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The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #8
Ashes to Ashes
Master Hugh, Kate, and their children attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. Early next morning, Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St. Beornwald, and moments later is summoned. Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones. Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton and nearby villages who have gone missing recently. Most are soon found, some alive, some dead. Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Someone has slain him and placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder. Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labor service, collect rents, and enforce other obligations. Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case. There is quite another reason for murder ...
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 27, 2015
91 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Melvin R. Starr
26 books306 followersMel 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
December 8, 2019
I'm a fan of this well written and well researched historic Medieval crime series, book 8 already in 'The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon'. Rating will vary between 3.3 (this one) and four stars. The author, Mel Starr, gives an authentic picture of the dark ages and lots of details, including a glossary of terminology. The series features Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiffto Lord Gilbert Talbot at his manor of Bampyon, UK in the Middle Ages. I will look forward to the 9th book, and, as usual, more to follow! I would recommend this series for fans of historical fiction.
Master Hugh, Kate and their children Bessie and Sybil attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. Early next morning, Hugh is summoned. Tenants collecting the ashes have found burned bones. Investigating, Hugh learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Bailiffs are not very popular. did this man die at the hand of some angry tenant?....
Master Hugh, Kate and their children Bessie and Sybil attend the Midsummer's Eve fire. Early next morning, Hugh is summoned. Tenants collecting the ashes have found burned bones. Investigating, Hugh learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Bailiffs are not very popular. did this man die at the hand of some angry tenant?....
November 11, 2015
Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr is the latest in a series about medieval surgeon Hugh de Singleton. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but enjoyed this one.
Set in the 14th century, Hugh studied at Oxford and in Paris; for his time, Hugh has a most advanced medical education.
In 1349 and again in the 1360's outbreaks of the Black Death devastated the population, creating a shortage of labor and social upheaval. This post-plague setting adds to the interest of the novel.
Labor is now a valuable commodity and there is more mobility as peasants/serfs/villeins move to find work, leaving behind land they had been bound to for generations. Feudal tradition is still strong, the hierarchy is still firm and powerful, but great changes are in progress.
Some of the previous books cover how Hugh came to settle in the village of Bampton, which is a real village not far from Oxford. Surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert of Bampton Castle, Hugh is an intelligent and mild-mannered man with a young family.
When charred bones are found in the remains of a bonfire, Hugh must discover the identity of the body and whether or not murder was done. The book gives wonderful historic detail about medieval law and justice, the social hierarchy, the way the church and religion affected people's lives, details of "croft and toft," and medical treatment in the late 1300's. The details are woven in to give the reader a feeling of the dynamics of the time.
Just a sidebar--Hugh uses lettuce seed to induce sleep. So did real medieval surgeons.
Character development could be better--especially as there are some interesting minor characters who deserved more depth--but an engaging mystery with great historical detail.
(The title brings to mind the nursery rhyme associated (though inaccurately) with the plague and the bonfire (bone fire) to create allusive references to the effects of the plague.)
NetGalley/Lion Fiction
Medieval Mystery. 2015. Print version: 256 pages.
Set in the 14th century, Hugh studied at Oxford and in Paris; for his time, Hugh has a most advanced medical education.
In 1349 and again in the 1360's outbreaks of the Black Death devastated the population, creating a shortage of labor and social upheaval. This post-plague setting adds to the interest of the novel.
Labor is now a valuable commodity and there is more mobility as peasants/serfs/villeins move to find work, leaving behind land they had been bound to for generations. Feudal tradition is still strong, the hierarchy is still firm and powerful, but great changes are in progress.
Some of the previous books cover how Hugh came to settle in the village of Bampton, which is a real village not far from Oxford. Surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert of Bampton Castle, Hugh is an intelligent and mild-mannered man with a young family.
When charred bones are found in the remains of a bonfire, Hugh must discover the identity of the body and whether or not murder was done. The book gives wonderful historic detail about medieval law and justice, the social hierarchy, the way the church and religion affected people's lives, details of "croft and toft," and medical treatment in the late 1300's. The details are woven in to give the reader a feeling of the dynamics of the time.
Just a sidebar--Hugh uses lettuce seed to induce sleep. So did real medieval surgeons.
Character development could be better--especially as there are some interesting minor characters who deserved more depth--but an engaging mystery with great historical detail.
