Book review : Season of Blood by Jeri Westerson

Season of Blood
Crispin Guest Book #10
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
GENRE : #Medieval-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆

As always, I loved Crispin and his friends, and I already miss them now that I've finished reading!, but I have to admit, this book was a little less engaging than the previous installments in the series.
That's why I'm giving it 3.8 stars, rounded up to 4. Crispin usually gets a full 5 from me!

What I most appreciated about this tenth book in the Crispin Guest series was Crispin's near-falling in love. Although, as usual, it's with the wrong woman, the ending is sweet and definitely leaves plenty of room for reader curiosity! I also loved the investigative collaboration with a recurring character whom I adore and who's been a longtime friend to our hero.


But let's start with THE SYNOPSIS:

1390, London. Crispin is _finally_ enjoying his new, more spacious, and comfortable home when a beautiful and mysterious woman shows up, demanding that he find none other than former sheriff (and frequent troublemaker for Crispin) Simon Wynchcombe. She accuses him of kidnapping and theft. Just then, a monk appears on Crispin's doorstep, stabbed to death with Simon's knife in the back, and in his hands he holds an important relic: a crystal containing the blood of Jesus. Something doesn't add up about the woman's story, and Crispin struggles to believe that, as arrogant and hateful as Wynchcombe is, he's also a murderer. The investigation begins with the help of the faithful Jack. The leads are ambiguous and confusing, and Crispin needs more eyes on the case. Also involved are our dear friend John/Eleanor Rykener, a young lawyer (who we met in the previous book and who is now Crispin and Jack's landlord), and another old acquaintance, the cunning and slimy crook, Lenny. * * * ________ * * *
As you can see, the plot is intriguing, and I really enjoyed the cast of characters, both old and new. Each familiar character in the series evolves book after book, and it's wonderful to follow not only their personal development but also how their bonds evolve, how old friendships are strengthened and renewed, and how new friendships and loves are born.


______ MAIN CHARACTERS ______

* Crispin Guest, a former knight accused of treason who survived the death penalty thanks to the intervention of the 1st Duke of Lancaster. For years, he's earned his living as "the Tracker," tracking down missing persons, culprits, and criminals of all sorts.
The years pass, his life has finally taken a turn for the better, but certain mistakes are inexorably repeated: he can't resist the allure of a beautiful woman, and despite sensing danger, he always gives in to temptation, finding himself in ambiguous and tangled situations.
You can't help but sympathize with him because his heart is pure, and in order to ensure truth and justice triumph, he always sacrifices his own personal gain. Crispin once again proves himself not only bold and determined but also sensitive and capable of grasping the nuances of other people's souls.

I fell in love with him from the first book, and seeing him almost happily in love and reciprocated made me satisfied.
Unfortunately, the author puts obstacles in his personal path every time, and I'm under no illusions, but for once, at least, the ending of the love affair wasn't so bitter. I liked it!

* Jack Tucker, the young and faithful apprentice, is no longer a child. After getting engaged in the previous book, he's found new ways to scold his master when he sees him derailed by drinking too much or being seduced by the charms of some beautiful woman. But no one dares speak ill of Crispin;
Jack is faithful to the death, and now that he's 18 and taller than Simon Wynchcombe, he doesn't hesitate to put himself physically on the line to defend the one to whom he owes everything.
It was difficult for me to accept Jack's character as he grew up in the last two books. I was very fond of that little boy with disheveled red hair, a puppy with a difficult past, who, despite his fears, showed all his determination to help Crispin.
Jack has always been a wise child, who knew how to care for an adult who was sometimes out of control. Now as an adult he continues to do so, but since there is no longer only Crispin in his life, but also his future wife...well...everything becomes more complicated, and I make no secret of the fact that engaged Jack is not my favorite Jack.


_____ SIDE CHARACTERS ______

* John/Eleonor Rykener, my favorite of the series' recurring characters.
John is a real historical figure, known only through historical documents from a trial, who used to earn his living as an embroiderer by day and a prostitute by night, disguised as a woman.
The author invented his personal traits, giving him a cheerful, affectionate, sociable, and loyal personality towards those close to him.
We meet John/Eleonor both dressed as a man and as a woman, alternating between fisticuffs and fluttering eyelashes in a soothing voice. He is intelligent and intuitive but also has a heart of gold and is capable of great humility and empathy towards others.
Crispin's affectionate attitude toward him often makes me laugh. In fact, he respects his friend, accepts his nature, but at the same time is annoyed when J./E. overdoes his feminine behavior, ranging from playful advances to offended sulks. Their friendship endures because there is mutual respect, without presumptuous judgments on either side. It is thanks to their friendship that others also learn to appreciate Rykener's heart and personality.

* Nigellus Cobmartin is a very young but capable lawyer, first encountered in the previous book. He's rented Crispin a larger apartment, but above all, he acts like a good new friend. His intelligent intuitions and logical reasoning are a great help in the investigations, and combined with his kind nature and appropriate Latin quotations, he's a great character. From the very first moment, Nigellus shows no prejudice towards John/Eleonor, with whom he forms a good investigative partnership and friendship. I hope we'll see him positively involved in Crispin's cases in the future.

* Lenny, the earless thug with greasy hair and dirty, smelly clothes... a shady character, but useful to Crispin from time to time. His presence may seem unnecessary, but actually, he serves to counterbalance the positivity of the good characters and adds a little spice to discussions about the investigations.

* Among other minor but recurring characters, we find the new Abbot of Westminster and one of Crispin's old monk friends.

* Simon Wynchcombe remains true to himself: the usual ungrateful asshole, but at least this time it's our hero who holds the proverbial "handle"! Such a great satisfaction!

* Catherine...the mystery woman...I don't want to say anything about her, every word could be too much and would ruin the pleasure of the book.


----> There's no real one VILLAIN; this time, evil hides beneath the sentiments of lust and greed, which in turn strikes down the weak of character and those far from pure of heart.


______ THE HISTORICAL CONNECTION:The blood of Jesus.

These are two holy relics that actually existed, then were stolen and destroyed during the vicissitudes of history.
I had never heard of them, and I enjoyed discovering how they arrived in England and how they were then stolen and destroyed.
Mrs. Westerson discusses them in an interesting and comprehensive way in the historical notes, which I always find so precious and which you will find at the end of the book.


______ THE BOOK'S ONLY FLAW, which however partially detracted from my engagement and enjoyment of the book, is that this story, unlike all the previous ones, lacks action.
Tight fights, daring escapes, pathos, and desperate rescues, all at a fast pace, greatly contributed to my passion for the series, while this story remains on a smoother level and lacks that heart-pounding excitement that catapults the reader into the scene as if they were experiencing it firsthand.

Of course, it's a matter of personal taste. In fact, you'll find another review that starts with the sentence: "Crispin at his best," while for me, it was quite the opposite.

So, while I highly recommend this series, even though each book is perfectly readable as a standalone, please start with book 1 and never, ever start with this one.

It still remains my all-time favorite series of the last 3 years, and Crispin remains my medieval crush.

Thanks for reading my opinion!

