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Devon (UK)

This page lists crime novels and short story collections set wholly or partly in the English county of Devon.

 

Devon: Novels and short story collections

The Sittaford Mystery

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1931

"In a remote house in the middle of Dartmoor, six shadowy figures huddle around a small table for a seance. Tension rises as the spirits spell out a chilling message: 'Captain Trevelyan… dead… murder.' Is this black magic or simply a macabre joke? The only way to be certain is to locate Captain Trevelyan. Unfortunately, his home is six miles away and, with snow drifts blocking the roads, someone will have to make the journey on foot."
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Malice Aforethought

Francis Iles

Mundanus / Victor Gollancz

1931

"Dr. Edmund Bickleigh married above his station. Although popular and well respected in his little Devonshire community, he seethes with resentment at the superior social status of his domineering wife, Julia. Bickleigh soothes his inferiority complex by seducing as many of the local women as he possibly can but with the collapse of his latest fling and a fresh dose of sneering contempt from Julia, the doctor resolves to silence his wife forever and begins plotting the perfect murder."
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Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1934

"While playing an erratic round of golf, Bobby Jones slices his ball over the edge of a cliff. His ball is lost, but on the rocks below he finds the crumpled body of a dying man. With his final breath the man opens his eyes and says, 'Why didn't they ask Evans?' Haunted by these words, Bobby and his vivacious companion, Frankie, set out to solve a mystery that will bring them into mortal danger."
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The A.B.C. Murders

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1936

A Hercule Poirot novel.

"There's a serial killer on the loose, bent on working his way through the alphabet. And as a macabre calling card he leaves beside each victim's corpe the ABC Railway Guide open at the name of the town where the murder has taken place. Having begun with Andover, Bexhill and then Churston, there seems little chance of the murderer being caught – until he makes the crucial and vain mistake of challenging Hercule Poirot to frustrate his plans."
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Ten Little N*****s

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1939

Subsequently published as Ten Little Indians and then as And Then There Were None.

"Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again… and again."
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Death at the Bar

Ngaio Marsh

Collins Crime Club

1940

"A midsummer evening - darts night at the Plume of Feathers, a traditional Devonshire public house. A distinguished painter, a celebrated actor, a woman graduate, a plump lady from County Clare and a local farmer all play their parts in a fatal experiment which calls for the investigative expertise of Inspector Alleyn."
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Evil Under the Sun

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1941

A Hercule Poirot novel.

"It was not unusual to find the beautiful bronzed body of the sun-loving Arlena Stuart stretched out on a beach, face down. Only, on this occasion, there was no sun… she had been strangled. Ever since Arlena's arrival at the resort, Hercule Poirot had detected sexual tension in the seaside air. But could this apparent 'crime of passion' have been something more evil and premeditated altogether?"
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N or M?

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1941

A Tommy and Tuppence novel.

"It is World War II, and while the RAF struggles to keep the Luftwaffe at bay, Britain faces an even more sinister threat from 'the enemy within' – Nazis posing as ordinary citizens. With pressure mounting, the Intelligence service appoints two unlikely spies, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Their mission: to seek out a man and a woman from among the colourful guests at Sans Souci, a seaside hotel. But this assignment is no stroll along the promenade. After all, N and M have just murdered Britain's finest agent."
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The Body in the Library

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1942

A Miss Marple novel.

"It's seven in the morning. The Bantrys wake to find the body of a young woman in their library. She is wearing evening dress and heavy make-up, which is now smeared across her cheeks. But who is she? How did she get there? And what is the connection with another dead girl, whose charred remains are later discovered in an abandoned quarry? The respectable Bantrys invite Miss Marple to solve the mystery… before tongues start to wag."
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Appleby Plays Chicken

Michael Innes

Victor Gollancz

1957

A John Appleby novel. Published in the US as Death on a Quiet Day.