(The title brings to mind the nursery rhyme associated (though inaccurately) with the plague and the bonfire (bone fire) to create allusive references to the effects of the plague.)
NetGalley/Lion Fiction
Medieval Mystery. 2015. Print version: 256 pages.
December 19, 2015
Mel Starr delivers another quality medieval mystery set on one of the manors of 14th century England. I've followed the series since #1, and continue to be enchanted by Starr's depiction of "real life" during this historical period. There's so much to learn: from the daily diet of people (loaves, pottage, sometimes cheese or "capon"-chicken) to medieval medicine (lettuce seeds as soporific, surgery as a "lower trade" than medicine, to be practiced by anyone with a knife), to the politics of local land ownership (lords could mete out punishment for non-capital offences; the difference between villeins and tenants, etc).
The actual mystery in this installment is ok, just like the others, but it's not the reason to read these books. I see these rather as a chance to unwind and take a relaxing stroll through life in the medieval 14th century countryside. The story moves at a leisurely pace, as Starr describes every detail of the main character's (a surgeon and bailiff) life from morning to night. Aided by a bit of imagination, this series inspires a true awe and appreciation for a life far "simpler" and much more difficult than ours: imagine a time when nails are a luxury, when instead of loading up on gas, you pull up to a babbling brook to energize your palfrey, when most people spend the entirety of their lives moving about an area the size of a small modern neighborhood, and eat the same thing (pease pottage, mostly) day in and day out.
Another aspect of this series that I love is that Starr uses medieval-ized English - it's not quite 14th century English, I'm sure that would be almost incomprehensible to the modern "lay" reader, it's modern English with a medieval... twang. (I would have no way of knowing if it's accurately representative of the times, as I am no medieval/English scholar, but it sounds plausible).
Overall, loved the respite, and I look forward to Starr's next round, Lucifer's Harvest.
The actual mystery in this installment is ok, just like the others, but it's not the reason to read these books. I see these rather as a chance to unwind and take a relaxing stroll through life in the medieval 14th century countryside. The story moves at a leisurely pace, as Starr describes every detail of the main character's (a surgeon and bailiff) life from morning to night. Aided by a bit of imagination, this series inspires a true awe and appreciation for a life far "simpler" and much more difficult than ours: imagine a time when nails are a luxury, when instead of loading up on gas, you pull up to a babbling brook to energize your palfrey, when most people spend the entirety of their lives moving about an area the size of a small modern neighborhood, and eat the same thing (pease pottage, mostly) day in and day out.
Another aspect of this series that I love is that Starr uses medieval-ized English - it's not quite 14th century English, I'm sure that would be almost incomprehensible to the modern "lay" reader, it's modern English with a medieval... twang. (I would have no way of knowing if it's accurately representative of the times, as I am no medieval/English scholar, but it sounds plausible).
Overall, loved the respite, and I look forward to Starr's next round, Lucifer's Harvest.
April 18, 2018
My new favorite Author is Mel Starr!!! I have enjoyed this series from the first and look forward to what more he has to write. Thanks Sir.
April 7, 2023
See my review for book one.
November 14, 2015
This was a very good reading experience for me in the Hugh de Singleton series. I have somehow missed the last several books in this series so it was nice to meet up with where the characters have advanced to since I last read about them.
This book has some very good information for people who may not be familiar with reading medieval mystery novels. Author Mel Starr has included a Glossary in the front of the book to help with information specifically mentioned in this novel such as what dates are represented by Saints days, what foods were served plus with ingredient lists to help understand cooking, words used to describe the occupation of various villagers and what words like toft and marshalsea meant. Even though I read many medieval mystery novels I always appreciate having a refresher for those kinds of information. Besides, Starr does a good job with researching these things where many authors simply leave you on your own to try to figure it out yourself. There is also a very simple map showing the small villages Hugh traveled to while investigating this problem. A distance of as little as a mile and a half often meant that a villager never traveled outside their own home village to the neighboring one. They were much too busy working to ensure their survival to be making trips to other villages.
The bones of an unknown person are found in the cooling ashes of the St. John's day bonfire the morning following the midsummer celebration. As bailiff to Lord Gilbert Talbot at his manor of Bampton, Hugh de Singleton was the one required to investigate. What seemed to be a simple thing of finding who was missing from the village quickly became a much more complex problem. If no person was missing from Bampton, Hugh would have to begin traveling away from his village to find who the unknown person was.
