An interesting installment in the ongoing series. I appreciate that it was set in a different location than London, and the way in which Jack is coming into his own more an more all the time. He is not so much an apprentice and more like an adoptive son of Crispin.
The mytery featuring a treasure hunter was intereresting, although I did get the impression that some parts of the plot were a bit of a ripoff of The Wicker Man, with a "pagan" village.

Kat to me still seems a bit out of place in this story. More of a modern woman shoehorned into the Medieval setting as a "love interest". I don't think she was necessary.

Thanks to Severn House publishihng for approving my request for this titile. All opinions are my own and this did not influence my review.

I have done my best to attempt to read this book but it turned out that the middle of pandemic and other stress does not make for the best time to read even slightly complicated books (which historical books always are), so I had to DNF the book. I will definitely give it another attempt in the future when times are better.

You probably know by now that the Crispin Guest books by Jeri Westerson are some of my absolute favorite mysteries–they are a perfect combination of the world of knights and castles and a great mystery. In Sword of the Shadows Jeri adds in one of my number one obsessions, King Arthur!

For those who aren’t familiar with the series, Crispin is a disgraced knight who turned his talent for finding things into a profession as a Tracker (basically a private detective) to make a living. Over the years he has become quite good at it and developed a reputation for getting the job done. Crispin’s life is in a much better place in the last few of books–he has a nicer home and a family of sorts now that his apprentice Jack Tucker, who is a grown man now, has a wife and children. He drinks less, and is far more content with his life.

In Sword of Shadows Carantok Teague hires Crispin to go on a treasure hunt with him to find the legendary sword Excalibur. While Crispin doesn’t completely believe the sword is real, the possibility of it intrigues him and he agrees. He and Jack go with Carantok to the Tintagel ruins where Carantok is certain there is a clue to the whereabouts of the sword and maybe even the sword itself. Instead, what they find is a dead body and the man turns out to be one of the men at arms at the castle. Crispin sets out to find the killer as he can’t shake the feeling that the murder is tied to the treasure even when he learns that the man had many enemies, including several local women who planned to marry him. To further complicate things, a former love interest of Crispin’s, a thief named Kat, just “happens” to be in the town as well with a troupe of actors. Crispin is certain that it is no coincidence.

Suspicious locals, suspects who aren’t very forthcoming with the truth, another body, and a village of pagans that the villagers fear, make Crispin’s search for the killer and the sword all the more difficult.

Jeri’s books are always filled with such wonderful and complex characters and great plots with plenty of twists and turns. I have enjoyed taking the journey through all of this series with Crispin and Jack through the years and feel like each book just keeps getting better. Throw in Excalibur and this is a book you won’t want to miss!

Sword of Shadows is the thirteenth in the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir mystery series and I will be perfectly honest in saying that it was my least favourite Crispin Guest novel so far. I have been following this series since the first book, Veil of Lies, was published back in 2008 and have enjoyed Crispin's journey from traitorous knight to renowned Tracker. I thought the plot was far weaker than in previous books and unlike many others, I was not necessarily happy to have a certain previous character return.

When I learned that this book was the second last book in this series, it made a lot more sense to me as it really felt like this book was leading up to something else considering all the self-reflection that Crispin was going through. Because of this, I felt like he was 'off' his game and missed important things in his investigation that would have been easy for him to spot. I have always like how the author included relics in her stories and the search for Excalibur definitely caught my interest. Gosh, who hasn't gone through a King Arthur phase in their life? And then a second one? Just mention Cornwall and my heart starts beating faster.

I did think the plot was quite a bit weaker than in previous novels. I usually flip through pages because the suspense is so high, but not in this one. Now that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot going on, but while it was convoluted, it didn't mesh as well as it usually does. And figuring out the murderer was quite easy, not something I am used to with these books so I was a bit disappointed as I was looking forward to some good red herrings and didn't quite get them.

