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Stanton & Barling #1
The King's Justice
A murder that defies logic—and a killer still on the loose.
England, 1176. Aelred Barling, esteemed clerk to the justices of King Henry II, is dispatched from the royal court with his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, to investigate a brutal murder in a village outside York.
The case appears straightforward. A suspect is under lock and key in the local prison, and the angry villagers are demanding swift justice. But when more bodies are discovered, certainty turns to doubt—and amid the chaos it becomes clear that nobody is above suspicion.
Facing growing unrest in the village and the fury of the lord of the manor, Stanton and Barling find themselves drawn into a mystery that defies logic, pursuing a killer who evades capture at every turn.
Can they solve the riddle of who is preying upon the villagers? And can they do it without becoming prey themselves?
England, 1176. Aelred Barling, esteemed clerk to the justices of King Henry II, is dispatched from the royal court with his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, to investigate a brutal murder in a village outside York.
The case appears straightforward. A suspect is under lock and key in the local prison, and the angry villagers are demanding swift justice. But when more bodies are discovered, certainty turns to doubt—and amid the chaos it becomes clear that nobody is above suspicion.
Facing growing unrest in the village and the fury of the lord of the manor, Stanton and Barling find themselves drawn into a mystery that defies logic, pursuing a killer who evades capture at every turn.
Can they solve the riddle of who is preying upon the villagers? And can they do it without becoming prey themselves?
278 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
1641 people are currently reading
3575 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Powell
6 books400 followersE.M. Powell’s historical thriller and medieval mystery Fifth Knight and Stanton & Barling novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers.
The latest Stanton & Barling mystery, THE FOREST MURDERS, will be released in 2025.
Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she lives in northwest England with her husband and a social media-friendly dog.
Find out more by visiting her website www.empowell.com or follow her on Twitter @empowellauthor
She’s represented by Josh Getzler at HG Literary.
The latest Stanton & Barling mystery, THE FOREST MURDERS, will be released in 2025.
Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she lives in northwest England with her husband and a social media-friendly dog.
Find out more by visiting her website www.empowell.com or follow her on Twitter @empowellauthor
She’s represented by Josh Getzler at HG Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
October 9, 2018
This is the first in EM Powell's medieval mystery series featuring the unlikely pairing of senior court clerk, Aelred Barling, and messenger, Hugo Stanton. In York 1176, the King's Justices are dispensing justice according to King Henry II's efforts to regularise the law across the 6 geographical circuits in England with the travelling Royal Justices. Sir Reginald Edgar, from Claresham arrives unexpectedly demanding to be allowed to hang Nicholas Lindley, a homeless beggar, the suspected murderer of the village smith, Geoffrey Smith. However, this demand is refused, and instead the careful, diligent and dispassionate Barling and Stanton who is rather fond of the drink and women, are both initially less than happy at being forced to work together and represent The King's Justices as they travel with Edgar to Claresham to look into the case.
The two find a village baying for blood vengeance and an enraged Edgar as Barling insists on looking into the matter further. As Lindley escapes and a slew of further murders take place, Barling and Stanton come under severe pressure faced with a host of suspects and increasing danger. What shines in the novel is how, against the odds, Barling and Stanton begin to develop a good solid working relationship together with a growing respect for each other. This is a promising beginning to a great series that is well researched and gives a great sense of the period, although justice is rather warped in that innocence is assumed if the accused dies in the established ordeals of the time. Barling and Starling have personal back stories that are hinted at here that presumably will be revealed as the series continues. I recommend this medieval mystery series as gripping, with great characterisation and a well plotted storyline. Many thanks to my good friend, Peter, who recommended both this book and the series to me.
The two find a village baying for blood vengeance and an enraged Edgar as Barling insists on looking into the matter further. As Lindley escapes and a slew of further murders take place, Barling and Stanton come under severe pressure faced with a host of suspects and increasing danger. What shines in the novel is how, against the odds, Barling and Stanton begin to develop a good solid working relationship together with a growing respect for each other. This is a promising beginning to a great series that is well researched and gives a great sense of the period, although justice is rather warped in that innocence is assumed if the accused dies in the established ordeals of the time. Barling and Starling have personal back stories that are hinted at here that presumably will be revealed as the series continues. I recommend this medieval mystery series as gripping, with great characterisation and a well plotted storyline. Many thanks to my good friend, Peter, who recommended both this book and the series to me.
March 17, 2019
Incorrigible
The King’s Justice is an intriguing and perplexing historical murder mystery based in England during King Henry II’s reign in 1176. Henry II is responsible for much of the current legal system in the UK, and introduced travelling Royal Justices to cover 6 geographical circuits in England, each circuit with 3 justices.
In the story, Sir Reginald Edgar arrives in York to meet the circuit court. He’s drunk, obnoxious, has no witnesses or jurors, and is seeking approval to execute a suspected murderer in his hometown of Claresham. With his tetchy arrogant behaviour, he is not granted his request but promised a clerk of the court to travel with him to Claresham to resolve the issue and administer the Kings Justice if necessary. The King’s Justice is a name given to a barbaric test to determine if a person is innocent or guilty. It is administered by tying a person’s hands to their ankles, thus doubling them in two, and then hung from the waist submerging them into a 12-foot pit full of water. If you drown you are innocent, and if you survive you are guilty and then you are hanged. The Witch Test it’s better known as. Nice choice!
Aeired Barling is the appointed clerk of the court, and through an unfortunate twist of fate, Hugo Stanton is selected as his assistant for the case (a messenger of the church). Both men have secret backgrounds that haunt them, and these are referred to but never explained in this novel (for another book). Barling is a religious, methodical and learned man that operates through well-defined plans. Stanton enjoys women and alcohol but has a sharp eye and a great ability to sense truth. As a lowly messenger, speaking up is not only frowned upon but punishable and to Stanton's own detriment he often speaks up rather than see an injustice occur. I really liked these two believable but apparently incompatible characters that are wonderfully constructed. A mutual respect starts to develop and maybe opposites do attract! A team for the future?
Stanton suspects that the person they are holding in the jail is not the killer but before they can question him further, he escapes, and other murders occur. While it may look obvious for a while, there are other characters that could be the murderer. The death toll mounts and the clever plotting has a great capacity to keep you guessing. There are numerous red-herrings and suspicions to add to the complexity and it’s all delivered in a very believable and well-plotted manner. This is an excellent suspense murder mystery where the pace is maintained from cover to cover.
What I also appreciated was that the supporting historical nature of the novel didn't detract from absorbing storytelling. The atmosphere and village life were very subtly interwoven with the story, which contributed to the overall experience of reading the novel and provided another element of characterisation which is often very difficult to achieve.
Looking forward to reading book 2 “The Monastery Murders” published in September 2018
The King’s Justice is an intriguing and perplexing historical murder mystery based in England during King Henry II’s reign in 1176. Henry II is responsible for much of the current legal system in the UK, and introduced travelling Royal Justices to cover 6 geographical circuits in England, each circuit with 3 justices.
