Book Review - The Sticklepath Strangler by Michael Jecks

One reason I love reading historical mysteries is sometimes you learn something, if you’re not careful.  Understandably, authors of this genre might take creative liberties with facts for the sake of entertainment, but more often, they are not afraid to include gut-churning details that history textbooks might omit.  The reader, now having his curiosity piqued, seeks out more information on some gruesome event ‘intended for mature audiences only.’

Such is the basis for Michael Jecks’ The Sticklepath Strangler, the twelfth in his excellent series featuring Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Knight’s Templar and Keeper of the King’s Peace in Crediton.  (Yes, I’m super-duper behind.)

The novel is set several years ago after the great famine in the British Isles from 1315-1317, where the disaster was so widespread and so devastating, rumors of cannibalism flourished.  Such allegations being so horrendous, it isn’t shocking that some of the populace cold only explain the happenings on a supernatural being. In this case, vampires.

The novel opens with the villagers of Sticklepath killing one of their own, fearing he was a vampire, after a ten year-old girl vanishes.

 

Seven years later her body is discovered and indications she might have provided someone with a meal.  The villagers who have survived the famine are sure to defend their belief a sanguisuga or vampire is responsible.  Baldwin is not so sure, even though an incident during his investigation almost makes him reconsider his beliefs.  With his wife, Lady Jeanne and his friend Simon Puttock, official of the tin miners of Dartmoor, he sets out to find the real reason the young girl was murdered.

 

But no matter how devious, twisted and evil the murderer is, Baldwin is able to bring the whole queasy affair to an end.

 

Jecks’ novel is richly detail and does not skimp on descriptions of life in a 14^th century village devastated by floods.  It also brought out the morbid curiosity in me to learn more about the events, such as the floods and famine in this time frame, and King Edward II.

 

It’s easy for us to read and be appalled by some of the actions in the novel but the question posed by one of the main characters could be asked of all of us:

If there was absolutely no food anywhere to ear, how far would you go to be sure your baby didn’t starve.

The Crediton Killings by Michael Jecks

One reason I enjoy reading medieval mysteries is they offer a certain degree of escapism. They allow a glimpse into another time when life was simpler, harsher and more rudimentary that is so contrary to our current lifestyle, the reader is drawn into the situation, making him think he’s standing in the middle of the town with the story unfolding all around him, with all the sights, sounds and smells. Yet the reader becomes grateful for modern-day creature comforts such as sewer systems, garbage removal and environmental laws.

The vivid details that Michael Jecks uses to describe the daily conditions of the small village of Crediton in fourteenth century England are real enough the reader can almost smell the odors of the open sewage trench running though the middle of the main street and the animal guts and excrement thrown out into the open from the butcher’s shop.

In The Crediton Killings, the fourth in the series featuring Keeper of the King’s Peace Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, a team of mercenaries has descended upon the town after being turned down by King Edward II to join his army. While the disgruntled soldiers of fortune cool their heels at a local inn, a serving girl has her eye on their leader, Sir Hector, and a newbie wants to join the band of mercenaries. Soon after the newbie disappears at the same time Hector’s silver goes missing and the serving girl is found murdered.

Hector and his closest lieutenant’s think the solution is simple when the newbie is found with some of the missing silver. Baldwin isn’t so certain. After a beggar woman is found murdered, he feels that someone is trying to manipulate him into a false conclusion.

During all this, Simon and his wife are reeling from the recent loss of their infant son Peterkin. Their grief puts a strain on their marriage and Baldwin feels helpless that he can’t help his closest friend.

Another reason I like medieval mysteries is the complex and deliciously twisted plots that cant’ be pulled from today’s headlines. Jecks pulls from fourteenth century culture, politics and public mindset to weave an intricate mystery with surprising twists even after the final solution.

The Crediton Killings is a great read even for those who aren’t fans of mysteries.