But, this author has an amazing ability to describe life during the fourteenth century in vivid detail and pays attention to small details which I appreciate. And I love the fact she focuses on everyone while so many novels focus on the wealthy and the nobility. There was quite a bit of focus on Crispin's past in this one, much more than usual, which makes me wonder what she has in store for our Crispin in the last book of the series.

Sword of Shadows was an okay read, but definitely not as good as previous books in this series. The mystery was not as tight as usual and I was not really excited to have a certain character from the past re-appear, but it is what it is. It was interesting take on Arthur's story and as always, the author includes little tidbits of historical information in her books about treasure hunting and the laws from the time period, which is always fascinating. I will definitely be sorry to come to the end of this series. For those of you who are new to Crispin Guest, this book could be read as a stand alone, but I do highly recommend you start from the beginning to really flesh out the main characters and understand what drives Crispin Guest. It is an interesting tale.

Sword of Shadows is the thirteenth installment of the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series. In this book, it’s London 1396 and the Tracker of London, Crispin Guest, and his apprentice Jack Tucker are hired by Carantok Teague, a treasure hunter with special permission from the crown to locate valuable relics. Carantok has a map that will lead them to Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur. The three set out for Tintagel Castle in Cornwall only to find the body of a castle guard in a crypt instead of the sword and then another guard a couple days later. For Crispin, the search for the sword takes back seat to discovering the murderer. His search, however, is filled with one complication after another, including how his old flame Kat Pyke, a thief and scam artist is involved, the first victim’s many female conquests, and a hidden and possibly dangerous Druid village.

Although Crispin tries to play it down, he is a disgraced knight, whose reputation always precedes him. His lack of funds drives him to a job, but his sense of right and wrong and his much-too-soft spot for the sorrowful story always take precedence over money and endear him to the reader. He has a paternal attitude toward Jack, which he masks, but it extends to others, including the first victim’s jilted conquests whom he scolds in order to set straight. As much as he’d like to ignore his heart and conscious, he can’t, and the predicaments he finds himself in are often amusing and entertaining.

Sword of Shadows is a fun, sometimes rambling, but enjoyable whodunnit with a likableRev and sympathetic hero who doesn’t want to be, amusing secondary characters, plot twists, and since it is a story of a legendary sword, a touch of the mythical.

Reviewed for The Historical Novel Society

Jeri Westerson picks up the Tracker of London, Crispin Guest, in Sword of Shadows in which he is hired by a treasure seeker who is searching for Excalibur, King Arthur's legendary sword at Tintagel. Crispin and Jack his assistant leave King Richard's London and find murder and mischief at the ruins of Tintagel. Crispin tracks the murderer and the sword. Two murders and multiple suspects along with a mysterious treasure hunt. Great read !

“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there,” or so the saying goes. And that’s certainly true in the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series, of which Sword of Shadows is the lucky, or unlucky, 13th book.

They may DO things differently in 1396 A.D., but that doesn’t mean that human beings are actually any different, either better or worse, than they are in 2020. Or than they were at the time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, whether that was the quasi-medieval era as later chroniclers made it, the latter part of the Roman occupation of Britain, as historians claim it, or a magical period of myth and legend as written in the chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth – the only version that would have been extant in Crispin’s time.

King Arthur shouldn’t be relevant, as Crispin deals in facts and motives, evidence and crimes, in the real world. But he also needs to keep a roof over his head and food in his belly. While he is best known as the “Tracker of London”, solving crimes and righting miscarriages of justice, sometimes he takes other work.

So this tale begins. A gentleman “treasure hunter” feels that he is on the track of Excalibur. While the sword may be shrouded in myth and legend, Carantock Teague believes that he has found clues to the fabled artifact’s location – that Excalibur is hidden somewhere near Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, purported to be the site of King Arthur’s birth. Teague hires Crispin – and Crispin’s apprentice Jack – to come with him to Cornwall and help him search for it. And to guard him if he finds it.

The pay is too good to turn down, even with a wet, cold, miserable fortnight’s journey to Tintagel by horseback to start it off.

