The Templar's Penance

Knights Templar #15

by Michael Jecks

It is 1323, and Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock have been granted leave to go on pilgrimage, each seeking solace after the recent traumatic events in Gidleigh. Together, they travel across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but danger is never far away. Foreign travel is perilous—outlaws and robbers threaten at all times, not to mention the risks of political unrest and a recent spate of attacks on pilgrims. But it seems an even greater menace hangs over the city of Santiago. A beautiful young girl is found raped and murdered on the hillside, her broken body leaving no doubt that she is the victim of the most brutal of killers. Among the first to arrive at the scene, Baldwin and Simon lend their investigative skills to the ensuing inquiry headed by the local pesquisidore. With so many keen minds on the case, it can only be a matter of time until the culprit is found. But they are reckoning with the unexpected appearance of a face from Baldwin’s past—a face that looks set to threaten not only the investigation, but Baldwin’s very future.

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

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Michael Jecks is a best-selling writer of historical novels. The son of an Actuary, and the youngest of four brothers, he worked in the computer industry before becoming a novelist full time in 1994

He is the author of the internationally popular Templar series, perhaps the longest crime series written by a living author. Unusually, the series looks again at actual events and murders committed about the early fourteenth century, a fabulous time of treachery, civil war, deceit and corruption. Famine, war and disease led to widespread despair, and yet the people showed themselves to be resilient. The series is available as ebooks and all paper formats from Harper Collins, Headline and Simon and Schuster. More recently he has completed his Vintener Trilogy, three stories in his Bloody Mary series, and a new Crusades story set in 1096, Pilgrim's War, following some of the people in the first Crusade on their long pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He has also written a highly acclaimed modern spy thriller, Act of Vengeance.

His books have won him international acclaim and in 2007 his Death Ship of Dartmouth was shortlisted for the Harrogate prize for the best crime novel of the year.

A member of the Society of Authors and Royal Literary Society, Jecks was the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 2004-2005. In 2005 he became a member of the Detection Club.

From 1998 he organised the CWA Debut Dagger competition for two years, helping unpublished authors to win their first contracts He judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for three years.

Michael Jecks is a popular speaker at literary festivals and historical meetings. He is a popular after-dinner and motivational speaker and has spoken at events from Colombia to Italy, Portugal to Alaska.

His own highlights are: being the Grand Marshal of the first parade at the New Orleans 2014 Mardi Gras, designing the Michael Jecks fountain pen for Conway Stewart, and being the International Guest of Honour at the Crime Writers of Canada Bloody Words convention.

Michael lives, walks, writes and paints in North Dartmoor.

Reviews

[Sue Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the events of "The Mad Monk of Gidleigh", Baldwin decides he needs the spiritual comfort of a pilgrimage... to Compostella. Simon decides to go with him. There's nothing strange about the fact that the city is crammed with pilgrims. Nor about the fact that one band has been attacked by brigands shortly before arriving there. The rape and murder of the maid of a prioress is unusual. So is the fact that the municipal investigator speaks English so Baldwin and Simon can get involved in the investigation.
This is one of those books where 20 characters are introduced in the first five pages and you spend so much time sorting them out that you lose track of the plot. After this initial (deliberately?) confusing stage it settles down into a steady whodunnit with a reasonable conclusion.

[Amalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm wavering between giving this either a 3 star or a 4 star rating.

I'm new to the series and this is the 15th book of the series. Do I want to read more? Go back and start in order? Yes, I'd love to check few more books.

There is a lot of activity here, also a lot of brutal violence. However, the author does not linger over every terrible bloody detail. He is also a fine storyteller with a good knowledge of the medieval period.

Downside of this for me was, it was little too repetitive, both in dialogue and narrative with who is what and when etc. Other than that it's a great story. Loved the ending.

So 4 stars.

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting a bit tired of the "raped and murdered" victim appearing in every book.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six-word Review: Boring at first, much better later.

This is another recently read book that disappoints partially because my expectations were so high.

Bailiff Simon Puttock of Lydford and Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King’s Peace and ex-member of the disgraced, Order of the Knights Templar, head for Santiago De Compostela on a pilgrimage that turns into a search for the rapist and killer of a young girl and the stabbing death of another ex-Templar, Matthew, who had been reduced to begging.

There are innumerable characters introduced in the story that help the author mislead the reader into thinking that he/she knows who did it to say nothing of Simon and Sir Baldwin. The city is awash in pilgrims who are atoning for past sins and are not necessarily totally trustworthy folks.

The problem is that the complications drag the narrative down even though they support the rich historical background, Jecks obviously researched. Quite frankly, there are just too many sub-plots to support the major thread of the story.

