The Huntsman's Tale

Oxford Medieval Mysteries #3

by Ann Swinfen

Oxford, Late Summer 1353.
On hearing that his cousin is short-handed for the harvest, Nicholas Elyot takes a group of friends back to the family farm to help. When a deer hunt in Wychwood ends in tragedy, suspicion is directed toward the huntsman, a boyhood friend of Nicholas. Yet the victim has made many other enemies, any one of whom could have shot the fatal arrow. Can Nicholas uncover the real killer before it is too late?

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

Audible Audio

First published April 30, 2017

About the author

Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Oxford, where she married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for an MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer.

She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.

Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.

She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this Historical Mystery series which is set in Oxford, England in the aftermath of another awful epidemic - the Black Death.

In this episode our main character, Nicholas Elyot, takes a large group of family and friends into the countryside to help bring in the harvest. There is a new Lord of the Manor, an evil man of course, who is treating everyone and everything badly. Soon there is a murder and Nicholas sets about discovering the perpetrator. It was pretty easy to guess who dunnit but only when judged by a modern eye. Nicholas and his team are blinkered by a Middle Ages viewpoint. Eventually it all comes out and the ending is appropriate.

As usual the author sets the scene perfectly. She writes dialogue which sounds fitting for the time without going too far and she adds many, many details about how they lived at that time without becoming boring. Very well done indeed!

Nicholas's personal life progresses just a little in this book - maybe there will be more in the next one!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series of cosy historical mysteries, not so much for the mysteries, which are generally interesting and well plotted, but for the details of everyday medieval life that the author creates.

In this third novel, Nicholas Elyot, scholar and bookesller of Oxford is asked by his cousin Edmond if he could spare a few weeks in the summer to help out with the harvest. The recent plague had depleted the village of many of the poor cottagers who could normally be hired to help and many of those remaining had been seduced by high wages to work in the manor house fields instead, leaving Edmond with to few hands to get the harvest in. Nicholas jumps at the chance of a break from Oxford in the summer with a visit back to his childhood home and rounds up a few friends to join his family in helping Edmond. However, all is not well in the village with the manor house taken over by a rich merchant from London who doesn't understand country ways and has made himself very unpopular indeed. A tragedy at a day of hunting brings Nicholas a mystery to solve before an innocent man is convicted.

The mystery is sent against a background of medieval life, with the intricacies of manor and village life all gently explained, as well as the roles of men and women, nobles and commoners. Details of daily farm life, the stages of the harvest and the traditions involved as well as the structure of the hunt all made for a complete world that is easily visualised. Nicholas is a wonderful character, at home amongst scholars and also back in his childhood village. His kindness and compassion for his fellow man as well as his inquisitiveness and quick mind make him an excellent amateur detective.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always tended to prefer historical fiction set in the more recent past - maybe the 1920s or Victorian times. But now I'm hooked on Ann Swinfen's Oxford Medieval Mysteries. It's not so much the detective story element that is exceptional in these, but the style of writing, with all kinds of convincing little details - the food, the clothes, the surprising descriptions of how all kinds of daily tasks were carried out. I also enjoy the personality of the central character, bookseller Nicholas Elyot, and his family and friends. (Not enough of his usual sidekick Jordain in this book, but another character does step in to take his place.)

So far, the first 3 books in the series have followed straight on from one another. The second one wasn't really a mystery at all, which I found slightly disappointing, but this third one is, although the death only happens after a lot of build-up. The book moves away from Oxford to a nearby village, where Nicholas goes back to his family's farming roots and helps to bring the harvest in. He also gets involved with a local deer hunt - which, as the title hints, eventually leads to a murder hunt too. I enjoyed this gentle medieval mystery and am now looking forward to book 4, The Merchant's Tale.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoy this series. Mostly because of the historical context. Although these are crime novels, the plot concerning the crime is not the most important. I find this part holds no surprises. But the parts about 14th century Engeland are very interesting and well written. Nicolas Elyot, the main character, is a flesh and blood person, although i wonder about his view on women. It seems very progressive for the time. This book is allready the 3rd in the series. Filled with interesting knowledge on harvesting, hunting and life at a mansion. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series. A very relaxing read. Somewhere between 3,5 en 4 stars.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love pretty much everything about this series. Nicholas Elyot is a charming protagonist who loves his friends, his children, and his books. The setting of Oxford and the surrounding area following the plague that decimated the population allows for wonderful exploration into how the people remaining were impacted. And just look at those gorgeous covers!

