Squire Throwleigh's Heir

by Michael Jecks

Overview

Two generations slain… but are there more to come?

Spring, 1321. As Sir Baldwin Furnshill prepares for his wedding, he receives the 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 by his grief, as his 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 so 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 Simon Puttock suspect foul play. Their investigation will lead them to the most sinister and shocking murderer they have encountered yet.

A taut and chilling historical crime novel, perfect for fans of S. J. Parris, Susanna Gregory and S. G. MacLean.

Praise for Michael Jecks

‘A torturous and exciting plot… The construction of the story and the sense of the period are excellent’ Shots

‘A gem of historical storytelling’ Northern Echo

‘Tremendously successful medieval mystery series’ Sunday Independent

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788639507
Publisher:	Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	07/06/2020
Series:	The Last Templar Mysteries , #7
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	276,152
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

A historical mystery specialist with over forty novels under his

belt, Michael Jecks has been the Organiser of the Crime Writers' Association's

Debut Dagger, as well as a judge for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger.

Michael and his family live in

northern Dartmoor with their scatty Dalmatian, with whom he walks regularly,

looking for inspiration for his books.

The published author of over forty-five novels, although Michael Jecks has always been fascinated by history, it was only after a career change that he was able to indulge his interests full time. A hugely respected historical mystery specialist, he has been the Organiser of the Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger, Chair of the CWA and the founder of Medieval Murderers, as well as a judge for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. Michael and his family live in a small village in northern Dartmoor with their far-too-bright-for-her-own-good Rhodesian Ridgeback, with whom he walks regularly seeking inspiration for his books on the moors. Find out more at: michaeljecks.uk

Editorial Reviews

The brutality of medieval life underpins Jecks's seventh mystery in this worthy series featuring Sir Baldwin of Furnshill, keeper of the king's peace and noted investigator of violent crimes. During the troubled reign of the decadent Edward II, Squire Roger of Throwleigh realizes that any day might be his last as the pain around his heart worsens. Worried about the fate of his young son and heir, Herbert, he takes some consolation in knowing that his capable wife, Katharine, will protect the lad. Alas, just days after Roger falls dead from his horse while arguing with a luckless tenant he's about to evict, a cart driver runs over Herbert in a seeming accident. Sir Baldwin, who has attended Roger's funeral, smells foul play. Against Katharine's protests, he examines Herbert's body--and sure enough, the boy's skull shows signs of having been crushed by a heavy object. The many suspects include Edmund, the tenant facing eviction; Thomas of Exeter, Roger's merchant brother, who's the next heir; Sir James van Relenghes, an arrogant Flemish mercenary with designs on the bereft Katharine; and the effeminate Brother Stephen of York, Herbert's tutor, who has a taste for thrashing small boys. Various servants, each with his or her own devious ends, thicken the plot. Jecks does his usual skillful job of building suspense and teasing the reader with first one then another possible murderer until, playing against stereotype and conventional expectations, he reveals the unlikely culprits. (May) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The medieval era is a popular setting for mysteries these days, as evidenced by these three new titles. Clare introduces a new heroine, the exemplary Abbess of Hawkenlye, who must join forces with an emissary from Richard Plantagenet to solve the murder of first one and then two young nuns. The ending is a little limp, but the writing is fine, and the abbess is an engaging character, one of the few religious in such mysteries (along with Sister Fidelma) actually to be presented in a positive light. Wolf brings back the hero of No Dark Place, Hugh de Leon, who in his first mystery discovered that he was heir to the Earl of Wiltshire. Hugh is determined to marry his feisty beloved despite opposition from the earl and is subsequently caught up in investigating the murder of the father of the bride the earl intends for him. The cool, savvy Hugh is almost too good to be true, and the psychic communication between him and his true love doesn't seem to fit with the otherwise realistically detailed surrounds, but the plot moves along quite nicely and should entertain most fans. Over the last few years. the publisher has been releasing Jecks's series featuring Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace in 14th-century England, in an attractive little mass-market format. Like all Jecks's tales, this one--concerning the suspicious death of the new master of Throwleigh, a five-year-old boy--is nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular.--Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal" Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Library Journal

The big social event of 1321 in England's West Country is the wedding of Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's 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 Roger's 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 Herbert's 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 boy's death. Covering, in excruciating detail, the whereabouts of everyone on the moor that day—including the manor house domestics Anney and Petronilla, the troubled priest Stephen, and Herbert's playmates Jordan and Alan—Baldwin turns up some forbidden relationships and eventually a surprising killer. An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background.

Kirkus Reviews

"Jecks does his usual skillful job of building suspense and teasing the reader with first one then another possible murderer until, playing against stereotype and conventional expectations, he reveals the unlikely culprits."  —Publishers Weekly

"Like all Jecks's tales, this one . . . is nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters."  —Library Journal

From the Publisher