Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Star

Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Starr

 

About the Book: The fourth adventure of Hugh de Singleton, medieval surgeon and detective, finds Hugh investigating what seems to be a suicide of one of the town's scoundrels and his longtime enemy. Though at first reluctant to pursue a mystery that no one else sees, Hugh and and his new wife Kate set out from the town of Bampton only to follow the clues back in order to discover which of their friends committed the murder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Goodreads.com: Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cowleys Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so. Many in the town had been harmed by Thomas, and Hugh is not eager to send one of them to the gallows. Then he discovers that the worldly and corrupt priest John Kellet had been covertly in Bampton at the time atte Bridge died. Master Hugh is convinced that Kellet has murdered atte Bridge - one rogue slaughtering another. Searching for proof he sets out of Exeter, where Kellet now works. But there he finds that the priest in an emaciated skeleton of a man, who mourns the folly of his past life. Hugh must return to Bampton - and discover which of his friends has murdered his enemy...

 

My take:  This is the ongoing story involving Hugh de Singleton.  It is interesting to read about this time period and I learn something new everytime I read a book in this series.  IT's also interesting to see how the mystery works out.  I never figure it out till the very end.  I would suggest reading the series from the beginning although each book is enjoyable in its own right.

 

I received a review copy from the publisher.

A Trail of Ink by Mel Starr

A Trail of Ink by Mel Starr

About A Trail of Ink:

An excellent medieval whodunit by the author of The Unquiet Bones and A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel

Some valuable books have been stolen from Master John Wyclif, the well known scholar and Bible translator. He calls upon his friend and former pupil, Hugh de Singleton, to investigate. Hugh's investigation leads him to Oxford where he again encounters Kate, the only woman who has tempted him to leave bachelor life behind, but Kate has another serious suitor. As Hugh's pursuit of Kate becomes more successful, mysterious accidents begin to occur. Are these accidents tied to the missing books, or to his pursuit of Kate?

One of the stolen books turns up alongside the drowned body of a poor Oxford scholar. Another accident? Hugh certainly doesn t think so, but it will take all of his surgeon s skills to prove.

So begins another delightful and intriguing tale from the life of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in the medieval village of Bampton. Masterfully researched by medieval scholar Mel Starr, the setting of the novel can be visited and recognized in modern-day England. Enjoy more of Hugh s dry wit, romantic interests, evolving faith, and dogged determination as he pursues his third case as bailiff of Bampton.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Trail-Ink-Chronicle-Singleton-Surgeon/dp/1854249746/ref=sprightly-20

About Mel Starr:

Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren. http://www.melstarr.org/

My Take:
This is the third in a series.  I haven't read the others in the series but you don't need to read them to enjoy this book.  I am a fan of cozy mysteries and this very much reminds me of a cozy mystery.  It is also historical fiction.

Someone has stolen books from John Wyclif  and books back then were worth alot of money.  He asks Hugh de Singleton to help retrieve them and so Hugh starts trying to find them.  Along the way Hugh is intent on courting Kate but since he has taken his time about the whole thing he finds that someone else is in the picture. 

I like the fact that the author included a glossary at the beginning of the book as a reference as I have read several books either set in England or Ireland and I had a hard time trying to understand the dialect.

I will definately be looking for the first two books in this series.
See more about this tour on the facebook page.  There is also info about a contest they are having for a $50 gift card from Amazon.  Check it out.

I recieved a copy of this book for review purposes.