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Crowner John Mystery #9
Figure of Hate
A joust brings murder to Exeter when a knight is found dead after an argument in the tilt yard. While his opponent is a suspect, Sir John de Wolfe finds many others with a motive for killing the almost universally hated Hugh Peverel; but with so many to choose from, Sir John is confronted with one of the most difficult cases of his career.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
41 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Knight
104 books135 followersAka Bernard Picton.
Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, (born 1931) became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. He has been writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries.
In addition, he has written scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the forensic series The Expert starring Marius Goring, in the 1970s. He has contributed to many other textbooks and has edited several medical journals - he was Managing Editor of Elsevier's Forensic Science International, the leading international publication in the field.
Currently, he is a founder member of The Medieval Murderers, a select group of historical crime-writers within the Crime Writers' Association, who give presentations at literary festivals, libraries and bookshops, to promote their work amongst the public. He is also one of the non-fiction judges for the annual 'Dagger' Awards of the Crime Writers' Association and a regular reviewer of crime books for the Internet site Tangled Web.
He was born and lives in Cardiff and as well as being a doctor, he qualified as a barrister and was awarded the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic medicine. In the 1950s, he served as a Regular Army medical officer in Malaya during the terrorist campaign, in a military hospital which he compares with 'MASH'.
-Wikipedia
Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, (born 1931) became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. He has been writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries.
In addition, he has written scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the forensic series The Expert starring Marius Goring, in the 1970s. He has contributed to many other textbooks and has edited several medical journals - he was Managing Editor of Elsevier's Forensic Science International, the leading international publication in the field.
Currently, he is a founder member of The Medieval Murderers, a select group of historical crime-writers within the Crime Writers' Association, who give presentations at literary festivals, libraries and bookshops, to promote their work amongst the public. He is also one of the non-fiction judges for the annual 'Dagger' Awards of the Crime Writers' Association and a regular reviewer of crime books for the Internet site Tangled Web.
He was born and lives in Cardiff and as well as being a doctor, he qualified as a barrister and was awarded the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic medicine. In the 1950s, he served as a Regular Army medical officer in Malaya during the terrorist campaign, in a military hospital which he compares with 'MASH'.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 25, 2022
Re Read!! The Peverels of Sampford Peverell kept their manor as it had been in the time of the Conqueror, a very closed and violent place. Hugh Peverell was instrumental in his father's death and he and his brother planned to shorten his widow's life as well.
A series of crimes, each one worse than the one before kept kept Crowner John coming into their sphere with sometimes disastrous results. Bernard Knight gives excellent period detail to a stark
time to be alive, with laws just beginning to approach any type of justice.
This was one of the best ones I have read, the series just kept getting better. Crowner John and his retinue are vibrant characters. Three more to finish all 15 books, these sandwiched between others. I wholeheartedly recommend the series.
A series of crimes, each one worse than the one before kept kept Crowner John coming into their sphere with sometimes disastrous results. Bernard Knight gives excellent period detail to a stark
time to be alive, with laws just beginning to approach any type of justice.
This was one of the best ones I have read, the series just kept getting better. Crowner John and his retinue are vibrant characters. Three more to finish all 15 books, these sandwiched between others. I wholeheartedly recommend the series.
November 30, 2010
This is the first that I have read by this author and it is the type of story that I enjoy. It moves along at a good pace particularly , towards the end, where John throws down his challenge.
We live near Exeter, where the story is set and it was interesting to compare the 'then and now' especially with some of the street names from the story still in use.
We live near Exeter, where the story is set and it was interesting to compare the 'then and now' especially with some of the street names from the story still in use.
February 21, 2011
I think historical mysteries could be my new favourite genre. This one was fascinating. First book I can remember reading in which although i didn't feel any strong empathy for any of the characters, i still really loved it. very good. i'll look for more crowner john mysteries.
December 31, 2009
#9 Crowner John historical mystery set in 1190's Devon. Lots of upheavals in the Crowner's life as the new Sheriff, who displaced his treacherous brother-in-law, begins dispensing the law. While honest, he's rather plodding and lazy and tends to let John handle most things. John's wife Matilda, an extremely socially conscious woman concerned with the neighbors' opinions and her diminishing status, seems to have developed a drinking problem after the fall of her brother from the highly lucrative Sheriff's position.
And it's tournament season--jousting and melee are just beginning to gain popularity, and John is asked to referee at a joust to be held during the Exeter fair, given his battle experience as a knight of the realm. One of the knights, a local manor lord, behaves very badly after losing his joust (which meant losing his horse, armor and often a good chunk of money to the winning knight) and John publicly chastises him for his unchivalrous behavior. The coroner later meets up with Hugo Peverel a second time when he's found stabbed several times in the back in one of his barns on the manor. Soon his death is tied to two other previous deaths and the Crowner must figure out which of the man's friends or family killed the odious man--not an easy task with a wealth of suspects at hand, and it's further complicated when his brother-in-law Richard, a friend and neighbor of the family, throws in his support for them.
I like this series a lot; the books seem to be well-researched and the author always has some interesting notes to read, too. Despite John's crabbiness, I like him and his secondary characters. The one thing that bothers me (and I know I've mentioned this before) is the constant use of the same verbs, often "animal sounds" attributed to the characters as they're speaking. For example, the Crowner, who is a rather gruff, curmudgeonly fellow, often snaps, growls or barks. His dandified brother-in-law frequently brays. If it wasn't for this, I would tend to rate the books higher, but at times it happens very frequently and is distracting enough to pull me right out of the story. I still look forward to the next one, though.
And it's tournament season--jousting and melee are just beginning to gain popularity, and John is asked to referee at a joust to be held during the Exeter fair, given his battle experience as a knight of the realm. One of the knights, a local manor lord, behaves very badly after losing his joust (which meant losing his horse, armor and often a good chunk of money to the winning knight) and John publicly chastises him for his unchivalrous behavior. The coroner later meets up with Hugo Peverel a second time when he's found stabbed several times in the back in one of his barns on the manor. Soon his death is tied to two other previous deaths and the Crowner must figure out which of the man's friends or family killed the odious man--not an easy task with a wealth of suspects at hand, and it's further complicated when his brother-in-law Richard, a friend and neighbor of the family, throws in his support for them.
I like this series a lot; the books seem to be well-researched and the author always has some interesting notes to read, too. Despite John's crabbiness, I like him and his secondary characters. The one thing that bothers me (and I know I've mentioned this before) is the constant use of the same verbs, often "animal sounds" attributed to the characters as they're speaking. For example, the Crowner, who is a rather gruff, curmudgeonly fellow, often snaps, growls or barks. His dandified brother-in-law frequently brays. If it wasn't for this, I would tend to rate the books higher, but at times it happens very frequently and is distracting enough to pull me right out of the story. I still look forward to the next one, though.
November 30, 2017
One of my favourites in the series. The plot was interesting and the 3 separate murders with possibly different murderers really kept you wondering. I learnt quite a lot of historical bits and bobs from the book too. I particularly liked that there were several references to Salisbury and Wilton which are near to where we live - I'd never have guessed there used to be an old tournament ground at Wilton!
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 13, 2020
Plot twists, Love, and Murder
Probably my favorite Crowner John mystery so far. The deeper character development was refreshing. Revealing a maturing, wiser John was a welcome, though admittedly unbeknownst, aspect. John became more easily relatable. Although he may be "hopelessly unimaginative " John is very receptive to other perspectives and personalities; at least at first pass.
Probably my favorite Crowner John mystery so far. The deeper character development was refreshing. Revealing a maturing, wiser John was a welcome, though admittedly unbeknownst, aspect. John became more easily relatable. Although he may be "hopelessly unimaginative " John is very receptive to other perspectives and personalities; at least at first pass.
January 24, 2024
I started out liking the Crowner John mysteries, but as the series go on, they just get worse, with Figure of Hate hitting a new low. As a mystery, this isn't. There's a murder. There's a suspect, who did it. Then there are more murders. The same suspect is telegraphed very clearly to be the murderer. The back plays up "there are countless people with motive!" but all of these countless suspects are introduced and eliminated, often in the same paragraph. You are left trudging through the book simply waiting for the end. To make matters worse, there's one murder that the reader is given no clues for, at all, and is just explained in the end of "this is what happened" with a wave of a hand.
Bernard Knight is a capable author, I suppose, but his version of world building is "describe what people ate in the 1190s in detail." That's it. That's basically all you get. The descriptions of anything else (buildings, clothes, etc) are rudimentary, at best, but food is described in detail. This was interested the first time it happened in the first book of the series, but by book 9 it actively angers me that I have to read this.
I would not read this book again, and I would not recommend it to anybody. It is a 1.5 star book, rounded to 2 stars, because it is readable and I finished it. It is the type of book you can absorb without thinking about it, and simply let it evaporate off your eyeballs.