This story didn't seem to include quite as much medical practice as I remember from the other novels, but it was still good information related by the author to show exactly where medical practices were in 1369. Hugh had adopted some forward thinking procedures even if he still could not explain why they worked. The dynamics of the relationship between Hugh, his wife Kate, and their two daughters is well developed as is the relationships of all the people working for and with Lord Gilbert. Being in the employ of the highest placed noble in the area pays dividends when Hugh finds obstacles being put in the way of his investigation.
I enjoyed reading this eighth book in the series and catching up with the characters I had enjoyed in the past. The Glossary was a welcomed help in understanding some aspects of the book and I referred to it often. There is an Afterword where Mel Starr gives information regarding Bampton in modern times and the role it has played in the Downton Abbey television series. There is also an extract from book number nine, Lucifer's Harvest. Fans of the series will be eager to read that extract.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
This book has some very good information for people who may not be familiar with reading medieval mystery novels. Author Mel Starr has included a Glossary in the front of the book to help with information specifically mentioned in this novel such as what dates are represented by Saints days, what foods were served plus with ingredient lists to help understand cooking, words used to describe the occupation of various villagers and what words like toft and marshalsea meant. Even though I read many medieval mystery novels I always appreciate having a refresher for those kinds of information. Besides, Starr does a good job with researching these things where many authors simply leave you on your own to try to figure it out yourself. There is also a very simple map showing the small villages Hugh traveled to while investigating this problem. A distance of as little as a mile and a half often meant that a villager never traveled outside their own home village to the neighboring one. They were much too busy working to ensure their survival to be making trips to other villages.
The bones of an unknown person are found in the cooling ashes of the St. John's day bonfire the morning following the midsummer celebration. As bailiff to Lord Gilbert Talbot at his manor of Bampton, Hugh de Singleton was the one required to investigate. What seemed to be a simple thing of finding who was missing from the village quickly became a much more complex problem. If no person was missing from Bampton, Hugh would have to begin traveling away from his village to find who the unknown person was.
This story didn't seem to include quite as much medical practice as I remember from the other novels, but it was still good information related by the author to show exactly where medical practices were in 1369. Hugh had adopted some forward thinking procedures even if he still could not explain why they worked. The dynamics of the relationship between Hugh, his wife Kate, and their two daughters is well developed as is the relationships of all the people working for and with Lord Gilbert. Being in the employ of the highest placed noble in the area pays dividends when Hugh finds obstacles being put in the way of his investigation.
I enjoyed reading this eighth book in the series and catching up with the characters I had enjoyed in the past. The Glossary was a welcomed help in understanding some aspects of the book and I referred to it often. There is an Afterword where Mel Starr gives information regarding Bampton in modern times and the role it has played in the Downton Abbey television series. There is also an extract from book number nine, Lucifer's Harvest. Fans of the series will be eager to read that extract.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
February 1, 2016
I can not express how much I truly enjoy this series.
These books are like the richest of desserts. You want to devour it quickly but know that you should nibble it slowly so as to enjoy it thoroughly from start to finish.
Hugh de Singleton is the Columbo of his day. He just seems to ask the right questions, pause at the right times, and watch the answers come as they may. He definitely has a technique to getting the information he needs to solve the murders and I enjoy seeing the process unfold. It is all done realistically for the time period and methodically to take the reader from point A to B.
Hugh had certainly done all he could do to bring the murderer to full justice in this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like enough justice was served. In this time period, many crimes were committed that never received any recompense either monetarily or otherwise. So, my sense of complete and total, "Justice has been served" drop the gavel moment did not arrive in this book, but I do feel the ending was fitting to the story and the 1369 systems of law. Otherwise, loved this book and can not wait for book 9, Lucifer's Harvest. Squee!
I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Books, for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
These books are like the richest of desserts. You want to devour it quickly but know that you should nibble it slowly so as to enjoy it thoroughly from start to finish.
Hugh de Singleton is the Columbo of his day. He just seems to ask the right questions, pause at the right times, and watch the answers come as they may. He definitely has a technique to getting the information he needs to solve the murders and I enjoy seeing the process unfold. It is all done realistically for the time period and methodically to take the reader from point A to B.
