What do you think?
Rate this book
Joan & Matthew Stock #7
Witness of Bones
As Queen Elizabeth slowly dies, Puritans and Papists play a deep game of deception.
A plot is already afoot to unseat her principal advisor, Sir Robert Cecil. Therefore merchant-constable Matthew Stock, who considers Sir Robert his master, becomes a principal pawn. He is lured to the scene of a heinous murder - and the bloody knife next to the body turns out to be his own.
The crime calls for the penalty of death. Only Joan, Matthew’s wife, is able to save his neck from the gallows. That is, until the plotters, having bested Sir Robert and Matthew, turn their wicked attentions toward her - aiming to rid themselves of the one body who stands in their way…
A plot is already afoot to unseat her principal advisor, Sir Robert Cecil. Therefore merchant-constable Matthew Stock, who considers Sir Robert his master, becomes a principal pawn. He is lured to the scene of a heinous murder - and the bloody knife next to the body turns out to be his own.
The crime calls for the penalty of death. Only Joan, Matthew’s wife, is able to save his neck from the gallows. That is, until the plotters, having bested Sir Robert and Matthew, turn their wicked attentions toward her - aiming to rid themselves of the one body who stands in their way…
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
23 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Tourney
23 books25 followersLeonard Tourney came to BYU in 2006 after teaching at Western Illinois University, the University of Tulsa, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. A specialist in composition pedagogy and creative writing, Professor Tourney has authored scholarly articles in l7th century British literature, a critical biography of Joseph Hall, short fiction, and nine historical novels, the most recent a fictional memoir of William Shakespeare.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 23, 2023
1603 The Stocks have been lured to London so they can be accused of murder, and then exposed as servants to Sir Robert Cecil, to plot his destruction. When Matthew is imprisoned Joan must investigate on her own. An entertaining historical mystery.
April 28, 2020
A superb novel
It took a while to unravel what was happening to Matthew, then a whole host of plans and counter plans unraveled. Fascinating.
It took a while to unravel what was happening to Matthew, then a whole host of plans and counter plans unraveled. Fascinating.
May 3, 2023
Just couldn't get interested in this one. Read about 50+ pages but didn't really connect with the story or the characters.
May 24, 2012
Another good Matthew and Joan Stock mystery that takes place as good Queen Bess lies dying in the London of 1603. Murder has been done and our friend, Constable Matthew stands accused. As always, Mistress Joan saves the day at the end. Great reading !!
April 18, 2015
Fast read and typical British / Elizabethan mystery. Descriptions are well done as the reader can smell the times and see the places! Typical murder mystery that is compounded with kidnapping and double-crosses for political gain near the end of QEI's reign in England.
October 26, 2019
This really is an excellent Elizabethan story, I enjoyed it immensely.
Very much looking forward to reading the next in the series when it becomes available.
Very much looking forward to reading the next in the series when it becomes available.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews