Deeds of Darkness

The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #10

by Melvin R. Starr

When Bampton’s coroner, Hubert Shillside, does not return from a trip to Oxford, Master Hugh de Singleton is called. Concerned for his old friend, Hugh takes to the road to investigate. Travel is safer than in times hence but, out of sight of prying eyes; it is still unwise to travel alone… Hugh finds a body, stabbed and left to rot, but it is not the body he was expecting to find. Indeed, reports of pillage, attacks, and chaos on the roads out of Oxford suddenly seem rampant. Hugh must ascertain whether the incidents are random, or whether something darker is afoot. The guilty cannot afford to be caught, but what lengths will they go to cover their tracks, and will Hugh escape unscathed?

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

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

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

Reviews

[Ioana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year around this time, Mel Starr publishes an addition to his Surgeon Hugh de Singleton novels, and for the past few years, I’ve rushed to pre-order so his sequels arrive on my doorstep without delay. Many years ago, I started the series on a tablet (where I do all my ‘pulp’/relaxation/mystery reading) but for the past four installments or so I’ve graduated these to actual paper-copies (i.e. I deemed them worthy of my bookshelf space). After the Shardlake series (which is by far the most superior historical mystery series ever written, but sadly which is now not current, rumors have it, due to the author’s illness), this is my next favorite, for its fidelity to historical nuance and accuracy and for the environment Starr so aptly immerses the reader in.

If you like historical mysteries, I highly recommend starting this series at the beginning; while each book presents a stand-alone mystery, it’s helpful to get to know Hugh, a surgeon and bailiff of a 14th century English estate, as he develops from a young graduate recently returned from Paris through his marriage, to his settling down in a new home, to his children, to the manors’ happenings over time.

I don’t find the mysteries themselves particularly puzzling or intriguing, but I simply LOVE the atmosphere and getting lost in this time period; Starr writes in a straightforward manner but he clearly attends to the language and customs of the times with great care: we learn what people then ate, wore, on what types of beds they slept, how they led their daily lives (i.e. all the tiny details are fascinating, like how, for example, nails weren’t this common item one could just buy at some kind of store, but how they were precious and people would take them out of the one broken chair they had to use later on for making the one table in their house). Starr also introduces terms from that period (there is a glossary) – a toft was the name for the land surrounding a home, a ‘remove’ was a meal course, a runcie was a type of horse tethered to carts, and so on.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

[Diane Estrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel Starr has done it again! Another delightful, albeit full of murder and mayhem, read from this talented author. Bravo!

The author has his own specific style and has perfected it. Why mess with a proven, winning formula of writing, when it is clearly perfection, I ask you??!?! I have read all TEN of the books in this series and look expectantly to more. I do not think this series could be as interesting or inviting if it were not written in first person (which I love) and without the author's EXTENSIVE knowledge on medieval surgery and customs of that time. Every bit of these stories transports the reader as if you were walking along, smelling, eating, and seeing everything our hero, Hugh, is experiencing as he is living it. It is quite exciting to tag along on these adventures. The clues unfold slowly and naturally as they would have in the 1300's and Hugh's cunning, luck, and help from the Lord, above are his greatest allies, not fast-paced technology.

I had missed, in previous books, some of the extensive wit and conversations Hugh had with his wife, but am happy to say she was more present in this book as was her father. Adding Hugh's father-in-law to the plot added an additional family element that I truly enjoyed seeing unfold.

I received this book from the publisher/book publicist but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master Hugh de Singleton, bailiff and surgeon extraordinaire, is summoned to investigate the disappearance of his friend Hubert Shillside, Brampton's coroner. Hubert had embarked on a trip to Oxford, but never returned. Hugh's investigation soon leads to a body, stabbed and left to rot in the woods, but not the body of the man he was looking for. As reports of attacks and pillaging mount, Hugh must discern whether these are random acts of violence, or if something more sinister is occurring.

Each novel in the "Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton" series that has been released has proven to be thoroughly entertaining, and "Deeds of Darkness" certainly fits that description! I greatly enjoyed reconnecting with Hugh and watching him at work in the fascinating medieval period of time the novel is set in, the year of 1371. As with prior novels, Starr has created an authentic feel to the story such that I felt like I was truly immersed in the time period and watching the drama unfold through Hugh's eyes. The suspense builds steadily throughout the novel as Starr leads readers on a journey to discover who the attackers and murders are. The pacing of the writing is spot on, and my attention did not waver for a moment until the final pages of the novel. And in the midst of watching Hugh figure out the mystery, I certainly appreciate that Hugh's faith remains at the forefront of all he does. There is a lesson in there for all of us.

Historical mysteries just don't get better than this! Readers who have already become enamoured with Hugh's adventures will no doubt love this story, while readers who haven't yet had the pleasure of picking up a Starr novel will find much to love here. I strongly recommend this book and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Lion Fiction, and Kregel blog tour services, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

[Joseph Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review for book one.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, logical solving of a mystery and Hugh's practical steps to get there. Love the characters, always learn things, and there's no 'gotcha!' moments or gratuitous anything- just good clear writing and factual historical setting.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Deeds of Darkness, the tenth installment of the Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery series, the titular character Hugh, Oxford surgeon, is called to help investigate a murder. The victim turns out to be one of his friends, Hubert. He had been killed, while traveling between Oxford and Bampton, by a group of goliards, a band of lawless young men who had at one time been scholars but had, for one reason or another, left their studies before they finished their degrees. Hugh has to figure out ways to deal with them when they have protection that is far above him in social rank, and to bring his friend’s killer to justice. As Hugh investigates, more murders occur, and the pressure increases to uncover the identity of the men responsible for the crimes.

As with all of Starr’s previous novels, Deeds of Darkness is chock full of thoroughly researched detail and interesting tidbits of daily medieval life. The characters are well fleshed-out and believable, making readers either care a great deal about their well-being or hope they really get a good comeuppance. Hugh remains an intriguing man, complex and honest without being annoyingly pedantic, as some protagonists can be. Most of the secondary characters are pretty well rounded, though I felt that Kate, Hugh’s wife, was overlooked. To be fair, she doesn’t have a large role in this novel, but she seemed like an afterthought. Overall, though, this is a fine addition not only to the Hugh de Singleton series but to the medieval mystery genre as a whole.

[Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cliche would be "Mel Starr does it again", but sometimes that is the best thing to say except, perhaps, this is possibly his best. A spate of murders and burglaries proves to be challenging for Hugh de Singleton; where does he start. It seems obvious to start with a local villain but life is never that simple... or is it? We are there alongside, as in all good detective stories, piecing bits together and coming up with our own theories... even in mediaeval Oxfordshire.

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of Mel Starr’s books!!! He could write one every month and I would still want to read more! I have all is books and each one is a keeper!
As with all his books, the setting is in the late 1400’s in England. Once again, Hugh deSingleton, bailiff and surgeon to Lord Gilbert Talbot, is off to solve another murder mystery. From the minute I opened the book I could not put it down. Even though each book is the same era and Hugh is the main character, they are never the same! This is crime fighting in the raw as there are obviously no DNA testing or computer data bases to aid in the search for criminals. Hugh never ceases to amazing me with his attention to the minutest details and brilliant deductions with the sparse information he is given. With his great sense of humor and incredible sleuthing I am laughing one minute and trying to guess the outcome another. There is also a wealth of historical information of the customs and ideas of the era. As always, I especially enjoy the surgical practices and family life of the time not often highlighted in murder mysteries. I find the glossary of words from that age at the front of the book extremely interesting. Do you know what a dibble stick, a runcie, or hamsoken is?
Once again Hugh is involved in another murder investigation. A local resident of Bampton has gone missing and his son comes to him for help. His father was headed to Oxford, an hour away to do business which would involve 2 days including an overnight stay at the monastery along the way. Keep in mind most people walked the distance. The father never returned. In his searching Hugh finds that there have been more killings and assaults on this much traveled road. It appears to involve 4 assailants dressed as monks. In addition, many homes are being robbed in both towns.
As usual he has limited clues to go on, gathering a few here and there as he searches. He hates leaving his wife and children with the frequent, long, and dangerous travel between the two towns this job entails. It is concerning because he and his family’s safety are in jeopardy, not only because of the lawbreakers but simply living in medieval times. Another wonderful book by Mel Starr! Immersed in history and suspense! A book you will want to read!
I received this book from Kregel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the tenth book in the medieval mystery series "The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon," Hugh, as Lord Gilbert's bailiff, is asked to solve the mystery of a merchant who was robbed and murdered on his way to Oxford (a three-hour ride on horseback from the village of Bampton where Hugh and his family reside). Hugh also finds of others who have been robbed, called "hamsoken" in this time of the 1470s, often when families are attending church or other village festivities. In fact, Hugh and his wife Kate, along with their two children small children, Bess and John (the latter just born), suffered hamsoken while they observed the May Day festivities in the village square.

