Blood Lance (#5)
Crispin Guest has solved many mysteries since losing his knighthood and becoming “The Tracker”, an investigator for hire in fourteenth century London. Yet when he witnesses a body fall from London bridge into the frigid waters of the Thames, he finds himself in the middle of a dangerous and complicated puzzle.
The deceased was an armorer whose death officials rule to be a suicide, but Guest immediately sees evidence of foul play. During his investigation he runs into Sir Thomas Saunfayl, an old acquaintance from his knighthood days, frantically searching for the armorer. It seems the dead man was bargaining with Sir Thomas for the Spear of Longinus, the weapon used to pierce the side of Christ on the Cross, which grants invincibility to its owner. After his friend Geoffrey Chaucer arrives in London, all too eager to help find the spear and conduct clandestine meetings with powerful figures, Guest soon finds himself trying to solve a conundrum of many parts, all centered around the same dangerous and potent holy relic. With the spear now missing and more murders occurring, Guest, together with his loyal apprentice Jack, must use his sharp wiles to find it and piece together the truth in a world of political intrigue, treachery, and murder.
With evocative period detail and an unforgettable cast of characters, Blood Lance is the exhilarating fifth volume in the Crispin Guest medieval noir mystery series.
Reviews
“[A] lively tale of historical interest smoothly combined with a worthy mystery.”
“Clever twists and convincing period detail make Westerson’s fifth 14th-century historical featuring disgraced knight Crispin Guest one of her best.”
“Well done […] medieval London is almost tangible!”RT Book Reviews
“These mysteries are always well crafted and complex, leading us into the culture of the era.”Library Journal
“Written with a keen knowledge of medieval history, BLOOD LANCE is another riveting tale of honor and heroism from Westerson, grounded in period detail, a wealth of action and the continued development of her characters.”Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Jeri Westerson is a master in making the reader see, and practically smell, the teeming, treacherous streets of 14th century England. Elaborate and detailed description of the scenes and locations give a more realistic touch to the story and don’t corrupt the plots.”
“If you’re a history buff with a penchant for romantic suspense that borders on noir, Jeri Westerson delivers the goods…What she does especially well is weave period detail with murder. The investigation and the crime itself could have taken place in no era or locale but that of medieval London.”
“Westerson does an excellent job combining actual famous people such as Geoffrey Chaucer with her fictitious characters […] she presents a page-turning thriller while mixing in a little romance with compelling drama. This is an enjoyable stand-alone novel, but I plan on reading the four previous books in the series. Highly recommended for readers of medieval mysteries.”
“Ms. Westerson’s research is impeccable […] a stroke of genius for an excellent writer who brings the times to glowing life. And Jeri Westerson does just that. I can almost guarantee you’re going to be hooked on the Crispin Guest adventures.”
“You’re in for a great story with a stellar cast of characters set in 1386 in London as Westerson skillfully weaves a tale of murder, deceit, and treachery.”Red Room
“…a very nicely judged balance between historical background, a pleasing puzzle to solve, and a high adventure content as our knight must get back in the saddle.”CityBookReview