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Chesterfield #2
The Saltergate Psalter
A gripping murder mystery set in fourteenth-century Chesterfield and sequel to The Crooked Spire
John the Carpenter, married and soon to become a father, has plenty of work to keep him busy in Chesterfield. But when the town coroner demands his help to solve the death of an elderly man who had survived both the plague and famine, John becomes embroiled in a case with many twists and turns. When the suspected murderer is in turn found dead, and a valuable book of Psalms vanishes, John has to discover who the real killer might be. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems.
John the Carpenter, married and soon to become a father, has plenty of work to keep him busy in Chesterfield. But when the town coroner demands his help to solve the death of an elderly man who had survived both the plague and famine, John becomes embroiled in a case with many twists and turns. When the suspected murderer is in turn found dead, and a valuable book of Psalms vanishes, John has to discover who the real killer might be. But very soon he discovers nothing is as it seems.
270 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
26 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Chris Nickson
69 books183 followersI'm a novelist and music journalist, the author of many books set between the 1730s and 1950s in Leeds, as well as others in medieval Chesterfield and 1980s Seattle.
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 10, 2018
Second entry in the "John the Carpenter" historical series set in Chesterfield in the 1360's. One of my favorite time periods, as Britain continues to struggle through the devastation after the Black Death. This one seemed quite repetitive in places and I felt it could have been shortened somewhat and not been at all detrimental to the story, but otherwise well done as per Chris Nickson's usual.
November 17, 2023
The Saltergate Psalter by Chris Nickson is a whodunit. Who did it? You will have to read the book. Who did what? Need you ask… There are murders. Isn’t it obvious?
The less obvious aspect of the book is its setting, which is Chesterfield, in England’s Derbyshire, in the middle ages, some years after the Great Plague of the fourteenth century. The setting is, perhaps, irrelevant, with only passing comment being made to the mores and culture of the time. Especially lacking is the expected dominance of religious thought and devotional life. This is not an historical novel. This is a whodunit where, as usual, an independent investigator goes around asking questions. And, as usual, people answer. How unlike real life can you get?
John is a carpenter. He seems an honest and dependable fellow. He has an assistant called Walter, who is his wife’s younger brother. His wife is expecting.
It all starts when Timothy is killed. Timothy is known to own a Psalter, a special, bejewelled, illustrated devotional book. It is worth a packet. And it is missing.
There follows a pretty standard whodunit. Who did it was… and you could substitute the name of any character and make up a motive in a final chapter or two. The setting was of interest, because I happen know Chesterfield, Dronfield, Unstone, Bakewell and Sheffield regularly.
The less obvious aspect of the book is its setting, which is Chesterfield, in England’s Derbyshire, in the middle ages, some years after the Great Plague of the fourteenth century. The setting is, perhaps, irrelevant, with only passing comment being made to the mores and culture of the time. Especially lacking is the expected dominance of religious thought and devotional life. This is not an historical novel. This is a whodunit where, as usual, an independent investigator goes around asking questions. And, as usual, people answer. How unlike real life can you get?
John is a carpenter. He seems an honest and dependable fellow. He has an assistant called Walter, who is his wife’s younger brother. His wife is expecting.
It all starts when Timothy is killed. Timothy is known to own a Psalter, a special, bejewelled, illustrated devotional book. It is worth a packet. And it is missing.
There follows a pretty standard whodunit. Who did it was… and you could substitute the name of any character and make up a motive in a final chapter or two. The setting was of interest, because I happen know Chesterfield, Dronfield, Unstone, Bakewell and Sheffield regularly.
May 21, 2020
Having read and enjoyed the first in the series a few years ago, I picked up this second one to refresh my memory of John the Carpenter. It generally moves slowly quite slowly, in common with the period no doubt, but the vividly drawn characters and historical detail help create some colour. Being of Chesterfield origin, I enjoyed the familiarity of the setting, although the idea of walking to Dronfield and back in a day filled me with dread! John's family setting comes to the fore in this novel and there's more emotional tension than plot twist. My main frustration is with the singular focus on John's POV and turning every page to find that we're still seeing everything through his eyes gets wearing. I won't spoil the ending but, like others, I struggled to endure the slow pace and in the end I was left feeling disinterested in whodunnit. I hovered at 3.5 stars but I'm moving onto number 3, so all is not lost.