But once there, the search for the sword is complicated by the discovery of not one but two extremely recent corpses. Meanwhile, Crispin’s sometime quarry and occasional lover, Kat Pyle, has arrived in this remote spot to either bedevil Crispin, nab the treasure before he can, or make some other mischief.

Knowing Kat as he does, Crispin can’t help but wonder if the answer is “all of the above – and more.”

The question is whether it is only Crispin’s heart at risk – or his life.

Escape Rating A-: Sword of Shadows was a terrific read. It was a return to a series that I’ve picked up off and on over the years and always enjoyed. It dipped into a legend that has always fascinated me, the Matter of Britain, or as it is better known, the tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. And it was also a reminder of journeys of my own, as I read the first three books in this series, Veil of Lies, Serpent in the Thorns and The Demon’s Parchment, on a Caribbean cruise, back when such things were possible. This series was among the first things I read on my then-new Nook. How time flies.

That being said, although there were nostalgic elements attached to this story for me, I don’t think they are necessary to enjoy this book. If you love historical mystery, this is one of those series where the author has meticulously researched every detail, and the reader feels as if they are walking beside Crispin whether on the streets of London or exploring the caves on the Cornish coast. This is a series where you not only feel the feels, but you also smell the smells – good and bad.

It is a series where some prior knowledge is probably helpful, but does not have to be exhaustive. I haven’t read the whole series, just dipped in here and there, and enjoyed the journey back to England during the reign of Richard II, during the opening stages of what history would call the Wars of the Roses.

This particular event in Crispin’s life is a bit different than the usual stories in this series as it takes Crispin out of the London that he has come to call home and out into the country, far away from not just his home but from any place with which he is familiar. Crispin has become a creature of London, a man of the city, that’s where his reputation and his living are.

In Tintagel he is a complete outsider, and has to do his job of tracking the murderer – or murderers – in a place where he is not well-known, where his current reputation is of no help but his long-buried past as a traitorous knight is still remembered. He knows no one, but he still has a job to do – even if it’s one that he isn’t getting paid for.

At the same time, he is teased and tormented by the search for Excalibur and the legends surrounding it. In the end, catching the murderer, as difficult as it is, turns out to be easier than letting go of the search for the sword. The myths that are wrapped around the hilt of Excalibur have caught better men – and many, many searchers – before Crispin, and have continued to do so after, inspiring creators century after century. The way that Excalibur fades into the mists of Cornwall in this story feels right – and sends a chill up the spine at the same time.

The author claims that Crispin’s story is coming to an end. His next outing, Spiteful Bones, will be his next-to-last adventure. Normally I’d say that I couldn’t wait to read his next book, but knowing that his journey is coming to an end means that I’ll be happy to wait a bit. I’ll be sad to see him go – but I hope it will be into a happy and successful retirement. We’ll see.

This series improves with each instalment and this one was no exception.
I fell in love with the Trucker and his adventures some times ago and this one was great and different from the others.
It was a gripping and entertaining read as usual and the setting, the characters and the plot are as great as usual.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, al opinions are mine.

I read my first Jeri Westerson last year and fell in love with the charm of the books. Set in the 1300’s, this series follows the adventures of Crispin Guest, the “Tracker” of London who solves crimes and, more often than not, finds a mythical/mysterious artefact along the way.

Having loved the characterisations in Traitor’s Codex, I wanted to continue, even though I hadn’t started at the beginning. When Sword of Shadows became available to request, I jumped at the chance. What I didn’t realise, however, was this book was based around the hunt for Excalibur: it combined the historical fiction I love with one of my favourite myths. Perfect.

The plot is a little different this time: rather than solving a crime and accidentally discovering an artefact, Crispin and Jack are employed to help find Excalibur – and the murders along the way distract them. Given Crispin’s scepticism, it was fun seeing him get excited about the prospect of finding the sword and what it means to him personally given his past.

Crispin is a great character. He’s noble and dignified, despite no longer having claims to titles. Regardless of personal feelings, he’s determined to do the right thing, regardless of what that costs him. He can be stern and proper but at the same time, you see his massive heart: he cares deeply for Jack and his family and is always surprised when that love is returned.

I haven’t read all the books in the series to comment on previous relationships. But it was amusing seeing Crispin with his heart on the line: a casual marriage proposal reveals his longing for something more and despite his proper ways, he takes his pleasure when he can.

Jack remains my favourite. His loyalty to Crispin – even when he’s disapproving – and his determination to stay on the straight and narrow, regardless of what is thrown his way, is entertaining. Jack’s determination to be a good man is matched by his need to help his master – even if that means reverting to old tricks better forgotten.


This is a gripping and enjoyable read, albeit not one to necessarily get your heart racing. The mystery kept me guessing: obvious signs were misleading and the secondary characters were all eccentric enough it could have been anyone. Not to mention certain characters who are not what they seem – if they are even there at all.

I loved the hunt for the sword and all the potential hiding places. Throughout the entire novel, you’re guessing whether they will find it – and whether they should or it should be left in peace.

Sword of Shadows is a whirlwind of charm and suspense, mystery and love where a man’s worth isn’t measured in what he owns, but who he is. Crispin and Jack are a great literary duo, Crispin’s love interest provides sharp entertainment and his employer helps define how much of a good man Crispin is.

If you’re into historical fiction, this is a definite read.

Sword of Shadows earns 5+/5 Legendary Swords...Epic, Engaging!

Jeri Westerson, author of standalone favorite “Roses in the Tempest,” has quite the talent to create a compelling medieval environment with realism and relevance. I question whether she has lived the era in a previous life. It is London in the year 1396, and Crispin Guest (disgraced lord, now Tracker) with his apprentice Jack Tucker (not a young scamp anymore), have been engaged by Carantok Teague (treasure hunter) in an epic journey searching for the legendary sword Excalibur. Crispin isn’t sure of his employer or the existence of the sword, but no one would pass up such a generous fee. Together they travel to Cornwall and Tintagel Castle, the birthplace of King Arthur, but the journey is fraught with many challenges, competitors, dead bodies, druidae in the forest, and an ex-girlfriend. Westerson’s writing style is well-paced and well-developed written in a third person narrative; rich with descriptive language and dialogue an entire environment is depicted well with various settings from London to Cornwall and the castle to the forest, variety of characters from endearing to suspicious and from innocent to guilty of murder, intriguing predicaments, and a clever conclusion that make for a marvelous read. I am new to the series, but I was never at a disadvantage; more than enough references are made to keep newbies engaged and long time fans eager for more. From newbie to fan, I totally recommend this thirteenth book, Sword of Shadows!

Sword of Shadows is the 13th in the Crispin Guest series of medieval mysteries, but I didn’t really have any trouble figuring out the story and who the major players were. Possibly because there only appeared to be three characters carried forward from earlier books; Crispin himself, former knight and now Tracker, basically an investigator for hire in medieval London, his apprentice Jack and Kat Pyke, a woman thief and love interest of Crispin’s who can only be described as trouble with a capital T.

Hired by a treasure hunter to search for the legendary sword Excalibur, Crispin and Jack arrive at Tintagel’s ruins with their client to discover a body already waiting for them. The dead man appeared to have no shortage of enemies, including a half-dozen local women all of whom thought he planned to marry them, but Crispin can’t shake the suspicion the crime is tied to the search for the ancient relic. WIth suspicious locals, angry guards, a nearby village of pagans trusted by nobody, and expert thief and former flame Kat all viable suspects, Crispin and Jack must find the killer before they strike again… and find Excalibur before it disappears again into the mists of time.

Crispin comes across as tired and cynical, a man who’s been dealt a lot of hard blows in life and sometimes can’t quite believe none of them have knocked him down yet. A good bit of the story is told from the perspective of the fiercely loyal Jack, almost as competent an investigator in his own right now as his master.