While on one of his many trips to Oxford as he follows the various clues, Hugh discovers that Kate's father, who sells parchment and ink and books to the scholars of Oxford, is practically starving as men have come into his shop and robbed him of his most expensive stores. Hugh brings a very weak father-in-law back with him to Bampton, and Kate's father quickly regains his health once he starts eating regularly again. Hugh works at trying to track down the three or four scholars who are committing hamsoken and, twice, murder as well. And of course, Hugh's training as a surgeon in France also comes in handy from time to time, as it does in most of the books in this series.

This series is amazing simply because of the meticulous research the author does. I feel completely immersed into the time period and the place, and the author provides a glossary of medieval words and the main ingredients to the various dishes served at Hugh's table and others throughout the novel. Even the manner of speaking is so medieval that I feel so completely immersed into the world of 1470s Bampton and Oxford. Given that the plague came through this area about ten years previously, the realism of this series is stark and truly sad. One real-life character who pops up in the various books of the series is John Wycliffe, so in addition to being immersed in the history and the various mysteries that Hugh eventually solves, we also get a healthy dose of pre-Protestant theology. ;)

I truly cannot recommend this series highly enough! If you live in California, the series is available through the public libraries via Link Plus.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the previous eight books I have read in this series, author Mel Starr does not disappoint. As he takes Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon and bailiff, in medieval England about his daily experiences we are given a fabulous glimpse into their the slow paced life and methods used by de Singleton to treat injuries and illnesses, resolve criminal activity, and interact with laborers, clergy, and family.

The books are not lengthy or difficult reading. The "tone" of the writing and speech reflects on what one would expect relevant to the times and sets the pace. Historical detail is interspersed in treatment of wounds, meals consumed (barley loaves and maslin loaves are in abundance), and murders and theft solved using forensic clues and evidence that were available in the 1300s.

In Deeds of Darkness the plague is past leaving the populace sparse with not enough to plow the fields, buy the goods in the stores, etc. But life goes on and Hugh de Singleton plods along the paths and across the streams trying to find out who is murdering people along the road and who is plundering homes when folks are at church.

This is Christian fiction and Singleton's faith is intricately woven into his actions and speech. The Church is Catholic with monasteries and black robed monks abundant and all people are by law required to attend Mass. This leaves homes unoccupied providing opportunity for thieves to plunder. And as admonished in Scripture, one is to have nothing to do with deeds of darkness but is to expose them. And that is just what Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, does in this story.

A good read and one I can recommend. I found the historic references very interesting and Starr includes a glossary defining period words and terms used in the text.The frequent visits to monasteries for means of meals and lodging and Hugh de Singleton's respect for customs of the monks is interesting and enlightening. And Singleton's wit and conversational thoughts a pleasure to read.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Kregel Publishing to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and are freely given. I received no compensation.

