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Unhallowed Ground (2011)

by Mel Starr(Favorite Author)

4 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0857210580 (ISBN13: 9780857210586)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Monarch Books

series

The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon

review 1: A colleague of mine recently visited St. Augustine, so I when this book came across my desk, I had to take a few hours and read it! It is a very quick read; great for a rainy summer day and the author gives a fine description of the sites of America's oldest city. I always enjoy how Heather Graham wraps her ghost stories around specific sites like this one, especially the descriptions of the old homes in the city. I suggest this book for great beach reading or just when you need to an escape from reality for a while! Enjoy!
review 2: I only recently discovered ‘The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton’, which attracted me for a number of reasons. As a fan of the Cadfael series a Medieval Crime Mystery series seemed interesting, as a lover of Medieval History the... more setting attracted me, and as a Christian the religious aspects and the fact that novels in this genre tend to be ‘cleaner’ than others also seemed a plus. By way of a brief introduction the series is set in the late 1300s (14th century) and the protagonist Hugh de Singleton is the younger son of a knight who trained as a surgeon (different from a physician) who was appointed Bailiff of the Oxfordshire Village of Bampton on the Weald after treating the Local Lord.Bampton is a real village a short distance from Oxford, and most of Hugh’s sleuthing and medical work takes place in and around the region. John Wycliffe the controversial theologian also makes an appearance as a secondary character in a number of the stories, as a friend and mentor of Hugh, who adheres to some of his teachings and doctrines which went against the mainstream teaching of the Catholic Church. With this particular instalment, the fourth in the series, I was generally satisfied. The crime itself is not described in graphic detail, nor does the author seem to delight in gory descriptions of brutal acts, and the aspects of social history are interesting. Some of the descriptions of medieval surgery and medical practice are also fascinating, as well as the everyday lives of ordinary folk. The historical elements seem to be well done, plausible and authentic- and appear to be well researched for the most part. The glossary is useful for the more unfamiliar terms. Yet the novel does seem to drag a little towards the middle. The main reason for this seems to have been that Hugh just did not have much to do, and so his daily life and routine just seems to have become part of the plot, and, whilst this work for a while, it cannot always hold one’s interest. Admittedly, it would not be much of a mystery novel if the case was solved easily or quickly, and the process of investigation is as important as the resolution, yet the story just seemed slow and plodding in parts. Hugh’s moral dilemma is worked into the story well, and adds a somewhat deeper element. He must investigate the murder of a hugely unpopular member of the community whom almost everyone seems to have had motive to slay and at first is convinced that a corrupt and murderous clergyman who had previously been complicit in another crime must the culprit, despite the fact that all who know him insist that he is a changed man.When he goes to confront the man, he must in some way confront his own unpleasant prejudice to find that his prime suspect could not be guilty. Gradually, as the suspects become fewer it becomes apparent that one of his friends may be responsible. As this becomes apparent, Hugh is torn between pursuing the felon as his role and justice demands, and abandoning investigation because of the possibility of having to send one of his friends to the gallows if he does discover a murdered amongst them. Yet the conclusion of this moral dilemma (and the solving of the murder) is distinctly unsatisfactory, as well as morally questionable, which is the main reason why I gave this novel a lower rating than I perhaps would have done. On a moral level, I much prefer the married Hugh in this Novel to Hugh the Bachelor in previous novels who was in the habit of ogling a particular teenage scullery maid, as well as any other pretty face who could turn his head, or distract his attention. He is, in my view a far more appealing character when he is not occupied by thoughts of women and fantasising about the benefits of marriage as in the second novel which I hope soon to finish. Overall, ‘Unhallowed Ground’ was and enjoyable and pleasant read, likely to satisfy lovers of historical fiction if their expectations are not too high. Those who expect the High Drama of political intrigue will be disappointed, but those who prefer ‘cosy’ rural settings may take to it more. As murder mystery it is good, though perhaps not the best, the most intriguing element may the protagonist belonging to a much misunderstood and underrated profession which the author has clearly taken trouble to acquaint himself with. less

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