July 24, 2019
Not as good as other things I have read of his.
Some of the historical touches seemed to be wrong too. As far as I can find out 'solars' were not in ordinary homes, just in manor houses and castles, and they weren't meant for sleeping in.
Also the phrase "from your mouth to God's ear" would never have been used by a Catholic, as it is a Jewish saying for one thing, and for another Catholics use intercessors for prayer and don't, in my experience, pray directly to God.
And then there was the fact that he kept moaning about wishing he was working on the church spire, when the basic premise of the first book was that the spire was going to twist and fall down because it was being built with green wood.
Hope the next one is better all around.
Some of the historical touches seemed to be wrong too. As far as I can find out 'solars' were not in ordinary homes, just in manor houses and castles, and they weren't meant for sleeping in.
Also the phrase "from your mouth to God's ear" would never have been used by a Catholic, as it is a Jewish saying for one thing, and for another Catholics use intercessors for prayer and don't, in my experience, pray directly to God.
And then there was the fact that he kept moaning about wishing he was working on the church spire, when the basic premise of the first book was that the spire was going to twist and fall down because it was being built with green wood.
Hope the next one is better all around.
April 27, 2022
A good medieval mystery with likeable characters & the atmosphere of the time evoked well. I haven’t read "The Crooked Spire" & while that in no way affected my enjoyment of this story it may have answered two questions that the story left me with. Firstly, the coroner’s attitude & treatment of John both annoyed & baffled me as I didn’t really understand the strength of his antagonism towards the carpenter who seemed fated to be at his beck & call. Secondly, I was intrigued by one characters comment "I’ve already paid my fine for finding the bodies" but even good ol’ google hasn’t been able to clarify that for me!
Overall, a good read & one of those where it’s as much about the characters & their relationships as it is about solving a mystery.
Overall, a good read & one of those where it’s as much about the characters & their relationships as it is about solving a mystery.
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January 18, 2022Here as a bookcrossing ring, this is the sequel to the Crooked Spire, which I read, also as a ring, some four years ago.
Being as I am, these days, I don't have much recollection of that story - other than that I know I enjoyed it - but was quickly caught up in this one.
I appreciate Nickson's writing and his pacing, and the medieval times and society ring quite true.
The main character, John, feels very human, down to his inability to say no to the Coroner while promising the opposite to Katherine.
A very good read, and I am once again grateful for the opportunity to discover and read great books thanks to bookcrossing.
Being as I am, these days, I don't have much recollection of that story - other than that I know I enjoyed it - but was quickly caught up in this one.
I appreciate Nickson's writing and his pacing, and the medieval times and society ring quite true.
The main character, John, feels very human, down to his inability to say no to the Coroner while promising the opposite to Katherine.
A very good read, and I am once again grateful for the opportunity to discover and read great books thanks to bookcrossing.
December 19, 2018
As I mentioned in my review of 'The Crooked Spire' (the first in the series), I live in the area of Chesterfield in which these novels are set. I actually walk along Saltergate every day on my way to work so reading about its medieval counterpart is quite surreal. Due to its familiarity, I find these books really cosy and appealing. This is an enjoyable murder mystery with twists and turns and an unexpected ending. I never guessed the identity of the 'baddie'! I've just started 'The Holywell Dead' :)
October 16, 2019
May 1361. John the Carpenter is now married with a child on the way. But then Timothy, an old man, is found dead and the Coroner calls in John to the scene. The first thoughts being that the missing servant, Nicholas, had murdered his Master, and stolen a psalter. Events prove this wrong and more deaths follow.
An enjoyable well-written historical mystery.
An enjoyable well-written historical mystery.
July 6, 2020
Unanswered questions
I have enjoyed this series of books, although they are not as detailed about the period as other authors. My only quibble with this book is the ending. There are too many loose ends. It's as if the author got fed up and rushed to finish the book. I won't give any spoilers, you have to find the gaps yourself.
I have enjoyed this series of books, although they are not as detailed about the period as other authors. My only quibble with this book is the ending. There are too many loose ends. It's as if the author got fed up and rushed to finish the book. I won't give any spoilers, you have to find the gaps yourself.
November 14, 2019
The second installment in the series did not disappoint. Nickson does a great job not just in his storytelling, but in evolving his main characters. In a way, although it is an historical mystery, it has the same close focus of the British village mystery/cosy mystery genre.
August 20, 2020
Plot and characters are a bit trite and not well developed. John the Carpenter is ordered to help the coroner investigate. Katherine, John's pregnant wife, tells him to just say no to the coroner, which he almost never does. This conversation is repeated again and again and again.
March 3, 2017
New author (to me). Interesting historical detail. Mystery not that much of a challenge -- although very involved.
May 27, 2017
Very enjoyable, a good read, set in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. It continues the series, and I look forward to reading more of the series.
November 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this more than I expected to. Not my usual genre but found the characters really interesting, liked the period detail and the style of writing.
June 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I felt as though I was throughly immersed in the period. I'll be trying other books by the author.
February 12, 2019
I really like these books, they're easy to read and fascinating. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
July 4, 2022
Such a good storyte!ler
Another fun series of Medieval times. Well plotted and rounded characters. Day to day life detailed. I hope there will he be a third.
Another fun series of Medieval times. Well plotted and rounded characters. Day to day life detailed. I hope there will he be a third.
May 20, 2017
Riveting and sometimes even scary mystery set in Chesterfield in 1361, a time when mysteries and myths abound. The position of Coroner was established by King Richard before 1200 and had its origins even earlier perhaps in Saxon times. This period in Chesterfield illustrates a great deal of power in the office, as demonstrated by de Harville, which John the Carpenter had to work to overcome.
Some of his reluctance to not pursue an outcome had to do also with his own moral sense and curiosity about the events that were transpiring. Too many murders were happening without resolution and both John and the Coroner had their own family issues to attend to.
When Walter, John's brother in law goes missing and is found gravely injured, enough is enough.
An unexpected twist in the story is a nail-biter, or it was for me.
Chris Nickson is a fine historian and an even finer writer. His period detail is so accurate and descriptive that when his characters assume their own life, we are not surprised.
This is the third series I have read by this author, who never ever disappoints.
Some of his reluctance to not pursue an outcome had to do also with his own moral sense and curiosity about the events that were transpiring. Too many murders were happening without resolution and both John and the Coroner had their own family issues to attend to.
When Walter, John's brother in law goes missing and is found gravely injured, enough is enough.
An unexpected twist in the story is a nail-biter, or it was for me.
Chris Nickson is a fine historian and an even finer writer. His period detail is so accurate and descriptive that when his characters assume their own life, we are not surprised.
This is the third series I have read by this author, who never ever disappoints.
November 17, 2015
This series is my favourite since the Constable Nottingham series and I think Chris Nickson's writing is especially poignant when he writes about this era. As always with a Chris Nickson novel - finishing the book and having to say 'bye for now' to the characters was a real wrench. I am very much looking forward to the next novel so I can find out what happens next.
May 9, 2016
Fascinating read
This book was an absorbing look into the past. The characters were well fleshed out and believable. I feel like I know John the Carpenter & his family & want to spend more time with them.
This book was an absorbing look into the past. The characters were well fleshed out and believable. I feel like I know John the Carpenter & his family & want to spend more time with them.
April 27, 2016
Decent mediaeval murder mystery with a good setting in and around Chesterfield and Dronfield, the second in the series. Looking forward to reading more.
August 10, 2019
Had potential, but way too slow getting to the point. And by the time I found out whodunnit, I really didn't care. I hope this writer gets a good script editor as it could have been a good read...
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews