The Holywell Dead

Chesterfield #3

by Chris Nickson

1364: the plague has returned and fear fills the air as the pestilence claims its first victims in Chesterfield. When the local priest vanishes, John the Carpenter believes the man is simply scared-until he discovers a body left in an empty house. Charged with finding the murderer by the coroner, John must dig deep into the past to discover who in the present has enough hatred to kill. But as the roll of the dead grows longer, can he keep his family safe from malign forces outside of his control?

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Mystery

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2017

About the author

I'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.

Reviews

[Soozee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series, and the third book is the best so far. It's lovely to see how the characters develop, and to have a setting in Chesterfield. It's a complex plot, and is extremely well handled. John is an endearing character, and makes working with wood come alive. Alan, Katherine, Juliana, Martha - they are all great characters, very believable. The spectre of the plague hangs over the tale, as it must have done throughout their lives.
I hope there are more stories to follow!

[malcolm j gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third of the John the Carpenter murder mysteries. An excellent, satisfying read with characters that have been filled out over the three books. Being a native of Chesterfield myself there was the added dimension of recognising street names and landmarks. A map of medieval Chesterfield would have been a welcome addition though.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Holywell Dead ( Chesterfield #3) was a satisfying read by a favorite author, about a perilous time in history. 1364 finds the plague returning to Chesterfield as the local priest,sorely needed now has vanished.

John the Carpenter is content in his new life, but the plague brings up his own personal history as an 8 year left parentless. The discovery of the priest wrapped in a shroud in an empty house precipitates a string of related murders. John is charged with finding the murderer as he has been for some time past. His wife and extended family are concerned, and after John is attacked he vows to not participate in the search.

Murders and abductions continue to occur,including the Carpenters young mute apprentice being taken. John intervenes to find Alan and once to find the Coroner, whose fury remains unabated.
After de Harville, the Coroner, is attacked and dies, John becomes the target of those few remaining in this group of mercenaries, who have some attachment to the King.

Unlikely allies are a group of lepers who are willing to help him fight the mercenary group as they knew him as a kind generous person.. One of them, Alison, on her own came with him on the final battle, and slew the remaining murderer while sacrificing her own life.

The ending was poignant and pointed to happier times as John and Alan had completed a "thank offering bench commissioned by the Coroner, warmly received by parishioners. Katherine his wife happily tells him a second child will be born to them before long. I hope that indicates a sequel to this fine series.

[PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the three in this series I have read so far...

I read these three out of order four first then two and thre nkw reading the firt...nt th way to d this...bought al four then messed up the order....will not o that again! Ah, welk....the best laid plans! I liked the frth one enough to buy the other three but I found....This author is so repetitious...it sometimes feels over the course of these three books that he stores passages in a data base and fills in the stories around those myriad saved passages! Seems to repeat too much...takes away from the books, I think. The characters are well drawn but lack emotional and meaningful depth. I never felt wholly engage while reading these...just hoped by book three that the writing would get better...more depth of feeling...more engaging...less repetition...alas, it did not happen. I actually liked the many descriptions of the woodworking and finishing of projects activities! These told one more about the 'Characters' of Alan the apprentice and his Master. Storytelling is good not great. Felt these books cost too much for what was delivered. Don't feel as if I wasted my $$$$$ but hoped for more. Would love to see the main characters fleshed out more and a more 'I was there ' feel to the stories would make these books truly good. Will see what, if anything, the future of this series brings.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I was under the impression that there was a 4th in this likeable series out already and I find myself rather dismayed to think there is a possibility that there will be no more stories. Yet given various events in the book, this could indeed be an end of it.

John the Carpenter here has an informal apprentice in the 8 year old mute Alan and some of the most enjoyable parts of the story are about their work together with wood. But as usual de Harville the Coroner thinks John is at his beck and call to assist when there's a mystery involving a body to be solved.

I think there's always a pleasure when a story is set somewhere with such glorious street or other names and all the more so when you know the modern-day Knifesmithgate and Low Pavement. In this story John has cause to visit the leper colony. The fear of disease generally lays a heavy cloud over the whole story, set less than 20 years after the Black Death and when plague has resurfaced in the town.

[Judith Shadford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather disappointing. John the Carpenter, resident of Chesterfield, England, is so close in spirit to Nickson's Richard Nottingham of Leeds--other than the year--that it was rather like reading about Richard's grandfather. Same devotion to his family, same tender awe over his infant daughter. Chesterfield has minor recurrences of the plague, as well as a series of professionally committed murders. So, much fear amongst the populace. In addition to his work as a carpenter, John is the on-call assistant to the Coroner, a crown appointment. He's taken advantage of, paid pennies, etc. But apparently no one else can turn over a body and find the lightly bloodied hole left by the murder weapon.

On the positive side, the descriptions of John's carpentry, with his 8-year-old assistant are lovely. The ability to feel the wood, the careful working with the chisels, is all highly engaging.

I will read more Nottingham, but John the Carpenter...go in peace.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel quite bereft that I've come to the end of this trilogy. I've become absorbed in medieval Chesterfield and the life of John the Carpenter. These three novels have transported me back in time and opened a window onto my hometown as it was centuries ago which has been fascinating. This story of a revenge-seeking assassin was probably the best of the three. I hope the author has plans to add more novels to this series.

[penelopewanders]

This is the third book in a slow bookcrossing spiral, and I wonder if there can be a sequel to this as it seems to end very neatly.
In this our carpenter finally finds the excuse he needs to stand up to the coroner who seems to have little care for John's personal safety. It's hard for him to stay out of it completely, but he finds greater pleasure working with wood and his young apprentice.
A good read, and if there is a sequel, I'll be happy to read it.

[Sheila Suzanne Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

I have enjoyed the series so much! I don't think there will be anymore. The times were so fascinating. The church and the rich had all of the power. I wish there were more of this story! I accidentally read the final book before this one. The author wrote a fabulous tale. Thank you.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant series!

[pamela titterington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Will miss the carpenter very much, could not put the books down, many thanks for a wonderful adventure,well done sir

[ELzabeth Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

Nice and easy to enjoy. The main characters and their way of how they live and bring about successful ending. Look forward to more of the same?

[Cybercrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and feelgood story.
The good guy prospers and the bad guys all come to a just end.

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed these books 3in the series and local to where I live set in the 1300 John the carpenter had a busy life etc

[Bruce Retallack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the predecessors, but probably only because so much is familiar now about the characters and the setting that I've lost some of the pleasure of discovery.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best of the three but still poorly written with little character development and no development of the relationship between characters.

[Jean Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was even better than the last one in my opinion though I felt rather sorry that John didn't take up the offer of learning to read. I liked the unexpected ending too.

[giveusaclue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts in 1361 and a case of plague occurs on the outskirts of Chesterfield, striking terror into the hearts of the inhabitants. The newish priest is found murdered, killed by a nailbinding needle, wrapped in a shroud. As in previous books the coroner drags John into his search for the killers. Further deaths occur, all commited in the same way. It becomes clear that the start of the story took place a long way off and they are dealing with people for more powerful than those in the town.

A good read as usual in this series.