This third installment in Swinfen's Oxford Medieval Mysteries did not disappoint, though there are still plenty of questions left that led me to download The Merchant's Tale as soon as it was released. I NEED to know if Nicholas finds love again. The dear man has spent long enough in mourning.

We are taken away from the city of Oxford for this adventure, but Nicholas brings most of the existing cast of characters with him to assist on his family's farm for the harvest. It was fun to see these men of learning getting their hands dirty and blistered, and I was amazed at how interesting the author made detailed descriptions of medieval farming. Despite the difficult work, this would seem to be a time of fellowship and feasting if it weren't for a pesky murder.

The local lord, no more able to protect himself or his family from the black death than the common man has been replaced by an arrogant upstart who believes the villagers are his to rule with an iron fist. When he is killed during a village hunt, it is difficult to determine who would not have wanted to kill him. Nicholas, scholar and bookseller, finds himself part of another investigation that leads down paths he could not have anticipated.

This book, like the two that precede it, is a fun, quick read packed with all sorts of interesting history, characters the reader can cheer for, and a mystery that becomes more than one might be expecting. I will be picking up book 4 immediately!

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a mystery here and the successful protection of the innocent. But the joy is in the gratifyingly solid details of daily life seven centuries ago in the English countryside. Swinfen is masterly in showing how the harvest was brought in, and how a hunt was conducted. And we see how the devastating losses to the Black Death affected traditional, labor-intensive tasks.

I enjoy the series more and more for this almost-palpable historical reality in which I find myself.

[Louise Greiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the setting in medieval Oxford and surroundings, and also enjoyed reading about countrylife and harvesttime. It annoyed me that I had guessed who did it almost as soon as the murder happened. It was too obvious and it took our heroes ages to figure it out. But otherwise I was well entertained.

[Harriet Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Elyot escapes the heat of Oxford when he takes a party of friends to help with the harvest on the family farm, but trouble isn't long coming and he finds himself with an intriguing mystery to solve. There's a good plot here but, for me, as a history enthusiast, the greatest appeal of these books is in the historical detail and the way the author recreates the past. Medieval Oxford and subsequently the way of life in the country really came alive. An excellent read particularly if you're interested in medieval times.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oxford, Late Summer 1353.
Hearing that his cousin is short-handed for the harvest, Nicholas Elyot takes a group of friends back to the family farm to help. When a deer hunt ends in tragedy, suspicion is directed toward the huntsman, a friend of Nicholas."

This is a great series and the ending makes me hopeful that it will continue. A trifle slow perhaps in the beginning but it picked up speed and barreled towards the exciting ending.

Nicholas and his coterie are fun to read about and he seems to help them to be more "well-rounded" in their lives. Will Philip decide to make his family life permanent although it may impact on his life? Will Nicholas' workers continue to have their lives better?

Additionally this period of the 14th Century after the Black Death has been illuminated very well, and presented a prime setting for the crime that Nicholas and his friend Jordain encounter. It is very well documented historically and that perhaps is the best part.

Recommended to all lovers of historical novels, especially those in Medieval times.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

14th century England, after the end of the plague that upset the social order and left the manor houses in the hands of new owners who didn't know how to manage estates. Not quite as good as the last one in the series; I knew who the murderer was the moment the body was found and got a bit impatient waiting for Nicholas to figure it out. The Huntsman in this tale is unjustly accused. Nicholas, academic and bookbinder, works to demonstrate the man's innocence. Much detail about daily life in rural England, but it makes for kind of a sweet story as the bad guys lose and the good guys win. My favorite line came from Nicholas: "I ran my hands lovingly over my neat piles of parchment, and lifted a fat copy of Tully’s Orations and sniffed its aroma appreciatively–leather, parchment, ink, and that indescribable perfume which, even with my eyes closed, I can identify as Book."

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bookseller, Nicholas Elyat takes his family from Oxfordshire, plus a few friends, to help his cousin with the harvest.

A new lord of the manor has been paying over the odds to attract workers but has trampled over traditions, despised the locals and fired his huntsman, Nicholas' childhood friend. However, he still wants an extravagant hunt to go ahead to impress his smart London friends. Wychwood becomes the backdrop for a social event that ends in tragedy.