In the story, Sir Reginald Edgar arrives in York to meet the circuit court. He’s drunk, obnoxious, has no witnesses or jurors, and is seeking approval to execute a suspected murderer in his hometown of Claresham. With his tetchy arrogant behaviour, he is not granted his request but promised a clerk of the court to travel with him to Claresham to resolve the issue and administer the Kings Justice if necessary. The King’s Justice is a name given to a barbaric test to determine if a person is innocent or guilty. It is administered by tying a person’s hands to their ankles, thus doubling them in two, and then hung from the waist submerging them into a 12-foot pit full of water. If you drown you are innocent, and if you survive you are guilty and then you are hanged. The Witch Test it’s better known as. Nice choice!
Aeired Barling is the appointed clerk of the court, and through an unfortunate twist of fate, Hugo Stanton is selected as his assistant for the case (a messenger of the church). Both men have secret backgrounds that haunt them, and these are referred to but never explained in this novel (for another book). Barling is a religious, methodical and learned man that operates through well-defined plans. Stanton enjoys women and alcohol but has a sharp eye and a great ability to sense truth. As a lowly messenger, speaking up is not only frowned upon but punishable and to Stanton's own detriment he often speaks up rather than see an injustice occur. I really liked these two believable but apparently incompatible characters that are wonderfully constructed. A mutual respect starts to develop and maybe opposites do attract! A team for the future?
Stanton suspects that the person they are holding in the jail is not the killer but before they can question him further, he escapes, and other murders occur. While it may look obvious for a while, there are other characters that could be the murderer. The death toll mounts and the clever plotting has a great capacity to keep you guessing. There are numerous red-herrings and suspicions to add to the complexity and it’s all delivered in a very believable and well-plotted manner. This is an excellent suspense murder mystery where the pace is maintained from cover to cover.
What I also appreciated was that the supporting historical nature of the novel didn't detract from absorbing storytelling. The atmosphere and village life were very subtly interwoven with the story, which contributed to the overall experience of reading the novel and provided another element of characterisation which is often very difficult to achieve.
Looking forward to reading book 2 “The Monastery Murders” published in September 2018
November 26, 2020
Powell’s first offering in his Barling/Stanton series takes place in Claresham, England in 1176 during the reign of King Henry II. Drunk Sir Reginald Edgar claims to have caught the killer of the murdered victim on his estate and only wants the court’s permission to execute him. So, the court asks Aelred Barling, a clerk to the justices, and his partner, Hugo Stanton to investigate. This proves more difficult when the prisoner escapes. Soon, more murdered bodies are discovered.
Powell’s Barling and Stanton characters are engaging and the fast-moving plot makes this a quick read. He also provides a red herring or two. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Enjoy!
Powell’s Barling and Stanton characters are engaging and the fast-moving plot makes this a quick read. He also provides a red herring or two. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Enjoy!
January 26, 2021
This amazing historical mystery is the 1st volume of the "Stanton & Barling" series, from the formidable Irish author, E.M. Powell.
At the back of the book you'll notice a Historical Note, in which the historical details concerning this story are superbly explained, a List of Characters, listing people who are featuring in this exciting medieval novel, as well as an informative Bibliography.
Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all believable and lifelike characters, whether real great historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life within this tale of murder and mayhem, and the atmosphere and political procedures during the reign of King Henry II come splendidly off the pages.
Before I come to the book itself, let me introduce to you our two main protagonists; on the one hand there's, Hugo Stanton, former King's messenger and former real lover of the King's reluctant mistress, the Fair Rosamund Clifford, see and read "The Blood of the Fifth Knight" from this same fine author, and now messenger of King Henry's three itinerant justices, being Ranulf de Glanville, Robert Pikenot and Robert de Vaux, while on the other hand there's, Aelred Barling, senior clerk of these same justices, and a man with a very dark secret himself.
The story starts in June, AD 1176, when the King's Justice is dealing with cases in York, when all of a sudden Sir Reginald Edgar steps up and demands an audience with the justices, and bringing to them the murder of the blacksmith, Geoffrey Smith, in his village of Claresham, Yorkshire.
According to Sir Reginald Edgar, the blacksmith Geoffrey Smith, was murdered by a beggar named, Nicholas Lindley, and Edgar wants to hang him for that crime but without witnesses and evidence, Aelred Barling and Hugo Stanton are sent to Claresham Village, Yorkshire, to investigate this murder case and execute the King's Justice in the name of King Henry II themselves.
What will follow is a magnificent fast-paced and a real page-turner of a medieval mystery, and when more murders are following in rapid succession, Stanton and Barling will by logic, stealth finally come to the truth of the matter, and after quite some twists and turns, followed with an amazingly evolving plot, they will eventually reveal a very surprising and ruthless culprit at the end of this very exciting mystery.
Highly recommended, look very much forward to the next volume for this has been a fascinating read, a read that reminds me somewhat of Matt Bartholomew & Brother Michael by Susanna Gregory in their dealings, and because of all this I like to call this wonderful episode: "A Fantastic Stanton & Barling Start"!
At the back of the book you'll notice a Historical Note, in which the historical details concerning this story are superbly explained, a List of Characters, listing people who are featuring in this exciting medieval novel, as well as an informative Bibliography.
Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all believable and lifelike characters, whether real great historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life within this tale of murder and mayhem, and the atmosphere and political procedures during the reign of King Henry II come splendidly off the pages.
Before I come to the book itself, let me introduce to you our two main protagonists; on the one hand there's, Hugo Stanton, former King's messenger and former real lover of the King's reluctant mistress, the Fair Rosamund Clifford, see and read "The Blood of the Fifth Knight" from this same fine author, and now messenger of King Henry's three itinerant justices, being Ranulf de Glanville, Robert Pikenot and Robert de Vaux, while on the other hand there's, Aelred Barling, senior clerk of these same justices, and a man with a very dark secret himself.
The story starts in June, AD 1176, when the King's Justice is dealing with cases in York, when all of a sudden Sir Reginald Edgar steps up and demands an audience with the justices, and bringing to them the murder of the blacksmith, Geoffrey Smith, in his village of Claresham, Yorkshire.
According to Sir Reginald Edgar, the blacksmith Geoffrey Smith, was murdered by a beggar named, Nicholas Lindley, and Edgar wants to hang him for that crime but without witnesses and evidence, Aelred Barling and Hugo Stanton are sent to Claresham Village, Yorkshire, to investigate this murder case and execute the King's Justice in the name of King Henry II themselves.
What will follow is a magnificent fast-paced and a real page-turner of a medieval mystery, and when more murders are following in rapid succession, Stanton and Barling will by logic, stealth finally come to the truth of the matter, and after quite some twists and turns, followed with an amazingly evolving plot, they will eventually reveal a very surprising and ruthless culprit at the end of this very exciting mystery.
Highly recommended, look very much forward to the next volume for this has been a fascinating read, a read that reminds me somewhat of Matt Bartholomew & Brother Michael by Susanna Gregory in their dealings, and because of all this I like to call this wonderful episode: "A Fantastic Stanton & Barling Start"!
