#keith moray

REVIEW

 The Summoner’s Sins by Keith Moray

Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers #2

 In Book one of the series, I met Richard Lee, the king’s Circuit Judge of the Northern Realm. He is judge of crimes committed and determines the penalty the accused must pay. In book two we find him engaged to Wilhelmina, still traveling with his friend Hubert of Loxley, and this time on a mission for the king deaths occurring attributed to a curse and perhaps related sorcery. The story follows Richard on his trip as he pursues information and ultimate justice. Will he find out who is killing innocents and why or will he not?

 What I liked:

* Richard: intelligent, honest, well informed in the law, lenient in some eyes, committed to making the law honest and even handed, competent soldier-and lethal, in love with his fiancé Wilhelmina.

*  Hubert: husband, father, protector, enforcer, strong, determined, good friend, has a sense of humor, carver of toys for his son.

* The look into a time long past and being thankful I live today

* Thinking about the sorcery/witchcraft idea and how it related to the story/murders

* Watching Richard unravel the mystery

* The way clues are eked out slowly

* The ultimate unveiling of the riddle and how it was resolved

 What I didn’t like:

* That punishment was so harsh and people so eager to see others treated harshly

* Being reminded of how horrible disease was in the past and how few cures there actually were

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in the series? Yes

 Thank you to Sapere Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 4 Stars

     BLURB

REVIEW

The Franklin’s Felony by Keith Moray

Sandal Castle Medieval Thriller #3

 I am SO glad I live now and not in the first quarter of the 14th century! This book reminded me of all the advances that have been made in so many aspects of life that included medicine, diet, health, law, justice, social order, education, and so much more. It was a treat to read and a reminder to be grateful.

 What I liked:

* That the story felt of and in keeping with the era

* That I could understand the thought processes, behavior, and reasoning though I didn’t agree with much of it.

* Getting a glimpse of the past without having to be there in person.

* Sir Richard Lee: a good man who believes in the law and takes his decisions seriously and personally. He is, I believe, a good husband, father, and friend as well as aa just man…within the parameters of the laws of his time.

* Hubert: assistant to Sir Richard and a good man.

* Wilhelmina: Sir Richard’s wife, soon to be mother, grounds Sir Richard, didn’t see much of her but perhaps there will be more in future books.

* Trying to wrap my mind around the “healing arts” of the physician as well as the laywoman healer

* That some of those that were sick did get better.

* The way Richard used the clues to determine the truth

* How well the twisted tale was told

* Looking up words used commonly in the past, and in this book, that are not common now

* That all the threads were tied up at the end of the story

* Looking forward to another book in the series

 What I didn’t like:

* Knowing how true to real life this story probably is.  

* The way people seemed to enjoy seeing others suffer

* All that I was meant to dislike

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

 Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

      BLURB

 Witch hunts are spreading across the land…

1327, Yorkshire, England

King Edward II has recently been deposed in favour of his young son, leaving England deeply divided.

Amid the turmoil, the Church is convinced that a scourge of witchcraft has returned to the land. Friars are now being sent all over the country to root out suspected witches and have them executed.

When a series of sudden, horrific deaths occur in Wakefield, the town’s inhabitants are ready to blame dark magic. However, Sir Richard Lee, Circuit Judge of the Northern Realm believes that there is more to each case than meets the eye.

REVIEW

The Pardoner’s Crime by Keith Moray

Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers #1

 Based loosely on the Robin Hood myth this book introduces Sir Richard Lee, Sergeant-at-Law. He has been sent by the king to dispense justice in the northern realm of England and that is just what he plans to do. He is well versed in what is and is not legal as well as what justice requires when laws have been broken. At his side travels Hubert of Loxley, his assistant.

 As the two make their way to where they will be posted they encounter a variety of people, rumors of laws broken, information about the place they are going and the man who has been in charge of maintaining order – with a heavy hand – until Richard arrives.

 In the year 1322 religion was a big part of the lives of people and there were scrupulous and unscrupulous people working on behalf of God. One such position held by some was to be a pardoner – a man you could tell your wrongs to instead of the priest, buy a dispensation/pardon from or perhaps purchase a relic with which to keep yourself safe. One such man, Albin of Rouncivale, was such a man.

 This story weaves in the characters we all know from animated, written and screen stories of Robin Hood. They may not have the same names that we know them by but they are definitely in the story. Life is not easy in the 1300’s. People work hard, laws are strict, punishments are brutal and life is often short.

 The beginning of this series does a good job of introducing the main characters. The court scenes play out dramatically as Richard seeks the truth of matters that are illegal. The flavor of the times is experienced through all of the senses and the twists and turns in the story were intriguing. I have to say it took me awhile to begin to see who was behind the deaths that were occurring. And, along with the evil, the courtroom scenes and introduction to this series set long ago there is a hint at future romance for more than one character in the book.

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes

 Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 4-5 Stars

   BLURB

A Head for Murder #KeithMoray

Title: A Head for Murder Author: Keith Moray In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski) Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again) My Bookshelves: Crime, Historical fiction Dates read: 11th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: Who better, the prince has reasoned, than the greatest batsman of his day…