Figure of Hate is the ninth book in the Crowner John mysteries, and it is worth commenting on the series nine books in. It's clear Knight wants his books to be readable without having read any of the other books in the series: like any procedural TV show, for example. The problem is that, if you've been reading the series, so much time is spent introducing the same characters you've met in eight previous books, explaining their backgrounds, circumstances, and relationships. Much like any procedural TV show, Knight slams the reset button hard at the end of every book. The reader is left thinking there might be some small advancement in the meta plot (the romantic relationships of Crowner John, the political situation in Essex, etc.) but, no, not really. The books build towards "there might be a change!" and then the reset button gets mashed down so all the minor incremental changes vanish.
Credit where due, there is one exceptionally small change in the meta plot that was eight books in the making, but it was drawn out for so long I really didn't care when it happened, and, more fundamentally, it did not actually change any of the relationships between characters or show any actual character growth for the character involved. It wasn't growth, it was change for the sake of change.
I really enjoyed the first two, maybe three, books in the series. They then became overly repetitive and not particularly creative. At this point, I'll likely see the series out only because I was gifted a set of the books used, and I have them sitting on my shelf. I would suggest the first two or three books to anybody, but after that, just bail on the series. It isn't worth it.
Bernard Knight is a capable author, I suppose, but his version of world building is "describe what people ate in the 1190s in detail." That's it. That's basically all you get. The descriptions of anything else (buildings, clothes, etc) are rudimentary, at best, but food is described in detail. This was interested the first time it happened in the first book of the series, but by book 9 it actively angers me that I have to read this.
I would not read this book again, and I would not recommend it to anybody. It is a 1.5 star book, rounded to 2 stars, because it is readable and I finished it. It is the type of book you can absorb without thinking about it, and simply let it evaporate off your eyeballs.
Figure of Hate is the ninth book in the Crowner John mysteries, and it is worth commenting on the series nine books in. It's clear Knight wants his books to be readable without having read any of the other books in the series: like any procedural TV show, for example. The problem is that, if you've been reading the series, so much time is spent introducing the same characters you've met in eight previous books, explaining their backgrounds, circumstances, and relationships. Much like any procedural TV show, Knight slams the reset button hard at the end of every book. The reader is left thinking there might be some small advancement in the meta plot (the romantic relationships of Crowner John, the political situation in Essex, etc.) but, no, not really. The books build towards "there might be a change!" and then the reset button gets mashed down so all the minor incremental changes vanish.
Credit where due, there is one exceptionally small change in the meta plot that was eight books in the making, but it was drawn out for so long I really didn't care when it happened, and, more fundamentally, it did not actually change any of the relationships between characters or show any actual character growth for the character involved. It wasn't growth, it was change for the sake of change.
I really enjoyed the first two, maybe three, books in the series. They then became overly repetitive and not particularly creative. At this point, I'll likely see the series out only because I was gifted a set of the books used, and I have them sitting on my shelf. I would suggest the first two or three books to anybody, but after that, just bail on the series. It isn't worth it.
October 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much, that I couldn't actually put it down until the end!
Crowner John and his sidekicks, Gwyn and Thomas, get involved with the jousting tournament being held, just for one day, in Exeter.
John is being kept quite busy, as the new Sheriff of Exeter, Henry de Furnellis, is a rather more laid back figure than the previous incumbent, and so more work seems to be finding its way to him - though not strictly of the kind the Coroner was used to.
Even before the tournament begins, though, a naked body is found in the river, and this starts off a long hunt for the man's killer.
The search for the truth behind this death, and several others, both before this one, and afterwards, takes John, Gwyn, and Thomas to the Manor belonging to the Peverels of Tiverton where, between obnoxious behaviour by the family members, especially the men, Crowner John has to dig deeply for the truth, while having to cope with the Peverels' nearest neighbour, John's old nemesis, Richard de Revelle.
As usual, Bernard Knight has done us proud, with the intricate details that he shows when dealing with the basic forensics of 12th century Devon, and the Codes of Honour that guide the Knights who fight in tournaments, as practice for the wars they are so busily training for.
His style of writing gives glimpses into his own life, as a trained pathologist, and it shows in his writing that he is an expert at it.
But his main character, Crowner John, at a time when real knowledge of the body, and the processes of death - especially that of murder - are still at its infancy, is able to find out, through a process of both direct experience, through his two decades of fighting wars for his King, and a little guesswork, just what has been done to the murder victims.
It is his intimate knowledge of the many processes of death, which help him to at least be able to tell his jurors the causes of those deaths, if not who did the deed - well, not straight away, and with a lot of help from his friends, anyway!
