Bernard Knight Knihy

Bernard Knight nás zavádí do dvanáctého století, kdy sir John de Wolfe, první jmenovaný koroner hrabství Devon, cestuje po kraji, vyšetřuje vraždy a násilí a pokouší se do oněch drsných časů vnést trochu pořádku. Po nehodě při rytířském turnaji se objeví jeho starý známý Gilbert de Ridefort z křížové výpravy a převrátí jeho život vzhůru nohama. Gilbert je templářským rytířem a zoufale potřebuje Johnovu pomoc, aby unikl uzavřenému řádu bojovných mnichů. John se náhle octne ve světě intrik a nebezpečné politiky, což ho zavede na dobrodružnou výpravu mezi proslulé piráty na ostrov Lundy. Nakonec ho vše přivede k odhalení strašného tajemství a probudí se v něm víra ve strašlivý boží hněv.

Kniha se odehrává na sklonku 12. století v anglickém katedrálním městě Exeteru za vlády krále Richarda I. Lví srdce.Kromě hlavního hrdiny se zde opět setkáme s Johnovými pomocníky, s Johnovou velšskou milenkou Nestou, majitelkou hostince u Bushů, s jeho zakyslou a ctižádostivou manželkou Matildou, s jeho hrabivým a záludným švagrem, šerifem hrabství Richardem de Revelle a řadou dalších postav. Koroner sir John de Wolf řeší tentokrát zločiny spáchané na dívkách z vysoce postavených rodin. Do případu je zapleten místní stříbrotepec, vyhlášený chlípník Godfrey Fitzosbern. Jak do toho všeho zapadá Fitzosbernova mladá hezká žena, kterou její manžel v lepším případě zanedbává a v horším případě týrá? A jak zde figuruje i učedník lékárníka, který byl snoubencem znásilněné Christiny? Na tyto a další otázky se koroner John snaží odpovědět a zjednat spravedlnost. Tak jako v Hrozivém tajemství však i zde v závěru viník uniká z dosahu koronera Johna a světské spravedlnosti, zasáhne však vyšší moc. Bernard Knight, komandér Řádu britského impéria, při psaní svých románů vychází ze své celoživotní praxe, a proto jsou jeho knihy tak čtivé a skutečné.

Sixth novel in the increasingly popular medieval mystery series featuring Crowner John, Devon's first county coroner.

The 13th gripping murder mystery to feature 12th century coroner, Crowner John

Exeter, 1195. Renovations at the new school in Smythen Street are disrupted by the shocking discovery of a partially mummified corpse hidden in the rafters - and Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner is called to investigate. Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother-in-law and founder of the school, immediately tries to blame Nicholas de Arundell, a young outlawed knight living rough on Dartmoor. As Sir John discovers, Nicholas has good reason to bear a grudge against the unscrupulous de Revelle. But is he really a killer? With the victim's identity unknown and the motive a mystery, the murder remains unsolved. But then comes news of a second violent death - and Sir John is forced to track down the 'noble outlaw' in order to find the answers.

Gilbert de Rideford is a Knight of the Temple of Solomon, and an old acquaintance from Crowner John's crusading days. He claims to have come into possession of a secret that could shake Christendom to its foundations—and he desperately needs John's help to escape from the secretive order of warrior monks. Suddenly swept into a world of religious intrigue and dangerous politics, Crowner John finds himself undertaking a life-threatening mission to the Island of Lundy—inhabited solely by notorious pirates—until finally the awful secret itself is revealed.

When Crowner John is summoned to the bleak Devonshire moors to investigate the murder of a tin miner, he has little idea how difficult this new investigation will prove to be. The victim is a trusted and well-loved overman of Devon's most powerful and successful mine owner, Walter Knapman. There seems to be only one possible motive - to sabotage Walter's business. But the tinners have their own laws, and they are none too pleased at Crowner John's interference. Especially as their main experience of officials has been with Sheriff Richard de Revelle, whose notoriously high taxes keep them in a permanent state of fury and near rebellion. And then Walter disappears. Stephen Acland, Walter's business rival wastes no time in comforting Walter's beautiful wife Joan, who appears remarkably unmoved by her husband's disappearance. Meanwhile, Walter's brother is going frantic with worry ... or could it be guilt? A decapitated body, a missing tinner, a disgruntled band of miners and a mad Saxon, intent on the destruction of all things Norman. How on earth can Crowner John sort all this out when his wife hates him, his mistress has spurned him for a younger man, and his clerk is in the grip of a suicidal depression? Only Gwyn, Crowner John's indispensable right-hand man seems to be of any help at all, until he is arrested for murder and put on trial for his life.

The first compelling medieval mystery in the acclaimed Crowner John series

From its first arrival in Britain with the Norman forces of William the Conqueror, violence and revenge are the cursed sword's constant companions. From an election-rigging scandal in 13th century Venice to the battlefield of Poitiers in 1356, as the Sword of Shame passes from owner to owner in this compelling collection of interlinked mysteries, it brings nothing but bad luck and disgrace to all who possess it.

County Coroner Sir John de Wolfe investigates a series of brutal murders in 12th-century England. The discovery of the murdered crew from a shipwreck…is just the first in a string of atrocities. The captain was the husband of Sir John's former mistress, Hilda, and his investigation troubles both his shrewish wife Matilda and his current mistress…After a series of horrific murders, all related by the use of an unusual knife and crossbows with Arabic lettering, Sir John realizes that all the victims were connected to a disastrous crusade. Meanwhile, Sir John's disgraced brother-in-law Richard de Revelle is involved in a scheme to make money for Prince John, who's trying to seize his brother's throne. The King of France has sent a Mohammedan alchemist to work with a Scot to turn base metal to gold, and Richard is providing them supplies and a secret place to work. When Hilda goes on her own crusade to track down her husband's killers, she's made a prisoner, along with Matilda and Richard…Knight's tenth populates a detailed study of the period with well-drawn characters