Join me on FACEBOOK: Tizi Cozy Corner, to be always updated on new posts

FOLLOW ME or ASK MY FRIENDSHIP ON GOODREADS

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance" :

BOOK #6 "Shadow of the Alchemist"

BOOK #7 "Cup of Blood"

BOOK #8 "The Silence of Stones"

BOOK #9 "A Maiden Weeping"

Book review : A Maiden Weeping by Jeri Westerson

A Maiden Weeping
Crispin Guest Book #9
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
GENRE : #Medieval-mystery

My rating: ★★★★★
5 full stars!😃

This series never disappoints me and this installment is no exception! Absolutely amazing !!!!

Once again Crispin Guest and his friends have involved me in an exciting adventure full of suspense and mystery.

As always, the book can be read as a standalone. However, I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE DOING SO, especially with this installment.
While the mystery is intricate and very suspenseful, kepting me thrilled until the end, the greatest emotional impact comes from the development of Crispin and his loved ones personal life.

---> MY ADVICE IS TO READ ALL THE BOOKS IN ORDER FROM #1 TO #15.

This book marks an important turning point in the series.
Only readers who have followed Crispin and Jack's journey from the beginning will fully appreciate the nuances of this story and connect deeply with our heroes and all the returning characters.

Before delving deeper,
_________ here's a BRIEF OVERVIEW of THE PLOT :

Crispin Guest is a former knight, who after being banished from court, reinvented his life as the Tracker, that is, the one who finds lost or stolen objects of great value and discovers the culprits even in cases of murder.
One day, while at his favorite tavern, he's approached -- seemingly by mistake -- by someone who wants to hire him as a killer.
After spending the night warning the intended victim first and then bedding her, Crispin finds himself arrested for her murder.
The only person he can rely on to start the investigation that will lead to the truth, is his young but smart apprentice Jack.

_________*********** _______

__ ABOUT THE FOREWORD ____ This book #9 begins, unlike the others, with a lengthy foreword by the author, detailing the legal system of the time period.

This introduction can be useful, but I don't find it essential for enjoying the story and fully understand all the procedures of the trial.
Anyway, if you find it tedious, don't be discouraged! You can always skip that preliminary matter.

I admit that by reading that boring ( according to my tastes ) foreword I was briefly discouraged, fearing the author had lost her way and could no longer write thrilling adventures for these characters.
If I weren't such a fan of Crispin, I might have given up after that opening speech. Fortunately, I love Crispin Guest so much that I persisted in reading and after the first few pages of chapter 1 I found myself filled with excitement again.

____ MAIN CHARACTERS : Crispin, the Tracker and his apprentice Jack ____

As mentioned earlier, this book marks a turning point. Several years have passed since the previous book, and six years since the first.

Crispin, now approaching 40, is no longer the young man of 31. In medieval times, this was an age for reflection on life, actions, and achievements.

Jack is no longer the eleven-year-old pickpocket and orphan who, with determination, settled into Crispin's house as his servant and apprentice.
Over the years, Jack has not only learned Crispin's trade but also learned to read, write, and even speak Greek and Latin, thanks to Crispin's lessons.
He has repeatedly demonstrated his loyalty and value as an apprentice, friend, and person, earning the respect of Crispin and others.

Now he is 19, he feels all the responsibility that comes from affection and gratitude, he would not abandon Crispin even in the worst case scenario and once again he discovers in himself a new strengths and resources he didn't think he had.
It's a stage of life where a boy not only changes physically but also experiences the awakening of physical and emotional instincts.
Instincts that were previously hinted at now emerge forcefully, and the thought of marrying the woman he loves becomes a constant worry, even at the most inopportune moments.

Reading the previous books is essential to fully appreciate the emotional depth of this installment.
The great emotional tension that the reader feels in living through internal turmoils and related changes, together with the characters, can only happen with the knowledge of their past torments and hopes, past sufferings and joys, past events and actions.

___________ SIDE CHARACTERS ______
Unlike previous installments, this story features a wider array of recurring characters, emphasizing their emotional and moral dimensions rather than their actions.
It's as if both the characters and the author are taking stock of the series' direction.

Among the characters who appear alongside Crispin and Jack throughout the series, some of them have strong personalities, and some are even based on real historical figures.

---> John/Eleanor Rykener (one of Crispin's best friends, an embroiderer who dresses as a woman by day and works as a prostitute, still dressed as a woman, by night) and Henry Bolingbroke (the son of John of Gaunt and future King Henry IV of England) are real historical figures who appear in the previous books and return here.

While Henry IV is well known through history books, very little is known about Rykener, but the author has been able to give such depth to the character's multifaceted personality, that I feel great enthusiasm every time I see him involved in Crispin's vicissitudes.

He may be difficult for others to understand, but he lives with less emotional complication because he has embraced who he is and lives his life with happiness, joy, and kindness towards others.
---> The previous stories in which we find him as a co-protagonist are so hilarious !!!!

Other recurring, purely fictional characters include:
the owners of Crispin's favorite tavern, the landlords of his and Jack's home, and old friends made during past investigations.
With so many supporting characters, the story doesn't dwell on their actions but emphasizes their importance in Crispin's life and the role their feelings play in the lives of our hero and his apprentice.

____ THE RECURRING THEME throughout the series:
It isn't historical relics, as one might expect, but the value of friendship.
The series emphasizes the importance of true friendship and judging people by their character, not by societal labels that deem some acceptable and worthy of respect while marginalizing others.
I appreciate very much the strong emphasis on these two themes.

______ A WELL-CRAFTED MYSTERY ____

While this book focuses more on introspection than renetic and sometimes violent action, the murders are still compelling.
Expect the usual web of lies, deceit, greed, perversity of the villains, plots and tenacious and clever investigations by our beloved and sharp-witted heroes.

There is no shortage of brilliant improvisations, a new funny character and a new charming one, who will reappear later in the series (you'll find out why in the final pages), and some laughs.

____ TWO NOVELTIES:

___ 1) In the first part of the book we find Crispin as the victim of a situation and unable to act, the new young emerging Tracker, Jack, will lead the investigation.
Initially, I was disappointed, but then I realized it was wise of the author to give Jack more prominence. This helps readers understand the significant changes he's undergone. Besides, Crispin is never truly inactive, even when he appears to be.

Around the halfway point, the pace picks up as the original Tracker becomes operational and more determined than ever.

___ 2) The introduction of a new four-legged friend touched my heart since I am a passionate animal lover, especially cats lover ( and loving owner ).

___ THE HISTORICAL ASPECT ___
This is the only book so far where historical elements are almost non-existent.
While past mysteries revolved around real relics and objects, the Tears of the Virgin are a product of Jeri Westerson's imagination, serving as a central element connecting the various misdeeds in this adventure.
The historical aspect is likely found in the judicial figures and the interesting development of the legal process (hence the author's foreword).

____ SUITABLE FOR ______
Recommended for readers seeking a mix of mystery, action, irony, sentiment, history, and fantasy.
----> There are no explicit scenes of sex or violence, and the language is appropriate.