The story reads as pretty believable for the time period; hardscrabble for most, but people are still people. Social climbing, romantic rivals, family dymanics; there are some things which are human nature even in different centuries. The one thing that didn’t read true to me was the pagan village; considering how deeply the Church was enmeshed in England at the time I really don’t see it having been allowed to survive unmolested so long. And I really didn’t like the way the druidae were portrayed in the story. It was demonising and unnecessary. For that, I’m knocking a star off a historical mystery I otherwise very much enjoyed. Four stars.

The Tracker expands his investigations!

Tintagel Castle and the sword Excalibur! When I think about it, with all the relics Crispin Guest has either fallen in the way of, or had thrust upon him in his time as the Tracker, of course this is a place he would eventually be led to!
1396, Crispin and Jack run into a stranger, a Cornishman, Carantok Teague, who knew much about Crispin. Carantok, is a seeker of lost artifacts, who had 'permission from the crown to find such diverse treasures across the kingdom as could be found.' That the decree had been signed in 1377 by Edward III, the present king's grandfather did seem to be stretching things just a little, to me and to Crispin.
Nonetheless Crispin and Jack find themselves heading to Cornwall in search of the legendary sword of King Arthur!
A long journey with a few mishaps. On the way they meet up with a musical troupe and then a more perilous situation as they near Tintagel. But as they enter that place, what grabs their immediate attention is the dead body they stumble over.
Tintagel is a place where Druid and Christian ways are paper thin. Crispin and Jack not only are caught up in the thrill of the search for the sword, but now murder. Add to the mix further intrigues associated with mysterious villagers living beyond the forest, disappearing local women, and the appearance of the attractive Kat Pyke, a swindler, and a previous flame of Guest's. We first met Kat in 'Season of Blood.' At that time Kat had said to Crispin, 'You should have a woman. That woman should be me.’ ...and this time? I've always rather liked Kat.
So who has Crispin Guest, ex lord and traitor, now the Tracker become?
He's mellowed and matured in many ways. He's far more accepting and less prone to act the lording he once was, although it's there and flares up occasionally. He reads the words of the philosophers and is thoughtful. Once again we see his integrity. He and Jack's family are enmeshed, forming a new family-like group. Crispin's come far, but still no ongoing female companionship.
I'm still in love with Crispin. I always will be. He's a character that's earned my loyalty and occasional anger. "Crispin who has a hard boiled honourable edge, coating the occasional softness inside." Maybe here lies part of the reason why so many religious and otherwise relics seem to find a path to him.
And Jack Tucker? Jack is now the Tracker's apprentice, father of three with a fourth on the way. I'm just so fond of Jack having seen him grow from a homeless boy who dogged Crispin's footsteps and installed himself as his servant and assistant, to the family man we now know, even with the frustrations and communication problems within his marriage, that are true for all.
Jack and Crispin are real, tried and true characters that I trust and enjoy.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley

Crispen Guest is known as the Tracker of London, but his latest adventure takes him to Cornwall. Hired by Carantok Teague to provide protection and assist in a search for Excalibur, Guest is skeptical that Teague can succeed but his payment would allow him and his servant Jack Tucker to live comfortably for a while. Teague is a treasure hunter working under a decree given by Edward III allowing him to seek treasure throughout the kingdom, forfeiting all gold to the crown. Although Edward has been dead for some time, he uses this decree to protect his activities. In his searches he obtained parchments that point to Tintagel castle as Excalibur’s resting place.

Tintagel has fallen into disrepair and is overseen only by a caretaker and several men-at-arms. Shortly after their arrival the body of one of the men-at-arms is found in an area where Teague has been searching. As the Tracker, Guest is asked to investigate, leaving Jack to assist Teague. Their tasks are complicated by the arrival of a troupe of entertainers. One member of the troupe is Kat Pyke, a thief who Guest has encountered in the past. With the hunt for Excalibur and the untimely death, Guest knows that her appearance is no coincidence.

This is a story of myths and legends that has Guest encountering druids with their pagan rites and Marzhin Gwyls, who introduces himself as a caretaker. Guest is the only one who has seen Marzhin Gwyls, who questions the search for the sword and seems intimately acquainted with its’ history. Jeri Westerson makes life in England’s villages come to life and gives her readers a mystery that is informative and entertaining. This is a story that will enchant fans of historical fiction. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn house for providing this book for my review.