I guess I need to try and sleep now but, as soon as I can, when I wake later on, I'll be starting to read the next book in the series.
Crowner John and his sidekicks, Gwyn and Thomas, get involved with the jousting tournament being held, just for one day, in Exeter.
John is being kept quite busy, as the new Sheriff of Exeter, Henry de Furnellis, is a rather more laid back figure than the previous incumbent, and so more work seems to be finding its way to him - though not strictly of the kind the Coroner was used to.
Even before the tournament begins, though, a naked body is found in the river, and this starts off a long hunt for the man's killer.
The search for the truth behind this death, and several others, both before this one, and afterwards, takes John, Gwyn, and Thomas to the Manor belonging to the Peverels of Tiverton where, between obnoxious behaviour by the family members, especially the men, Crowner John has to dig deeply for the truth, while having to cope with the Peverels' nearest neighbour, John's old nemesis, Richard de Revelle.
As usual, Bernard Knight has done us proud, with the intricate details that he shows when dealing with the basic forensics of 12th century Devon, and the Codes of Honour that guide the Knights who fight in tournaments, as practice for the wars they are so busily training for.
His style of writing gives glimpses into his own life, as a trained pathologist, and it shows in his writing that he is an expert at it.
But his main character, Crowner John, at a time when real knowledge of the body, and the processes of death - especially that of murder - are still at its infancy, is able to find out, through a process of both direct experience, through his two decades of fighting wars for his King, and a little guesswork, just what has been done to the murder victims.
It is his intimate knowledge of the many processes of death, which help him to at least be able to tell his jurors the causes of those deaths, if not who did the deed - well, not straight away, and with a lot of help from his friends, anyway!
I guess I need to try and sleep now but, as soon as I can, when I wake later on, I'll be starting to read the next book in the series.
September 22, 2024
This story weaves around a Lord of his Manor, who is hated by his staff and villagers alike. He has 4 sons, 3 of which are also hated, as they behave in the same arrogant and often cruel way, towards staff and villagers.
The Lord is murdered, although it is thought to be an accident, as he fell from his horse during a jousting match. Crowner John, however, is suspicious and starts to investigate. This move makes him very unpopular with 3 of the Lords sons.
There are 3 more murders, one of which is the second eldest son of the Lord. To say any more will spoil the story for anyone who is thinking of reading it.
I’ve read the whole Crowner John series and I’m looking forward to reading book 10. Yes, this is a murder mystery series, but what makes it special, is the description of life in the 1190’s, the laws at that time and the way people lived then. The amount of research that has gone into this whole series is impressive. I actually care what happens to Crowner John and his colleagues, his miserable wife and his mistress.
The Lord is murdered, although it is thought to be an accident, as he fell from his horse during a jousting match. Crowner John, however, is suspicious and starts to investigate. This move makes him very unpopular with 3 of the Lords sons.
There are 3 more murders, one of which is the second eldest son of the Lord. To say any more will spoil the story for anyone who is thinking of reading it.
I’ve read the whole Crowner John series and I’m looking forward to reading book 10. Yes, this is a murder mystery series, but what makes it special, is the description of life in the 1190’s, the laws at that time and the way people lived then. The amount of research that has gone into this whole series is impressive. I actually care what happens to Crowner John and his colleagues, his miserable wife and his mistress.
March 23, 2023
Another excellent Crowner John tale from Bernard Knight. Although I had some idea of who the villain was as the story progressed, it was still a great story and yet again I couldn't put it down as we reached the conclusion.
One small annoyance was that about two thirds of the way into the book, John and Gwyn take a trip out of Exeter. Although it was interesting it didn't seem to add anything to the plot and was almost rushed over. Could've been left out.
One small annoyance was that about two thirds of the way into the book, John and Gwyn take a trip out of Exeter. Although it was interesting it didn't seem to add anything to the plot and was almost rushed over. Could've been left out.
February 23, 2024
Always a good bet for reading on a rainy day
I’ve read 9 of the Crowner John Mystery Books and enjoyed every single one of them Historically Accurate, the pace is excellent I find them very interesting and a window on this lesser known historical age
I’ve read 9 of the Crowner John Mystery Books and enjoyed every single one of them Historically Accurate, the pace is excellent I find them very interesting and a window on this lesser known historical age
December 26, 2019
Really good story - my favourite Crowner John so far.
