Belladonna at Belstone - Couverture souple

Jecks draws his characters with a craftsman's hand, evokes atmosphere with the touch of an old master and keeps you wriggling on the hook of suspense as skilfully as Christie at her best. Enjoyable to the very end (NORTHERN ECHO)

'A compelling mystery book and one to cherish' Crime Time
'A commendable achievement' Kirkus Reviews
'Wickedly exciting' Newcastle Evening Chronicle
'Jecks draws his characters with a craftsman's hand, evokes atmosphere with the touch of an old master and keeps you wriggling on the hook of suspense as skilfully as Christie at her best. Enjoyable to the very end' Northern Echo

Wickedly exciting (NEWCASTLE EVENING CHRONICLE)

SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR:
'An inventive plot, memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background' Kirkus Reviews
'SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR...[is] one of the most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels' The Times
'This worthy series...Jecks does his usual skillful job' Publishers Weekly
'Like all Jecks's tales, this one is a nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular' Library Journal
'Jecks has a real knack of bringing to life the medieval era of the West Country...SQUIRE THROWLEIGH'S HEIR has enough twists and turns to satisfy everybody... An excellent adddtion to the series' Shots
'A very well told story with a violent yet convincing plot. Jecks succeeds in writing both a book which smells of the Middle Ages and yet is a detective story. No mean feat.' Crime Time
'Enjoyable and clever' Crime Time

Praise for Michael Jecks:
"A neatly constructed tale . . ."
". . . an absorbing page-turner . . ."
"The combination of Jecks's historical research, his caring descriptions of
the Devon countryside, his neat way of drawing characters, are shown to their
best advantage in this book." SHOTS
'A tortuous and exciting plot... The construction of the story and the sense of period are excellent' Shots
'A gem of historical storytelling...authentic recreation of the modes and manners, superstitions and primitive fears that made up the colourful but brutal tableau of the Middle Ages' Northern Echo
'Girt about with a goodly helping of period authenticity...ends up with a thrilling cop and robber chase on horseback' Oxford Times
'A goodly tale in the vein of Cadfael, and equally enjoyable' Coventry Evening Telegraph
'Like Ellis Peters' Cadfael, Puttock is a carefully drawn character who combines the whodunnit format with a loving attention to detail, with lively, intriguing descriptions. It...will help you turn back the pages of history and enjoy the depth and texture of a long-vanished England' Croydon Advertiser
'A medieval mystery to rank with the best' Northern Echo
'Brisk medieval whodunnit' Literary Review
'Tremendously successful medieval mystery series' Sunday Independent
'Jecks' knowledge of medieval history is impressive and is used here to good effect' Crime Time

A compelling mystery book and one to cherish (CRIME TIME)

The young nun, Moll, lies in the infirmary of St Mary's Priory, Belstone, having been bled to cure a migraine. Left to rest, she is just falling into a doze, smiling as she dreams of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when she suddenly awakes, realising in terror that she can't breathe. But she is already too weak to fight for her life...
It's 1321 and Lady Elizabeth of Topsham, Prioress of St Mary's, is struggling to retain her position in the face of devastating opposition. Especially since Sister Margherita, her treasurer, has accused her of lascivious disregard, claiming that, instead of paying for a new roof, Elizabeth has given money to the new vicar, a man she often sees alone - at night…
Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, together with his old friend Bailiff Simon Puttock, are summoned by the Bishop of Exeter's representative to investigate. There is no doubt that the threefold vow of poverty, chastity and obedience are routinely being broken.
When a second nun is murdered, they face their most difficult case yet. The path to the truth twists and turns under the influence of the sinister, primitive passions and secret ambitions, until they finally uncover the evil that lies at the heart of the convent.
'Michael Jecks is a national treasure' Scotland on Sunday