[Beckie Burnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love, love, love Mel Starr’s medieval mystery series featuring surgeon and bailiff, Hugh de Singleton. Not only does Starr bring medieval England to life, he creates an intelligent mystery that keeps both the main character and the reader on his toes. Deeds of Darkness is the 10th book in the series and is as fresh as all the rest. If you love history and mystery this one is for you!

Hugh is once again charged with uncovering a mysterious event in his bailiwick. Besides determining what happened to businessman and coroner, Hubert Shillside, Hugh is faced with assaults, murders, hamsoken (breaking and entering), and threats to himself and family. All in all, just another episode for his chronicles.

Starr does his homework in the creation of Hugh’s world. Interesting details of everyday life and a sprinkling of old English words combine with the social order of the day. His characters are very much medieval in their attitudes and ethics, but there is plenty there for the modern reader to identify with. Men (and women) haven’t changed that much in the 600+ years since Hugh lived. The mystery is filled with twists, turns, and puzzling clues. Deeds of Darkness keeps the reader guessing. Justice in 14th century England is unlike our’s — the state and church had separate jurisdictions and sentencing requirements. But it is certain that, one way or the other, everyone got what they deserved. Hugh is a very devout man and keeps the tenets of the church and the teaching of Jesus to the forefront of his mind, even when they are difficult to follow. Starr portrays a world in which faith is the center of a man’s world, but in the latter days of the 1300s, a reforming wind is in the air.

Intelligent, intriguing, and just plain fun, Deeds of Darkness is a recommended read. And with other deeds of darkness sure to come in the future, I look forward to more adventures with Hugh.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Kregel and Lion Hudson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeds of Darkness
The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #10
By Mel Starr

When Bampton's haberdasher and coroner, Hubert Shillside goes missing Hugh is called upon by the man's son. Will Shillside is concerned that his father is late returning from a purchasing expedition in Oxford. But clues are few and no evidence can be found of foul play other than Hubert's unexplained disappearance. But a stop at Osney Abbey reveals that others have fallen prey to the same apparent fate as Hubert.

Putting his skills to use Hugh is hard-pressed to find the victims he seeks. But as the days pass crime seemingly has moved into the area. Homes are robbed. People attacked. And an unidentified victim has been found. The road to Oxford is no longer safe to travel day or night. And unless the guilty party makes a mistake Hugh may be unable to bring justice to those in sore need of its administration.

Deeds of Darkness is a truly captivating mystery. And just when one thinks "Ah, he has discovered his villain" something occurs to throw this thought into doubt. This is one tangle that will take all of Hugh's skills to unravel.

If your cup of reading runs to historical mysteries, you simply have to give Hugh de Singleton a try. The story is set in the late 14th Century outside of Oxford. And for those who like to have historical figures in their historical fiction will enjoy scenes with Hugh's former professor of philosophy - Master John Wycliffe.

This is the tenth book in this series, but if you have not before read any books in this series that should not be a problem as the book can be read-alone and easily understood. There is a glossary of terms at the front of the book that you'll definitely make use of.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[MaryJo Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although there are other well written mystery series with a medieval background, Mel Starr's Hugh de Singleton's series is definitely my favorite; I'm enjoying everyone.
Hugh is a regular sort of guy and the author knows his English history of the time period, including terminology that he uses just enough to increase authenticity, so well that the reader can get into the mode of Hugh's lifestyle, challenges, tragedies, and predicaments. But he is a young man of integrity, a wry sense of humor, and astuteness. I've come to like Hugh very much, as well as other characters that appear quite regularly as these stories move along.
And it would be remiss of me not to mention that this is well done inspirational fiction. Hugh is a believer in the Christ, but with his sense of honesty and curiosity he questions some of the church's practices of the time that do not seem to line up with Christ's teachings. This can be dangerous indeed, and almost lands him in some serious trouble more than once.

In this the 10th book, Hugh is a happily married man who is earning a decent living as a bailiff and a surgeon for Lord Gilbert in an English shire not to distant from Oxford. It is the 1st of his professions that brings his way the case of a merchant friend who is murdered as he goes about his business. In no time at all this crime shows similarities to another murder, several robberies, a rape, and another murder, more of which are out of his jurisdiction as a rule, but one robbery strikes much too close to home.

