The book really takes the reader back to the time in which it is set. I imagine a lot of research was done to not only capture the environment and customs of the time, but also some of the superstitions and unpleasantness of some attitudes, With quite a lot of characters to keep track of, the book nonetheless maintains a strong pace as it works through to a fascinating conclusion.

Two traitors'curses, a highly dysfunctional king (Edward II) and his despicable favorite (Hugh Le Despenser), a slew of gruesome murders, pilgrims going bonkers, poisons and necromancy,......Welcome to the dark and menacing world of the Summoner's sins, the fabulous second installment in the Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers. A rollicking journey through the colorful but fiendish landscape of mid 1320s Yorkshire as we follow Sir Richard Lee, the winsome Judge of the Northern Realm, as he patiently tries to untangle the threads that may or may not lead to an ingenious and dangerous conspiracy against the Crown. Teeming with many colorful and unforgettable characters and delicious dialogues, this twisty murder mystery kept me guessing on a knife-edge for 4 delightful hours. Highly entertaining and very captivating historical fiction to be enjoyed without moderation. Suffice to say that I will definitely be ready to follow Mr. Moray's next Summoner's summon without hesitation👍👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date

‘Everywhere in England is dangerous these days …’

In March 1322, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster was beheaded. He had cursed Andrew Harclay:
‘You, miserable dog, Andrew Harclay will die a traitor’s death within one year, as the Lord is my witness.’

Soon after Thomas's death, miracles were reported at his tomb at Pontefract, and he became venerated as a martyr and saint.

Andrew Harclay’s star appeared to be rising when King Edward II made him the Earl of Carlisle.
But in March 1323, he is executed as a traitor. His crime? He negotiated with rebels without the permission of Edward II, a treasonous act. With his last breaths, he was heard to curse all of those with a hand in his death, including Edward II. After the royal executioner is found dead in Pontrefact shortly afterwards, it is rumoured that Harclay’s curse is at work. Edward II believes that Cratwell’s death is due to rebels, and sends Sir Richard Lee, Circuit Judge of the Northern Realm, to investigate.

There are more deaths, and fear of the curse continues to spread. Sir Richard believes that the deaths are linked, but how?

Mr Moray brings fourteenth century England to life with his deft characterisations and details. And while Sir Richard investigates, we learn about the life of the Summoner, whose knowledge of the secrets of individuals brings him benefit as he makes note of their sins. Some will be summoned to before the ecclesiastical court, others will offer bribes. Curse, miracles, and superstition all have a part to play in this second instalment of Mr Moray’s Sandal Castle Medieval thriller series.

Occasionally I had to stop reading to learn some new (to me) medieval terms, but this enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

4 stars

High treason, curses, healing powers, & necromancy all contribute their intrigue to this murder mystery. An upright civil lawyer and a corrupt summoner of the ecclesiastical courts are both on the hunt to track down any criminals involved. This book has a rich setting, flawed & human characters, & a gritty, occult mystery lurking at its heart.

[What I liked:]

•The historical setting is one of my favorite times in history! I’ve read several history (nonfiction) books on Edward II’s life & times, & I was very excited to find a historical fiction novel set in this era & orbiting the intrigues of Edward’s court.

•It was interesting to learn about the legal system of the time, & how the civil courts & ecclesiastical courts functioned, overlapped, & sometimes worked together.

•I do like Richard & Hubert. They’re a great team, tough but fair minded, & clever.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I think it did work in this book, but there are many characters & I had to work at it to keep track of everyone.

•This is a trigger warning, not an incompetency of the book, but there is a good bit of (historically accurate) ableism & discrimination against people with disabilities (especially those with leprosy) in the story. I think it’s relevant & depicted realistically for the time period, but it was hard for me to read about the way the church & society mistreated those who were suffering.

•The ending is overall good, but there is an annoying scene during a confrontation with the villain where the protagonist & the villain have a long conversation explaining every detail of the mystery instead of just resolving the situation at hand.

CW: graphic on-page violence, torture, murder, suicide, ableism,

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]