Hugh had certainly done all he could do to bring the murderer to full justice in this book. Unfortunately, I don't feel like enough justice was served. In this time period, many crimes were committed that never received any recompense either monetarily or otherwise. So, my sense of complete and total, "Justice has been served" drop the gavel moment did not arrive in this book, but I do feel the ending was fitting to the story and the 1369 systems of law. Otherwise, loved this book and can not wait for book 9, Lucifer's Harvest. Squee!
I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Books, for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
January 7, 2025
When the body of a man is found in the ashes of a May Day bonfire, Hugh de Singleton is asked to find out who he was, why he was placed in the fire, and who murdered him. When Hugh travels to a nearby town to discover who is missing, he finds that someone has already been blamed for the killing, and that man has already been hanged. That puts a major crimp in his investigation, but as he continues to ask questions about the incident, he finds that the townspeople are not willing to help him. In fact, on his way home, he is attacked on the road, severely beaten, and almost dead. Luckily, his wife, Kate, is good a sewing him up. The appeal of these stories is the description of life in the Middle Ages, and the way language is used, so different from today, and how foremost in one's mind are the religious teachings that guide behavior.
July 5, 2022
This series just gets better and better and this latest one was a delight to read and pulled me right out of persistent reading slump!
When human bones are discovered in the ashes of the Midsummer's Eve bonfire, Hugh is called in. The skull has been fractured but who is the murdered man? Chasing tales of missing men, Hugh travels to other villages only to discover the missing have returned. But when a third man is reported missing, Hugh thinks he has finally found the victim and that the murderer has already been punished. But something is definitely fishy in Kencott,
Medieval twists and turns, charming characters, and a truly convoluted mystery are enhanced by a terrific setting. Loved this one!
When human bones are discovered in the ashes of the Midsummer's Eve bonfire, Hugh is called in. The skull has been fractured but who is the murdered man? Chasing tales of missing men, Hugh travels to other villages only to discover the missing have returned. But when a third man is reported missing, Hugh thinks he has finally found the victim and that the murderer has already been punished. But something is definitely fishy in Kencott,
Medieval twists and turns, charming characters, and a truly convoluted mystery are enhanced by a terrific setting. Loved this one!
March 11, 2019
The bones find in the ashes. But who is the missing person? Master Hugh de Singleton must visit the nearby villages more than once to identify the possible victim - and the reason for the murder/s.
I have quite enjoyed this historical murder mystery. Hugh de Singleton is a wise man with dry humour, which I appreciate. And while Master Hugh is no brother Cadfael (my forever beloved detective from the past times of British realm), the mystery is quite well-written and interesting. And I appreciate to see how difficult such sleuthing must have been, based mostly on the sharp intellect of the sleuth!
But I must say that I like Hugh´s musings the most! :)
I have quite enjoyed this historical murder mystery. Hugh de Singleton is a wise man with dry humour, which I appreciate. And while Master Hugh is no brother Cadfael (my forever beloved detective from the past times of British realm), the mystery is quite well-written and interesting. And I appreciate to see how difficult such sleuthing must have been, based mostly on the sharp intellect of the sleuth!
But I must say that I like Hugh´s musings the most! :)
January 17, 2018
Another enjoyable entry in this series featuring Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff in Bampton, UK in the 14th century. A set of bones are discovered in the remains of the St. John's Eve fire when the farmers come to take the ashes to spread on their fields. As the skull was clearly bashed in, it appears murder has been done and Hugh must investigate as the Bailiff to Lord Gilbert. But when no one is reported missing initially, Hugh begins journeying to nearby villages to look a bit further afield for the identity of his victim--and the murderer.
April 11, 2018
With the discovery of adult bones in the remains of the Midsummer’s Eve fire, Hugh de Singleton finds himself searching for the identity of the bones. His search leads him many directions before he finally unravels the mystery.
This was not one of my favorite reads by the author but I discovered that the author is making Hugh a more religious soul who loves food - particularly the food his lovely wife, Kate, makes. The author seems to be providing more depth to Hugh's palate which is interesting in itself. I do enjoy the key characters in this series very much. Hugh and his wife, Kate, are devoted to each other and their family. Kate finds High's investigations stimulating and often adds thoughts that help him expand his investigations.