Hugh is no master mind and it takes awhile - plus a bit of assistance from the astuteness of others - for him to put the entire picture together. As he does that the reader goes along for the ride.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the most unusual series of books I have read and reviewed. The books are set in the 14th century, and center around Hugh de Singleton, a surgeon and bailiff.



As with the other books, I found the 14th century doctoring and crime solving fascinating. And though I am not a big fan of the first person point of view writing style, I still enjoy the books and the main character.



This book was a bit different since Hugh was searching for a group of bad guys instead of just one man. As he always does, Starr spun a great novel of suspense that kept me guessing as to who the bad guys were, and how they were going to be caught.



Starr played a bit off the religious beliefs of the day, and his main character's shying away from the Catholic Church's teaching of the day on purgatory. I have studied church history, but it was still interesting to think about what it was like through a fictional character not agreeing with the church of the day.



As with the previous book, this one is shorter and smaller than the majority of the series so far, but the author has crammed a lot into the shorter amount of pages. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the previous 10 books, and look forward to reading the 11th book.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT I THINK:
Going back to the 14th century England. The author takes you away to a different time, a different place. His research was well done so the reader gets some historical facts to go along with a relaxing read. You become one with the characters. The author's descriptions are so good that you feel you are part of this time. The author takes your mind and places you there. On top of all that, you get to be part of the mystery and how to solve it. This isn't a fast read, not if you take the time to become a part of that life and time. The author gives the reader some good solid characters, well researched history, a mystery and all together it is an interesting story. You will have some learning of historical facts and at the same time it is very interesting. You get characters that grow as the pages turn. You get suspense, crimes, medicine, mystery and much more. Follow Hugh de Singleton as his life evolves once again, in his search for those who were wronged for those who did the wrong. I would suggest reading the other books about Mr. Singleton.

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Blog Tours and voluntarily decided to review it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeds of Darkness is the tenth (tenth!) entry in The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series. I joined in with the third installment, A Trail of Ink, and I've been hooked ever since! (The books do somewhat build on each other, but each story is self contained, so you can jump in at any time.)

In Deeds of Darkness, Master Hugh seeks to discover what happened to a man from his village who went missing ... and instead uncovers a band of thieves who sometimes turn to murder. Along the way, he also performs several medical procedures. These procedures are always my favorite part of any Hugh de Singleton novel—they're sometimes gruesome, but they're also fascinating!

The stakes aren't as high for Hugh in this novel as in some others—his life is never truly in danger, and his family is healthy and happy—and the identity of at least one of the villains is apparent fairly early on, but it's still an enjoyable story.

Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Tammy G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading about Master Hugh de Singleton from his very first adventure.
This is book 10! I could barely believe it! Ten chronicles of Hugh de Singleton!
This read was slightly different than the others, in the fact, that Hugh is being sought after he finds a dead body. Hugh was traveling a lonely
road when he came upon a dead body that had been stabbed but this is not the body he was expecting to find. It seems that there are many attacks but Hugh must determine if the attacks are from one individual or if this is the work of a team . . . is something sinister going on?
And when they come after Hugh will he be able to out smart him or them?
This is probably my favorite of Hugh's adventures. Quite interesting with all the history and unsavory acts going on. And it was quite a challenge for me to figure out what was going on.
Well written!

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tenth in a series about Hugh de Singleton. Mel Starr has created a whole series of comfortable characters residing in a 14th century English town. His details are historically accurate and well researched. But, the characters come to life in this series to the point that I cannot wait to read the next book. The mystery is slowly resolved and all aspects of the crimes are discovered. The stories are satisfying, entertaining, and also, very educational. I find that I have Google Maps open to the area to see where the actions are taking place in each story. I recommend each story be read in sequence as the characters grow and change with the events. I also recommend Author Ann Swinfen, who also wrote mystery stories of the same time era and are equally excellent and entertaining.

