Medieval Crime discussion

Anyone can throw a title in here for the hell of it - one to ask others to look at, one to check what others think of it, or just a place to dump a book and say what you think about it, likes, dislikes, anything about it that doesn't quite fit in the review of a book normally.

I'm confused lol

How about a section where we all can list our favorite authors? That wouldn't be here, right? This is just for single titles?

I mean, besides listing the books on the group bookshelf, of course!

Yeah that should be right

I'll put up an author's folder, if you like. Then we can put authors in that.

Alright

Has anyone read "The Unquiet Bones" by Melvin Starr? I ask because it was a series I really wanted to get into, but quite honestly could not get past the first three chapters. The writing, to me, was very dry and almost "textbooky" in its explanations of medieval surgery. It could easily be my fault for expecting a character along the lines of the marvelous Matthew Bartholomew, and with the highest of expectations in my mind I may not have given the book a chance... I usually know within the first chapter whether a book will grab me, but sadly this one didn't. Should I give it another chance? Any thoughts from anyone who has picked up this book?

Stacey wrote: "Has anyone read "The Unquiet Bones" by Melvin Starr? I ask because it was a series I really wanted to get into, but quite honestly could not get past the first three chapters. The writing, to me, w..."

I am in the midst of this book myself, and as you say,I did find it dry, textbooky, also Melvin Starr is a doctor himself, so not surprised to learn this. I kept giving it a chance, there were very human moments buried in the dry bits and will pursue it to the end. I want to get through the first, as I am sure he improved further down the road.

I have read three of his books so far "The Unquiet Bones", "A Corpse at St Andrews" and "A Trail of Ink". As you say the writing style is different. I am perservering and will read "Unhallowed Ground" (published 21 Oct 2011) and "The Tainted Coin" (due to be published 19 Oct 2012). I'll probably read both of these at the same time.
I must admit though as I can speed read, if an author holds my interest I will take my time reading a book, if not I'm inclined to speed read to give the author a chance.

I never read that book

Has anybody read "The Forme of Cury". It is a Roll of Ancient English Cookery published by Forgotton Books and was written circa 1390, by the Master Cooks of King Richard II. The Roll was edited by Samuel Pegge in the 18th Century. It is written pretty much with original spelling and with no quantities to guide you. It can also be read for free on www.forgotton.books.org
It's also a useful book for diet and terminology to incorporate should you write a medieval book :D

I never read that book

Janet wrote: "Has anybody read "The Forme of Cury". It is a Roll of Ancient English Cookery published by Forgotton Books and was written circa 1390, by the Master Cooks of King Richard II. The Roll was edited by..."

I don't have that, but I do have Wynkyn de Worde's The Boke of Keruynge (er, not the original, oddly enough) which is a book from about 1508 when Wynkyn was already 60 years old. A very useful (although rather slapdash) approach to medieval cooking!

I'll have to see if I can track down a copy of that....Amazon will probably be my best bet.

I have just finished reading a non-fiction book by Ian Mortimer entitled 'Medieval Intrigue Docoding Royal Conspiracies'. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I like the way he thinks "outside the box" for want of a better description.
Ian Mortimer also mentions in his book an article he wrote called "The Death of Edward II in Berkeley Castle". Does anyone know if this is available in print?

I just finished the new debbie macomber book and it was really good

Thank you, Janet and Hel! I'll give Starr another try!

How are you stacey?

I'm doing fine, getting set for Easter and Mother's day here at the flower shop! And you?

Janet wrote: "I'll have to see if I can track down a copy of that....Amazon will probably be my best bet.

I have just finished reading a non-fiction book by Ian Mortimer entitled 'Medieval Intrigue Docoding Roy..."

Janet - that piece was chapter 3 in 'Decoding' - you have read it already!

Michael wrote: "Janet wrote: "I'll have to see if I can track down a copy of that....Amazon will probably be my best bet.

I have just finished reading a non-fiction book by Ian Mortimer entitled 'Medieval Intrigu..."

Thanks Michael...I wondered if he'd written another piece on Edward II. I've just ordered his book on Roger Mortimer through the library...I am hoping this one will be just as good :D

By the way any idea yet when your prequels for Sir Baldwin are likely to hit our bookshelves.....no pressure of course!

Mortimer on Mortimer was very good, too!

The prequel (one so far) will be on the bookshelves next year. This May/June it's City of Fiends, which will be a crime story set in and around Exeter. It is a great read, actually, even if I say so myself!

I'm doing good stacey and i'm getting ready for my birthday

Well then happy birthday, Christine!

Thoroughly enjoyed Ian Mortimer's book "The Greatest Traitor - The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer".
Quite by accident I bought a book by Alfred Duggan entitled "God & My Right" (fiction) about Henry II and Thomas Becket of Canterbury. It appears this author also wrote non-fiction and I managed to obtain an old 1974 copy of his book "Devil's Brood" from our local library. The opening prologue refers to the oft told legend of Count Fulke of Anjou and his wife,from whom Henry II and his sons (Henry the young King, Richard I the Lionheart, Geoffrey & King John were supposedly descended. The book has a nice easy style of writing so I think I will enjoy this book as well :D

Stacey wrote: "Has anyone read "The Unquiet Bones" by Melvin Starr? I ask because it was a series I really wanted to get into, but quite honestly could not get past the first three chapters. The writing, to me, w..."

I'm intrigued by the conversations around "The Unquiet Bones", so I've picked it up for the Kindle. I'll persevere with the dense language, thanks for the warning.

I'm going to try to put aside my preconceptions about the writing, as I followed the Michael Jenks series for years as well as the wonderful Cadfael Chronicles. Thanks for the recommendation Stacey.

Janet wrote: "Has anybody read "The Forme of Cury". It is a Roll of Ancient English Cookery published by Forgotton Books and was written circa 1390, by the Master Cooks of King Richard II. The Roll was edited by..."

I'm looking forward to diving into this fascinating world of cookery. Thanks so much for the bringing it to my attention!

Mzmazz wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Has anyone read "The Unquiet Bones" by Melvin Starr? I ask because it was a series I really wanted to get into, but quite honestly could not get past the first three chapters. The wr..."

Be very interested to hear what you think of that!

Mzmazz wrote: "Janet wrote: "Has anybody read "The Forme of Cury". It is a Roll of Ancient English Cookery published by Forgotton Books and was written circa 1390, by the Master Cooks of King Richard II. The Roll..."

Let us know when your first attempts are ready for taste-testing!

I'm really looking forward to taking "Veel oper Moton" and smiting "it to gobettes" to make Monchelet! Actually, it's the smiting part that I'm really looking forward to! The rest of it seems fairly straigtht forward. I forgot how much food has been reliant on wine.

Mzmazz wrote: "I'm really looking forward to taking "Veel oper Moton" and smiting "it to gobettes" to make Monchelet! Actually, it's the smiting part that I'm really looking forward to! The rest of it seems fair..."

You carry on with the smiting - and the wine!

I have just started 'The Kingdom of Light' by Guilio Leone,which is a sequel to'The Third Heaven Conspiracy.' In these novels Dante Alighieri takes time off from writing 'The Divine Comedy'to do a bit of detective work! I read the first one last year,and enjoyed it from what I remember.

Finished Kate Sedley's latest


not bad - not great, but very entertaining. Set in the first year of Richard III's reign with Buckingham's rebellion and Henry Tudor looming in the background