The King of Thieves (Knights Templar Series #26)

by Michael Jecks

Overview

On a diplomatic mission in France, Sir Baldwin and Simon encounter more than they bargained for...

Baldwin and Simon uncover a deadly assassination plot in The King of Thieves, a gripping mystery in Michael Jecks' hugely popular medieval crime series. Perfect for fans of Paul Doherty and Susanna Gregory.

'Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras' - Ellery Queen Magazine

1325: Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are in France guarding King Edward's son on his perilous journey to meet the French king, Charles IV. But they are unaware that King Edward's wife Isabella is disaffected and plotting her revenge...

What first appears a simple diplomatic mission is fast becoming lethally dangerous. Meanwhile, two murders in Paris are causing alarm. Is there a connection between the killings and the shadowy 'King' of thieves? Simon and Baldwin know the future of the English crown is at risk. And in order to protect it they must put their own lives in jeopardy.

What readers are saying about The King of Thieves:

'Fast pace, intricate plot, well-drawn characters and good period feel make this a must for all fans of this genre'

'I cannot praise Michael Jecks' writing highly enough, his books always keep me guessing right to the end'

'Fantastic read - five stars'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472219879
Publisher:	Headline
Publication date:	02/27/2014
Series:	Knights Templar Mystery Series , #26
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	472,708
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry to concentrate on his writing. He is the founder of Medieval Murderers, has been Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association, and helped create the Historical Writers' Association. Keen to help new writers, for some years he organised the Debut Dagger competition, and is now organising the AsparaWriting festival for new writers at Evesham. He has judged many prizes, including the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. Michael is an international speaker on writing and for business. He lives with his wife, children and dogs in northern Dartmoor.
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 lives with his family in northern Dartmoor.

Editorial Reviews

Fans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jecks's 26th Knights Templar mystery (after 2008's The Prophecy of Death). In 1325, England's Edward II prepares to pay homage to the French king, Charles IV, in order to retain two precious territories in France. At the last minute, Edward decides to send his willful and untested teenage son in his place, with orders to Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Baldwin's longtime friend, Simon Puttock, to watch over his son on the journey. In Paris, Queen Isabella, Charles's sister and Edward's wife, is trying to keep the peace, though she bitterly resents her husband's relationship with his intimate adviser, Sir Hugh le Despenser. Meanwhile, the Procureur of Paris, Jean de Poissy, has two murders to investigate-that of a man who was on a mysterious visit to the Louvre palace, and that of a naked woman found near the palace. Frequent scene shifts help move the complex, multilayered plot. (July)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly

It's 1325. Medieval detective Sir Baldwin de Furnshill embarks with his friends Simon Puttock and Sir Richard de Welles on a perilous trip to France. King Edward II is hated in his country because he's under the thumb of his adviser, friend and possible lover Sir Hugh le Dispenser, a man of towering greed and viciousness. The King must go to France and pay homage if he wants to keep his lands there. Fearing for his life, however, he sends instead his son Edward, recently created Earl of Chester. Edward's mother Isabella, sister to Charles IV of France, is already waiting at his destination. Bishop Walter II, who accompanies the delegation, has agreed to cover Isabella's expenses, but only if she returns to England. Upon arrival the three find themselves investigating several murders for which Bishop Walter may be blamed. The three comrades are forced to use their finely honed detective skills as they tangle with a wily Cardinal, Paris's King of Thieves, his deadly executioner, a beautiful and evil prostitute, and members of the King's court. Although all three despise Despenser, they must remain loyal to their King even when Isabella, who has been cruelly treated, is determined to remain in France with her son until England is rid of Despenser. Not only do they solve the brutal murders, they avoid getting fatally entangled in the even more dangerous affairs of monarchs. Jecks's painstakingly researched medieval whodunit (The Templar, the Queen and her Lover, 2008, etc.) is neatly enfolded in the continuing saga of Edward's tumultuous reign.

Kirkus Reviews

Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras.

Ellery Queen

"Fans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jeck's 26th Knights Templar mystery."  —Publishers Weekly

"The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular."  —Library Journal

"Memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background . . . a commendable achievement."  —Kirkus Reviews

"Really difficult to put down."  —Historical Novels Review

"Each page is densely packed with cuckolding, coarseness, lewdness, lechery, gore galore, but also with nobility. A heady mix."  —North Devon Journal

"A gem of historical storytelling."  —Northern Echo

"Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras."  —Ellery Queen

From the Publisher