Product Description

When an unidentified body is discovered in the harbour town of Axmouth, twenty miles from Exeter, Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner is called to investigate. The manner of the young man's death is a matter of some dispute - but, as Sir John soon discovers, it was no accident. The victim did not drown, as the manor reeve alleges, but was strangled to death. In the ensuing murder investigation, Sir John is frustrated by what appears to be a conspiracy of silence among the seamen and townsfolk. Just what is the local population trying to hide? As Crowner John is to learn, there are those who would go to any length to ensure the shocking truth remains hidden. And the coroner must draw on all his resources of courage, cunning and determination if he is to escape from Axmouth with his life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6747 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

About the Author
Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, became a Home Office Pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. During his 40-year career with the Home Office, he performed over 25,000 autopsies, and was involved in many high profile cases, including that of Fred and Rose West, and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written eleven novels in the Crowner John mystery series. Professor Knight lives in Cardiff.

Customer Reviews

Book Twelve in the Crowner John Series

Bernard Knight, or to give him his correct title, Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, was a pathologist to the Home office until 1980 when he was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Wales College of medicine, 1980. He has written the extremely successful Crowner John series of medieval mysteries, of which there are now twelve books, His character Crowner John is certainly among my favourite characters in medieval mysteries.

The books are set in 12th century Devon where Crowner (coroner) John has a running battle with. the corrupt Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother.-in-law, and ex-sheriff. On the surface, for the sake of his wife, Sir John de Wolfe attempts to keep up a working relationship with his brother-in-law, but secretly he regards the sheriff with rank distaste. Sir John, a staunch supporter of Richard the Lionheart, has no time for Sir Richard, who is siding with Prince John while Richard is away.

The post of Crowner (coroner) is a relatively new one and Sir John is still treated with a great deal of mistrust, not least because of the fines that he must impose when there has been a violent death of any kind. So when Sir John is called to investigate an unidentified body found in Axmouth, he is not particularly concerned to find that the inhabitants of the town close ranks and are unwilling to divulge what, if anything they know about the manner of the young man's death.

It is only later that Sir John realises that the reticence among the seafarer's and townsfolk regarding the suspicious death is something far more sinister than the normal lack of interest in the duties of the newly appointed Coroner's office. Sir John will need all his powers of persuasion and his strong sword arm to see this case through to it's conclusion.

Whatever the "Manor"
I will be concise. If Bernard Knight wrote it, I read it and that includes his non-fiction. One is never disappointed with a "Crowner John" read and one knows that he is "right on" with his history. I look at Knight and Jecks as a team so to speak. You expect and receive excellence in writing
despite the book market these days.

The Manor of Death
I started reading Bernard Knight books nearly two years ago. Bernard weaves history into a story, using records of Devon in the early 12th century. Juxtaposed to current day Coroner practice, many aspects of Crowner John series are still in place. The books are easy to read, very comfortable and I personally do not like to be disturbed when reading these books. Bernard has a knack of enthralling the reader into the characters of the book. Excellent at keeping character personalities stable. Crowner John faces issues direct and overcomes issues preventing his duty, with a tenacious approach.

The History of the era has been thoroughly researched enabling the reader with a pictoral vision of what Britain was like.

My advice to new readers - read one book first then scour amazon for the remainder - these are addictive reading books.