Synopses & Reviews
1192. Returning from the Holy Land at the end of the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart, King of England, Sir John de Wolfe, a Devon knight, finds England simmering with rebellion. Discovering a body washed up on the shores of the River Exe, its throat cut, Sir John deduces that he was a king's courier. Tasked by Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar, to find out why the man died and who killed him, Sir John de Wolfe finds himself drawn unwillingly into affairs of state. His new career as a king's coroner is about to begin . . .
Review
"Knight does his usual fine job of bringing the past to life" Publishers Weekly
Review
"Offers much satisfaction for fans" Kirkus Reviews
Review
Crowner's Crusade is a treat for fans of the series and just might attract some new readers too. Recommended. Historical Novel Society
Synopsis
How a humble Devon knight became a king's coroner: the thrilling prequel to the perennially popular Crowner John medieval mystery series, set in twelfth-century England. 1192. At the end of the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, sets sail for home from the Holy Land. Sir John de Wolfe, a Devon knight, is part of the king's small bodyguard on that ill-fated voyage - and during the journey, Sir John's loyalty to the monarch is tested to the limit.
On his return, Sir John finds England simmering with rebellion. Richard's younger brother John has used the king's absence to plot to seize the throne, and the country is a hotbed of unrest. Discovering a body washed up on the shores of the River Exe, its throat cut, Sir John deduces from the device etched on the victim's signet ring that he was a king's courier. Tasked by Sir Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar, to find out why the man died and who killed him, de Wolfe finds himself drawn unwillingly into affairs of state. His new career as a king's coroner is about to begin . . .
About the Author
Bernard Knight is a retired Home Office pathologist renowned for his work on such high-profile cases as the Fred and Rosemary West murders. Bernard is the author of the 'Crowner John' series, as well as the Dr Richard Pryor forensic mystery series.