September 27, 2018
I wasn't terribly impressed with this start to the Stanton and Barling historical mystery series. It's set in England during the reign of King Henry II. Barling is a well-respected clerk in the King's Court and Stanton is a young widower who works as a messenger for the court. A murder in a nearby village causes the two men to be dispatched to see that a proper investigation and judgment of law is carried out. That single murder is soon compounded and I started to think the author was going to bump off the whole village. The investigation conducted by Barling and Stanton seemed rather inadequate. We're told several times about Stanton's ability to see what others cannot but this ability is never actually shown in the course of the story. I doubt they ever would've managed to solve the case if not for someone outright telling them where to find key evidence that pointed directly to the killer. And that brings me to the final act of the story that had me rolling my eyes. The killer monologues for a chapter and a half - a chapter and a half! - laying out all the details of the crimes. It's certainly convenient because otherwise neither Stanton nor Barling would've never been able to piece it all together.
November 13, 2020
Review to follow
July 24, 2018
First Sentence: Pit or Punishment: Hugo Stanton couldn't tell which excited the folk of these hot, crammed streets more.
With traveling courts established by Henry II having more than enough to handle, the justices send court clerk Aelred Barling, and his young assistant Hugo Stanton, to a village outside York. Although there were no witnesses, Nicholas Lindley has been imprisoned for the murder of the village smith. The case seems certain, yet Stanton has his doubts. The prisoner escapes, more deaths occur, and the two men are tasked with quelling the villagers, dealing with the lord of the manor, and finding the killer.
To Powell's credit, no attempt to pretty-up the period has been made. Justice is anything but just and the streets are beyond foul. However, it is interesting to see the early stages of the justice system.
All the characters have dimension and distinct personalities, pleasant and unpleasant. Barling is the type of character one likes more as the story progresses. He is pragmatic—"To dwell on an error is never of benefit."—focused on the details and dedicated to his role and responsibility. Stanton is observant and deductive. There is very nice, subtle humor—"And well done, Stanton: a good evening's work.' But he could believe the next. 'Good,' continued Barling, 'for one who is so new to learning how to exercise their wits.' The clerk carried on to his solar. Stanton mouthed a favourite word at Barling's retreating back. And for one who was supposedly limited in his wits, it was a fine, fine choice." Powell does a good job of building the respect and the relationship which develops between the two men. It's nice to know there will be more books in this series as watching the partnership grow will be interesting.
There is a very good twist and the introduction of danger to the protagonists, as well as a sad event. The story has something of a "Midsomer Murders" feel about it, except the number of murders surpasses that series usual three. One does start to wonder whether anyone will be left alive in the village, although it does raise the stakes as to who the murderer could be. Although revelation by exposition may not be a preferred style, it works in this instance and the killer is unexpected.
One criticism is that the Cast of Characters is at the end of the book rather than the beginning where it would have been more useful. However, the Historical Note is fascinating and well worth taking the time to read.
"The King's Justice" is much more than it appears when one first starts. Besides being a very good mystery, this is definitely a book for those who enjoy historicals.
THE KING'S JUSTICE (Hist Mys-Stanton/Barling-England-1176) - VG
Powell, E.M. – 1st in series
Thomas & Mercer – June 2018
With traveling courts established by Henry II having more than enough to handle, the justices send court clerk Aelred Barling, and his young assistant Hugo Stanton, to a village outside York. Although there were no witnesses, Nicholas Lindley has been imprisoned for the murder of the village smith. The case seems certain, yet Stanton has his doubts. The prisoner escapes, more deaths occur, and the two men are tasked with quelling the villagers, dealing with the lord of the manor, and finding the killer.
To Powell's credit, no attempt to pretty-up the period has been made. Justice is anything but just and the streets are beyond foul. However, it is interesting to see the early stages of the justice system.
All the characters have dimension and distinct personalities, pleasant and unpleasant. Barling is the type of character one likes more as the story progresses. He is pragmatic—"To dwell on an error is never of benefit."—focused on the details and dedicated to his role and responsibility. Stanton is observant and deductive. There is very nice, subtle humor—"And well done, Stanton: a good evening's work.' But he could believe the next. 'Good,' continued Barling, 'for one who is so new to learning how to exercise their wits.' The clerk carried on to his solar. Stanton mouthed a favourite word at Barling's retreating back. And for one who was supposedly limited in his wits, it was a fine, fine choice." Powell does a good job of building the respect and the relationship which develops between the two men. It's nice to know there will be more books in this series as watching the partnership grow will be interesting.
There is a very good twist and the introduction of danger to the protagonists, as well as a sad event. The story has something of a "Midsomer Murders" feel about it, except the number of murders surpasses that series usual three. One does start to wonder whether anyone will be left alive in the village, although it does raise the stakes as to who the murderer could be. Although revelation by exposition may not be a preferred style, it works in this instance and the killer is unexpected.
One criticism is that the Cast of Characters is at the end of the book rather than the beginning where it would have been more useful. However, the Historical Note is fascinating and well worth taking the time to read.
"The King's Justice" is much more than it appears when one first starts. Besides being a very good mystery, this is definitely a book for those who enjoy historicals.
THE KING'S JUSTICE (Hist Mys-Stanton/Barling-England-1176) - VG
Powell, E.M. – 1st in series
Thomas & Mercer – June 2018
May 3, 2018
I have not read this author before, so this book was a blind gamble on my part, based purely on the fact that I generally enjoy historical mystery novels. Still, a book’s quality is never guaranteed. But I enjoyed this one.
The book is the first in a series, but the two protagonists – Stanton and Barling – are clearly carrying past traumas with them. At first I thought this was part of a multi-book character arc, cleverly designed to draw the readers in whilst presenting a new crime mystery in each book; but the Author’s Note at the back of the book reveals that at least one of the two main characters featured in the author’s other novels, where aforementioned traumatic events played out. As a result, I’m not sure if readers can jump in here, the first Stanton & Barling mystery, or if it would be better to read the author’s other books prior to this one. I would say, cautiously, that you can jump in here with no prior knowledge, but on the other hand I definitely got the sense that I was missing a bigger picture and I felt a little frustrated at not being in on it. Then again, that may compel some readers to buy and read the author’s other books, so who’s to say it’s a negative at all?
I also felt a little uncertain about the relatability of the protagonists in the early stages of the book. I disliked how Stanton wallowed in his grief and let it cripple him at times, but I was wholeheartedly on board with his modern sense of justice and his disgust at brutality. Barling, meanwhile, appealed to me as a book lover, but I felt contempt for his damaging adherence to order over ethics (the two are not always the same) and his stuffiness. I stuck with it though because it seemed to me that characters like these should (and probably do) grow and change over time, and as the mystery got going I got well and truly hooked into unravelling the clues and speculating about the suspects. I won’t talk about the central mystery, as I don’t wish to give spoilers, but I will say that I did not guess whodunnit and was taken by surprise. The pace was good, and I have to say in particular the length of the chapters seemed perfectly pitched to tempt me into ‘just one more’ – something significant advances the plot in each one, so you know there’s going to be a payoff, and they’re short enough that even when pressed for time you can get away with a sneaky extra chapter. The cliff-hangers were just as perfectly delivered.
All in all, whilst I didn't consider it an outstanding book, I would definitely call it a solid start to the series, enjoyable, and worth reading.