"David was hiking across Dartmoor, pleased to have escaped the oppressively juvenile and sometimes perilous behaviour of his fellow undergraduates. As far as he could tell, he was the only human being for miles - but it turns out that he was the only living human being for miles. At least, that is what he presumed when he found a dead man on top of the tor."
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He Should Have Died Hereafter

Cyril Hare

Faber & Faber

1958

An Inspector Mallett and Francis Pettigrew novel.

"Francis Pettigrew is holidaying with his wife, Eleanor, in Exmoor when the past returns to haunt him. When he stumbles over a body on a remote hill on the moor, it brings back his childhood memory - and nightmares - of discovering a corpse in the exact same spot. This time around though the body mysteriously disappears."
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Ordeal by Innocence

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1958

"According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. But when Dr Arthur Calgary turns up a year later with the proof that confirms Jacko's innocence, he is too late – Jacko died behind bars from a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor's revelations re-open old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer will strike again."
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Postern of Fate

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1973

A Tommy and Tuppence novel.

"Tommy and Tuppence Beresford have just become the proud owners of an old house in an English village. Along with the property, they have inherited some worthless bric-a-brac, including a collection of antique books. While rustling through a copy of The Black Arrow, Tuppence comes upon a series of apparently random underlinings. However, when she writes down the letters, they spell out a very disturbing message: M a r y – J o r d a n – d i d – n o t – d i e – n a t u r a l l y… And sixty years after their first murder, Mary Jordan's enemies are still ready to kill."
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Poirot's Early Cases

Agatha Christie

William Collins & Sons

1974

Hercule Poirot short stories.

"Hercule Poirot delighted in telling people that he was probably the best detective in the world. So turning back the clock to trace eighteen of the cases which helped establish his professional reputation was always going to be a fascinating experience. With his career still in its formative years, the panache with which Hercule Poirot could solve even the most puzzling mystery is obvious. Chronicled by his friend Captain Hastings, these eighteen early cases - from theft and robbery to kidnapping and murder - were all guaranteed to test Poirot’s soon-to-be-famous 'little grey cells' to their absolute limit."
The contents are:
  • The Affair at the Victory Ball
  • The Adventure of the Clapham Cook
  • The Cornish Mystery
  • The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly
  • The Double Clue
  • The King of Clubs
  • The Lemesurier Inheritance
  • The Lost Mine
  • The Plymouth Express
  • The Chocolate Box
  • The Submarine Plans
  • The Third Floor Flat
  • Double Sin
  • The Market Basing Mystery
  • Wasps' Nest
  • The Veiled Lady
  • Problem at Sea
  • How Does Your Garden Grow?
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The Glimpses of the Moon

Edmund Crispin

Gollancz

1977

"Death and decapitation seem to go hand in hand in the Devon village of Aller. When the first victim's head is sent floating down the river, the village's rural calm is shattered. Soon the corpses are multiplying, and the entire community is involved in the hunt for the murderer. Whilst many chase false trails, it is left to Gervase Fen, Oxford don and amateur criminologist, to uncover the sordid truth. Equal parts compelling, witty and ingenuous, this novel is a classic example of great British detective fiction."
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The Empty House

Michael Gilbert

Hodder & Stoughton

1978

"The blue Vauxhall was seen going up the track to the Devon cliffs until it was obscured by a clump of trees. But the noise of it going over the edge was unmistakable and final, and at Rackthorn Point the sea holds on to its trophies. Dr Alex Wolfe is presumed dead as a result of this tragic accident. But how certain can one be when there is no possibility of recovering a body; and when the missing man is a vitally important geneticist at a Biological Warfare Research Station, and when he's a man who only recently took out a life insurance policy? Peter Manciple, an insurance investigator, is sent down to investigate - but Peter finds more questions than answers."
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Come Death and High Water

Ann Cleeves

Century Hutchinson

1987

A George and Molly Palmer-Jones novel.

