If not for the noisy crows, Hugh de Singleton would be
well on his way and back as planned to his home in
Brampton where he serves Lord Gilbert Talbot as surgeon
and bailiff. His beloved wife Kate is expecting their
second child after the season of celebrating Christ's
birth and he wants to be with her for the delivery.
It is a cold and muddy late autumn day in 1368 as Hugh
and Arthur, his loyal friend and groom to Lord Gilbert,
make their way on horseback to Oxford where, after years
of saving and longing, Hugh hopes to purchase a used
Bible for 30 shillings. A gathering of crows is called
a murder of crows, but while they both suspected
something had died to attract the crows' attention, they
certainly did not expect to discover a murder. With his
relentless curiosity, Hugh could not resist
investigating, yet he never thought they would discover
what they did.
Shocked by finding the bird pecked body so close to
Eynsham Abbey, a monastery just a half mile further down
the road, he sends Arthur to notify them and get help.
Later, at the monastery, Hugh reports to Abbott
Thurstan after finding out the murdered man's identity.
While the Abbott is ancient and close to dying, he is
alert and wants the young monk's death properly
investigated. Finding out Hugh's reason for his journey,
the Abbott cannily offers a tempting arrangement: Would
Hugh accept and come to investigate?
THE ABBOT'S AGREEMENT by Mel Starr reads as wonderfully
as a stand alone mystery or as the much awaited
seventh book in Starr's highly praised series of
medieval mysteries, entitled The Chronicles of Hugh de
Singleton. I can say this very truthfully as this is
the
first book by Starr that I read and I loved it so much,
I had to read more of the earlier books in the series.
Much to the delight of his many fans (including me),
Starr has the writing talent and story telling abilities
to transport his many readers back in time to the
fourteenth
century and keep them there until the satisfying
conclusion of this latest episode and adventure in
Hugh's life. Starr, a former history teacher, has spent
many years researching medieval history,
especially that of medical practices and surgical
equipment of the times. THE ABBOT'S AGREEMENT is
abundant in interesting facts about medieval life as
well as the ways of monasteries, complete with fears of
heresy and secret societies.
Hugh is a very interesting character. He is likable,
intelligent, quick witted, and very loyal to his
principles and to his faith in God. His desire in
wanting to spend all his savings to own his own Bible is
not only telling about him, but also reflects the cost
and limited access most people had to reading scriptures
with their own eyes, if they read at all. While Hugh is
concerned over not being with his beloved Kate, he is
loyal to the Abbott and to justice. The plot moves
quickly as Hugh is relentless in pursuit of the
murderer. He has a number of suspects and his own share
of enemies. Can he survive the ever present danger?
THE ABBOT'S AGREEMENT is wonderfully filled with an
abundance of interesting tidbits about life in the mid-
14th Century that Starr skillfully and weaves into the
story so well that you just feel as if you are reading
Hugh's actual journal over candlelight. If you are
already a fan of Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de
Singleton or simply enjoy historical fiction and a good
mystery, you are sure to relish the unusual murder in THE
ABBOT'S AGREEMENT. Like good food and wine, THE ABBOT'S
AGREEMENT is a treat not to be missed! Enjoy the times,
the humour and the mystery! Not to be missed!
A new and disturbing puzzle for the medieval surgeon-turned-sleuth Master Hugh de Singleton is making his way toward Oxford when he discovers the corpse of a young Benedictine not half a mile from the nearby abbey. The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity; it is John, one of three novices. He had gone missing four days previous, and yet his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death—the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh’s sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him. With realistic medical procedures of the period, droll medieval wit, and a consistent underlying sense of Christian compassion, the seventh in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton will delight medieval history and crime fiction fans alike.
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