_____ CONCLUDING _____
If it isn't obvious by now, I'm crazy about Crispin and this series.
I've loved him and his adventures since book #1.
I have six books left to read, and I'm pacing myself because I want to stay with this charming medieval man as long as possible.

Thanks you all for reading my opinion :-)

Join me on FACEBOOK: Tizi Cozy Corner, to be always updated on new posts

FOLLOW ME or ASK MY FRIENDSHIP ON GOODREADS

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance" :

BOOK #6 "Shadow of the Alchemist"

BOOK #7 "Cup of Blood"

BOOK #8 "The Silence of Stones"

Book review : In the Shadow of the Storm by Anna Belfrage

In the Shadow of the Storm
The King's Greatest Enemy #1
by Anna Belfrage
GENRE: Historical adventure romance
My rating: ★★★★☆

Nice and entertaining historical fiction based on true events.
What did I expect from this book? War, love and great passion in both themes.
Was I satisfied? Yes and no.

___ THE PLOT IN A NUTSHELL ___ England, 1321.
Adam de Guirande owes his lord, Roger Mortimer, much more than loyalty. He owes him his life and all his possessions, he also owes him his beautiful wife, even if Kit is not exactly the woman Lord Roger thinks she is.
Kit, half-sister and perfect copy of Katherine de Monmouth, has been kidnapped and forced to marry Adam under a false name, since the real Katherine has run away.
Rumors about Katherine's virginity (who is actually Kit), jealousy, pride and strong attraction that is turning into real feelings, will not make married life easy.
Domestic matters, however, become irrelevant when the king decides to punish his rebellious barons.
So, when Lord Roger goes to fight, Adam has no choice but to ride with him, no matter the cost.

_____________________

Overall, I enjoyed the book and rate it a full 4 stars.
However, it lacked that certain something extra that makes a story truly unique and compelling, the kind that excites you so much that you want to reread it.

___ THE MAIN CHARACTERS ___

The characters stayed with me for days after I finished reading their story. However, I must confess that it took until about 35% of the way through the book before I started to "like" the hero.
Even after my dislike faded, I never perceived him as a true hero.

Adam followed his lord into battle for several reasons: affection, gratitude, and duty.
He was injured, suffered a long imprisonment, and endured unjust torture, and was betrayed by someone close to him.
Yet, I never saw him do anything particularly daring in war or for his family.
He had a lot of sex with his wife; much of his relationship with Kit (aside from moments of touchiness and stubbornness) takes place in bed.

In my opinion, the author focused too much on Adam's beauty, his devotion to his lord, and his love (expressed through words and sex) for his wife.
The writer neglected to have him perform brave and noteworthy actions that would have showcased his courage and big heart. 
As I said, after 35% of the book, the character finally overcomes that antipathy that almost made me stop reading.
However, the only two times we see him take action ( WARNING SPOILER ______when he kills an attacker of his wife and helps someone escape from captivity SPOILER END______), they are described so briefly that they don't feel significant.

In contrast, the heroine demonstrates grit and determination. She transforms an unfortunate event into an opportunity for love and saves both her beloved and herself "by the skin of their teeth" several times.

Kit is the character the author focuses on the most. She is immediately presented as a victim of circumstance who doesn't wallow in her misfortune.
Instead, she reacts to adversity, creating her own fortune through her ingenuity, good heart, ability to forgive, optimism even in desperate moments, and sheer willpower.
She is a resilient young woman who only falls slightly into stubbornness and whims at the end, but I challenge any other woman in her place not to behave similarly, you know: too much of a thing can spoil it.

_____ One of Adam's brothers, the young priest William, is more than a side character, he is practically a co-protagonist for 80% of the story.
He is a positive character, always by Kit's side and ready to support her and Adam.
What I didn't like is that the author makes him disappear at a certain point, giving him another role, and we hear nothing more about him.
He appears twice briefly during a rescue and escape, and then vanishes. I was disappointed by this.
Perhaps the character will reappear in later books?
I hope so, and I also hope the author doesn't eliminate him by killing him off, as she did with other characters we grew fond of, only to find out about their deaths casually through dialogue.

The book is quite long (for my standards), and I felt like every action was treated as a minor addition to the "heartbreaking" love story between the two protagonists (a love that unfolds mostly in bed... which isn't a problem because it's never vulgar, but love isn't only shown through sex).

What I really appreciate in historical fiction is when it seamlessly blends imagined elements with real historical events, featuring both fictional and historical figures.
The author succeeded admirably in this, to the point that I felt compelled to expand my historical knowledge by researching online through articles and Wikipedia.

___ HISTORICAL PART ___

The historical event that inspired the author and around which the destinies of Kit, Adam, and their loved ones revolve is a rebellion of some barons against King Edward II of England, who despotically gave his favorite lands already owned by barons and other nobles.
The king's favorite was the villain of the story, who besieged castles, imprisoned women and children, and mercilessly killed even those who had surrendered.

Actually, the situation is more complex and compelling than I've described, but if I explained it in more detail, it would diminish the pleasure of reading and discovering the historical elements intertwined with the author's imagination.

___ HISTORICAL CHARACTERS ___

Lord Roger Mortimer, his wife, and the king's favorite Hugh Despenser all play fundamental roles in the book. All of them are well portrayed.

The author's HISTORICAL NOTES are well-written and quite exhaustive regarding both events and characters.
While most authors place historical notes at the end to freely explain things without revealing spoilers, I always read them first because they help me understand the plot better and gain a broader, more satisfying view of the whole story.
If a story is well-told, no spoiler can ruin it for me. :-)

----> Clean language. 
----> Several hot sex scenes, but never vulgar. 
----> If you are approaching the reading, you too may hate the hero, hold on, after the first few chapters, he becomes a decent character.

IN CONCLUSION:
Despite the complaints I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the Kit-Adam couple resonated with me, and I will definitely read the sequel.

Thank you for reading my opinion. I hope it is helpful in deciding whether or not to read this series.

( Please forgive any errors you may find in my text, English is not my first language ).
Join me on FACEBOOK: Tizi Cozy Corner, to be always updated on new posts

FOLLOW ME or ASK MY FRIENDSHIP ON GOODREADS

Book review : The Silence of Stones by Jeri Westerson

The Silence of Stones
Crispin Guest Book #8
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
GENRE : #Historical-mystery

My rating: ★★★★★
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

I can say that Crispin Guest is definitely my favorite mystery series !

2024 has been a year in which I've read a lot of boring and unsatisfying books, so when I read one of Crispin Guest's adventures I always feel like I'm finally with an amazing long-time friend, who I can always count on for fun!

It's difficult to love every book in the same series with the same enthusiasm and I admit that I feared the moment had come when I would be disappointed... especially in the first pages when everything seemed too calm to be anything other than the world of Crispin and his apprentice Jack Tucker.
Luckily for me, that world is always full of rude rascals and when, after a few chapters, another nice friend of Crispin's arrived (already a co-protagonist in book #3), the adventure began!

___ PLOT IN SHORT __ England, 1388.
Crispin Guest and his loyal apprentice Jack Tucker are attending a ceremony in Westminster Abbey, when suddenly, after an explosion, King Richard II realizes the Stone of Destiny has disappeared.

After the crushing defeats suffered by the Scottish rebels, the king cannot afford any further weakening of authority and power. He, desperate, requires Crispin to find both the stone and the culprits within 3 days and with his usual contempt and hatred for the former knight, he has Jack imprisoned and promises to have him hanged if the case is not solved.

Without clues or witnesses, everything turns out to be very complicated and while Jack's life hangs by a thread, Crispin will have to get help from an old friend to face 3 groups of enemies.

______________________

Unlike the other first 7 books, here Crispin and Jack ( __THE 2 MAIN CHARACTERS __ ) find themselves separated and while Crispin desperately tries to save the life of his apprentice, for the first time Jack also has his own little case to solve, entrusted to him by none other than the queen!

I found it a good variant to give a bit of freshness to the series and above all it allows the reader to see how Jack is growing not only physically, but also acquiring awareness and maturity.

The series begins with thirty-year-old Crispin and twelve-year-old Jack.
A disgraced knight estranged from court because he was involved in a plot against the king and a small bag cutter with no one in the world who cares about him.

WHY ONLY 4.5 stars and not 5__WHAT I LIKED LESS THAN USUAL ___

While all the previous books introduce their past and their beginning together in an exhaustive way, this volume focuses more on the bond of father-son affection and mutual dependence that was created between the two of them, leaving the reader in a sort of limbo (and therefore too many questions without answer) regarding their past and who and what made them who they are now.

For this reason, although the adventure of this book has a beginning and an end without leaving anything unfinished, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT AS A STANDALONE.

I liked the book, but I admit that I would not have been able to appreciate either the emotional dynamics or the witty moments between Crispin and another character already seen in book 3, if I had not read the previous books first.

-----> This is also why I didn't give it 5 full stars.
In fact, I think that this story is enjoyable and appreciable only by those who already know the characters and their vicissitudes very well, otherwise it could seem like a mystery that can easily be forgotten.


__WHAT I LIKE HERE AND IN ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES ___
Crispin Guest's mystery series usually mixes fictional events and fictional characters alongside a handful of real-life characters.

What makes reading enjoyable for me is that while in parallel I can briefly read about the true lives of the characters on Wikipedia (along with all the historical notions that concern them), in the book I see them come to life as if by magic they appeared before my eyes.
Through the dialogues imagined by the author, they take shape and life, surprising me with lively or laconic, sometimes sardonic jokes, generous or despicable actions, behaving cowardly or courageous, siding with Crispin or against him and making themselves adorable or hateful in my eyes.
This is the beauty of fiction, it makes the news from history books more real and closer to us and encourages us to discover more about events and people that perhaps seemed boring to us when we were at school.

___ HISTORICAL FIGURES and also CHARACTERS in this story___
The recurring side characters are often the king Richard II and those around him:
his uncle John of Gaunt the founder of the royal House of Lancaster, Henry Bolingbroke, son of John and future King Henry IV, the sheriffs of the moment, the abbot of Westminster and so on.

Each book gives a special role as co-protagonist to other historical figures of that moment.
This time we have :

___ John/Eleonor Rykener :
a really nice character, good at heart and with a double identity, who, as in real life, worked disguised as a woman both as an embroiderer and as a prostitute.
The character went down in history due to her arrest for prostitution and sodomy and the confusion generated by her disguise.
In the stories of Jeri Westerton, the author, he is a good friend of Crispin, ready to help him in the investigations and also to pleasantly embarrass him with his feminine attitudes that Crispin hates, but which often prove useful to confuse even enemies.

___ Queen Anne of Bohemia:
first wife of King Richard II. Here too, as in reality (considering what I have read about the two young spouses) they are very much in love and Anna has a mitigating effect on Richard's impulsive and unwise decisions.
Through the case that she entrusts to Jack we can admire her in all her kindness and generosity.

___ Katherine Swynford :
first the mistress and then the third wife of John of Gaunt.
Crispin, who has greatly broadened his outlook over his years of disgrace, still clings to the prejudices he held about her as a boy, as he did not approve of Gaunt's affairs outside of marriage.
In this new adventure we see Crispin take another step forward towards greater open-mindedness, capable of giving a second chance to those who deserve it.

A CURIOSITY ABOUT KATHERINE SWINFORD that probably you don't know:
---> Although she is not a prominent figure in history books, many important historical figures descended from her, from that time to modern times including: Princess Diana, Sir Winston Churchill, (Lord) Alfred Tennyson and 5 American presidents (G. Washington, T. Jefferson. J. Quincy Adams, F. D. Roosevelt and G. W. Bush)


___ HISTORICAL OBJECTS : Stone of Scone also known as Stone of Destiny

In each book of the series Crispin is looking for a famous and legendary missing object (this is why he is called the Tracker, his job is to track down missing objects and usually a murder also happens and he will find the culprit).

The object of the moment is something that I, being Italian, had never heard of: the Stone of Scone also known as Stone of Destiny.
A stone which in 1296, First War of Scottish Independence, Edward I of England took as war booty and brought to Westminster Abbey, where it was placed in a wooden chair, known as the coronation chair.

Since then it has been a symbol of the divine right of English kings to rule over Scotland.
The stone only returned to Scotland in 1996 (7 centuries after it was taken!!).
It has been kept in Edinburgh Castle ever since, but with the agreement that it would be brought back to England for each coronation.
Every English monarch has sat on that stone on their coronation day, including Elizabeth II and her son Charles III in 2023.

Being Italian, I know little about English history, so I am fascinated when I read the author's historical notes with all the connections to the book and to reality.


___ MY CONCLUSIONS ____
Although I liked it a lot, this adventure has less action than usual and it's less fast paced compared to the previous books in the series and less impressive, so I suggest you do not start with this one, much better to start from book #1 or at least book #2.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please be patient with my english, it's not my language.

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance" :

BOOK #6 "Shadow of the Alchemist"

BOOK #7 "Cup of Blood"

Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts

Book review : Cup of Blood by Jeri Westerson

Cup of Blood
Crispin Guest Book #7
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
Actually a prequel of book #1

My rating: ★★★★★
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Installment #7 in the amazing ( at least to me ) Crispin Guest medieval mystery series, which offers action, adventure, suspense, historical characters and legends and even a pinch of wisdom and good feelings.

It's actually the real episode #1, in fact it is a leap back in time, when former knight Crispin Guest first meets his future apprentice Jack Tucker in 1384 London.

However, the author immediately explains in the introduction, that this was her first novel in the series, but the publishers didn't accepted it because the same theme was already covered by another book that was highly publicized at that time and so the series began with Veil of Lies.


____ THE PLOT___ 1384, London.
Little Jack Tucker is a twelve year old, without a family, who has been living on the streets since he was only 8.
Jack sleeps wherever he can and survives thanks to his lively intelligence and by being a cutpurse.
Just when he pickpockets a handful of customers in a tavern, among them he finds one who is the classic type who "can't be fooled": Crispin Guest, a former knight, deprived of title, lands and knighthood and estranged from court for treason.
Crispin chases Jack, catches him and instead of showing himself arrogant and merciless like many others, he gives Jack the opportunity to redeem himself, returning the stolen property and promising never to do it again.
One of those robbed at the tavern turns out to be a corpse who died from poisoning.
Crispin, also known as the Tracker, the one who finds things (and/or people and unravels mysteries), begins to try to see clearly and is then hired by various people to find a legendary and very precious object connected to the dead man.
Jack, who wants nothing more than to sleep in a safe place and has never known goodness and kindness, has immediately become fond of Crispin and will insist on staying with him until even the Tracker decides within him that all in all he reciprocates the affection by Jack.

________________

I was very pleased to find Jack as a child, with all his spontaneity and desire to please the one he considers his mentor and in a certain sense his hero.
---> ACTUALLY, AFTER FINISHED READING THIS PREQUEL, I thought it was good, both for me as a reader, but also for the author's success, to start the series with Veil of Lies and the next 5 books , because this one, despite containing all the elements that I usually love in this series, is a little weaker in each of those aspects, which in the other books are more emphasized and which have a greater emotional impact on the reader (certainly on myself ).
I could therefore say: a good read, but less impressive than the other books.

If I hadn't read the previous books (which would actually be the following ones) I wouldn't have been able to appreciate this one, which in reality doesn't shed much light on the unfortunate story that led to Crispin's removal from the court of Richard II, nor on the emotional drama that he lives internally and that constantly conditions his work, his days, his relationships with other people, especially those from his past.

WHAT I LOVE IN THIS SERIES and WHAT I USUALLY FIND IN EACH BOOK is:

- The fast-paced pace at which the story unfolds, the unexpected twists that always change the perspective of things, continuously alternating the possible culprits between the various suspects, who are usually always at least four or five or even more.
I love the right mix between adventure and action scenes ( so well detailed in every shot and movement that it feels like watching a movie) and moments of inner reflection that are still valid and applicable to today's world;

I ALSO REALLY LOVE THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS:

- A 30 years old fascinating hero, but not without flaws and weaknesses, whose best quality is knowing how to make his sense of justice and honor prevail even when he would like to abandon himself to different and more convenient solutions.
The fact that he is a flawed hero, sometimes a little too self-pitying, with a penchant for wine and beautiful, winking women(who also often clouds his judgment) makes him less fictional and more real.
After all although in life experiences he can consider himself a mature man, he still has all the impetuosity and passion of a young man.

- A second main character who is none other than another hero in a small format whose genuineness and joy of living, given from a young age, manages to balance the bitterness and disillusionment that we find in the adult Crispin (due to his bad life experiences in the last 7 years ).
His witty and sometimes ironic jokes in an almost irreverent way towards Crispin and his women of the moment, lighten even the most dramatic situations and give an air of pleasant freshness.
His considerations, always made immediately and without mincing words, sometimes reverse the situation between him and Crispin: Jack becomes the wise adult and Crispin the child who has to review his behavior... It's very funny!

Crispin and Jack are like two sides of the same coin.
They live in the same world of poverty, cold and hunger, hard and heartless characters and only a few others who are charitable and yet their visions of life and the world are starkly opposite: Crispin always sees the glass half empty regretting the past and Jack always sees it half full appreciating every little good thing that comes his way.

I love their partnership because they complement each other and each of them gives something to the other: Crispin helps Jack grow with honesty and courage and teaching him a sense of honor as well as reading and writing, giving him what is most similar to a father's affection (in the course of the books) and for his part the child reciprocates with deep affection and devotion, not only getting him out of trouble more than once, but also helping him find his self-esteem, making him understand, in his naive ways and with his words of a street child, that even if the material goods in Crispin's life have changed and no longer have the same value, the value of his person has not changed at all.
As with Crispin, it is easy for all of us to fall into self-pity and consider ourselves failures. People like Jack help us look at ourselves in the mirror with more forgiving eyes, rediscovering the desire to start from scratch, with the means we have and what we are, in that moment.


___ THE MYSTERY TO SOLVE ____
Usually the mystery in each book concerns both a historical or legendary object (usually sacred relics to which particular powers are attributed or parchments whose lines can evoke monsters of ancient popular beliefs) and one or more murders that occur in relation to the wanted object.

Everything always starts out quite simply, but the more Crispin searches for the truth the more complicated things become, involving many characters, including real-life characters.

Except for book 3, the details of the murders are never described in a gruesome way, but they are certainly more detailed than in this first book and have much more weight on the whole story.
:-) Every time the culprit is unexpected!

___ HISTORICAL CHARACTERS, HISTORY AND LEGENDS ___
In all the books I read before this one, together with the fictional characters we find various historical figures who are not merely mentioned, but are cleverly inserted into the story with actions and dialogues and sometimes even participating in the investigations or being suspected of being the culprits.

Even with regards to historical details and popular beliefs regarding certain myths and objects, the author provides us with many interesting notions, both during the course of the story and in the afterword.


___ MEDIEVAL LONDON'S ATMOSPHERE___
The dark descriptions of medieval London are so vivid , almost real with its bad smells near the River Thames, its infamous neighborhoods in contrast with the pomp of the court, the terror that the cells of Newgate, the prison, aroused in Jack and also in Crispin who had been tortured there, the continuous humidity of the air and the cold that penetrates mercilessly through the layers of worn and patched clothes....
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE DIRECTLY TRANSPORTED TO THE PLACE!


:-( WHAT WORKED A LITTLE LESS IN THIS BOOK:

----> MYSTERY: not only did I understand who the murderer was before Crispin did, but sometimes it almost seems that the murder takes a back seat and the emphasis is more on the reappearance of the Templars (while the history books tell us that they had been massacred and the order eliminated 75 years before), on the search for the Holy Grail and above all on the hunger for power and greed of the various characters (as well as Crispin's gluttony due to the effect of women on him).

---> BACKGROUND : Although here too the busy comings and goings of the traders are described, the smoky and dark atmosphere of the tavern, the biting cold... in the books written later (but published previously) the author dedicates herself a little more meticulously to the surroundings and atmosphere descriptions.

---> HISTORICAL PART AND LEGENDS ___ in this episode we have a fiction within fiction: we return to the pursuit of the Holy Grail inspired by the poem Parzival by the German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach.
The return of the Templars thanks to the trick of a "secret and never made public pardon" by Pope Clement V (which, thanks to the Vatican's discoveries in 2002, seems to have actually happened) is certainly interesting, but unlike the other books, here we go less in depth regarding the historical facts and also the myth of the Holy Grail, not much is said, as I have already said, the story focuses more on the lust for power and the corruptibility of people, even those animated by the best resolutions.

---> TIME INCONSISTENCY : Considering book #1 Veil of Lies is set in 1383 and that this episode is the prequel to that book, it cannot be set in 1384 as stated in the first line of the first chapter.
For me it's not a problem, because I give more value to the content of books than to an oversight... but for the most fussy it can be strange.

CONCLUSION:

__ Did I enjoy reading the book? YES very much,
every time I read a book in this series it's like meeting two dear friends that I adore, in fact I consider the sexy Crispin my medieval boyfriend.
Once I have finished all 15 books, I will happily reread them a second and third time.

However the books written later (but published before) have a stronger and more engaging emotional impact in all aspects and book #1 Veil of Lies deserves to be in place #1 because it is the one that best defines the characters, their soul and the whole situation.

__ Readable as a standalone? Yes, there are no cliffhangers,
but the story is certainly more enjoyable if you read at least numbers 1 and 2 first.

__ Clean language.

__ Crispin spends the night with a woman and then there are a couple of kisses, but no descriptions.

__ No gruesome details about the deaths.

Considering the last 3 points, this is (so far) the only Crispin mystery that isn't a cozy mystery, but comes close.

Thank you for reading my opinion and please be patient with my English, it is not my native language.

------> Each book is readable as a standalone, but if you read them in order your enjoyment will be doubled !

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies"

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns"

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment"

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones"

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance"

BOOK #6 "Shadow of the Alchemist"


Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts

Book review : Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson

Courting Dragons
King's Fool Mystery Book #1
by Jeri Westerson

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars.

I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the entire story from start to finish and there was never a point where I felt bored.

---> I immediately fell in love with the character and I already miss him (so I will also read book #2 in the series).

However, there are a few reasons why my score is not a full 4 stars, but 3.7 and it would not be the first book I would recommend to anyone who asked me to suggest a mystery with a "late medieval/early renaissance" setting.

___ THE PLOT____ We are at the court of King Henry VIII, at the time in which his marriage to Catherine of Aragon entered into crisis due to the lack of a male heir and above all due to the king's infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
The "Great Matters" is what everyone whispers about at court, what it is dangerous to talk about openly, why the Spanish ambassador and his diplomats try to find solutions and why the king continually meets with his advisors.
While our narrator, court jester Will Somers, flirts left and right with men and professes his love for the only woman he would like to marry, one day he finds one of the Spanish diplomats having his throat cut.
As it happens, the dead man was the last casual lover with whom he had spent the night two days earlier. A blackmail letter follows that threatens to reveal his bisexuality to the king...circumstances then force him to find the murderer before any more bad consequences ensue.
____________________________

___WHAT I LIKED ___

THE MAIN CHARACTER__ The "hero" of the book is also the narrator of the story: the king's fool, Will Somers.
This 23 year old boy might seem a bit lewd and superficial from what I wrote in the plot, but instead it is easy to become attached to him and feel like he is a little like the friend next door, because from his words and the feelings he tells us, a good heart and great generosity shines through, as well as intelligence and irony.

The story takes place in the present, as events occur, Will shares with us every thought, emotion, hope, fear and suspicion.
Maybe that's what made it all so engaging.
The narrative made me feel like I was at Will's side each second of the story, from the first page to the last one: I walked down every corridor Will went through, I enjoyed every moment of playfulness with the king or with the little dog adopted by our jester, I feared every face-to-face meeting with characters who disagreed with the jester... I experienced all of it firsthand together with Somers.

___ THE PRESENTATION OF THE COURT, OF THE REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES and the few fictional characters ____
In this book I felt as if I was part of an episode of the TV series The Tudors (remember? Year 2007-2010). This is because, by chance, I watched all 8 seasons of the series just a month ago and I must say that it was useful to me so as not to get confused amidst the hundreds of names of real historical figures mentioned (and of which Will explained to us the role) in the story.
King Henry VIII always remained the fickle and capricious man that history tells us and that we have seen in the series, but the author also offers us a warmer facet of the character: a certain paternal affection and a particular tolerance for his jester and understanding of his feelings.
Will loves him like a father and feels that without this emotional warmth he could not live (history tells us that Will Somers remained the king's jester until his death and was also at the court of his 3 children: Edward, Elizabeth and Mary. Looks like he loved them as if they were his family).

I liked the character of Marion, Will's unofficial girlfriend, who knows Will's nature. She is very tolerant, but by her own free choice. She simply loves him as he is, without feeling cuckolded or betrayed.
I liked the courage Will found in himself to stand up to her father, the classic gruff but affectionate man with his daughter, who doesn't want to give his blessing to the engagement.

All the characters around Will (fictional and historical) have few acting lines, but this is enough to fully show us their character traits.

There are no battles and wars in this story.
Only an atmosphere of playfulness and of transformation (of the king's relationships towards his marriage and towards the Church).
It's not a fast-paced "whodunit", but I can assure I never felt bored.

THE REASONS WHY I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE:

_ _ There is no real investigation. Will Somers asks questions around and tries to understand more about certain situations and characters.
If you think about it, this is totally logical, because Will is neither a detective nor a person who investigates amateurally out of natural curiosity and passion (as in many mysteries where the main character, despite not being a policeman or investigator, has a passion for doing investigations)
Will's job is to make the king and his courtiers laugh and he finds himself forced by events to try to uncover a murderer.
It would have been far-fetched if he had investigated like a real sleuth... so for me the story was perfect like that, however it might not be satisfactory for all readers.

_ _ We are in the Middle Ages and as you can imagine the language among men was not the most refined, nor did they have any problems speaking scurrilously in front of women.
I read this book in English, which is not my native language and although I realized that the "male member" was mentioned several times...reading in a foreign language, the impact of some slightly vulgar words was different... less intense and less annoying.
I admit that if I had read the book in Italian (my country's language), I would have been annoyed and most likely I would have abandoned this reading.

_ _ I have already said that Will Somers, bisexual, continually flirts with all the handsome men who come his way.
Not just flirting, there is kissing and sexual acts. The descriptions are not detailed and vulgar, but I think the author could have avoided "the little services" given to Will by a certain servant.
I'm not bothered by homosexuality, I have no problems with other people's sexual choices... but seeing the protagonist with his underwear down too often... ugh, what a drag!
(Perhaps the author had also watched the series "The Tudors" before writing the book... in fact in that series it seemed that sex was one of the most common and popular pastimes)

Thank you for reading my review, I hope it can be useful to you, but without influencing you too much one way or another.
After all, taste and perception are personal.
---> Sorry for my bad English, as I said I'm Italian.


Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts

Book review : Shadow of the Alchemist by Jeri Westerson

Shadow of the Alchemist
Crispin Guest Book #6
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson

My rating: ★★★★★
5 full stars ! 😃
Installment #6 in the Crispin Guest series and one more time was an exciting read!

__ THE PLOT IN SHORT__ 1387, London. This time Crispin Guest, a disgraced former knight, now known as the Tracker, the one who finds lost things (or people), is hired by a French master alchemist, secretly staying in London, to find his wife and missing assistant.
One of the two is immediately found dead and the other kidnapped.
No ransom money, but riddles, several strange characters and other crimes, seem to lead Crispin towards a single path...
No holy relic and no parchment is valuable, this time, the historical object at the heart of this story is a legendary object, which tickles the imagination and credulity of people: the "Philosopher's Stone", which can transform objects into gold and can give eternal life.

*************

It is a fast-paced mystery, with more than one crime to solve: a murder and a kidnapping, a mass poisoning, mysterious characters, misunderstandings and liars, against the backdrop of recent political plots.
A race against time to save the kidnapping victim, through puzzles to solve, by a villain full of hatred and skilled in disguises.

