The Poisoned Chalice

First Sentence: The chamber was almost in darkness. Sir John de Wolf's life has challenges enough with a cold, social-climbing wife and her brother, the power-hungry Sheriff. He now has to solve crimes against women in Medieval Exeter. The betrothed daughter of a wealthy merchant has been raped, and the betrothed daughter of a local noble has died of a botched abortion. While signs point to the town's silversmith, John must fine the guilty person without the two families killing each other or the Sheriff hanging the wrong person. It is always a good start when an author includes Author's Notes, a map and a glossary at the start of an historical mystery. It lets what license the author has taken, defines the locale and saves me running to the internet. More than that, from the very beginning, it brings the book to life. What wonderful characters have been created by Knight. Sir John, his bodyguard Gywn of Polruan and his clerk Thomas de Peyne are a wonderful, not completely harmonious, combination. Then you have John and his relationship with his wife. I am normally opposed to a protagonist having a mistress, but I'm willing to make an exception here. You empathize with John's frustrations and cheer his constant struggle to enforce the new law. Knight takes us into the 12th century, making it come to life without ever glorifying it. These were hard times and people with hard lives, poor sanitation, the demands of taxation and eternal political wrangling. The legal process was in formation yet laws would change with the kings. I always appreciate an author who can educate and entertain me simultaneously. The story is well plotted with plenty of intrigue, conflict and drama. The mystery is definitely there and the killer well concealed. The ending felt abrupt and slightly unsatisfying, which is why my rating is lower than it might have been. Even so, the author's voice and the principal characters make this a captivating series. I look forward to reading the next book. THE POISONED CHALICE (Hist Mys-Sir John de Wolf-England-Middle Ages/1194) - G+ Knight, Bernard - 2nd in series Pocket Books, ©1998, US Paperback - ISBN: 0743492064

Knight continues putting out a fine historical murder mystery product. I hope that he has some books left in him. We are of an age that I hope so.

December 1194 and Crowner John is away from Exeter in his capacity as Coroner of all Devon. He is called to the remains of a shipwreck in Torbay, but not everything is as it seems. Bodies from the wreck have been found among the debris and some of them carry injuries not conducive to being drowned. While Sir John is away with Gwyn his bodyguard and his clerk Thomas de Peyne, trouble is brewing in Exeter, a rape has been committed on Christina Rifford, the daughter of a rich merchant. Sir John returns to Exeter to find the city in uproar with accusations flying around from the families involved. Then just before she is due to be married Lady Adele de Courcy is found dead underneath a pile of rubbish in the poorest part of the City. She also appears to have suffered a sexual attack. Suddenly Sir John has most of the influential people of Exeter banging on his door for justice. The common factor in both killings appears to be the silversmith, Godfrey Fitzosbern, who by chance is Crowner John's next door neighbour. Can john protect the man until the truth emerges . . . Bernard Knight is a consummate writer of the medieval novel and this is as good as any he has written.