The Demon’s Parchment (#3)
Since losing his knighthood for treason and reinventing himself as an investigator for hire known as The Tracker, Crispin Guest has grown accustomed to unusual clients with dark requests. Yet when Jacob of Provencal, a Jewish physician at the King’s court arrives at his doorstep late one frigid night, Guest cannot quiet his unease. Jacob and his son Julian are missing a set of documents, items they claim contain a spiritual and deadly power that, in the wrong hands, could bring forth a demon and put all of London in danger.
Meanwhile, there is evidence that a monster has already been unleashed in the city. Vulnerable street children are being abducted and murdered, their mutilated bodies the only clues left behind. With the help of his orphaned young servant Jack, it is up to Guest to unravel the grim tangle of mystery and murder that has taken over the wintry streets of London. Along the way, he encounters old enemies, finds friends in unexpected places, and has his long held convictions challenged at every turn.
This third installment of the Crispin Guest medieval mystery series was nominated for a Romantic Times award and was a finalist for the Macavity Award. The Demon’s Parchment is a gripping, vividly told story that will leave even the most seasoned mystery readers guessing until the very end.
Reviews
“Absolutely first class; highly recommended for fans of medieval mysteries.”Library Journal, Starred Review
“The best yet in the series.”Publishers Weekly
“A solid plot and cast of characters, a feel for the story’s place and time (fourteenth-century England), and an appealing noirish air. A welcome addition to the medieval-mystery landscape.”Booklist
“The writing is wonderful and the history vividly presented. Not to be missed by fans of real historical mysteries.”RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars, Top Pick
“Westerson writes with such knowledge and skill that you feel as if you are walking those shadowy streets and alleys of London […] not only enjoyable but enlightening.”Reviewing the Evidence
“Westerson tells a chilling yarn and Crispin and his apprentice are among the most courageous and compelling protagonists at work in fictional detection.”Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Another superb mystery; those who discover Guest for the first time will be compelled to explore back through the original books, while longtime fans will already be looking forward to Westerson’s next novel.”North Country Times
“Keep(s) the reader absorbed with intriguing characters, a believable setting and a horrific series of murders.”Deadly Pleasures Magazine
“THE DEMON’S PARCHMENT is so good it’s sinful. With an unerring eye to historical detail and an uncanny knack for making the distant past feel comfortably contemporary, Jeri Westerson has written a novel sure to please even the most demanding reader. Protagonist Crispin Guest (a.k.a. The Tracker) is seductive as hell, and the writing is some of the best you’ll find anywhere. Buy this book or be damned!”William Kent Krueger, Anthony Award-winning author of Heaven’s Keep
Awards & Accolades
Romantic Times Award Nominee: “Best Historical Mystery”
Macavity Award Finalist: “Best Historical Mystery”