

When the death of a turd of a man is discovered it sends many to worry that their secrets may be revealed. How does the Templer find the killer while leaving those innocent with secrets intact. Maybe it is not possible and most is revealed.

[Kevin Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery plot with likable characters.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and well written story.

[John Mehlhopt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch

Thoroughly enjoyable,a series I can get my teeth into.The author puts you back in time and place and thankfully being a big coward I am not there.

[Cindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice plot line. Ending leaves me wanting to read the next one!!!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very confusing book. So many names and very disjointed.

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A templar knight, returned to England to heal, and his squire are asked to look into the death of a much disliked squire, as he is a relative of a well off family and it may have something to do with all the rumors and intrigue swirling around the upcoming visit of the king.

I want to like this more than I do.
Our heroes are interesting and likable characters and the author makes medieval England feel real and solid.

But the two things never quite seem to connect.
Our hero always feels slightly separate from the day to day of his surroundings and the mystery and we are told he's our detective, but he never quite manages to feel it.
It feels like we are expected to believe he's a smart detective because the book says so.
I never felt like they earned the solution to the mystery, the story just kind of made it happen.

Decent enough story and I'd like to try another book to give it a second chance.

[Liisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh to write a mystery series that takes place in Medieval England... all under the shadow of Ellis Peters and Brother Cadfael. Not that all the Cadfael stories were 5-star, but they seem to have set the benchmark, haven't they? In Maureen Ash's tales, we have a Templar back from Crusade (so, a fighting monk in place of a Benedictine), Lincoln instead of Shrewsbury, and Ernulf/Roget together playing the part of Hugh Beringar.

So, why do these stories feel more empty than the Cadfael tales? The backdrop, for one. While the height of the Plantagenets is my favorite period, it lacks the oomph (technical term) of the Civil War between Maude and Stephen. The War gave the Cadfael stories extra plot points: ways of temporarily removing characters, opportunities for Cadfael to get away from Shrewsbury, or actual murder motives. So far -- and I'm only 2 books into the series -- King John's reign is only circumspectly part of the plot. Cadfael can not exist in any other time. I'm not sure I feel the same about Bascot de Marins.

Of course how I feel about these characters is just lukewarm. From the outset, I loved Cadfael, I despised Jerome, I felt warmly toward Hugh. With the Templar mysteries, I like Gianni, but I don't really feel strongly about anyone. Emotional commitment seems a requirement if you are asking me to follow these characters through half a dozen or so books.

Why don't I feel more for them? Another reviewer brought up one problem: omniscient point of view. If I know more than the detective, then I am not really solving it with him/her, and I'm not invested in their success or failure. This particular book compounded this problem by letting the reader in on secret conversations that all ended similarly, with "Let me tell you the most shocking part," and then cutting away. One dangling thread is fine; 4 or 5 is obnoxious. Another barrier keeping these characters distant is their 2-dimensionality. Roget is a hard-drinking, wench-loving mercenary; ok, but he must have a dark, unlikable side, so where is it? Gerard Camville is angry... all the time. And, for someone who has gone through as much horridness as Bascot has, my god, he is so boring! Cadfael had fought and loved and then became a monk; his internal struggles focused around missing his former life. Bascot became a Templar, fought a lot, and now he's in a weird pugatory, neither Templar nor civilian. You assume he'll finally leave the Order for good, but it doesn't seem the right outcome. He is not outstanding in an way, no special skills, no particular insight unique to his life experience.

He misses killing people in the name of God. It's hard to feel an emotional connection to someone who has defined themselves as a joyless, chaste killer of "infidels". Is his character historically accurate? Probably, but this is fiction, and we are allowed a bit of suspension of disbelief. Cadfael, the enlightened monk who loves playing Cupid, is not especially believable in his historical context, but he is entertaining. All Bascot seems to be missing is a hair shirt. Good lord, please get this guy drunk or laid, because his only outlet is a fondness for candy.

I am definitely going to read Book 3, because I want to see how Ash resolves this issue of "Will he stay or will he go?" with Bascot, but he needs to lighten up considerably. Even Sister Frevisse knows how to have some fun in Magaret Frazer's series, and Frevisse is a firecracker sometimes. Here's hoping Bascot gets into a bit of trouble or tells someone off or at least learns a skill.

[Gerry Burnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovering this work by Maureen Ash, i.e. Death of a Squire [Prime Crime MM, 2007], was a happy conjunction of accidents. As mentioned above the first was not having received my book order from Amazon.ca, and because of this I resorted to browsing a bargain table of paper backs. Death of a Squire is the second of a four-part series (so far) called “Templar Knight.” I must admit that I haven’t read the other three, but I hope to remedy that omission in the near future.

The story takes place in the late autumn of 1200 AD. King John—of Robin Hood fame—is on the throne, and he is about to meet the King of Scotland in Lincoln. Therefore, the townspeople are busy preparing for this momentous occasion when the body of young Hubert de Tournay, an unpopular squire, is found hanging from a limb deep in the forest (adjacent to Sherwood Forest—once again of Robin Hood fame). Lady Nicolaa de la Haye, Castellan of Lincoln Castle, calls upon Templar Bascot de Marins with his young, mute servant Gianni to find the killer—something he has successfully done in Ale House Murders, the first of the series.

Was the squire’s death a vengeance killing by peasants angry at the assault of one of their own? Or was it one of his fellow squires who hated him and might have secrets that Hubert would have been only too pleased to exploit? Or was his end perpetrated by one of the women he coerced by force or blackmail to comply with his advances? Complicating matters is King John who, sensitive to any slight real or imagined, has recently heard innuendos of a covert plan to depose him in favour of his rival Arthur. Therefore, was de Tournay’s murder the result of knowing too much about the wayward ambitions of some highborn nobles?

As de Marins goes about solving the crime we meet a colourful cast of characters, wonderfully developed, and learn more about the history of the time and place. In fact, for me this aspect was one of the real highlights of Ash’s writing; her in-depth knowledge of Medieval life, and the seamless manner in which she wove this into the story. The only quibble I have is that she unfortunately chose the climax of the story to introduce the backgrounds of several characters; i.e. Green Jack and Fulcher, which slowed the pace at an inappropriate stage. Moreover, although the ending is certainly unpredictable, it is perhaps a bit too unpredictable without any prior build-up. Nonetheless, it is a great read for the for the summer and for the whole family. I highly recommend this series by Maureen Ash.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#2 Bascot de Marins "Templar" mystery set in 1200 Lincoln. King John is coming to Lincoln so the whole town, and most certainly the castle, is astir with preparations. When the squire of Nicolaa de la Haye's brother-in-law is found hanged in the nearby forest, she is concerned that her brother-in-law is somehow involved and that a plot to overthrow the King might be involved--and she needs to know the score before the King's arrival. Bascot de Marins, a Templar knight who is for now a temporary retainer of Nicolaa and her husband Gerard Camville, sheriff of Lincoln, helped her earlier in the year with another investigation, so she asks him once again to investigate and get to the bottom of the squire's death. Hubert de Tournay was not well-liked, being a nosy braggart who was always ferreting out secrets, and also tended to coerce young women to have assignations with him. Was his death the result of a political plot, or was there a more personal motive?

I enjoyed this second entry in the series more than the first, as we get to know the main character and his supporting cast better. I've read quite a few books set in this time period and this is the first one I recall where there was actually a supporter of King John among the major cast of characters--Nicolaa de la Haye was staunchly in favor of the King. On a personal level, Bascot struggles with decisions in his own life--whether to rejoin the Templars now that his body and soul are somewhat healed after his years-long captivity in the Holy Land, or permanently become a knight of Nicolaa's household? And what of Gianni, his mute servant whom he rescued from a life of poverty and starvation? Looking forward very much to the next in the series.