This was not one of my favorite reads by the author but I discovered that the author is making Hugh a more religious soul who loves food - particularly the food his lovely wife, Kate, makes. The author seems to be providing more depth to Hugh's palate which is interesting in itself. I do enjoy the key characters in this series very much. Hugh and his wife, Kate, are devoted to each other and their family. Kate finds High's investigations stimulating and often adds thoughts that help him expand his investigations.
April 30, 2024
I don't think there will ever be a story of Hugh De Singleton that I won't love. This instalment was absolutely great. I love how Starr quickly gets you sucked into the story and then keeps you there with the familiar cast of characters and few new. The medieval murder mystery never disappoints and I love how throughout the book you are constantly trying to figure out who did it and are always surprised in the end. I can't wait to continue with the series.
March 10, 2021
Seemed like a lot of fuss over some bones in the debris of the bonfire -- but Master Hugh is not satisfied until he discovers where the bones came from. No one from Bampton is missing so it must be some one from a neighboring town. Off he goes and gets himself attacked again for stirring up trouble.
April 10, 2022
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.
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.
June 25, 2024
8 th in series. Set in medieval England times. Another murder, this time burned bones. Firstly, the identity of the victim must be discovered, and then hugh de singleton bailiff and surgeon endeavours to find the killer. Another interesting story with familiar characters. I find some of the story tends to be unnecessarily long so it’s just a four instead of a five star.
August 21, 2017
Read a bit out of order as this is the volume we happened to have in the shop!
A good read, a mystery unfolding in neat steps and, as usual, Hugh's musings on life are interesting as a man of his times when what God, or Jesus, would think really was an integral part of everyday life.
A good read, a mystery unfolding in neat steps and, as usual, Hugh's musings on life are interesting as a man of his times when what God, or Jesus, would think really was an integral part of everyday life.
January 4, 2018
My favorite in my long running love affair with this series. Learned more than usual during a very satisfying low key mystery.
Only two volumes left before I catch up to author's output... rationing carefully. :)
Only two volumes left before I catch up to author's output... rationing carefully. :)
July 9, 2020
I'm still very much enjoying this mystery series. I like Hugh and the whole cast of characters we've come to know since book 1. I enjoy the historical details and Hugh's musings on life and faith as he goes about his business of mending people and solving murders.
February 12, 2022
Excellent historical mystery with romance, engaging characters, and twists. Narrator is entertaining. The plot morality is Christian-based and is a clean read. Well worth the price as are all in the series. ©️2015
February 8, 2024
Gotta love Hugh
I love these books! The word craft is so enjoyable. The mystery is fun. I also love seeing Hugh as a husband and doting father. So good to have a good book where a man treasures his wife as High does. Would love to sit and sup with him!
I love these books! The word craft is so enjoyable. The mystery is fun. I also love seeing Hugh as a husband and doting father. So good to have a good book where a man treasures his wife as High does. Would love to sit and sup with him!
February 25, 2024
I love the way Starr does not try to impose modern values and language on the past but seeks to put his protagonist in context with a questioning, but Christ-oriented mind. Lots of good quotes in the book.
November 7, 2024
Another delightful installment. I am competing with others in my church library for the next volume. The legal system back then didn't work quite like today. Amazing what the rich and titled could get away with.
June 11, 2018
I always enjoy Mel Starr's description of medieval life brought to life through Hugh de Singleton.
October 6, 2019
Another fine tale...
I love the history and the mystery of these books! It just fuels my desire to continue reading! Great series!
I love the history and the mystery of these books! It just fuels my desire to continue reading! Great series!
May 24, 2020
Another enjoyable installment in the series.
March 9, 2022
Really enjoyable mystery with motives thoroughly rooted in the mores and motivations of the 14th century.
October 6, 2022
4 Another good trip back to the Dark Ages. The plot was a tad convoluted but satisfying nevertheless. Recommended to the normal crew.
March 5, 2023
#8 Murder and mayhem, but some clever sleuthing by Hugh provides for the usual interesting midnight read.
March 11, 2023
This is the first book I have read in this series, but that wasnt a problem getting into it. It was well written, and really liked the main characters. Will be looking for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews