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Templar Knight Mystery #5
Shroud of Dishonour
Templar Bascot de Marins is preparing to rejoin the Holy Wars when he is called upon to investigate a gruesome murder in the Order's own chapel...
The shocking discovery of a strangled prostitute in the Templar chapel throws the Order into disarray. Alongside the corpse is a purse containing thirty pence-the same amount of silver Judas received for betraying Christ.
Is the murder revenge for a Templar brother's betrayal? Has one of their own broken his vow of chastity? The Order's preceptor turns to Bascot to determine whether an outsider is seeking to dishonour the Templars or a murderer walks among their ranks.
The shocking discovery of a strangled prostitute in the Templar chapel throws the Order into disarray. Alongside the corpse is a purse containing thirty pence-the same amount of silver Judas received for betraying Christ.
Is the murder revenge for a Templar brother's betrayal? Has one of their own broken his vow of chastity? The Order's preceptor turns to Bascot to determine whether an outsider is seeking to dishonour the Templars or a murderer walks among their ranks.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2010
33 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Ash
28 books123 followersMaureen Ash was born in London, England, and has had a lifelong interest in British medieval history. Visits to castle ruins and old churches have provided the inspiration for her novels. She enjoys Celtic music, browsing in bookstores and Belgian chocolate. Maureen now lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 13, 2019
In 1201, a Templar goes into a brothel in Acre and accidentally kills a man. A year later, in the city of Lincoln, England, a secretive figure, with the promise of ten shillings, convinces a prostitute to secretly enter a Templar enclave as part of a harmless wager. Soon she is dead.
Author Maureen Ash has written what appears to be nine stand-alone books in her 'Templar Mystery' series. 'Shroud of Dishonour' is book five in the series. I have not read any of the other books.
The talented sleuth in these tales is Bascot de Marins, a thirty-something Templar who was injured during an eight-year captivity in the Holy Land. He has lost the use of his right eye and walks with a limp but still hopes to return to the Outremer and rejoin the fight. This, however, proves difficult when the body of a woman is discovered in the Templar's Lincoln enclave.
Because of Bascot's familiarity with the local sheriff, Roget, and reputation as an investigator, the Preceptor, Everard d'Arderon, asks Bascot to assist the sheriff in solving the mystery to help protect the honor of the Order.
The author is masterful in her handling of the vernacular. The reader is drawn fully into the medieval theme, clued into the formalities and traditions of the time and place. It is all very clean, nothing sexual or overtly violent.
Bascot is actually bound by certain conventions that will inhibit his handling of discoveries if the perpetrator is a member of the Order. It's not as simple as exposing and arresting a Templar.
I noticed in some other reviews that people were put off by the language, '... d'Arderon decided to hold a series of mock skirmishes on the hillside below the preceptory, using the rolling slope of the hill to simulate the arid terrain in the hot climes of the Outremer and the Iberian Peninsula.'
I actually found the author's descriptions of settings to be the books chief strength. The author is knowledgeable of the subject matter and it bleeds through everything she writes.
The drawback for me were the characters. I personally felt the characters lacked depth, even Bascot. The story was interesting enough, the mystery holding your interest to the end but I never felt much of anything for any of the characters.
I'm not sure at this point if I will read another book in the series but if I do it will be because of the medieval jargon. The authors talent here is unquestioned. 3 stars.
Author Maureen Ash has written what appears to be nine stand-alone books in her 'Templar Mystery' series. 'Shroud of Dishonour' is book five in the series. I have not read any of the other books.
The talented sleuth in these tales is Bascot de Marins, a thirty-something Templar who was injured during an eight-year captivity in the Holy Land. He has lost the use of his right eye and walks with a limp but still hopes to return to the Outremer and rejoin the fight. This, however, proves difficult when the body of a woman is discovered in the Templar's Lincoln enclave.
Because of Bascot's familiarity with the local sheriff, Roget, and reputation as an investigator, the Preceptor, Everard d'Arderon, asks Bascot to assist the sheriff in solving the mystery to help protect the honor of the Order.
The author is masterful in her handling of the vernacular. The reader is drawn fully into the medieval theme, clued into the formalities and traditions of the time and place. It is all very clean, nothing sexual or overtly violent.
Bascot is actually bound by certain conventions that will inhibit his handling of discoveries if the perpetrator is a member of the Order. It's not as simple as exposing and arresting a Templar.
I noticed in some other reviews that people were put off by the language, '... d'Arderon decided to hold a series of mock skirmishes on the hillside below the preceptory, using the rolling slope of the hill to simulate the arid terrain in the hot climes of the Outremer and the Iberian Peninsula.'
I actually found the author's descriptions of settings to be the books chief strength. The author is knowledgeable of the subject matter and it bleeds through everything she writes.
