Description (from cover):'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.'
My thoughts:
Long ago when I first picked up this book series, I was very impressed. I haven't read a lot of medieval mysteries and when I discovered this series, well I was ecstatic. I love the medieval historical period and I love a good cozy mystery. This was the best of both worlds. I quickly read through the first four books and knew that I had found a new series to follow. I went a couple of years before picking up the fifth book and was surprised at how easily I picked everything back up. Mel Starr does a fantastic job of creating memorable characters and plot lines that it was easy for me to pick up where I left off.
In this book, we see Hugh is traveling once again and he stumbles across yet another dead body. Of course, his inquisitive mind cannot rest and soon he finds himself being asked by the abbot of a monastery to look into the death of its novice. Hugh's sense of justice and need to discover a murderer lead him on a merry chase. Of course, nothing ever goes according to plan and Hugh soon finds himself in trouble for heresy. This makes the murder investigation next to impossible, but if you know Hugh de Singleton, he always finds a way.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than the two I have recently read. This book puts me in mind of the earlier books in this series and what drew me into it in the first place. Although, I do like the books that are set in Bampton, Hugh's hometown, more so than the one's where he is traveling, this book still was really good. I can't wait to see what is next in the series for Hugh and his friends and family. I always seem to give this series the benefit of the doubt, and in this case, I am so glad that I did. Another remarkable and engaging read by this author that I found hard to put down.
Overall Rating: 4
Title: The Abbot's Agreement
Author: Mel Starr
Series: The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #7
Publisher: Lion Fiction
Publication Date: October 8, 2014
Pages: 252
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