7 out of 10
June 15, 2021
This had *some* parts that I liked- the relationship between the two MCs for example. But the plot was convoluted and frankly, not worth the bother. Read properly until 60% then skimmed to the end. The best I could manage.
July 5, 2020
3.5 stars.
There's something about historical fiction that had been calling out to me of late. I believe that it's mainly due to finishing the late Carlos Ruiz Zafon's amazing The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which would be very hard to beat. Nonetheless, I set myself to looking for mysteries & thrillers with a historical backdrop and this was one of those that I've picked up with Amazon UK Prime Reading.
The King's Justice was an enjoyable and pretty interesting read. It's so different from reading a modern mystery thriller because the protagonists cannot rely on scientific methods to identify the culprit. The backdrop of the village where the murder and investigation henceforth took place lent it an authentic atmosphere that felt very period appropriate. One thing's for sure, these were hard times for women. The main characters are also likeable enough, although I can't say the same for the infuriatingly annoying lord of the village. The one thing I didn’t like the most was the long monologue by the revealed killer towards the end, and it was delivered gloatingly towards the next intended victim. This always felt very contrived to me, but seemed to be a pretty common narrative device in mystery books.
There's something about historical fiction that had been calling out to me of late. I believe that it's mainly due to finishing the late Carlos Ruiz Zafon's amazing The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which would be very hard to beat. Nonetheless, I set myself to looking for mysteries & thrillers with a historical backdrop and this was one of those that I've picked up with Amazon UK Prime Reading.
The King's Justice was an enjoyable and pretty interesting read. It's so different from reading a modern mystery thriller because the protagonists cannot rely on scientific methods to identify the culprit. The backdrop of the village where the murder and investigation henceforth took place lent it an authentic atmosphere that felt very period appropriate. One thing's for sure, these were hard times for women. The main characters are also likeable enough, although I can't say the same for the infuriatingly annoying lord of the village. The one thing I didn’t like the most was the long monologue by the revealed killer towards the end, and it was delivered gloatingly towards the next intended victim. This always felt very contrived to me, but seemed to be a pretty common narrative device in mystery books.
June 1, 2018
This is a classic medieval murder mystery, complete with all the cast of characters you would expect, plenty of suspicious deaths - and a few surprises. E. M. Powell has a lively and readable style and a preference for short chapters, so this story is ideal for reading in those 'snatched moments'.
I particularly liked the development of the main character, Hugo Stanton, a messenger in King Henry II's itinerant justices, who I'm glad to see is destined for more action in another book - and has appeared in the Fifth Knight Series.
I also learnt about Henry II's reform of criminal law, although I'm not sure if I'd choose trial by water (yes, it's worse than it sounds) or ordeal by hot iron as proof of my innocence. Fortunately, the will of God can be relied on to make sure only the truly guilty are punished.
I'm happy to recommend this book, and have added the Fifth Knight Series to my reading list.
Tony Riches
I particularly liked the development of the main character, Hugo Stanton, a messenger in King Henry II's itinerant justices, who I'm glad to see is destined for more action in another book - and has appeared in the Fifth Knight Series.
I also learnt about Henry II's reform of criminal law, although I'm not sure if I'd choose trial by water (yes, it's worse than it sounds) or ordeal by hot iron as proof of my innocence. Fortunately, the will of God can be relied on to make sure only the truly guilty are punished.
I'm happy to recommend this book, and have added the Fifth Knight Series to my reading list.
Tony Riches
August 12, 2018
I must admit, I have a penchant for medieval stories. This was a new author to me and I was grateful to find this delightful new series. I will happily be looking into book two to continue learning more about our two seemingly contrasting heroes.
This type of story reminded me of another author I like and his Hugh De Singleton’s Chronicles. These types of books have a slow but steady pace, and the plot unfolds one layer at a time. There is not any high-tech antics involved, but mindful and purposeful sleuthing. Since there are no bells and whistles, this kind of storytelling makes the plotline all the more important. Because the pacing is slower, it took me a few chapters to fully get into the story, but then there was no stopping me! The author did an incredible job of keeping me guessing from start to finish as to who our murderous culprit was.
Full disclosure to readers who follow my reviews, this book was not of the "G" or "PG" nature that I generally lean towards. While there was no blatant sexual scenes included, there were numerous places it was gently touched upon, which were tastefully done and used to further the storyline.
I won this book in a blog giveaway but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
This type of story reminded me of another author I like and his Hugh De Singleton’s Chronicles. These types of books have a slow but steady pace, and the plot unfolds one layer at a time. There is not any high-tech antics involved, but mindful and purposeful sleuthing. Since there are no bells and whistles, this kind of storytelling makes the plotline all the more important. Because the pacing is slower, it took me a few chapters to fully get into the story, but then there was no stopping me! The author did an incredible job of keeping me guessing from start to finish as to who our murderous culprit was.
Full disclosure to readers who follow my reviews, this book was not of the "G" or "PG" nature that I generally lean towards. While there was no blatant sexual scenes included, there were numerous places it was gently touched upon, which were tastefully done and used to further the storyline.
I won this book in a blog giveaway but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
May 12, 2018
The King's Justice by E.M. Powell was my choice from May's Kindle First Reads list. Quite often I don't find anything on the list that truly appeals and so I pick one that I think sounds more interesting than the others. This time though it was an easy choice since I do have a soft spot for historical mysteries and this fitted slap bang in the middle of that category.
Powell is a new author to me so although the Stanton character has appeared in another of her novels, The Blood of the Fifth Knight, I had no knowledge of him and found the introduction well written. We learn of his distaste at serving as part of the King's Justice though details as to why are sketchy, along with his cynicism at the validity of trial by ordeal as a method for determining guilt. As an aside when reading the part concerning ordeal by water, my mind kept being distracted by the fact that according to Monty Python and the Holy Grail a witch weighs the same as a duck...
We quickly learn of Stanton's weakness for a good time. The consequence of one particular instance is his forced relationship with Aelred Barling, his stuffy, senior colleague. This relationship underpins the whole story with Barling presented as a fussy, meticulous practitioner who initially regards Stanton as a disgrace. During the course of the story, as each learns more about the other, both start to view one another in a more favourable light. Personally I found Barling quite endearing - quietly authoritative and sometimes acting like a mentor towards Stanton. Hints at Barling's past are made but no details forthcoming.
The story itself is usual fayre - a murder, a potential perpetrator captured, and rough justice waiting to be meted out by all and sundry. Fortunately for the hapless perp who is proclaiming innocence, Stanton and Barling are dispatched to see that justice is administered in accordance with Henry II's new laws of the land. The setting is a village comprising a butcher, baker and candlestick maker. OK well that's not true but there is (was) a blacksmith - the murder victim, a thatcher, a weaver and various other trades represented. The Lord of the Manor is typically brutish though in this case particularly 'fond of the grape' - a phrase that for some reason made me smile and I henceforth declare myself to be 'fond of the hop'.
The body count starts increasing and fear spreads throughout the village. As newcomers who delay the swift execution of the obvious murderer, Stanton and Barling have to frequently rely on their authority in the name of the King to keep the baying hordes in check.