___ HISTORICAL EVENTS FORMING THE BACKDROP___ The end of the year 1387 in England was a turbulent time, as Jeri Westerton tells us in the final notes.
Along with the fictional characters, as in every book of this series, we find other characters who were real historical figures.

The king who banished Crispin Guest from court is Richard II and the house to which Crispin was linked when he was a knight is that of Lancaster.
---> While in the previous books we often meet John of Gaunt (father of the future King Henry IV), here, as in book #5, we meet his eldest son, the young Henry, Earl of Darby and future king of England.
While Crispin runs around half of London trying to solve strange riddles and capture the culprit, Henry, very dear to Crispin, participates in the "Lords Appellant" group, aristocrats who impeached five of the king's favorites, to curb what was seen as a tyrannical and capricious government.
Henry finds himself in the crosshairs of those who want to eliminate him as a possible candidate for the throne, but despite being a friend of Crispin, he never fully reveals the truth about his role in the various affairs, so our hero is continually torn between affection and suspicion.

---> Even the alchemist Nicholas Flamel (also present in Harry Potter) and his wife Perenelle, are figures who truly existed in the 14th century, although, as the writer explains in the notes, they were not alchemists.
Actually Flamel was a writer and seller of manuscripts who, thanks to his interest in the Philosopher's Stone and his studies on it, was thought as an alchemist in the following centuries.

Political events appear only marginally during the story of the book, while at the end many points and all developments are clarified.

I really like following Crispin's stories intertwined with the several historical real-life figures.
I use to love, while reading, exploring the true story of those really existed characters on the web and feeling like I am a participant in those historical events, thanks to the dialogues of the characters in the fiction.

___CRISPIN GUEST, THE MAIN CHARACTER ___
I love this character with all my heart!
He is young, courageous and full of ideals, but he doesn't always do or think the right thing... in fact the author also shows his flaws and this makes him feel more real and more human.

While the series begins with Crispin feeling sorry for himself, with each book and adventure, our ex-knight matures as a person, learning to have a more open view of people and facts and while remaining very proud, we discover that he has a very big heart.
Over the course of the books, he earned the appreciation and affection of the poor people and found some true friends at court.
I'm really happy that in this book, he also manages to have a semi-official demonstration of esteem and affection, which he would never have expected.

---> In addition to Crispin, the character of Jack, the little cut-purse, also grows, becoming Crispin's now honest assistant.
As a boy we see him slowly become a man and in each book his affection and loyalty (both reciprocated) for Crispin, manage to move me. I love him too.
Together they are the perfect duo.

NOT a "cozy" mystery : there are no gruesome scenes in this book, but it has happened in other books in the series.
No foul language, but every now and then a bad word can happen by villains (not here that I remember).
Also in this book, as in the others, there is a woman who manages to enchant Crispin and although it is not a serious love story, but more cuddles, sex and physical attraction, I am happy to see Crispin momentarily more satisfied and less "alone" than the moments in which he drowns the sorrows of love in wine.
--> Kisses and a non-explicit sex scene.

___ TO CONCLUSION___
Thank you for reading my review and please be lenient with my English: it is not my native language.
I'm not good at writing reviews, but I hope that my enthusiasm for this series does enough justice to "Crispin Guest" and its author, even if readers' taste is subjective.

I hope you can find the necessary guidance in choosing or not choosing the book.

------> Each book is readable as a standalone, but if you read them in order your enjoyment will be doubled !

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance" :



Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts

Book review : Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson

Blood Lance
Crispin Guest Book #5
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
My rating: ★★★★★

Wow, amazing ! I really missed Crispin Guest in the last two months I dedicated to Christmas reads.

This is installment #5 in the series, but you can read it as a standalone as well ( even if I think each book it's more enjoyable if you read them all starting from the first one ) and Jeri Westerson, the author, did not disappoint me: her writing style is amazing, she manages to catapult me into the Middle Ages on the scenes described in the book.

Her wonderful descriptions are not only visual, but include all the senses: she manages to make me feel the smells, the humidity on the skin, the restorative heat of the fire, the sexual tension when there are scenes in which the nature of the man prevails Crispin, the tension in the air in moments of danger, the fear and euphoria of the characters, she manages to make me experience every action scene just as if I were on the set of a film and even, in this book, the the author managed to make me feel inside Crispin's body, as if every action, fact and sensation happened to me together with him.

The author manages to mix fictional characters together with real-life characters and against a historical background rich in details in the best way.

Before continuing, however, I must briefly talk about THE PLOT__ :
Crispin Guest is a former knight banished from the court of King Richard II as a traitor. Crispin is a courageous thirty-two-year-old and a man of honor, but he fell into a trap run by the man he admired most in the world.
That man, aware of this, asked the king for grace to save the knight from execution, but since then Crispin has lived in poverty, earning his living as "The Tracker", a kind of detective who finds missing objects, often precious relics and solves murder cases.
Over the years the Tracker, aided by his assistant Jack Tucker (former cutpurse), has earned the respect of people, both among the people and among old court friends. His exploits are often praised in London and England and in this new adventure not only will he have to solve a murder, find the spear of Longinus ( the one with which the Roman centurion struck Christ's side on the cross), help an old knight friend defending his honor, but he will also have the opportunity to feel like a knight once again and to fight valiantly.

This book, which begins immediately with energetic, well-detailed action scenes (and I often wonder if the author has taken fighting lessons, because every action is really well described), is linked through two characters (one fictional and one real historical and famous character ) that we have already met in book #1 and in book #4.

These are Philippa, the woman with whom Crispin fell in love and who he decided not to marry and Geoffrey Chaucer, knight of the Duke of Lancaster and great friend of Crispin, as well as diplomat and poet, now known as the father of English literature.

However, if you haven't read the previous books, don't worry, the whole backstory is explained in a concise but satisfying way, but if you started the series from the beginning, then like me you will be delighted with these links.

What really made me emotional in this story, however, was the part in which Crispin, after 10 years, finally, even if briefly, returns to being a knight. ( I don't mark it as spoiler because this statement will certainly fill you with curiosity... and it's not as you're already imagining).

The emotion is perceived by the reader through Crispin's heartbeat, which at first finds himself in a dream, a surreal scene, then gradually realizes what is happening.
WARNING SPOILER ___ He feels the fear of death within himself and in a few minutes he thinks back to the things he still has to accomplish and finish. But he also feels happiness in being able to die the way he feels he is truly himself.

Then little by little the prospect of death transforms into the belief of making it, the sound of the excited crowd, the announcement of the start of the joust, the clattering of the horses, reliving gestures and emotions of the past creates euphoria and adrenaline within him (or and the piece of sacred spear?)... ___ SPOILER END the last chapters were really exciting and kept me in suspense, it was wonderful!

If on the one hand I found it unfair that Crispin faced yet another dangerous situation to help someone WARNING SPOILER ___ who truly proved to be an undeserving coward, on the other hand I am happy that he was able to once again be part of the world that so much he loved and that Jack, his pupil, was able to see not only the fullness of his courage and honor (two things he always demonstrated) but also at the height of his fighting skills. I am happy that he was able to demonstrate his full value even to his old court friends (not that he needed it and he was actually incognito, but I was very happy about it as if Crispin was my best friend or even my love ). ___ SPOILER END

But the emotions of the book do not end here, the most emotional among you will also shed a few tears... after all, life includes not only victories, but also pains and although this is a historical fiction novel, everything is as it could be in the reality: pain and joy mix in a completely believable way and the characters are three-dimensional, so much so that now I will miss them until the next book.

__ REGARDING THE HISTORICAL PART ON THE RELIC __ perhaps in this book the presence of the power of the relic that everyone wants to take possession of is less felt, but in the epilogue the author explains many interesting things about the various spears considered the real one, which entered the side of Jesus on the cross and of each of them, J. Westerson briefly illustrates the history and the place where it is preserved.

Also very interesting is the theme of the health disorder from which soldiers and fighters of all eras suffer, but which in medieval times was ignorantly defined as cowardice.
Actually I hadn't considered this issue until I read the writer's epilogue, but then I realized that in fact the problem of Crispin's knight friend was precisely that.

Recommended book? YES, OF COURSE !! I love Crisping Guest and his stories and I thank Jeri Westerson for writing them!

Thank you for reading my review and please forgive any errors in my text because English is not my language :-)


------> Each book is readable as a standalone, but if you read them in order your enjoyment will be doubled !

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :



Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts

Book review : Troubled Bones by Jeri Westerson

Troubled Bones
Crispin Guest Book 4
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Superb !! 5 full stars !

( I'm an Italian reader, please be lenient with my English text, it's not my native tongue )

This is the 4th book of "Crispin Guest series" and if on the one hand I was excited to start reading it , on the other hand I didn't know what to expect.
I rated the previous 3 books 5 stars (  but I'm not someone who easily gives 5 stars ) and it's not always easy for an author to maintain the same level and continue to amaze the reader...BUT SHE DID IT, Jeri Westerton amazed me one more time with a gripping mystery of hers ! 

___ THE PLOT ___ This time we have a new scenario, the scene moves from London to the city of Canterbury, where Archbishop Courtney has asked Crispin, a former knight now in disgrace, to carry out a very important task: to protect the relics of England's most famous saint: Thomas Becket.
Crispin, who has been known as the Trucker ( a sort of detective ) for two years,  must also find out some heretics hidden among the monks.
 Crispin will find himself faced with a den of secrets and lying people and the resulting murder is as inexplicable as it is heinous.
Stuck in Canterbury with his protégé Jack and a group of pilgrims, Crispin will also find an old and dear friend: Geoffrey Chaucer ,the poet of King Richard II

__THE GENIALITY OF THE AUTHOR __   Once again holy relics are involved in the plot, so where's the news?
The novelty is not only in the change of city as a background scenario, but also the fact that in this adventure and investigation, in addition to important historical figures, we find also some characters involved as suspects and/or witnesses took  from an important English classical work (Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer )


__HISTORICAL FIGURE  IN THE BOOK ___
_ Geoffrey Chaucer, close friend and spy of the Duke of Lancaster  and  poet of King Richard II.He's best known for The Canterbury Tales and called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry".
  _ William Courtenay archbishop of Canterbury, vigorous leader of the English church and moderating influence in the political disputes of King Richard II of England.
_ Dom Thomas Chillenden,  treasurer in Canterbury cathedral and then prior of Christchurch priory
_  Saint Thomas Becket martyr relics -->   He was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his tragic murder in 1170. The book also explain of his conflicts with the crown and how his murder took place and by whom
_ John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, uncle of King Richard II and founder of the House of Lancaster.

____ FICTIONAL CHARACTER from CANTERBURY TALES __ I will not list the characters taken from Chaucer's famous classic work, I will only say that being Italian I had no idea what the "Canterbury Tales" are (I had only heard this title on several occasions) nor who the characters are and I realized the whole thing only later, by searching general info about the poem on web.

In the start of the story, Crispin and Jack meet a group of people on a pilgrimage, during a  dinner in the inn where everyone was staying  for some days (imagine a group trip nowadays, who stay in the same hotel and who obviously have dinner together in the evening... it was very funny and this is also a novelty in the adventures of our former knight).

In the animated conversation, each character's name and profession are told and since some professions no longer exist, it was by looking in the dictionary put by the author at the end of the book that I recognized the same professions that I had read on Wikipedia, looking for info on Canterbury Tales and its characters.

Now, you could also be completely uninterested in Chaucer and his poem, but I assure you that you will enjoy a very good mystery the same, because it is very well thought out and the suspense lasts until the end.
But if you are interested in history and literature, then you will be doubly fascinated by this read!

Each character has a personal background and we find both Crispin's allies and villains who will hinder him and the plot written by the author is gripping!

__ MAIN CHARACTERS __ some other innovations from the author:
 Jack is growing and changing not only in his body but also in his emotions.
At almost 13 years old, like all teenagers he needs to feel appreciated and reassured. He also  has his first crush.

The relationship between the Tracker and his protégé is further consolidated here and Crispin finds himself in the same questions as all inexperienced parents.
There also comes greater responsibilities at work for Jack, who will find himself facing a new challenge, just like what happens in all of our lives.

The emotional growth of the characters and the progression of their personal stories, amidst many daily difficulties, makes all almost real and tangible.

The characters are not perfect and each time , over the course of the books, they mature new important decisions and new concepts of life, through their own mistakes and the vicissitudes of those around them.Each of us, for one reason or another, could recognize ourselves in Crispin or Jack and that's what makes us love them even more!

___ WHY DO I LOVE THIS SERIES? __ it offers much more than a simple investigation, it has everything I'm looking for:
1__ Mysteries that are difficult to solve and which involve the reader through continuous clues, twists, theories and testimonies. There is never a dull moment.

2__ There is a lot of history and it is always told through ongoing events, in a tantalizing way, which will make you want to know even more.

3__ The characters are human in every sense, they have strengths and weaknesses and even when things end well, there is never an extremely perfect ending (and you might ask yourself: oh no! Why?? ...but I assure you that some seconds after you will realize: it was the right thing!)

4__ Each Guest adventure addresses a theme and there is always a moral lesson that you can learn or stop and consider for a few minutes.

5__ The atmosphere of every place and every conversation is conveyed so well by the writer through her words that every time I feel like I am exactly on the scene together with the characters.

6__ There is no romance involved in a love story, but Crispin is 31 years old and obviously not immune to female charm. His casual adventures (i.e. sexual encounters) are never too explicit and never vulgar.

7__ The 6 points above are packed with great entertainment and sense of humor.
In fact, the reading is smooth and the funny jokes (never too many and never too few) not only make me smile while I read, but make me feel Crispin and Jack like my dear friends, who I can't wait to see again and spend more time together.

------> Each book is readable as a standalone, but if you read them in order your enjoyment will be doubled !

If you want to know more about BOOK#1 - BOOK#2 and BOOK#3, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :


Join me on FB Tizi Cozy Corner page to be always updated on new posts