The drawback for me were the characters. I personally felt the characters lacked depth, even Bascot. The story was interesting enough, the mystery holding your interest to the end but I never felt much of anything for any of the characters.
I'm not sure at this point if I will read another book in the series but if I do it will be because of the medieval jargon. The authors talent here is unquestioned. 3 stars.
April 4, 2018
Another good book from this author - I really enjoy this series.
This was about an interesting murder (can you say that a murder is interesting? LOL) with a deep insight into the Templar Order's daily life.
I really enjoyed the detailed historical descriptions, that's why this book was outstanding for me.
This was about an interesting murder (can you say that a murder is interesting? LOL) with a deep insight into the Templar Order's daily life.
I really enjoyed the detailed historical descriptions, that's why this book was outstanding for me.
November 29, 2020
Looking forward to the next story. These are interesting.
October 24, 2014
This book was only ok for me; I read the first in the series ("Alehouse Murders") which I vaguely remembered as being historically accurate if rather slow-moving, but I liked the main characters and thought they had promise. Maybe I need to go back and read the series in order to appreciate it more, but in this book the slow pacing, dull dialogue and habit of every character to take a full paragraph of internal dialogue to explain their motivation (too much telling, not showing), plus an almost total lack of humor or human warmth made this one a real chore to finish.
I read a lot of historical mysteries, particularly medieval ones with religious sleuths like Sir Bascot, and expect the tone to be somewhat dark, serious and somber - life back then was often nasty, brutish and short as fans of the genre know! But despite finding Bascot as charming as ever (along with Roget, his friend and captain of the town guard and thus the Watson to Bascot's Holmes), several of the characters were just too grim, humorless and one-dimensional. Two bright spots were the interaction between Bascot and Roget, and Roget and Constance, a perfumerer in Lincoln who lives next door to one of the victims; her warmth and humor made the rest of the cast seem even more like cardboard cutouts by comparison. Granted, we're talking about murder here, which is of course serious business, but in other series I've enjoyed (Frazer's Dame Frevisse, Alys Clare's Abbess Heloise, Doherty's Brother Athelstan, the incomparable Brother Cadfael) there was a spark of humanity, warmth, spirituality, faith and optimism - the feeling that despite the terrible crime committed, life would go on, good would triumph.
With this book I got too bored to care and started skimming about two-thirds through; *SPOILER ALERT* I felt that the opening scene in Acre when the unnamed Templar says he has to do something before he gets too weak and the leper procession right after the first murder in Lincoln was foreshadowing that the murderer was a leper, and I was right. I felt the motive and explanation, however, were WAY too complicated and involved and not really fair play; it seemed more like real life, I'll give the author that, in that it was a chance association followed by a chance meeting on the other side of the world that brought about the murders. But from a mystery reader point of view, it didn't seem fair in that we have no idea who this person is, no real clues given, until a very tenuous minor possible connection is spotted and put forth by Gianni, a young clerk (and Bascot's former ward). So, while I see that several readers have enjoyed this book and the rest of the series, I won't rush to pick up the rest of the series, as it is a little too slow for me and there are several other authors in this genre I'd rather read.
I read a lot of historical mysteries, particularly medieval ones with religious sleuths like Sir Bascot, and expect the tone to be somewhat dark, serious and somber - life back then was often nasty, brutish and short as fans of the genre know! But despite finding Bascot as charming as ever (along with Roget, his friend and captain of the town guard and thus the Watson to Bascot's Holmes), several of the characters were just too grim, humorless and one-dimensional. Two bright spots were the interaction between Bascot and Roget, and Roget and Constance, a perfumerer in Lincoln who lives next door to one of the victims; her warmth and humor made the rest of the cast seem even more like cardboard cutouts by comparison. Granted, we're talking about murder here, which is of course serious business, but in other series I've enjoyed (Frazer's Dame Frevisse, Alys Clare's Abbess Heloise, Doherty's Brother Athelstan, the incomparable Brother Cadfael) there was a spark of humanity, warmth, spirituality, faith and optimism - the feeling that despite the terrible crime committed, life would go on, good would triumph.
With this book I got too bored to care and started skimming about two-thirds through; *SPOILER ALERT* I felt that the opening scene in Acre when the unnamed Templar says he has to do something before he gets too weak and the leper procession right after the first murder in Lincoln was foreshadowing that the murderer was a leper, and I was right. I felt the motive and explanation, however, were WAY too complicated and involved and not really fair play; it seemed more like real life, I'll give the author that, in that it was a chance association followed by a chance meeting on the other side of the world that brought about the murders. But from a mystery reader point of view, it didn't seem fair in that we have no idea who this person is, no real clues given, until a very tenuous minor possible connection is spotted and put forth by Gianni, a young clerk (and Bascot's former ward). So, while I see that several readers have enjoyed this book and the rest of the series, I won't rush to pick up the rest of the series, as it is a little too slow for me and there are several other authors in this genre I'd rather read.
November 26, 2011
The greatest strength of this series is the relationship between de Marins and Gianni. I really wish they had the opportunity to work together more often. But overall, these are great fun. Still loads of juicy historical details. I hope we can look forward to lots more in the series.
October 11, 2023
A solid book for fans of the series. The mystery was pretty good, the story of the main characters advanced. I love the concept and settings if these novels but they generally remain at three stars as the characterisation is always a bit flat.
March 17, 2024
I haven't read any of the other books in this series. Maybe that would have made a difference. I just couldn't connect with the characters. The story itself was ok; although a little boring at times.
January 3, 2019
This book was full of details. I had to keep track of who is who. Good characters in this book.
March 8, 2021
Meh. Fine, I guess, but no spark; and the connection leading to the solution was tenuous at best & wouldn’t be known by most modern readers.
April 20, 2021
I love this series, but am currently disappointed that I can't get the last few in book form. I don't enjoy reading digital books and can't believe I am alone in this view.
August 7, 2021
A well plotted story in which the issue of Bascot going to the Holy Land is resolved.
March 12, 2017
Slow moving, turgid writing - vocabulary on display but that did nothing for the flow. Narrative and dialogue used same style except someone from the lower classes was speaking (it was jarring to see someone speaking of his "mate" (as in friend) which I believe didn't come into use in the sense until later in the Middle Ages.)
May 6, 2011
Murder mystery and a Medieval setting, it doesn't get any better for me. I've read the first in this series and for some reason didn't get 2, 3, and 4 but jumped right to the 5th. I'll just have to catch up.
Bascot de Marins is a Templar Knight with the unique skills of being able to find killers. He is recently come back from 10 horrendous years as captive of the Muslims and healing from that captivity. Though he has lost an eye he is ready to rejoin the Holy Wars.
In this book someone is murdering prostitutes and implicating the Templars. He goes so far as to murder one inside the Templar chapel and leaves 30 pieces of silver with the body. It is de Marins job to find the killer and exonerate the Templars if at all possible.
At the combined request of the Preceptor of the Templars in Lincoln, the Castellan of Lincoln, Nicolaa de la Haye, and her husband the Sheriff of Lincoln, de Marins and his friend Roget, Sheriff Camville's captain set off to learn who the killer is.
Of course all is not what it seems and the tangle of possible killers eventually gets figured out and Bascot is made a fortuitous offer.
While I liked the book and will keep up with the series it is no where near the other Medieval Templar series I read by Michael Jecks. His breath of history is exquisite and I learn a lot about one of my favorite periods of history from him. If you like Maureen Ash give Jecks a try. You won't be sorry.
Bascot de Marins is a Templar Knight with the unique skills of being able to find killers. He is recently come back from 10 horrendous years as captive of the Muslims and healing from that captivity. Though he has lost an eye he is ready to rejoin the Holy Wars.
In this book someone is murdering prostitutes and implicating the Templars. He goes so far as to murder one inside the Templar chapel and leaves 30 pieces of silver with the body. It is de Marins job to find the killer and exonerate the Templars if at all possible.
At the combined request of the Preceptor of the Templars in Lincoln, the Castellan of Lincoln, Nicolaa de la Haye, and her husband the Sheriff of Lincoln, de Marins and his friend Roget, Sheriff Camville's captain set off to learn who the killer is.
Of course all is not what it seems and the tangle of possible killers eventually gets figured out and Bascot is made a fortuitous offer.
While I liked the book and will keep up with the series it is no where near the other Medieval Templar series I read by Michael Jecks. His breath of history is exquisite and I learn a lot about one of my favorite periods of history from him. If you like Maureen Ash give Jecks a try. You won't be sorry.
March 16, 2011
#5 Bascot de Marins "Templar Knight" mystery set in 1194 Lincoln UK and surrounding area. When a local prostitute is murdered and stashed in a chest in the Templar's chapel, everyone is firstly aghast that someone could get into the enclave unobserved and commit such a heinous crime under the Templars noses, and also that anyone would want to. Bascot de Marins, set to leave Lincoln for Portugal in just a few days, is asked to undertake the investigation for the Templars, working with the Sheriff on the secular side since the victim was a Lincoln citizen.
A second body with the Templar sigil carved on the whore's belly confirms that there is a serial killer about with a grudge against the Templars--or perhaps it's one of the Templars themselves? Bascot works with the Sheriff's men--whom he'd investigated earlier cases with when he was a retainer of castellan Nicolaa de la Haye before rejoining the Templars--and even a little help from Gianni, his former servant now training as a scribe in de la Haye's household.
I enjoyed this entry in the series with the historical detail, although I still don't feel that Bascot is a fully developed character yet. Characterization seems to be this author's weakness, as well as a somewhat pedestrian writing style, and yet the books read quickly and tell an interesting story.