January 22, 2022
i really enjoyed reading this book before pandemic. might read this again if a have time :)
May 19, 2015
A Mystery For the Ages
This wonderful medieval mystery centers around Sir John de Wolfe, coroner of the County of Devon. The setting is County Fair and tournament during the reign of Richard the Lion Hearst. A dead man has washed out from the river. He is quickly identified as a silversmith who was evidently robbed, along with his assistant, who is discovered injured but healing at a nearby priory. One of the alleged murderers is soon found to be a blacksmith under the protection of Sir Hugo Peverale, a local knight and bully who has just disgraced himself at a tournament. Soon, Sir Hugo is found, himself murdered at his manor of Sampford Peverale. Sir John is on the case. Complicating matters, however, is the appearance of Richard D'Revelle, the former Sheriff who was discharged due to embezzlement and sympathy for and support of Prince John In his fight to overthrow Richard. Sir John, a staunch Richard the Lion Heart supporter, must solve the mystery in spite of D'Revelle and Sir Hugo's brothers. the killer is ultimately unmasked and justice meted out as it could only be during this era.
This wonderful medieval mystery centers around Sir John de Wolfe, coroner of the County of Devon. The setting is County Fair and tournament during the reign of Richard the Lion Hearst. A dead man has washed out from the river. He is quickly identified as a silversmith who was evidently robbed, along with his assistant, who is discovered injured but healing at a nearby priory. One of the alleged murderers is soon found to be a blacksmith under the protection of Sir Hugo Peverale, a local knight and bully who has just disgraced himself at a tournament. Soon, Sir Hugo is found, himself murdered at his manor of Sampford Peverale. Sir John is on the case. Complicating matters, however, is the appearance of Richard D'Revelle, the former Sheriff who was discharged due to embezzlement and sympathy for and support of Prince John In his fight to overthrow Richard. Sir John, a staunch Richard the Lion Heart supporter, must solve the mystery in spite of D'Revelle and Sir Hugo's brothers. the killer is ultimately unmasked and justice meted out as it could only be during this era.
June 23, 2013
Wow. I may need to add Knight to my List Authors. At first I was afraid this was following the Ellis Peters or Edward Marston track a little too closely, but as it turns out the main character is one of the first coroners in England at the end of the 12th century. Obviously, over the centuries, the job of the coroner has changed a lot. The job of the "crowner" in the Middle Ages was purely overseeing inquests into untimely deaths, and appearing at hangings and other punishments of wrongdoers.
John De Wolfe is hardly a likeable character--he is a serial adulterer, a man baffled by humor, and quick to anger--but somehow Knight makes you want him solve the murders of a silversmith, a manor lord, and a young teenager from the same manor. In the event, he also manages to ride out on a "melee" and participate in a duel, while also sending his unbeloved and drunken wife off to France so he can devote himself to his current mistress.
Great characters, complicated situations and a good puzzle...PLUS history! Can't beat that.
John De Wolfe is hardly a likeable character--he is a serial adulterer, a man baffled by humor, and quick to anger--but somehow Knight makes you want him solve the murders of a silversmith, a manor lord, and a young teenager from the same manor. In the event, he also manages to ride out on a "melee" and participate in a duel, while also sending his unbeloved and drunken wife off to France so he can devote himself to his current mistress.
Great characters, complicated situations and a good puzzle...PLUS history! Can't beat that.
January 29, 2011
A fair amount of the action takes place around a tournament and the novel brings in elements of chivalry and honour. Reads a bit like an Agatha Christie tale as you have a dead manor lord and a whole cast of characters who hated him. Three murders in this book instead of the usual two. I love this series but there just seemed to be something missing this time that didn't make me enjoy it as much as the others.
March 26, 2010
Mostly entertaining. I played games a lot while I listened, so sometimes I went in and out of understanding. So my review may be affected by whatever parts I may have missed. But overall I felt like the ending was a little weak and it was fairly predictable too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2008
This is an interesting mystery--in 1195. Yep. Kings, queens, knights, and coroners. It's a bit of a twist. Very good book.
March 6, 2014
Bettie's Books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 26, 2010Excellent, true to form, historical content, betrayal passion hate etc..
August 5, 2012
I love to read anything in this era: England in the 1190s. The author is careful to describe the customs & politics of this time period. Plus the story will transport you back to this time.
April 30, 2015
New Crowner Mystery
I find this series very satisfying--good characterization, a dollop of humor, an engaging plot, and a good enough mystery, though not very hard to solve.
I find this series very satisfying--good characterization, a dollop of humor, an engaging plot, and a good enough mystery, though not very hard to solve.
November 4, 2013
978-1-84739-992-2
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews