2008-01-10 Another Mystery to Solve for Bascot de Marins

Maureen Ash was a new author to me until I read the Alehouse Murders and I believe that was in fact her first book. As I always like to try new writers when I can find them I was happy to read the book and I found it good, light and interesting reading. The type of book where you do not have to try too hard to understand the plot. A tried and tested storyline used by many of the top writers of historical mystery fiction.

A knight from the Templar Order, back in England after eight years of captivity in the Holy Land. Weary in both body and soul, Bascot de Marins injuries have affected his body quite badly but not his fertile mind and as he seeks to regain his strength and well-being while on a stay at the castle in Lincoln, he is on the look-out for something to exercise a mind that has lain fallow, during his long years of captivity.

Well, after cutting his teeth in the novel The Alehouse Murders, Bascot de Marins is more than ready to try to solve another mystery and in this second book Death of a Squire he gets his chance. Templar Bascot de Marins is given the task of unearthing the truth when a young squire's body is found hanging from a tree. Could the young man have taken his own life? De Marins is certain that he did not. Is the squire's death related in any way to a meeting that is to take place within the confines of Lincoln castle, a meeting of King's no less . . .