Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13271 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 344 pages

Amazon.co.uk
Bernard Knight has long been one of the most reliable and sheerly entertaining practitioners of the historical crime novel, and it's not hard to see why. His particular skill is the marrying of astute historical detail with ingenious plotting, and The Noble Outlaw is a perfect example of that synthesis. In 12th century Exeter, a school is in the process of being renovated when a mummified body is discovered in the rafters. Inevitably, it is the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe who is commissioned to investigate. In fact, it is Sir John's brother-in-law, Richard de Revelle, the founder of the school, who supplies an instant (and rather too glib) an explanation, blaming a youthful rebel knight who has been reduced to sleeping rough on Dartmoor. Sir John discovers other corollary evidence against the young man, but he is never one to accept the obvious explanation, and digs deeper. And then a second violent murder takes the whole investigation into a critical phase.

All of the things that have made Bernard Knight's previous outings in the historical crime field so pleasurable are evident here (without, perhaps, quite the verve of earlier books); the best writing involves that crucial sleight-of-hand of the genre: refracting ancient sensibilities through modern modes of speech (who could accept a whole novel written in the authentic idiom?), but convincing us -- at every opportunity -- of the verisimilitude of what we're reading. The Noble Outlaw adds more lustre to Bernard Knight's already solid reputation. --Barry Forshaw

Synopsis
Exeter, 1195. Renovations at the new school in Smythen Street are disrupted by the shocking discovery of a partially mummified corpse hidden in the rafters - and Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner is called to investigate. Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother-in-law and founder of the school, immediately tries to blame Nicholas de Arundell, a young outlawed knight living rough on Dartmoor. As Sir John discovers, Nicholas has good reason to bear a grudge against the unscrupulous de Revelle. But is he really a killer? With the victim's identity unknown and the motive a mystery, the murder remains unsolved. But then comes news of a second violent death - and Sir John is forced to track down the 'noble outlaw' in order to find the answers.

Customer Reviews

From a girls point of view
Like the others who have written reviews, l also have now read all the Crowner John books...l too wish l could read at a slower pace...Dr Knight, has the ability to incorporate actual facts from the 12th centuary, with fun, laughter and a real sense of taking you into the castles, taverns and villages, bringing the characters to life, and no, l defy anyone to guess who done it before being well into their lives.
Although John De Wolfe is a real man's man, Bernard Knight also shows that he has a soft spot for the ladies, one in particular. So girls, turn the phone off, put the kettle on and get into the life, loves and mysteries that are Crowner John.

Bernard Knight, a True Knight of a Gentleman and Author
As a U.S. reader, I trust you will not object to some observations from "across the pond" (as we former military used to call it). Although technically retired, my reading was often of an academic nature in several fields of learning. A year or so ago, I found myself in the need to take up some leisure reading or in other words something not hard and fast academic in nature. I love history in the broad sense (across borders which are fluid over time) and a good mystery where one does not know "who done it" by page 5 so that one may be proud of oneself for beating the author to the answers (said tongue in cheek). Well, I found first Michael Jecks and then the good (Dr.) Bernard Knight. Some, if not all of you, know that they have both written about medieval coroners that were brought back into British history at the time of Richard. Their tales are almost hand in glove as they are about a generation apart. Both gentleman are most true to history and interject fictional characters into the scene so that one gets a good dose of history and mystery at the same time. Now this was a little over a year ago, but I have read all of the books in the coroner series of both authors published to date. And since Dr. Knight has been around a little longer than Michael, I have read other titles to include some of the academic by Knight. I wish I could read slower or that this author, as well as Jecks, could write faster which is most unfair of me and most self serving. I may be forced to go back to book one in the series. But, I must say that even when Knight and Jecks write together with other authors, and they are select in whom they write with, you know when you get to those bits by either of them. They always "ring true!"

If my poor memory serves me correctly, the Latin "aflare" means puffed up or full of one's self. Despite his many achievements, to include his military service, Knight is never "aflare." There are some authors who speak highly of themselves and don't deserve the credit ("aflare" is also the root word for flatulence).

Bernard Knight is a good author and a good man. Search the titles by him and you will find a worthwhile read whether it be for pleasure reading or medical forensics, etc. In your search you might find some interesting and available out of print items.

Medieval Coroner will thrill
The continuing tales of Crowther John and to a new reader of the series is a tale that can be picked up and read without having read the previous installments. As to who this book is perhaps best for I would suggest that fans of Ellis' Brother Cadfael as well as fans of crime novels. Whilst this may confuse the odd reader, being exposed to the medieval world is not only refreshing but allows the reader to become fully engrossed within its pages and if that isn't enough, theres also a list of terms and an explanation of them within the book. What more could you want. For those who are currently wondering as to whom Bernard Knight is, he is perhaps Britain's most predominant retired Coroner and as such brings what many would term as his macabre expertise to the tale. It is this that adds another depth to the tale and for many a reader will increase their enjoyment no end.