A second body with the Templar sigil carved on the whore's belly confirms that there is a serial killer about with a grudge against the Templars--or perhaps it's one of the Templars themselves? Bascot works with the Sheriff's men--whom he'd investigated earlier cases with when he was a retainer of castellan Nicolaa de la Haye before rejoining the Templars--and even a little help from Gianni, his former servant now training as a scribe in de la Haye's household.
I enjoyed this entry in the series with the historical detail, although I still don't feel that Bascot is a fully developed character yet. Characterization seems to be this author's weakness, as well as a somewhat pedestrian writing style, and yet the books read quickly and tell an interesting story.
July 10, 2015
Bascot has moved back in to the Templar compound, Gianni is officially a scribe. Just before shipping out for Portugal along with some Templars from around the area, a womans body is found in the Templar chapel - a sacrilege for being a woman, a harlot, and a murder. Bascot works in tandem with the sheriff to find the killer. This time though his allegiance is to the Templars and might have secrets to keep within the Order. Another prostitute is killed this time with a Templar cross carved into her belly. News of a Templar in Acre killing a man in a Holy Land brothel is thought to be the motive, but just won't come together as the real motive. On the personal front, this seemed to be a bridge between old life and new life so Gianni was involved somewhat but in a new role as an independent character.
January 11, 2016
Fifth in the series. Interesting, as a dead prostitute is found within the Knight Templar's compound, where women are forbidden, and Templar symbols are slashed into the body of another prostitute murdered shortly thereafter. In solving this mystery, we see the forces of the Sheriff and the state working in conjunction with our detective within the Order, and get insights as always in this series into everyday life across classes in this earlier time and place, but also in this case, the special legal conundrum this situation created, as the Templars were bound to protect their own from outside retribution.
January 9, 2012
When the strangled body of a young woman turns up in a Templar chapel in 13th-century Lincolnshire, Sir Bascot de Marins and the sheriff of Lincoln investigate. They begin to suspect that the murderer has a murderous aversion to both the Templars and to prostitutes. The investigation delays Sir Bascot from setting off on Crusade and alters the future course of his life. Interesting mainly for its medieval setting.
October 28, 2016
I am hooked on Bascot and the cast of characters in this series. At one time the writing seemed stilted like they were written by an inexperienced writer. The sentences were short and choppy. It didn't last long, but was curious to me. The only thing I don't like about reading a series: the author seems obligated to bring a new reader up to date. (Of course, when it has been a year since the last book came out, it's not a bad thing.) I am ready for the next book! Recommend!
May 8, 2011
The ending leaves you with a feeling that there will be more books about the Templar knight detective. The series depicts a somewhat realistic view of the years around 1200, when the Church was the authority everywhere and the western world was mired in an awakening Dark Ages. Read the other ones first, but probably this will stand on its own.
January 12, 2013
I started reading this series as a result of being a big fan of Michael Jecks' Templar series. Maureen Ash's time frame is earlier but the basic premise is the same. Ex-Templar knight with side kick solves mysteries. But that doesn't make these books any less enjoyable for the historical mystery buff.
February 26, 2012
#5 in the series.
The plotting of the mysteries continues to be strong. Character development slowed somewhat in this book, which may have been a function of the series re-orientation which occurs in this book or an indication of things to come. One more currently published in the series.
The plotting of the mysteries continues to be strong. Character development slowed somewhat in this book, which may have been a function of the series re-orientation which occurs in this book or an indication of things to come. One more currently published in the series.
November 15, 2012
This mystery was not as good as the previous books in the series. The mystery did not seem particularly good. The boy, Gianni,was not included quite enough. He's such an interesting character. Bascot wasn't quite as compelling as usual, either. Hopefully the next one will be back on track!
January 11, 2011
Good quick read, plot moves along apace.
July 31, 2011
Pleasant, readable, but not particularly memorable. The characters are basically modern people in mediaeval costumes.
December 10, 2011
Shroud of Dishonor by Maureen Ash was a great read. I loved medieval mysteries. This one did not diappoint.
November 1, 2014
Book #5 of the Templar Knight Mysteries. The author is consistent in her ability to carry through a solid bit of intrigue wrapped in descriptive storytelling. Enjoyable, quick read.
October 27, 2013
The storyline is good and the authenticity of the period. However on the Kindle version the formatting was not so good.
December 18, 2015
Finally, this book lives up to the promise of the first one. The characters were more appealing and compelling, the mystery good and the history including the Templar Knights interesting.
January 28, 2015
The only complaint I have about this series is: Why always more than one dead person? Otherwise I love it
April 25, 2015
I absolutely love this mystery series - it is so well-written. And #5 was an intriguing read! I was loath to put it down until finished -
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews