It took me a bit to get into 'The Traitor's Codex', not being previously aware of the earlier books in the Crispin Guest series. Crispin used to be a titled noble who fell from grace and was nearly executed for treason. Now, he lives with the common people and his former servant-cum-apprentice and his family as the Tracker of London; righting wrongs, protecting the innocent and, apparently hunting down mysterious artifacts like a medieval, slightly more religious Indiana Jones. It was an interesting enough story, but I probably wouldn't get it for myself or someone else. It's not bad, more just lackluster.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The release of a new book in the Crispin Guest series is cause for celebration in my home. I know that once I sit down with the book, I will have time for little else until I have read the last page.

As Crispin sits in a tavern with his ale, he is approached by a stranger who hands him a package, requesting that he not open it until he is alone. The package contains a book in a language that neither Crispin nor his apprentice Jack Tucker can decipher. When he consults a bookseller he is referred to a scholar and finally to a rabbi who identifies the language as Coptic. A translation reveals that it is the Judas Gospel. Ther are those in the church who will do whatever it takes to see this codex destroyed.. Crispin is half tempted to burn it, but the book was entrusted to his care until it can be passed to its’ proper owner.

John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster who raised Crispin, also asks for his help. Queen Anne has died suddenly and he needs Crispin to determine if it was a natural death or murder. Once a knight who was accused with treason and banned from court, his return to Westminster palace could mean his death if he is discovered. There is also an impostor who has been using his identity as the Tracker of London. The man is staging rescues and extorting large fees for his services. Crispin is a man of honor and the impostor must be stopped. When someone begins killing people connected to the codex, Crispin sends Jack’s wife and children into hiding for their protection. While his time has been divided between his investigations, his priority is family and finding a solution for th fat of the codex to keep them safe.

Jeri Westerson makes London in the 1300s come alive. As Crispin travels the alleys of the Shambles and the corridors of Westminster Palace she evokes the sights and sounds of old London. This is an example of historical fiction at its best.

First of all, my thanks to Severn House and NetGalley, who provided a digital ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This is a very well written series, with great character development over the course of 12 titles. We've seen Crispin Guest go from an embittered, impoverished former knight, convicted of treason and yet miraculously NOT executed, to a man largely at peace with his place in the world. Crispin has formed a new family for himself, -- his apprentice, Jack, now a grown man with a wife and children of his own. In The Traitor's Codex, Crispin in once more in temporary possession of a religious object of sorts, the Gospel of Judas. England is in a time of religious upheaval, with a group called Lollards challenging the status quo of the established (Roman Catholic) church, and a possible "new" gospel, especially one contesting the teaching of the existing gospels, is a danger to those who come into contact with it. A very quick read with, to me at least, a satisfactory ending!

4 stars

Into Crispin Guest's hands falls a very old book, recently re-covered but the pages are written on papyrus. It is the Gospel of Judas Iscariot. It challenges and contradicts (in some ways) the current understanding of Christianity. Crispin suspects that he should destroy the book, but it does not belong to him – and he loves books. What to do?

It is a time of religious upheaval in England. The up and coming Protestants are rallying for followers amongst the citizenry – especially a group called the Lollards. The Catholic Church, and King Richard, are incensed at what they see as heresy.

When Crispin is attacked in the street, the tension in an already tense story ratchets up. Then a trail of murdered men follow in Crispin's wake. The people he spoke to about the book are being killed.

While traveling from place to place in search of the killers of his acquaintances, he and his apprentice Jack solve several and varied crimes. He is ushered into King Richard's presence and accused of a plot to murder Richard's queen. He gets away on the strength of his past friendship with the king. Crispin is finally pressured into promising to turn the book over to a nefarious Bishop. Will he go through with it? Will he sove the mysterious identity of the man who gave him the book? Will he and Jack get out of this sticky situation alive?

This book is very well written in Jeri Westerson's usual style. The premise is most interesting, especially given the era in which it is set. While perhaps not so controversial in today's world, it was virtually explosive and heretical back then. Anyone caught in possession of such a book could be burned at the stake. The novel is written in a casual easy-to-read linear style. I enjoy these Crispin Guest novels. Not only are they exciting, but they give the reader a glimpse into life – both the wealthy and the poor – in England at the time. I am awaiting the release of the next Crispin novel.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

A good entry into the Crispin guest mystery series. I found the mystery interesting and the characters well written can t wait for the next one

What a enjoyable character, this Crispin Guest! This was the first book I read in this series, but I had no trouble at all to get to know Crispin and his extended 'family'.
Sometimes it is hard for a modern human being to realize how utterly important written texts were in a time when only a very small part of the population could read and write.
Did Judas really write the book Crispin so unexpectedly receives? What are the consequences? Crispin has to use all his wits to try and take the right decisions.
A nice read with entertaining characters and good atmospheric details.

Thanks to NetGally for this digital copy.

Crispin Guest is a conflicted man. Born into the noble class, but branded a traitor and forced to work for his living as a tracker, a detective of sorts. The story flows smoothly.

This is a very enjoyable fast paced book. Although it can be read as a stand alone, I wish I had read the previous 6 books. Crispin Guest had been a respected knight in the service of John of Gaunt but fell from grace for taking part in a treasonous plot to overthrow Richard II. In this book, he is impoverished, but surviving by helping solve crimes. He is unexpectedly given an old book written in an unknown cipher. As he asks scholars for help, they are each murdered.

If historical murder mysteries, particularly those set in the 14th century are your genre, start at the beginning and enjoy them all in order; you won't be disappointed.

Really enjoyed this book, was interesting to read a mystery set in the 14th century.

I didn't realise until after I had finished the book that there were 10 in the series, but although there were references to previous books, it didn't hinder the story at all.

The main protagonist, Crispin Guest, is given a book which after investigating he discovers is a missing Gospel, which the Catholic Church needs to have eradicated.

A fascinating read and recommended

When I started reading Traitor's Codex by Jeri Westerson I had no idea this was a series and that this book is not the first one. But despite the many references to prevoius books I found myself enjoying the story. And now I will have to read the others to find out what happened to Crispin Guest to land him there.

I don't usually read historical fictions but the book's description seemed interesting. I love stories which centers on books.

I received a copy of this book from Severn House Publishers throug Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I kept waiting for the story to build in suspense and to have the Judas Gospel explained in depth. Nada. Didn't happen. I was terribly disappointed to have read to the very end.. and it was only in the author's notes that I actually got some of what I was waiting to read about within the story.

Another outing for Crispin Guest, The Tracker of London. In this adventure, Crispin is given a dangerous codex which threatens the dogma of the Church.

As usual, the depiction of the characters makes them believable, three-dimensional individuals. As Crispin has grown more accepting of his fall from grace, his character has evolved and his life has developed in positive ways. In Traitor's Codex, Crispin once again must confront Richard II with more understanding on the parts of both men.

Westerson's research is wide-ranging and thorough, weaving both real personages and fictional characters skillfully through a series of mysteries in which Crispin is engaged to solve various crimes.

Dame Julian of Norwich, the famous medieval anchorite and one of my favorite historical figures--"all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well"--makes an appearance in the current mystery. Other historical figures who often appear include John of Gaunt and Chaucer--two more favorite historical characters.

Each book in this series, designated as Medieval Noir, presents an intriguing mystery with fascinating historical elements, and I have enjoyed them all.



Read in January; blog review scheduled for May 22.

NetGalley/Severn House
Historical Mystery/Medieval Noir. June 1, 2019. Print length: 224 pages.

A very quick book! It was an interesting story, it kept my interest. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting tho.

Murder in late 14th century London and environs. A strong story of political and religious intrigue and strife. Crispin Guest, the 'tracker' and a medieval detective of sorts, is given an old book which he determines is a missing Gospel. and one which 'needs' to be destroyed by the Catholic Church - the religion of the time. Lollards are quietly everywhere, people who challenge the Church's dominance and essentially start the move towards forming the Church of England. His journey of finding what the gospel says is followed by murder and he is sucked back into the politics of King Richard II and his court, and from which he was clearly banished some time ago. The Queen dies and the tracker has to content with determining whether a natural death or by poison too. He receives a visit from the anchoress Julian of Norwich which feels a little odd as Norwich is a long way from London and anchoresses typically spent their whole lives in small cells, some purportedly being bricked up in them, at their request! He is abducted and beaten up by Bishop Becke who is very clear that the book should be burned and, equally clearly, they have "a past". He now lives with Jack and his family and that relationship works well too - they also obviously have a history, but a good one this time. I think, to get the best from this book, it would be as well to have read others in the series. Whilst there is some backstory, there are gaps which detract from this book. Having said that it is a good read and more back story would probably add too much complexity to the multiple threads, and even stories, in this one. The characters feel real and the context is definitely excellent. I shall happily go and look for the other books with these characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy in return for my honest review.

As with all the previous books in the Crispin Guest series, this one didn't fail to deliver. Tons of good action, more growth for each character, and the Voynich Manuscript! Kryptonite to medievalists like me. YASSS.

Crispin Guest, finder and tracker extraordinaire, is juggling multiple cases in this medieval mystery. When a stranger gives him a package in his favorite pub Crispin is puzzled, especially when the stranger mutters a cryptic “You will know what to do with it” and then leaves. Inside is a book written in a language Crispin does not recognize. He consults three men and the book, written on parchment, proves to be an unknown gospel. Within a day the three men are murdered and Crispin is honor bound to discover their killer.

Meanwhile Queen Ann has died and the Duke of Lancaster, Crispin’s old mentor before he was disgraced and dismissed from court, hires him to find out if the queen was murdered. If that was not enough, someone is running around London pretending to be Crispin himself. Oh, and Bishop Becke, an old enemy from up north, plans to beat Crispin to a bloody pulp if the book is not handed to him immediately. Plus, little Christopher Walcote keeps popping up and a crazy (psychic?) beggar hounds the tracker’s steps exhorting him to “answer to the dead.” And Crispin is visited by a genuine saint!

Everything happens in less than a week! No wonder Crispin is feeling his age.

If the murder mystery is a little muddled. the rest of the novel is a great deal of fun. It is nice to catch up with Crispin’s self-made family. Jack has two children and another on the way. Crispin’s encounters with the people he knew at court is a window into his previous privileged life. And London street life is always fascinating.

Although this is book 7 in a series, this was the first one I picked up and could not put down!!! While it was clear some history was referenced to previous titles, it didn't hinder my ability to enjoy this book and follow Crispen Guest as he dealt with a con-artist double, murder, threats to his life, and a mysterious tome that is the Gospel of Judas. Highly recommend!!

This was my first time reading anything by this author, so I was not familiar with the series, but it wasn't too hard to pick up. Set in the reign of Richard II this seemed well researched with some cameos from some historical figures! It was the kind of book you end up looking for additional historical information about, and the end note helpfully explains where the author diverged from history. I found the characters well written and I would be happy to read more about Crispin and Jack's adventures. Instead of one mystery, there are several cleverly interwoven including the possible murder of the Queen and a mysterious document which could be a lost gospel. If you are a fan of the Shardlake series, I think you would probably enjoy reading this too.

Intriguing and complex mystery

It’s 1394 and Richard II sits uneasily on the throne. Disgraced knight turned tracker—what today would be termed a detective—Crispin Guest is handed an ancient book or codex by a stranger and told that he’ll know what to do with it.

His efforts to get it translated lead to both success and tragedy, as someone appears to be trailing him in an attempt to destroy the mysterious document. No wonder, since Crispin discovers it could pose a threat to orthodox church doctrine.

Westerson creates a believable world combining real and fictional characters. At its center, Crispin stands out as a fascinating character.

This is the eleventh book in the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series, so there’s a fair amount of back story to absorb. However, the result is an emotionally satisfying read that should appeal to fans of historical mysteries.

Note: I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book.

What a great book! I was attracted to the book by the description, but not sure I should start reading a series at book 11! Even though I'd not read any other books in the series, the author did an excellent job providing the reader with enough background information that it was very easy to pick up what the characters had experienced in prior books. The combination of a good mystery with actual historical characters and events, and thought-provoking context makes this book a winner!

I was hooked from the start and read the book in one setting. This book has many interwoven story lines -- from a mysterious delivery of the codex, to impostors, to a queen having passed away to a visit from a holy woman. The reader is present with the main characters as they interact with a not-so-nice bishop, the Duke of Lancaster, King Richard, and Julian of Norwich, to name a few! I did not want this book to end and will now go back and read the first 10 while anxiously awaiting release of number 12!

I highly recommend this book!