This is #13 in the Crispin Guest series and works well as a stand alone. I am still playing catchup but couldn't wait to read this latest mystery because it centers around Excalibur, King Arthur, Merlin and Tintagel. It is one of my all time favorite locations. This visit back to 1396 was not to be missed.
Crispin and his apprentice Jack make a stop at the swordsmith and make the acquaintance of Carantok
Teague, a man from Cornwall who, it is revealed is in search of treasure. He searches for the famed Excalibur and one thing leads to another and Crispin and Jack agree to join him in his quest. The money offered was enough to make up their minds. Crispin and Jack had no way of foreseeing murder as part of their plans. Between the search for the famous sword and tracking down a killer lurking in the castle, Crispin is reunited with a woman from his past, Kat Pyke. What role does she play in this tale of lost treasure and murder?
This has become one of my favorite historical series and I will be sorry when I have finally read the entire stack of Crispin books. The characters of Crispin Guest and Jack are very real to me and the time period comes alive with great detail. The mystery left me satisfied and ready for another book.
My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sword of Shadows – Jeri Westerson (Crispin Guest Novel)

I was kindly provided with an advanced copy of this book to give an honest reviewed.

The cover and the title of the book intrigued me from the very beginning. I haven’t read anything by Jeri Westerson or any of their previous Crispin Guest novels.

Crispin Guest was a lord and a knight, who fell into disrepute after committing treason against his king, the rightful king of England. In the years since Crispin Guest has had to adjust to his new station in life and work to gain a semblance of a reputation. He is now a tracker of London. Cripsin spends his days tracking down relics, objects and solving various crimes and murders, along with the help of his apprentice Jack.

One day Crispin is approached by a mysterious gentleman with an interesting and an enticing business proposition that sounded too good to be true, Excalibur. This crazy guy claimed he knew where Excalibur was and needed Crispin as protection on the journey. Initially Crispin laughed at him, no one knew where Excalibur was, if it even existed, and if it had existed it was so long ago the chances of it not being pillaged by other treasure hunters, was highly unlikely.

But the amount of gold he promised as payment, Crispin would be a fool to turn that away, insisting on half the amount paid up front, Crispin and Jack set out the mysterious treasure hunter.

Naturally, their search for the famed sword of the legendary King Arthur starts with a murder. So, while trying to find the lost sword of Arthur, Crispin must also try and solve a murder of the man at arms working at Tintagel, the supposed home and birthplace of King Arthur. However, the closer they get to their goal the more mysterious and strange events that start happen in Tintagel. Another man at arms is found dead, Crispin encounters an old friend who is trouble if ever saw it. The village folk are frightened and wary of the druidae nearby in the forests, and it seems they are non to found of Crispin and his poking around.

This is a historical fiction novel with a good dose of mystery and many interesting twists and turns. Of course, the fact that it is centred around the magical tale of King Arthur, Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table and of course the famous sword – Excalibur, definitely adds to the appeal of the story.

A well written novel that is thoroughly enjoyable!

A new entry into the Crispin Guest medieval noir series is always welcome, and this one takes Crispin and his apprentice, Jack Tucker, to Cornwall where they have been hired to help find the sword, Excalibur. Of course, murder ensues and they must add an additional investigation into the mix. The setting of a crumbling Tintagel Castle, with a nearby pagan village, is quite vivid; in addition, the character development, as these well-loved characters have grown older throughout the series, is also most enjoyable. I will be sad to see this wonderful long-running series end.

In this book, Crispin Guest is hired to find the amazing artifact, sword Excalibur, from mythical King Arthur!

From the book's description: London, 1396. A trip to the swordsmith shop for Crispin Guest, Tracker of London, and his apprentice Jack Tucker takes an unexpected turn when Crispin crosses paths with Carantok Teague, a Cornish treasure hunter. Carantok has a map he is convinced will lead him to the sword of Excalibur - a magnificent relic dating back to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - and he wants Crispin to help him find it.

