I love a good mystery, and the historical series by Mel Starr featuring bailiff and surgeon Sir Hugh de Singleton is always a good choice. I chose book 13 in the series, The Easter Sepulchre, because of the title. I thought the book would be set during Holy Week, and it started there on Good Friday and continued quickly to Easter Sunday, but the majority of the sleuthing done was in the following weeks and months. With a lack of modern forensics, Hugh has to take his time solving these 14th century felonies. I love the historical detail that Starr brings to this series. Everyday life in medieval England is well-researched and presented in a way that the modern reader feels that they can be a part — minus the plagues and lack of antibiotics. LOL. The novel is narrated by Hugh himself as he chronicles the puzzling case. I guessed the culprit about midway through the book, but that didn’t spoil the plot. I loved how Hugh doggedly pursued every clue and theory.
I think anyone who loves a good whodunit will enjoy The Easter Sepulchre, but those who love a good dose of history with their mystery will be intrigued and swept away to the life and times of Hugh. Please note: while this book is 13th in a long-running series, anyone new to series will not have any issues jumping right in. I do recommend starting at the beginning though — the books are great!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Spring Arbor High School in 1960, and Greenville College (Illinois) in 1964. He received an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970. He taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School.
Mel married Susan Brock in 1965. They have two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
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