There are sufficient numbers of characters each with their own traits for the author to weave interesting storylines with several red herrings and potential clues along the way. There is a nice twist near the end before the true murderer is revealed but I have to say that I did correctly guess earlier on who it was. Just call it intuition rather than any brilliance on my part. I guess it comes from reading a lot of these kinds of stories.
Reading on a Kindle gives me some difficulty when assessing how big the book is. I reckon it took about five hours to read. It certainly doesn't have the complexity of one of C.J. Sansom's Shardlake tales nor the epic scale of another 12th century story, Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. However it certainly stands up well with other historical mysteries of the same period by Ariana Franklin or later by L.C. Tyler.
This is Book 1 in the series and I will be reading the next one, The Monastery Murders, shortly.
Powell is a new author to me so although the Stanton character has appeared in another of her novels, The Blood of the Fifth Knight, I had no knowledge of him and found the introduction well written. We learn of his distaste at serving as part of the King's Justice though details as to why are sketchy, along with his cynicism at the validity of trial by ordeal as a method for determining guilt. As an aside when reading the part concerning ordeal by water, my mind kept being distracted by the fact that according to Monty Python and the Holy Grail a witch weighs the same as a duck...
We quickly learn of Stanton's weakness for a good time. The consequence of one particular instance is his forced relationship with Aelred Barling, his stuffy, senior colleague. This relationship underpins the whole story with Barling presented as a fussy, meticulous practitioner who initially regards Stanton as a disgrace. During the course of the story, as each learns more about the other, both start to view one another in a more favourable light. Personally I found Barling quite endearing - quietly authoritative and sometimes acting like a mentor towards Stanton. Hints at Barling's past are made but no details forthcoming.
The story itself is usual fayre - a murder, a potential perpetrator captured, and rough justice waiting to be meted out by all and sundry. Fortunately for the hapless perp who is proclaiming innocence, Stanton and Barling are dispatched to see that justice is administered in accordance with Henry II's new laws of the land. The setting is a village comprising a butcher, baker and candlestick maker. OK well that's not true but there is (was) a blacksmith - the murder victim, a thatcher, a weaver and various other trades represented. The Lord of the Manor is typically brutish though in this case particularly 'fond of the grape' - a phrase that for some reason made me smile and I henceforth declare myself to be 'fond of the hop'.
The body count starts increasing and fear spreads throughout the village. As newcomers who delay the swift execution of the obvious murderer, Stanton and Barling have to frequently rely on their authority in the name of the King to keep the baying hordes in check.
There are sufficient numbers of characters each with their own traits for the author to weave interesting storylines with several red herrings and potential clues along the way. There is a nice twist near the end before the true murderer is revealed but I have to say that I did correctly guess earlier on who it was. Just call it intuition rather than any brilliance on my part. I guess it comes from reading a lot of these kinds of stories.
Reading on a Kindle gives me some difficulty when assessing how big the book is. I reckon it took about five hours to read. It certainly doesn't have the complexity of one of C.J. Sansom's Shardlake tales nor the epic scale of another 12th century story, Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. However it certainly stands up well with other historical mysteries of the same period by Ariana Franklin or later by L.C. Tyler.
This is Book 1 in the series and I will be reading the next one, The Monastery Murders, shortly.
May 6, 2018
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the Fifth Knight series, i was delighted to receive a review copy of E.M. Powell's new book The King's Justice in exchange for an honest independent review.
This is the first book in a new series by E.M. Powell about Stanton & Barling and it's a move from the thriller genre to the mystery genre, but still set in King Henry II's reign as the Fifth Knight series was.
The King's Justice is set in 1176 and is based around the royal justices who travelled around the country hearing cases. The book introduces us to Aelred Barling, a clerk to the justices, and brings back Hugo Stanton, who appeared in the second book in the Fifth Knight series but is now a messenger to the justices.
Sir Reginald Edgar, the Lord of the village of Claresham outside of York, arrives at court in York to seek permission to execute a man accused of murder in his village. However, the murder was not witnessed by anyone and Sir Reginald does not bring a case against the accused to enable the court to make a decision. As the court is moving on the following day, Aelred Barling is sent by the justices to investigate what appears to be a straightforward case of murder and, due to circumstances entirely of his own making, Hugo Stanton has to accompany him.
As event unfold, the case isn't as straightforward as it appears as the plot twists one way and then the other. Towards the end, i was feeling quite smug in the thought that i had worked out the 'whodunit', only to then feel foolish that i'd got it wrong as i reached the book's conclusion.
As with her previous books, E.M. Powell gets a good balance between describing life in the 12th century and having a good plot that moves along at a nice pace. Her knowledge of the era is excellent and she describes events well, giving the reader a vivid picture of what's happening - which also reminds the reader quite how hard and brutal life could be then.
If you enjoy a good mystery then I highly recommend this book. The move in this direction clearly suits E.M. Powell and i look forward to further books in this new Stanton & Barling series.
This is the first book in a new series by E.M. Powell about Stanton & Barling and it's a move from the thriller genre to the mystery genre, but still set in King Henry II's reign as the Fifth Knight series was.
The King's Justice is set in 1176 and is based around the royal justices who travelled around the country hearing cases. The book introduces us to Aelred Barling, a clerk to the justices, and brings back Hugo Stanton, who appeared in the second book in the Fifth Knight series but is now a messenger to the justices.
Sir Reginald Edgar, the Lord of the village of Claresham outside of York, arrives at court in York to seek permission to execute a man accused of murder in his village. However, the murder was not witnessed by anyone and Sir Reginald does not bring a case against the accused to enable the court to make a decision. As the court is moving on the following day, Aelred Barling is sent by the justices to investigate what appears to be a straightforward case of murder and, due to circumstances entirely of his own making, Hugo Stanton has to accompany him.
As event unfold, the case isn't as straightforward as it appears as the plot twists one way and then the other. Towards the end, i was feeling quite smug in the thought that i had worked out the 'whodunit', only to then feel foolish that i'd got it wrong as i reached the book's conclusion.
As with her previous books, E.M. Powell gets a good balance between describing life in the 12th century and having a good plot that moves along at a nice pace. Her knowledge of the era is excellent and she describes events well, giving the reader a vivid picture of what's happening - which also reminds the reader quite how hard and brutal life could be then.
If you enjoy a good mystery then I highly recommend this book. The move in this direction clearly suits E.M. Powell and i look forward to further books in this new Stanton & Barling series.
June 27, 2018
BLURB
A murder that defies logic—and a killer on the loose.
England, 1176. Aelred Barling, esteemed clerk to the justices of King Henry II, is dispatched from the royal court with his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, to investigate a brutal murder in a village outside York.
The case appears straightforward. A suspect is under lock and key in the local prison, and the angry villagers are demanding swift justice. But when more bodies are discovered, certainty turns to doubt—and amid the chaos it becomes clear that nobody is above suspicion.
Facing growing unrest in the village and the fury of the lord of the manor, Stanton and Barling find themselves drawn into a mystery that defies logic, pursuing a killer who evades capture at every turn.
Can they solve the riddle of who is preying upon the villagers? And can they do it without becoming prey themselves?
AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
MY REVIEW
Aelred Barling, an upright, by the book member of Henry II's traveling court, and Hugo Stanton, a slovenly messenger for the court are sent to a nearby village to investigate a murder. What should have been a rather routine case to adjudicate turns out to be a bit more complicated. All facts point to one man as the culprit, but circumstances and events push Barling and Stanton to their limits in what becomes a dangerous situation. The author has put together an intriguing mystery with many twists and turns shrouding the perpetrator of the crimes while shining the light of accusation on others. It takes all of Barling's knowledge and experience to keep control of a volatile situation, relying on his increasingly reliable assistant to piece together the ever changing puzzle. I found myself scratching my head as the story moved from one murder to the next, from one suspect to the next. As well as providing clues to the mystery throughout the book, the author portrays village life in stunning fashion, giving glimpses of the everyday look and feel of the master's hall, the forge of a blacksmith, the urine stench of the fuller's shed. I particularly enjoyed the growing bond between Barling and Stanton and am certainly looking forward to reading more of their adventures. 4 stars
A murder that defies logic—and a killer on the loose.
England, 1176. Aelred Barling, esteemed clerk to the justices of King Henry II, is dispatched from the royal court with his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, to investigate a brutal murder in a village outside York.
The case appears straightforward. A suspect is under lock and key in the local prison, and the angry villagers are demanding swift justice. But when more bodies are discovered, certainty turns to doubt—and amid the chaos it becomes clear that nobody is above suspicion.
Facing growing unrest in the village and the fury of the lord of the manor, Stanton and Barling find themselves drawn into a mystery that defies logic, pursuing a killer who evades capture at every turn.
Can they solve the riddle of who is preying upon the villagers? And can they do it without becoming prey themselves?
AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
MY REVIEW
Aelred Barling, an upright, by the book member of Henry II's traveling court, and Hugo Stanton, a slovenly messenger for the court are sent to a nearby village to investigate a murder. What should have been a rather routine case to adjudicate turns out to be a bit more complicated. All facts point to one man as the culprit, but circumstances and events push Barling and Stanton to their limits in what becomes a dangerous situation. The author has put together an intriguing mystery with many twists and turns shrouding the perpetrator of the crimes while shining the light of accusation on others. It takes all of Barling's knowledge and experience to keep control of a volatile situation, relying on his increasingly reliable assistant to piece together the ever changing puzzle. I found myself scratching my head as the story moved from one murder to the next, from one suspect to the next. As well as providing clues to the mystery throughout the book, the author portrays village life in stunning fashion, giving glimpses of the everyday look and feel of the master's hall, the forge of a blacksmith, the urine stench of the fuller's shed. I particularly enjoyed the growing bond between Barling and Stanton and am certainly looking forward to reading more of their adventures. 4 stars
November 8, 2020
Мне эта книга очень напомнила о Morality Play, но Morality Play this book is not...
Средневековый детектив, но от Средневековья только пара слов, очень жаль. Вообще кажется, что в романе сеттинг значения не имеет, складывается ощущение, что герои находятся вне места и времени, потому что XII век в книге никак не ощущается. (N.B. Cудя по названию третьей книги, Томас Беккет всё же появится).
Главные герои мне понравились, повествование довольно живое, но много чего не хватает. Удивило, что в маленькой деревушке люди так мало знают о своих соседях, очень неправдоподобно. Не люблю, когда в книгах / кино преступник начинает долгий рассказ о причинах своих поступков...
Неплохой детектив, но как-то shallow для такого интересного сеттинга.
Средневековый детектив, но от Средневековья только пара слов, очень жаль. Вообще кажется, что в романе сеттинг значения не имеет, складывается ощущение, что герои находятся вне места и времени, потому что XII век в книге никак не ощущается. (N.B. Cудя по названию третьей книги, Томас Беккет всё же появится).
Главные герои мне понравились, повествование довольно живое, но много чего не хватает. Удивило, что в маленькой деревушке люди так мало знают о своих соседях, очень неправдоподобно. Не люблю, когда в книгах / кино преступник начинает долгий рассказ о причинах своих поступков...
Неплохой детектив, но как-то shallow для такого интересного сеттинга.
May 13, 2021
My first read from Powell not bad.
Took some time to get in to the read. But once it did its not a bad English mystery.. Stanton an Barling head to a country village where a murder has taken place. Now not all seems as it should, an man is in jail for the murder. Stanton thinks he is innocent. So as the story picks up there are more murders of men in the village an Stantons life is in danger as will. I'm not too bad at picking out who don it. Well damn I sure got it wrong this time.
So if you like a good English mystery. Give it a read its not have bad.
Took some time to get in to the read. But once it did its not a bad English mystery.. Stanton an Barling head to a country village where a murder has taken place. Now not all seems as it should, an man is in jail for the murder. Stanton thinks he is innocent. So as the story picks up there are more murders of men in the village an Stantons life is in danger as will. I'm not too bad at picking out who don it. Well damn I sure got it wrong this time.
So if you like a good English mystery. Give it a read its not have bad.
September 2, 2018
An enjoyable medieval thriller filled with interesting suspects and the fascinating weirdness of 12th century English law.
September 6, 2019
My kind of book!
Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction mystery! Was way better than i expected and not sexual which is always a plus imo. I love everything about this book tbh and cant wait to read the rest of the series! ☺
Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction mystery! Was way better than i expected and not sexual which is always a plus imo. I love everything about this book tbh and cant wait to read the rest of the series! ☺
April 8, 2021
3.5 stars
June 7, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I really enjoyed this book, it was right up my street and I flew through the story.
It was really well written and I loved the characters, the writing flowed so well that I was completely immersed in the whole thing and didn't realise how much I had read only to find out when I checked that I'd nearly finished it in one sitting!
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am so pleased to have found them! This is a great start to the new series and I hope the next book isn't too long away!
No hesitation in giving this one five stars - a brilliant read!!
I really enjoyed this book, it was right up my street and I flew through the story.
It was really well written and I loved the characters, the writing flowed so well that I was completely immersed in the whole thing and didn't realise how much I had read only to find out when I checked that I'd nearly finished it in one sitting!
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am so pleased to have found them! This is a great start to the new series and I hope the next book isn't too long away!
No hesitation in giving this one five stars - a brilliant read!!
May 20, 2018
After a slow start to the novel, I really enjoyed this atmospheric medieval murder mystery, set in 1176, in the reign of King Henry the second. The period is well portrayed and I liked the two investigators, Aelred Barling, an esteemed Clerk to the King's court and his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, a messenger with a past. I will certainly look forward to reading more of their adventures, when the sequel is published later in 2018.
November 6, 2018
Great blending of historical fiction with mystery. I thought that Stanton and Barling were excellent foils for each other. A real page-turner and I was kept guessing until the end. I’ll be off to read the second book!
June 22, 2018
The King’s Justice is not your usual historical fiction novel. It’s not about a specific historical event or famous person but rather it’s about the institution of the King’s justice. Henry II is known for many of the things he did during his reign – some of them more regrettable than others. I’m talking about oh, locking up his wife and that whole Thomas a Becket debacle. In spite of some of the worst of Henry he was also responsible for creating a system that brought the King’s justice out to his people through circuit courts and this system is the basis for the one we use today. He was a bit of a hothead but he believed in the laws. Part of the problem was the way the laws were applied as the Church was so tightly bound into the justice system. Innocence was not assumed and it’s discovery was incumbent upon passing a trial that basically lead to your death so innocent or guilty the end result was just bad for you.
