The Last Templar

I am writing this review after reading this book for the second time. In fact I am re-reading all the Knights Templar Mysteries written by Michael Jecks. I enjoyed them thoroughly the first time around and I am still finding them enjoyable now. This one is the second in the series. Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, ex Knight Templar has now become established at his Manor he received on the death of his brother and has become one of Devon's leading law officers, Keeper of the King's Peace, no less. He soon find that the county of Devon is no sleepy backwater where nothing happens from one day to the next. In the village of Wefford the midwife and healer Agatha Kyteler is widely regarded by the superstitious villagers as a witch, but she seems to have plenty of callers. When her badly mutilated body is found in a hedge there is little or no evidence to point to who might have killed her. Sir Simon is called in and the villagers soon find that although the knight is an honourable and fair minded man. He is determined to leave no stone unturned until he brings the killer[s] to justice.

I've never cared for mysteries-but when I noticed this book at the bookstore, I just had to pick it up. I am extremely glad that I did! Michael's writing is so good, that not only did I read the entire book that evening, I went out the following day to buy more of his books. Michael works in many intricate subplots that add to the overall reading experience. I did not find it hard to follow the story; I found it very intriguing. Michael also manages to incorporate historical details of everyday life in the Middle Ages that I find absolutely fascinating. For example, I didn't realize that people of the middle ages were held responsible for the acts of others if someone in their village broke the peace. And peasants not being permitted to grind their own grain? Never realized it. Reading the poor review of this book leads me to say it is not a book like a Hardy Boys Mystery, so if you are looking for that generic format, this book is not for you. I don't feel that the author has overworn the story line of the two men. I'm eagerly awaiting his next book, as I have read all of his writings that my local library and bookstore have to offer.

This is a wonderful cozy read with three very different crimes to solve. After all, crimes do not always appear in a convenient sequence. I was delightfully surprised with this book.

Fans of this author's Medieval mysteries will be thrilled with yet another: a story of Baldwin and Simon's shipwreck and Simon's loss of a good friend in its aftermath. When a castle's master demands Simon investigate the murder of one Robert, a hated tax collector, he must put aside his grief and finds himself in the middle of a heated battle. Realistic settings and a fast-paced plot keep this inviting and fresh.

The story is very intriguing, full of mysteries and twists.Although it is kind of weird that unfit women wind up as nuns, it is the uniqueness of the story and the creativeness of an author to come up with this book that makes it entertaining. In my opinion this story will stir our minds to the reality of the world but such fictional story is not to be taken so seriously enough to depress the readers. Fictional stories are intended to entertain, but at same time make us more aware.