Read The Malice of Unnatural Death: Online
Authors: Michael Jecks
Tags: #Mystery, #Contemporary Fiction, #blt, #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Contemporary, #_MARKED, #Historical, #Literature & Fiction
The Malice of Unnatural Death:
Michael Jecks
Copyright © 2006 Michael Jecks
The right of Michael Jecks to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
First published as an Ebook by
Headline Publishing Group in 2014
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN: 978 1 4722 1983 1
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
An Hachette UK Company
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH
Table of Contents
About the Author
Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry to concentrate on his writing. He is the founder of Medieval Murderers,
has been Chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association, and helped create the Historical Writers’ Association. Keen to help new
writers, for some years he organised the Debut Dagger competition, and is now organising the AsparaWriting festival for new
writers at Evesham. He has judged many prizes, including the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. Michael is an international speaker
on writing and for business. He lives with his wife, children and dogs in northern Dartmoor.
Michael can be contacted through his website:
www.michaeljecks.co.uk
.
He can be followed on twitter (@MichaelJecks) or on
Facebook.com/Michael.Jecks.author
.
His photos of Devon and locations for his books can be found at:
Flickr.com/photos/Michael_Jecks
.
The Last Templar
The Merchant’s Partner
A Moorland Hanging
The Crediton Killings
The Abbot’s Gibbet
The Leper’s Return
Squire Throwleigh’s Heir
Belladonna at Belstone
The Traitor of St Giles
The Boy-Bishop’s Glovemaker
The Tournament of Blood
The Sticklepath Strangler
The Devil’s Acolyte
The Mad Monk of Gidleigh
The Templar’s Penance
The Outlaws of Ennor
The Tolls of Death
The Chapel of Bones
The Butcher of St Peter’s
A Friar’s Bloodfeud
The Death Ship of Dartmouth
Malice of Unnatural Death
Dispensation of Death
The Templar, the Queen and Her Lover
The Prophecy of Death
The King of Thieves
No Law in the Land
The Bishop Must Die
The Oath
King’s Gold
City of Fiends
Templar’s Acre
‘Michael Jecks is the master of the medieval whodunnit’ Robert Low
‘Captivating … If you care for a well-researched visit to medieval England, don’t pass this series’
Historical Novels Review
‘Michael Jecks has a way of dipping into the past and giving it that immediacy of a present-day newspaper article … He
writes … with such convincing charm that you expect to walk round a corner in Tavistock and meet some of the characters’
Oxford Times
‘Great characterisation, a detailed sense of place, and a finely honed plot make this a superb medieval historical’
Library Journal
‘Stirring intrigue and a compelling cast of characters will continue to draw accolades’
Publishers Weekly
‘A tortuous and exciting plot … The construction of the story and the sense of period are excellent’
Shots
‘This fascinating portrayal of medieval life and the corruption of the Church will not disappoint. With convincing characters
whose treacherous acts perfectly combine with a devilishly masterful plot, Jecks transports readers back to this wicked world
with ease’
Good Book Guide
The twenty-second novel in Michael Jecks’s medieval Knights Templar series.
1324: The English kingdom is in uproar. Roger Mortimer, once the King’s most able commander, now his most hated enemy, is plotting his assassination. And he is not the only person with murder in mind…
When the bodies of a local craftsman and the King’s messenger are found in the streets of Exeter, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock are implored to find the person responsible. The deceased messenger was carrying a dangerous secret that could prove fatal in the wrong hands. Now Baldwin and Simon must find the murderer before he strikes again…
This
is for the men of Tinners’ Morris …
Especially for Mike and Shelagh Palmer
With many thanks for all the laughs – and your patience with us!
Map of Exeter in Early 1300s
Detail of South Eastern Exeter
| Sir Baldwin de Furnshill | – once a Knight Templar, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill has become respected as a shrewd investigator of crimes |
| Simon Puttock | – formerly a stannary bailiff, Simon has recently been made responsible for the Customs of the port of Dartmouth |
| Sir Richard de Welles | – the coroner for the king at Lifton |
| Rob | – Simon’s servant at Dartmouth, Rob is a young lad who has grown up in the company of sailors |
| Brother Robert Busse | – a monk from Tavistock, and contender for the vacant abbacy |
| Brother John de Courtenay | – another monk from Tavistock, and son of Baron Hugh, John is determined to win the abbacy |
| Robert le Mareschal | – a student of the magical arts in Coventry, Robert studies under John of Nottingham |
| John of Nottingham | – known as a necromancer, John is feared even by the most powerful in the country |
| Walter Stapledon | – Bishop of Exeter |
| Sir Matthew de Crowethorne | – Sheriff of Exeter |
| Maurice Berkeley | – the son of Lord Maurice Berkeley and brother to Alice, Maurice has been on the run after ill-advisedly ransacking Despenser properties |
| Madam Alice | – Sir Matthew’s wife, daughter of Lord Maurice Berkeley |
| Sarra | – a servant girl from the country north of Exeter |
| Jen | – Sarra’s friend, Jen has recently joined her at Sir Matthew’s house |
| Norman Mucheton | – a worker of bone and antlers in the city |
| Madam Mucheton | – wife to Norman |
| Elias | – a beadle |
| Ivo Trempole | – a watchman, who lives with his mother Edie |
| Michael Tanner | – a moderately successful tradesman, Michael rents properties to those such as his friend Richard de Langatre |
| Richard de Langatre | – familiar to many in the city, Richard is a fortune-teller famous enough to have even monks from Tavistock come to consult him |
| James of Wanetynch | – a king’s messenger, James has recently arrived in the city with messages for the bishop |
| Robinet of Newington | – also known as Newt, and once a king’s messenger, Robinet has retired now, and is visiting his friend Walter in Exeter |
| Walter of Hanlegh | – once a king’s man, Walter has retired to obscurity in Exeter |
| Will Skinner | – the watchman down at the southern gate |
| Madam Skinner | – Will’s wife |
| Sir Richard de Sowe | – a knight in the king’s household who was murdered by witchcraft on 28 April 1324 |
| Sir Simon Croyser | – Sheriff of Warwick, and the main official responsible for the arrest of the men involved in the attempted assassination in Coventry |