Nevertheless, I finished it and felt rewarded with the last 75 pages in which Jecks did a good job of tying things up. I've read a number of entries in this series and must admit this was the least enjoyable of them all.

[Alistair Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 15th installment in the Knights Templar series, this one is out of kilter with the usual action as it occurs in Spain, Sir Baldwin and his sidekick Simon being on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. In actual fact the change of climate makes little difference. there are the usual suspects, murders and sub plots. There is an under theme which is more prominent in this novel, Sir Baldwins past as a Templar who evaded arrest when the order was destroyed, for the blurb on the back though this is under developed in the novel , e.g Baldwin does not actually seem to have been under direct threat of discovery, it is hinted at that is all. Some of the threads just peter out.
Overall the medieval murder mystery is a crowded market place and I have to say that the authors work isn`t one of my favourites, they are decent, upper second division fayre really, readable but also forgettable.

[Jim Corbiere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading " The Templar's Penance " by Michael Jecks. Once again another great mystery and a very enjoyable read. I love these types of mysteries because you have to pay very close attention to details to figure out what happened.
It is 1323 and Simon and Baldwin have been granted a leave to go on a pilgrimage after the events that took place at Gidleigh. A young woman turns up raped and murdered! Baldwin and Simon are not in their home country but yet offer to help find out what happened to her. Blackmail, murder, sickness all work against the two companions but they are determined to bring the murdered to justice.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series. This one is the first not set in Dartmoor, and it is interesting to see Simon struggle outside his comfort zone. I believe the ending was a bit convoluted and it took a bit to make sense.
Otherwise, like so many of my favorite series, it is a companionable journey with old friends, lovingly drawn locations, the layers of sounds, odors and more, and a puzzle to keep us company

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is well written and more interesting than the last installment but Jecks once again populates his stories with some of the most violent and inhumane characters imaginable. Granted, he does include a few characters in this story (aside from Baldwin) who are compassionate and humane. It's an improvement.

[Gerry Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Templar’s Penance is another of Michael Jeck’s medieval mysteries. Sir Baldwin and his sidekick Bailiff Simon go on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestello where they team up with the local prosecutor to solve two murders and Baldwin must face his Templar past. The best yet.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A change of location but no change in the quality. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com

[Bethan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baldwin and Simon go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella but get caught up in murder

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just picked up this series again after many years. It is really hard to pick up the thread so I may have to go back and read the first one or two to refresh my memory. I started reading some other authors who write about the Medieval Period so I thought I would revisit Baldwin and Simon. They are both great characters and each played a major role in solving this mystery. There was a lot of repetition that seemed to be there to 'add to the page count'. I found myself skipping a lot towards the end. I liked the fact that we found out the fate of the characters at the end. There were a lot of characters. At times I got lost and forgot exactly where, when, why, and what part the character played in the story.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jecks does it again. Had no clue to who was killing who until the very end. Every time I thought I knew who the real killer(s) was/were, they became another dead end (bad pun I know). His books are a good blend of Medieval history and twisting plots that keep folding back into each other. Give them a try. But it is best to start with the first book, The Last Templar, since everything feeds off the groundwork that is laid out in this story.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which Baldwin goes on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in order to expiate his sin from the previous book. Simon accompanies him, travelling abroad for the first time ever, and like a typical Brit on holiday, he complains about all the foreignness. Nice to see Baldwin get a little personal closure on his previous life with the Templars

[David Serxner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get Michael Jeck's books sent to me from by my family in England, as I do not know if you can get them in the States. He does his research. The books are excellent--very well written. I like a good mystery, and these most certainly are!

[Wazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

book 15

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The usual from Michael Jecks intelligent plot lots of mediaeval background Baldwin brooding over his templar past. Enjoyable if you like that sort of thing which I do.

[Jenny Pauley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable Jeck's book. Loved the scenery change and culture! Starting to wonder how it is that trouble seems to be around every corner for these two!

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Balwin and Bailiff Simon Puttock head to southern Europe for a pilgrimage. Of course, it is not to be an easy or unadventurous journey.

[Nancy Moffett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading. Amusing and pretty good for what it is. I enjoyed it and probably will read another of the series.

[R.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting mystery set in an interesting time period. It reminded me of A Morbid Taste for Bones but on a larger international scale.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not gel with this one - and Jecks' female characters are even more 'off' than usual. Even Simon and Baldwin seemed out of synch - perhaps it was moving them out of their usual milieu?

[ELzabeth Livingstone]

Thanks

Once again have to carry on reading. Each book so far keeps me so that l do not want them to. Next in line is just waiting in my library!