Rest Not In Peace by Mel Starr

Master Hugh, surgeon and bailiff, is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle. Sir Henry--with his current wife, a daughter by a first wife, two knights, two squires, and assorted servants--has outstayed his welcome at Bampton.

 

The next morning, Sir Henry is found dead, eyes open, in his bed. Master Hugh, despite shrill accusations from the grieving widow, is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death . . . which had nothing to do with the potion.

 

The sixth tale following Hugh de Singleton, Rest Not in Peace is sure to find its place among fans of detective and medieval historical fiction.

 

My review:

   This is a series of books I wouldn't have thought I'd like as well as I do, but I have enjoyed each and every one of them. I found this sixth book in the series to be the best so far.

 

  In most, or all of the other books, Hugh has to travel a lot to solve the crime, and in this book, the crimes happen right inside the castle walls. He does make one trip in his crime solving attempts, but most of the story takes place right in and around the castle.

 

  Some of the same characters are back that were in the other books, along with some new interesting people. In this book, Hugh has two murders to solve, and a handful of suspects.

  I found this book a more suspenseful and faster read than the others, though I have enjoyed all of the books.

About the author:

Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Spring Arbor High School in 1960, and Greenville College (Illinois) in 1964. He received an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970. He taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School.


Mel married Susan Brock in 1965, and they have two daughters; Amy (Kevin) Kwilinski, of Naperville, IL, and Jennifer (Jeremy) Reivitt, of Portage, MI. Mel and Susan have seven grandchildren. 

Rest Not In Peace is available from Kregel Publishing.

Thanks to Kregel for the review copy.