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably best to begin this series with the first novel even though each books details a different stand-alone mystery. One gets to know Hugh de Singleton, a surgeon and bailiff for an important knight. The reader sees him grow from the young man who left Paris and his training as a surgeon to settle on a fourteenth century English estate. He makes his home here, marries the delightful Kate whose insight into his investigations often help him see other twists to the crimes he is trying to solve.

This one begins with the diappearance of a friend whose travel to Oxford to purchase goods for sale is never completed. As Hugh probes the area for his friend, he discovers many other crimes including murders, theft and rape. It's a puzzling case as more and more people encounter rogues on their way to Oxford. Solving the disappearance may help Hugh discover what happened to his friend and ease the mind of his friend's son. It's a good read - 3.5 stars in my view.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

10th in series. I’m listening via Audible. With every subsequent book I learned a little bit more about 14th century England. Hugh de Singleton is bailiff and surgeon . The coroner, An old friend of Hugh’s is slain. He sets out, determined to find the perpetrator. Along the way he discovers there’s also a ring of robberies and assaults committed by a band of goliards. I was not familiar with this term, but it refers to a group of scholars who have not finished their studies and instead take on a life of crime . Hugh manages to get himself into a bit of trouble as he usually does in these books but all gets sorted by the end. I’m continuing on with the series.

[Angie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are always books that I struggle to put down; hence having this finished in two days. Having said that, I didn’t find this to be the strongest title in the series. It was something of an open-and-shut case if I’m honest. I pretty much knew who the culprit was as soon as they were introduced and even the plot twist wasn’t that much of a surprise. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book and will look forward to the next instalment, which I hope will see a return to form for this series.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author is very repetitious , in every book he always has something to regurgitate, the character stating he has made error in who is guilty and never improves this continuous fault, favoring a medical practice from the paris days.
i’m suspecting thr author is anti roman catholic and pro puritanical christianity in every book there is a strong religious element that takes the protestant viewpoint

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continues to be one of my all-time favorite series! Hugh is a thoroughly engaging hero and it is always a pleasure to watch him puzzle through the latest mystery that occurs in his bailiwick, while at the same time pondering life, faith and love for his growing family.

This one was particularly interesting as Hugh's case was anything but straightforward! Reading these are like walking with an old friend.

[THOMAS B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fine Mystery, an Engaging Story

As always Mel Starr has given Hugh de Singleton a tangled set of murders to solve and his own family issues to deal with. Starr does this without falling back on sexual titillation as so many contemporary authors do. It’s nice to read a good mystery with a title character who loves his wife and children—and in this instance takes care of his father-in-law. Selflessness is not a frequent topic in so much of contemporary fiction.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this well researched medieval mystery. Lots of twists and turns and I enjoyed the story so much I didn't try to figure out who the villain was. This was the first Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton I've read but I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Thanks you Lion Fiction for my Goodreads giveaway copy.

[Paul Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I enjoyed it. In particular the author is good at making you feel that you are there. Not by heavy description but by details about clothing and food using words of the period. There is an extensive glossary which I very much liked digging through. For example do you know what Leach Lombard is? You will learn.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

17. The whodunnit was easily solved - perhaps because of the synopsis - but it didn’t matter to me. The way that the author draws you into what it was like to be both a peasant and a lord in the Middle Ages is done so well. I would love to be a history teacher and use this as class work. (Suitably censored of course).

[Gamgee_potaytoes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always I was instantly sucked into the story. There was quite a bit more murder than usual but I liked that about it. The only thing Is I didn't really care about those who died or who were committing the murder. I think this may be because in the last book it was a case that was completely personal to Hugh. Still enjoyed the book though.

[Maurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder, kidnapping, and thievery all present themselves as problems to be solved by Hugh de Singleton. As usual, he struggles with these challenges, resulting in many trips to Oxford, often with his companions to protect him from harm. The background of medieval England, shortly after the plagues, is a fascinating aspect of these stories.