Saved from the streets of London, young Jack Tucker is totally loyal to his master, Crispin Guest, famously known as "The Tracker". While Jack idolizes Crispin and is learning from him how to think like an investigator, he is definitely not enamoured by this long, bumpy and tiring trip from London by horseback to Canterbury.

More at ease in the saddle than Jack, Crispin, a former knight of Lancaster who had been disgraced from court, knew he could ill afford to turn down any job. He has been summoned by Courtenay, Archbishop of Canterbury and a rival of his former Lord, to guard the blessed 200 year old bones of Thomas Beckett and to ferret out a heretic suspected of being in the church. While anxious to see the bones himself, he has his own suspicions that something else might be at play.

Arriving at an inn, full of pilgrims, Crispin has mixed emotions about meeting up with Geoffery Chaucer, a previously close friend from his days as a knight with Lancaster. Focusing on his task, Crispin takes up watch at the Cathedral, but being tired from the trip, dozes off a bit. As he wakes, he hears a scream! A lady Prioress has been brutally murdered! Then, he finds that Beckett's bones have been stolen! Who could have committed this crime? As the stakes gets higher and time starts to run out, will Crispin find the real murderer before it is too late?

Steeped in medieval history herself, Jeri Westerson brings a very authentic voice and sense of time and place to TROUBLED BONES. It is an intricate and ingenious fusion of medieval mystery and thoughtful sleuthing (Medieval Noir). Both history buffs and mystery fans will have lots to relish in this exciting Canterbury Tale. The plotting is well layered and the characters are strongly developed. I really enjoyed the growing relationship between Crispin and Jack and how they sets it on a new course as Jack develops his skills. Readers will love how Jack finds out what goes on behind cloistered doors! While this is the fourth Crispin Guest book written by Westerson, it is the first I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait to read the previous three and look forward to hopefully more adventures! So, step back in time and have a great read!