Along the way some murders are discovered, along with a hidden village, and Kat shows up again. How do Crispin and Jack find Excalibur and solve the murders, too? This book is a fun read. I'm not looking forward to the end of this series; it has been part of my reading life for years now.

Review posted to my blog: https://hergraceslibrary.com/2019/12/28/sword-of-shadows/
We are nearing the end of the adventures of Crispin Guest, disgraced lord and knight, self-created Tracker of London. In this tale, Crispin and his apprentice Jack Tucker are hired by Cornish treasure hunter Carantok Teague to assist him in finding a long lost sword. It turns out to be none other than Excalibur that Teague seeks. Crispin is, of course, skeptical, but takes the job as he needs money, as always. Teague leads them to Tintagel, the fabled birthplace of King Arthur, to seek the sword. While there, two men in the castle guard are murdered, and Crispin is sidetracked from the search for the sword to investigate the deaths. Along the way, he encounters Kat Pyke, his one-time lover, as well as a host of young women jilted by one of the murdered men, and a hidden village in the forest full of Druids. Exactly what Crispin needs to have an interesting time.

Anyone who knows me at all knows I have a particular soft spot for Arthurian legend. Mixing that in with one of my favorite historical fiction series is like human catnip to me. The murder investigation element of the story takes a fairly normal course, and certainly not all is as it first appears. The Arthurian element was fun because who hasn’t thought about that sword in the stone or of where its final resting place might really be? I did feel that the Athurian sections were not as well fleshed out as the rest, but that just adds to the mystery a bit. And the surprise at the end with the old caretaker was a delight.

Jack is grown now and Crispin is letting him take the lead on a variety of tasks that he wouldn’t have before. I’ve said it before and will say it again here that it is good to see Jack grow from a mischievous young boy to an honorable, dependable man. If she wanted to, Westerson could easily continue her medieval noir novels with Jack as the protagonist and new Tracker, with Crispin making cameo appearances. I think she has no such plans, but it is still fun to consider, as well as the final story in the series. I know how *I* hope Crispin’s tale ends, but we shall have to wait and see what Ms Westerson thinks about it!

Strongly recommended!

In Sword of Shadows by Jeri Westerson, Crispin Guest is again on the hunt of a fabulous artifact, this one more related to myth than religion.

from description: London, 1396. A trip to the swordsmith shop for Crispin Guest, Tracker of London, and his apprentice Jack Tucker takes an unexpected turn when Crispin crosses paths with Carantok Teague, a Cornish treasure hunter. Carantok has a map he is convinced will lead him to the sword of Excalibur - a magnificent relic dating back to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - and he wants Crispin to help him find it.

Tintagel, a hidden village, some murders, jilted lovers, and the return of Kat. Another fun adventure with Crispin and Jack.

Read in December. Blog review scheduled for March 16, 2020.

NetGalley/Severn House
Historical Mystery. April 7, 2020. Print length: 224 pages.

In this episode of Westerson’s ‘medieval noir’ series, Crispin, the Tracker of London, and his trusty apprentice Jack Tucker travel to the wilds of Cornwall to assist a treasure hunter search for nothing less than Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. It is, Carantok Teague insists, at Tintagel and he has maps to prove it. When they locate a concealed crypt in a chapel, however, it contains, not the sword but a dead body. Nor is it the last to turn up. And what is going on in the mysterious village hidden in the woods?
Between trying to locate the sword, solve the murders, and rescue abducted damsels, Crispin and Jack are kept busy, but as distractions multiply the story rambles. Some are welcome, particularly the mischievous Kat Pyke, who has a very dubious past, and the watchers are suitably mysterious figures. Most, however, are insufficiently developed to capture the reader’s interest, other than as examples of a closed community that mistrusts outsiders. And even in remote Cornwall, I doubt whether pagan druids would have survived from Roman times into the fourteenth century, nor been tolerated by the Church. But then again, who knows? Records from back then are fragmentary, especially in remote areas.
For fans of the series, primarily.