Ms. Powell builds her world around one of the clerks (Barling, a fictional character) to Henry’s justices. A lord from a nearby town comes in to request permission to hang a murderer but the justices want to be sure he is guilty so they send Barling and his assistant (Stanton, a fictional character) to the village to investigate.
Stanton is a character from Ms. Powell’s Fifth Knight trilogy, which I did read when it first came out several years ago. I have to be honest – I didn’t remember Hugo Stanton. There were many references back to him and his dead love which proved a touch frustrating because it was not fully explained. Perhaps it will be in the next book or it won’t be referred to as often. Often when books build upon past events the explanations are built into the story lines somehow but in this tale it left nothing but questions.
Stanton and Barling are two very distinct personalities and they don’t immediately click. Like any relationship they need to figure each other out and learn what the other can bring to the table. Barling is a very by the book kind of buy and Stanton is more of a man who goes by his gut. So you see where we have a classic pairing for the solving of crimes. Hopefully they will continue on administering the King’s justice.
I enjoyed the tale. The characters are intriguing and far from one note. The plot was full of twists and turns and I did not see the ending coming which is always a kick with a murder mystery. I will look forward to further adventures from these two.
Ms. Powell builds her world around one of the clerks (Barling, a fictional character) to Henry’s justices. A lord from a nearby town comes in to request permission to hang a murderer but the justices want to be sure he is guilty so they send Barling and his assistant (Stanton, a fictional character) to the village to investigate.
Stanton is a character from Ms. Powell’s Fifth Knight trilogy, which I did read when it first came out several years ago. I have to be honest – I didn’t remember Hugo Stanton. There were many references back to him and his dead love which proved a touch frustrating because it was not fully explained. Perhaps it will be in the next book or it won’t be referred to as often. Often when books build upon past events the explanations are built into the story lines somehow but in this tale it left nothing but questions.
Stanton and Barling are two very distinct personalities and they don’t immediately click. Like any relationship they need to figure each other out and learn what the other can bring to the table. Barling is a very by the book kind of buy and Stanton is more of a man who goes by his gut. So you see where we have a classic pairing for the solving of crimes. Hopefully they will continue on administering the King’s justice.
I enjoyed the tale. The characters are intriguing and far from one note. The plot was full of twists and turns and I did not see the ending coming which is always a kick with a murder mystery. I will look forward to further adventures from these two.
May 11, 2018
Hugo Stanton, a messenger for King Henry II's court of justice, has been having a very bad week. Not only was he forced to witness the accidental drowning of an innocent man (during trial by ordeal), but he has also been set upon and beaten by cutpurses. And to top it all off, he has now been dispatched as an underling to the fussy and fastidious clerk Aelred Barling to investigate the horrific murder of a village blacksmith.
The local lord is convinced that the beggar in the village gaol is responsible for the crime, but Barling's sense of order and Stanton's sense of intuition perceive that the case it not so open-and-shut as all that. The men learn to work together, united in their common search for justice, puzzling out who in this village is telling the truth (anyone?) and who has something to hide (everyone?).
When the first murder is followed up by another, and then another, the whole village succumbs to the fear of not knowing who might be next. Barling's methodical manner might help uncover some clues, but Stanton is also going to have to keep his legs spry and his wits about him if the King's men will escape becoming victims themselves.
This well-paced medieval thriller kept me racing along to the very end. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Barling is no twenty-first century agnostic. While he believes that the threat of trial by ordeal can work wonders for confessions, he also has no doubt that God will manifest the right through the trial itself. Barling is also devoted to the strict imposition of the King's justice across the land of England, justice that Henry II was famous for instituting during his reign. Stanton, meanwhile, is a man with a tortured past--he wants nothing more than to get away from the King's court and to forget the woman he once loved.
In The King's Justice, Hugo Stanton and Aelred Barling are both intriguing characters in their own right, and I can easily see a whole series built upon their grudging and unique friendship (much like Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin). Recommended for those who want a page-turner with some substance to it, and for those who don't mind mysteries that are a little more gruesome than cozy.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The local lord is convinced that the beggar in the village gaol is responsible for the crime, but Barling's sense of order and Stanton's sense of intuition perceive that the case it not so open-and-shut as all that. The men learn to work together, united in their common search for justice, puzzling out who in this village is telling the truth (anyone?) and who has something to hide (everyone?).
When the first murder is followed up by another, and then another, the whole village succumbs to the fear of not knowing who might be next. Barling's methodical manner might help uncover some clues, but Stanton is also going to have to keep his legs spry and his wits about him if the King's men will escape becoming victims themselves.
This well-paced medieval thriller kept me racing along to the very end. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Barling is no twenty-first century agnostic. While he believes that the threat of trial by ordeal can work wonders for confessions, he also has no doubt that God will manifest the right through the trial itself. Barling is also devoted to the strict imposition of the King's justice across the land of England, justice that Henry II was famous for instituting during his reign. Stanton, meanwhile, is a man with a tortured past--he wants nothing more than to get away from the King's court and to forget the woman he once loved.
In The King's Justice, Hugo Stanton and Aelred Barling are both intriguing characters in their own right, and I can easily see a whole series built upon their grudging and unique friendship (much like Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin). Recommended for those who want a page-turner with some substance to it, and for those who don't mind mysteries that are a little more gruesome than cozy.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 20, 2025
Anglija, 1176 m. kaime netoli Jorko žiauriai nužudytas kalvis. Visi įsitikinę, kad tai padarė nevietinis bastūnas, kuris jau netgi sučiuptas ir tupi belangėj. Kaimiečiai nusiteikę rimtai – „pakarti jį!“ Bet karalius Henrikas II kaip tik bando įvesti šalyje bent kažkokius įstatytus ir teisingumo tarnybą. Tad į kaimą tirti nusikaltimo ir paskelbti nuosprendžio atvyksta teisėjas Barlingas ir jo jaunas padėjėjas Stantonas. Ką čia tirti? – nesupranta kaimiečiai. Pakabinti valkatą! Bet Stantonas abejoja bastūno kalte. Klausinėjimai nieko neduoda – liudininkų nėra. Tuo metu nutinka dar viena žmogžudystė. Stantonas jau beveik triumfuoja – juk įtariamasis, kurio kalte jis abejojo, areštinėj. Bet džiaugiasi neilgai – pasirodo, bastūnas sugebėjo pasprukti. Sugauti! Pakarti! – reikalauja kaimiečiai.
Kol bastūnas gaudomas, nutinka dar viena kita žmogžudystė. Galiausiai atsiranda įrodymų, kaltinančių visai kitą asmenį. Pakarti! – vėl reikalauja kaimiečiai. Ir taip toliau.
Aišku, galų gale Barlingas ir Stantonas išsiaiškins tiesą.
Ne itin geras, ne itin blogas istorinis detektyvas. Toks visiškas vidutiniokas. Bet skaitėsi nenuobodžiai. Gal kada pasidomėsiu, kaip ten toliau sekėsi Barlingui su Stentonu.
O kol kas – trys iš penkių. Bet gana tvirti trys.
Kol bastūnas gaudomas, nutinka dar viena kita žmogžudystė. Galiausiai atsiranda įrodymų, kaltinančių visai kitą asmenį. Pakarti! – vėl reikalauja kaimiečiai. Ir taip toliau.
Aišku, galų gale Barlingas ir Stantonas išsiaiškins tiesą.
Ne itin geras, ne itin blogas istorinis detektyvas. Toks visiškas vidutiniokas. Bet skaitėsi nenuobodžiai. Gal kada pasidomėsiu, kaip ten toliau sekėsi Barlingui su Stentonu.
O kol kas – trys iš penkių. Bet gana tvirti trys.
July 22, 2018
The King’s Justice by E.M. Powell is a medieval mystery set during the reign of King Henry II. The main characters are Aelred Barling, clerk to the justices and Hugo Stanton, his assistant.
When a murder happens in the village of Claresham, Barling and Stanton are sent there to determine the guilt or innocence of the man being held for the crime.
Things do not progress smoothly with the investigation as more murders happen putting the investigators in danger as well as the villagers.
There is a wide variety of secondary characters that are as well written as the main characters. The reader gets to know the personalities, quirks, and motivations of Barling and Stanton and to a great extent the secondary cast of characters, of course leaving out the murderer. The discovery of who is the killer reveals a person totally different from perceived.
The storyline is fast paced, well plotted, and keeps one guessing. A true who done it. I am looking forward to reading book 2 and following along on more adventures of Barling and Stanton.
When a murder happens in the village of Claresham, Barling and Stanton are sent there to determine the guilt or innocence of the man being held for the crime.
Things do not progress smoothly with the investigation as more murders happen putting the investigators in danger as well as the villagers.
There is a wide variety of secondary characters that are as well written as the main characters. The reader gets to know the personalities, quirks, and motivations of Barling and Stanton and to a great extent the secondary cast of characters, of course leaving out the murderer. The discovery of who is the killer reveals a person totally different from perceived.
The storyline is fast paced, well plotted, and keeps one guessing. A true who done it. I am looking forward to reading book 2 and following along on more adventures of Barling and Stanton.
January 19, 2020
A very slow start. I was actually wondering whether to put this into the DNF pile...
However, the story did pick up gradually.
Having just finished a series set in the same time period, I was familiar with the background to the laws and customs of King Henry's rule. Yet, had I not known, for example, what "raising the hue and cry" or "deodand" meant, it would have been a little confusing.
The climax and ending of the story was very good. It became a true page-turner and I have to confess the revelation of the murderer was a surprise. And his motive was not what I thought it would be...
I also did not like the many hints that were dropped about the history of the 2 main characters. I think the author could have just shared with the reader what was troubling Barling and Stanton and driving them. Very irritating to hint and not reveal!
However, the story did pick up gradually.
Having just finished a series set in the same time period, I was familiar with the background to the laws and customs of King Henry's rule. Yet, had I not known, for example, what "raising the hue and cry" or "deodand" meant, it would have been a little confusing.
The climax and ending of the story was very good. It became a true page-turner and I have to confess the revelation of the murderer was a surprise. And his motive was not what I thought it would be...
I also did not like the many hints that were dropped about the history of the 2 main characters. I think the author could have just shared with the reader what was troubling Barling and Stanton and driving them. Very irritating to hint and not reveal!
January 29, 2020
(Apparently i got distracted and didn't finish a review. Thanks person for liking this one sentence review to make me finish).
An interesting crime novel set in the 12th century, The King's Justice follows two characters as they try to solve a series of murders in a rural part of England. The book is a nice twist on a standard crime novel due to the time period and beliefs, which the author uses very heavily. For example, the story opens with three accused murderers being chained up and thrown into a deep pit. If they float they are considered guilty and pulled out to hang. If they sink... well then they were obviously innocent and escape the fate of hanging.
The pov characters in this story are a detail-oriented law clerk, the epitome of a study-ish/bookish character, and a rather disastrous messenger who seems to always get into some type of trouble or another.
Why you may like this book:
1) As detailed above the setting and belief system keep the story feeling fresh.
2) The crimes and plot twists are well thought out and done. The story leads the reader in certain directions and then flips them, repeatedly. I specifically like that the reasoning behind the crimes was both different AND believable when compared to what i thought was going to happen.
Why you may not like this book:
1) The book is obviously a setup for a series. Unfortunately this means that alot of the stuff that is alluded to heavily, like the MC's back stories, is not expanded upon well. I would of liked the book to be more self contained.
2) The crime solving itself leads a bit to be desired. I found myself continually frustrated by the MC's methods. While some of this may be attributed to the time period, it still could of been better.
An interesting crime novel set in the 12th century, The King's Justice follows two characters as they try to solve a series of murders in a rural part of England. The book is a nice twist on a standard crime novel due to the time period and beliefs, which the author uses very heavily. For example, the story opens with three accused murderers being chained up and thrown into a deep pit. If they float they are considered guilty and pulled out to hang. If they sink... well then they were obviously innocent and escape the fate of hanging.
The pov characters in this story are a detail-oriented law clerk, the epitome of a study-ish/bookish character, and a rather disastrous messenger who seems to always get into some type of trouble or another.
Why you may like this book:
1) As detailed above the setting and belief system keep the story feeling fresh.
2) The crimes and plot twists are well thought out and done. The story leads the reader in certain directions and then flips them, repeatedly. I specifically like that the reasoning behind the crimes was both different AND believable when compared to what i thought was going to happen.
Why you may not like this book:
1) The book is obviously a setup for a series. Unfortunately this means that alot of the stuff that is alluded to heavily, like the MC's back stories, is not expanded upon well. I would of liked the book to be more self contained.
2) The crime solving itself leads a bit to be desired. I found myself continually frustrated by the MC's methods. While some of this may be attributed to the time period, it still could of been better.
March 6, 2025
This book is the first in E M Powell’s series featuring senior court clerk Aelred Barling and messenger Hugo Stanton. It begins in York in 1176 where the King’s Justices are dispensing justice according to Henry’s II’s efforts to bring common and regularised law across the land. The court proceedings are interrupted by a drunken Sir Reginald Edgar from the nearby village of Claresham, where the local blacksmith has been murdered. Edgar is the local nobleman and insists he knows who the murderer is and wants him hung forthwith. Barling and Stanton are instructed by the court to investigate Sir Reginald’s claims and bring justice to the village.
As Barling and Stanton set about their work, they find an enraged village baying for blood. The case becomes more complex as another body is found.
Barling and Stanton are unlikely colleagues, but they begin to develop a healthy regard for each other. There are hints of a backstory for both of them which no doubt will be explored in subsequent books.
This book is both engaging and fast moving and I read it at quite a lick. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
As Barling and Stanton set about their work, they find an enraged village baying for blood. The case becomes more complex as another body is found.
Barling and Stanton are unlikely colleagues, but they begin to develop a healthy regard for each other. There are hints of a backstory for both of them which no doubt will be explored in subsequent books.
This book is both engaging and fast moving and I read it at quite a lick. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
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