Overview

It's late spring in 1321 and as Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, prepares for his wedding, he receives news that one of his guests, Roger, Squire of Throwleigh has just died. The new master of Throwleigh is little Herbert, five years old and isolated in his grief, for his distraught mother Katherine unfairly blames him for her husband's death. At Lady Katherine's visible rejection of her son, Baldwin feels deeply disturbed about the new heir's apparent lack of protection. For having inherited a large estate and much wealth, the five-year-old will doubtless have made some dangerous enemies... When Herbert is fatally hit by a horse and cart just a few days later, seemingly by accident, Baldwin and his friend, Bailiff Simon Puttock, suspect foul play. As they begin to investigate the facts, they are increasingly convinced that Herbert was murdered; but little do Baldwin and Simon realise that their investigation will lead them to the most sinister and shocking murder they have encountered yet.

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9780747259527

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Reviews

SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR: 'An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background' Kirkus Reviews 'SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR...[is] one of the most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels' The Times 'This worthy series...Jecks does his usual skillful job' Publishers Weekly 'Like all Jecks's tales, this one is a nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular' Library Journal 'Jecks has a real knack of bringing to life the medieval era of the West Country...SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR has enough twists and turns to satisfy everybody... An excellent adddtion to the series' Shots 'A very well told story with a violent yet convincing plot. Jecks succeeds in writing both a book which smells of the Middle Ages and yet is a detective story. No mean feat.' Crime Time 'An engaging and well-written book, SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR is packed full of fascinating, well-research historical detail, vivid, full-bodied characters and possesses a teasing, labrinthine plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end' Crime Time 'A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read' Tangled Web UK 'A highly diverting time is assured for the reader. More superlative stuff from Jecks' islington/north London weekly Herald Praise for Michael Jecks: A neatly constructed tale ... ... an absorbing page-turner ... The combination of Jecks's historical research, his caring descriptions of the Devon countryside, his neat way of drawing characters, are shown to their best advantage in this book. SHOTS 'A tortuous and exciting plot... The construction of the story and the sense of period are excellent' Shots 'A gem of historical storytelling...authentic recreation of the modes and manners, superstitions and primitive fears that made up the colourful but brutal tableau of the Middle Ages' Northern Echo 'Girt about with a goodly helping of period authenticity...ends up with a thrilling cop and robber chase on horseback' Oxford Times 'A goodly tale in the vein of Cadfael, and equally enjoyable' Coventry Evening Telegraph 'Like Ellis Peters' Cadfael, Puttock is a carefully drawn character who combines the whodunnit format with a loving attention to detail, with lively, intriguing descriptions. It...will help you turn back the pages of history and enjoy the depth and texture of a long-vanished England' Croydon Advertiser 'A medieval mystery to rank with the best' Northern Echo 'Brisk medieval whodunnit' Literary Review 'Tremendously successful medieval mystery series' Sunday Independent 'Jecks' knowledge of medieval history is impressive and is used here to good effect' Crime Time 'SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR...[is] one of the most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels' -- THE TIMES 'An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background' -- KIRKUS REVIEWS 'Jecks has a real knack of bringing to life the medieval era of the West Country...SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR has enough twists and turns to satisfy everybody... An excellent adddtion to the series' -- SHOTS 'An engaging and well-written book, SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR is packed full of fascinating, well-research historical detail, vivid, full-bodied characters and possesses a teasing, labrinthine plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end' -- CRIME TIME 'Like all Jecks's tales, this one is a nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular' -- LIBRARY JOURNAL

The big social event of 1321 in Englands West Country is the wedding of Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the Kings Peace, to Lady Jeanne. Baldwin (Belladonna at Belstone, p. 340) is preparing for the big event, with the help of his old friend Bailiff Simon Puttock when news arrives from Dartmoor of the death of Roger, the prosperous squire of nearby Throwleigh. At the funeral, Baldwin and Simon meet Rogers impoverished brother Thomas, heir to the estate. Also in attendance, together with his bodyguard Godfrey, is one James van Relenghes, a handsome Fleming who is paying assiduous attention to the widow. But Baldwin is more troubled by the venomous look he catches her directing at her five-year old son Herbert. Only days later Baldwin gets news of Herberts death, supposedly in an accident on the nearby moors. When Baldwin and Simon return to Throwleigh for the second funeral, Baldwin is determined to ferret out the true circumstances of the boys death. Covering, in excruciating detail, the whereabouts of everyone on the moor that dayincluding the manor house domestics Anney and Petronilla, the troubled priest Stephen, and Herberts playmates Jordan and AlanBaldwin turns up some forbidden relationships and eventually a surprising killer. An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background. (Kirkus Reviews)

'SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR...[is] one of the most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels' -- THE TIMES 'An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background' -- KIRKUS REVIEWS 'Jecks has a real knack of bringing to life the medieval era of the West Country...SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR has enough twists and turns to satisfy everybody... An excellent adddtion to the series' -- SHOTS 'An engaging and well-written book, SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR is packed full of fascinating, well-research historical detail, vivid, full-bodied characters and possesses a teasing, labrinthine plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end' -- CRIME TIME 'Like all Jecks's tales, this one is a nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular' -- LIBRARY JOURNAL

Author Information

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry to concentrate on writing and the study of medieval history, especially that of Devon and Cornwall. He and his wife now live in northern Dartmoor..

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