With multiple twists and turns, two more bodies, corrupt lawyers and a disinterested coroner, it will be some time before the family can return to the spires of Oxford. Apart from trying to solve the murders, Nicholas is distracted by his feelings for Emma Thorgold, the ex novice who is now living with her rich uncle.

A great series, helped by a continuous time line between books.

[Paul Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The continuing characters from books one and two continue to develop, perhaps the story line is a little too obvious. I like the descriptions of the places, I like to see what I am reading in my mind's eye.

[Ivor Armistead · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, but less compelling than the earlier books in the series. Perhaps Nicholas Elyot is better suited to the environs of Oxford and his bookshop than the countryside.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be one of my favorites so far. It takes place in the countryside where Nicholas, the narrator, grew up.

[Jan Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good mystery in this series set in Oxford in the 14th century. Nicholas is a very likeable MC and I look forward to listening to the rest of the stories. Philip Battley does a terrific job of narration of the audiobook.

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one as much as the first two! Nicholas and his friends and family travel to his family's land to help with his cousin with the harvest. There's a new lord in the area who is making all the local people's lives miserable. The first half of the book has a lot of details about medieval farming, which I found fascinating, but it isn't exciting at all. Of course, there is also a murder, and Nicholas, who is a busybody like all amateur sleuths, ends up investigating it.

Jordain is not as important in this book as in the first two, although he and a couple of his students have come along on the trip. Nicholas mostly teams up with another local lord, a blunt and honorable man who is an engaging character in his own right. A new and interesting female character is also introduced, and I see from the blurb of the next book that she plays a bigger role in the future.

I don't really understand why I like this series so much. Maybe it's the many hours I've sunk into Elder Scrolls games, wondering about the lives of NPCs. I recommend it, if you've ever wondered what Belethor at the General Goods store gets up to in his free time.

But Nicholas is very easy to like. He loves his family and he has so much compassion for everyone he meets. There's a strong religious element in these books; religion is important to everyone's lives, and in many ways, it's hard for them to comprehend rejecting any of the tenets of their faith. But Nicholas does try to understand others, even those who commit major sins in his eyes.

It's very different from how I view the world now, as an atheist, and even from how I was raised to view it (in the modern-day Catholic Church). As a small example, the characters briefly discuss the radical ideas of publishing the Bible or saying Mass in English, and no one can come up with a reason why these would be good ideas. So it all seems very quaint to me, yet these books show that these are all intelligent people with both good qualities and foibles, just living in a different era with different values. It's part of why I enjoy reading in general, seeing perspectives that are so far removed from my own.

I'm a fan of the (very light) romance in this series, because Nicholas and his love interest are so perfect for each other. Again, as a modern person, I would never have the objection he does to her future plans, although I understand why he feels as he does. Although she is not in this book much, the romance does move forward a little. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Deborah Whipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books in this series so much, that I read books 2 and 3 back-to-back  This story finds widowed bookseller Nicholas Elyot traveling back to his family farm to assist his cousin with the harvest. A merchant has managed to become lord to manor in his hometown and is sowing discord amongst the village’s residents and hampering the harvest.

Nicholas brings along his sister, two young children, Oxford friend Jourdain along with two of his students, and former adversary Philip Olney of Merton College with whom Nicholas is forming a surprising friendship. Philip in turn brings along his mistress and young son whom he is unable to publicly acknowledge without losing his position at Merton.

When the obnoxious and despicable new lord of the manor is murdered during a hunt, Nicholas and his friends are soon investigating to ensure a miscarriage of justice does not occur. They’re aided by Sir Henry, lord of a nearby manor and known to Nicholas since childhood.

The time period and setting are fascinating to read of and I very much like the continued development of the main and secondary characters in this series. I would recommend it to those who love a good historical mystery series.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continued to really enjoy this, even though the author is teasing us by parking the hero's romantic interest offpage for most of the book. Lots of fascinating detail this time about village life, harvest, the role of the manor and its Lord in the village. Speaking of which, the new master of the manor gets cold-bloodedly shot while out being incompetent in pursuit of deer, and is the classic "murder victim everyone hated and had a motive for". Plus an innocent friend is accused, so Nicolas has to be a detective again. Fancy that.

Many of the minor characters from the earlier books are starting to grow some depth and I could see this series running to some length.

In the first two books I got the sense that the author is comfortable in the medieval mind, which is difficult if you hate Christianity to start with. Now there's what feels like a Christian shading to the narrative in places and especially a key speech by the saintly village priest that ties off and tries to give closure to the hunt-for-justice part of the book. It makes a refreshing change from the majority of historical novelists I try to read. Main downside: there's only one more book yet written!

[Anna Furtado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Swinfen has given us another intriguing tale of life after the Great Pestilence. This time, we journey to Master Elyot's childhood farm, getting glimpses into his extended family and country life. Of course, there must also be murder! And in this tale, there's plenty of that. There's also the snobbish Londoners who've come to take over a nearby manor - and when an innocent huntsman looks like he will become the scapegoat - Nicholas finds himself thrust into the middle of another mystery to be solved. In addition, the author continues to tease us with the on-going (somewhat non-existent, but ever-present) relationship between Nicholas Elyot and Emma Thurgood from The Novice's Tale. Emma only has a short scene with Nicholas at the end of the story - but it's one to make the reader delighted.

The intricacies of the story are intertwined in an interesting way, while ever enlightening us about different, and sometimes, difficult times. So far, The Huntsman's Tale is my favorite in the series.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definite five star read!

There us absolutely no doubt in my mind that the writing if Ann Swinfen is exceptional by way if her skill at creating historical novels. The plot here was so enthralling with so many "could be" murderers. The attention to detail of the daily lives of these people in 14th century England is described in great detail so that the reader gets a true feel of the times.
It makes me think of our modern day existence with all its automation, electricity, etc...... I cannot help but reflect upon the laws, politics, class distinctions, religion and the sex of these times as compared to now. The characters are made real, human and we are introduced to the reasoning and intelligence of these people striving to survive after the destruction of lives from the plague.
This is a definite highly recommended series, and I love reading the Author's Notes at the end which are filled with such interesting historical facts.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who loves a good medieval mystery should read this series! I've been listening to the Audible audio version, and they are very well narrated. The stories are interesting, the books are well written and they manage to immerse you in the time (1353) and the place (Oxford) without sounding stilted or 'educational.' The hard life and restrictions people experienced are not glossed over and glamorized, and yet the story doesn't come across as doomy and gloomy either.

I believe these books are self-published, and I have to wonder why....if it was by choice or if more than one foolish editor declined the manuscripts. If that is the case, I guess it once again shows how much I disagree with the current thought on what makes a good book. Most of the recent 'award winning' books in several categories I could barely finish.

Stellar series, IMO! I hope there will be more after the next, but as of now it appears the next (fourth) one is the last.

[William Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my third attempt in becoming interested in the stories and the main characters of the Oxford Medieval Mysteries series. I must admit that the first half of this particular book was exceptionally dull and boring. I must admit Ms. Swinfen researched greatly on the ways in which harvesting was performed during this period, but to devote page after page after page on the subject made me want to threw the book against the wall. As for the mystery associated to this third installment, there really was none since it was easy to determine who was going to be murdered, and who the person was who performed it. I was going to give this book one star, but as it was better than the second installment, which I gave two stars, decided on issuing two stars in that the hunt event was somewhat interesting.

I have to admit I doubt I will be reading any further installments of this series and will instead return to authors which I have enjoyed in the past....

[Rebekah May · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heart tells me this is more of a 2.5 star read but I've rounded it up because I do enjoy this series and they're so quick and fun to read.

Ann Swinfen, again, brings the 14th century to life. I loved reading about the harvest and what country life was like then. It was also really interesting to see what makes a family more high ranking than others and a little of the workings of a manor.

The mystery itself was a bit underwhelming. I think it was pretty obvious from the time the victim was found to the 'reveal' so waiting for them to come to the right conclusion was a bit frustrating at times. I also felt like the ending was a bit disappointing, although I did like seeing Emma again, if only for a few pages.

I'm still going to continue with this series because it's fun and I love the world Ann Swinfen describes. I think you can really tell she enjoys writing about this time period. But I do think so far the books have gone slowly downhill since book one.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third Ann Swinfen book, and I really have enjoyed them all. I appreciate the historical research that comes through in The Tales, as to how day-to-day business and occupations functioned in the past. Seeing the big farm equipment compared with manual harvesting and reaping is a fascinating subject, well explained without being boring. (It makes my desire for an antique millstone even greater!) Understanding what was the king's property v the lord of the manor's property is unique unto itself. Regarding this tale, I was glad to know that I was wrong about knowing who the killer was. Early on, I thought I had the killer pegged, and even with that knowledge, the details of the story were interesting enough to keep reading. However, who I thought the killer was turned out to not be necessarily true, and I appreciated the plot twist. Looking forward to the next tale!

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read the Novice’s Tale and really enjoyed it so was happy to find out there was a third book. The story of Nicholas Elyot and his family travelling back to the family farm to help with the harvest provides a new, deeper perception of him as a family man. While he is there, he discovers that a newly made rich London merchant has bought the local manor. Disliked by everyone, Gilbert Morden is throwing his weight around, demanding all his rights of villeinage, property, and hunting from the villagers and servants at the manor. In particular, he had fired the huntsman whose family had worked for generations at the manor, incurring the wrath of many. When, during a hunt, he is found shot to death by an arrow, his less than-grieving widow is quick to point fingers at the huntsman. But Elyot know it couldn’t have been Alan, and sets out to identify the real killer.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story, set in and around Oxford, England just a few years after what is now known as the Black Death, it immerses the reader into the time and place without any jarring notes. Harvest time, always a slow time for Oxford booksellers, so Nicholas closes his shop and takes his family and some friends to help his cousin Edmund with the harvest — with so many having died in the plague, help can be hard (or expensive) to find. Even the local lord of the manor and his entire family died. The manor has now been purchased, but no one likes the new owner, an upstart merchant from London. But when he is killed in a hunt, Nicholas' old friend Alan, the local huntsman, is accused of the murder, so Nicholas and his friends undertake the investigation to find the real culprit. Highly recommended.

[annapi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out so well, and continued so for most of the book. But the ending just fell flat - the denouement very unsatisfying. It's frustrating that the author can't seem to master the art of tying up the loose ends of a good mystery. I will continue the series to find out how the budding romance of Master Nicholas Elyot and Emma Thorgold develops, but I hope the writing gets better eventually. She has some really interesting background in medieval practices in her books, but so far they have suffered in the plot department, lacking a good solid punch in the end. Book 2 is the best so far, I had high hopes after that, but even that story kind of wavered in the ending. However, I'm kind of invested in the characters now, so I will keep reading and see if she keeps my interest.

[Argum · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is again a few months later. Nicholas hears that his mother is well and that his cousin is having trouble with the harvest. Thus he gathers his friends and family and sets off to help on the old farm. The old lord died during the Plague and the new lord of the manor is an ill mannered merchant who is acting very rudely against the villagers, his neighbors, his employees and anyone really. He ignores ancient rules and rights and tries to force people to do his bidding as his right. With tempers high, he is killed on the hunt. Nicholas's childhood friend is immediately blamed, but that is impossible. Other things are also afoot as more deaths follow. Fun to be out of the city and see the big social changes that the Black Death wrought.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. This Book was simply, marvelous.

Her best this far; so well written and so well crafted. I was there, really there, as if fully integrated in the story my lonesome self. I wish there were 50 more not just 2. She just gets better and better as she writes (actually, Wrote) these books. This Book was engaging from the first word and introduces us to many more characters to love...except, of course, the despicable ones. I will miss this series so much and plan to savor the next remaining books. Reward yourself...read this series..there is so much here to savor and to learn from the series about the period : settings, processes and activities, animals, and people who lived so long ago...

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicholas Elyot leaves Oxford with his family and friends to help his cousin at the family farm at harvest time. He finds a new lord of the manor laying down the law and riding roughshod over the lives of the villagers. When the lord is murdered the blame is cast upon the huntsman until Nicholas and Sir Henry seek to exonerate him.

The hard work at the harvest with the dust, aching bones, and the family camaraderie have you wanting to take to your own bath and bed. The major plotline is thin and easily disseminated by the avid reader of crime fiction leaving me a little disappointed as it was not as good as the previous books in the series. Nevertheless an enjoyable enough read.

3 stars for this one.