CRIME REVIEW: Hill of Bones - The Medieval Murderers

Release Date: 07/07/11

SYNOPSIS:

Cerdic, a young boy who has the ability to see into the future, has a mysterious treasure in his possession. A blind old woman once gave him a miniature knife with an ivory bear hilt - the symbol of King Arthur - and told him that when the time comes he will know what he has to do with it. But when he and his brother, Baradoc, are enlisted into King Arthur's army, he finds that trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. When Baradoc dies fighting with King Arthur in an ambush of the Saxons on Solsbury Hill, Cerdic buries the dagger in the side of the hill as a personal tribute to his brother. Throughout history, Solsbury Hill continues to be the scene of murder, theft and the search for buried treasure. Religion, politics and the spirit of King Arthur reign over the region, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of corpses and treasure buried in the hill as an indication of its turbulent past.


REVIEW:

Here within the latest title from the Medieval Murderers is a set of tales that will thrill and entertains throughout. Each authors brings their own unique writing style to the fore allowing the reader to dip into and savour a whole host of short stories whilst they maintain a common theme. It’s well written, it has a whole host of talent and for me, it’s a great way to sample authors that you may not yet have tried whilst getting a story from a firm favourite.

All in this was a very satisfactory set and one that will generate more than one dark nights nightmares. Eerie, harrowing and of course a set of stories that were you to look back on history, ones that demonstrate without exception that we’re not as advanced as we think we are.

CRIME REVIEW: The Sacred Stone - The Medieval Murderers

BOOK BLURB:

1067. In the desolate wastes of Greenland, a group of hunters discover a strangely-shaped meteor which has fallen from the sky. At first, the mysterious 'sky-stone' seems to bring them good luck, healing a lame boy and guaranteeing a good catch of furs. But violence and murder soon follow in fortune's wake, as the villagers fight and struggle amongst themselves to get control of the precious stone. Over the next six hundred years, the Sky-Stone falls into the hands of crusading knights, the wicked Sheriff of Devon, a group of radical young kabalists, the dying King Henry III and a band of travelling players. Each time, the stone brings treachery, discord and violent death to those who seek to possess it.


REVIEW:

A cracking offering from a group of top notch historical fiction crime writers. Here in this offering they take the reader on a journey through time following one artifact in each of their own indomitable writing styles. Each story is a great offering on its own and when read as a whole was a great overall story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Add to the mix the real talent of so many authors backed up with a good overall arc and cracking dialogue and it’s a book that really will keep fans of historical crime satisfied.