"The privately-owned island of Gillibry off the North Devon coast is the perfect site for murder. A routine weekend visit by the Gillibry Bird Observatory Trust is made memorable by the owner's announcement that he is going to sell the island. A sale would mean the end of the Observatory...and of all that, for some of them, made life worth living. A fire in Charlie Todd's cottage added to their distress. And when, next morning, after a fierce storm, they found Charlie dead in a bird hide, their pleasant September weekend assumed a dangerous new face. Charlie Todd's murder can be seen as the deed of any member of the Trust. And it falls to one of their own, George Palmer-Jones, to unravel the identity of killer within their midst."
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Gone Away

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1989

A Mrs. Malory novel.

Published in the US as Mrs Malory Investigates.

"Everyone knows that impertinent Lee Montgomery is marrying Charles Richardson for his money. After Lee vanishes, Charles’ friends breathe a sigh of relief. But Charles loves his pretty fiancée and is determined to get her back. He enlists the talents of Mrs. Sheila Malory, whose pastimes include reading nineteenth-century novels and ferreting out the truth. Mrs. Malory, a reluctant amateur detective, is soon convinced that Lee has been the victim of foul play. The residents of the sleepy seaside village of Taviscombe, England, are about to discover just how difficult it is to keep their terrible secrets with Mrs. Malory on the case."
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The Tangled Skein

David Stuart Davies

Theme Publications

1992

"It is the autumn of 1888. Following the successful conclusion of the investigation into the affair of the Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson have returned from Dartmoor, little realising that fate will see them back in Devon before the year is out. Holmes receives a potentially lethal package, the first strand in the tangled skein, which he will need to unravel before this new adventure is resolved. A threat to Holmes' life, murders on Hampstead Heath, and a strange phantom lady lead Holmes and Watson into the most dangerous investigation they have ever undertaken - an encounter which brings them face to face with evil itself, embodied in Count Dracula, the Lord of the Undead."
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The Shortest Journey

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1992

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Mrs. Edith Rossiter, a rich matron, also has a wealth of greedy relatives--a cold-blooded daughter, a wastrel son, and a desperate sister. Because she is in excellent health, none of them can hope to inherit anytime soon ... So when Edith vanishes from Taviscombe’s finest nursing home, the police suspect the worst, despite the lack of evidence. Mrs. Rossiter was a close friend of Mrs. Sheila Malory, who as usual applies her skills as an amateur detective to delve into the lives of the missing woman and her hopeful heirs. Was Edith addicted to sleeping pills? What did the mysterious couple seen in Edith's company want from her? The truth will be stranger and more startling than even Mrs. Malory could have possibly imagined. The Shortest Journey is the third of Hazel Holt's Mrs. Malory mysteries."
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An Uncertain Death

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1993

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Sheila Malory is swept up in the organization of the Taviscombe Festival, and has to spend more and more time in the company of the unpleasant Adrian Palgrave whose overbearing manner makes him unpopular with almost everyone. But everyone is shocked when his lifeless and bloody body is found."
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To Kill The Past

Janet Laurence

Macmillan

1994

"After a terrifying car crash in which her two closest relatives are killed, Felicity Frear comes to in a Devon hospital blinded, burned and amnesiac. Even the news that she has been left Kingsleigh, the historic and beautiful family home of the Dashwoods, means nothing to her. Discharged from hospital, Felicity heads straight for her new home, hoping that the sight of a place she’s apparently known since childhood might bring her memory back. It doesn’t. Felicity finds herself alone and vulnerable, unable to understand her hostile reception. Then her nightmare begins as the phone rings and a cold, detached voice says: ‘Now you’re back, I want what what’s mine’... Bit by bit, Felicity learns of the horrific sequence of events which took place at Kingsleigh the week before her accident. In a desperate attempt to make sense of the mysteries which surround her, Felicity sets about uncovering her past. But even in her worst imaginings she could never have guessed what might confront her there."
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Superfluous Death

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1995

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"The sleepy seaside town of Taviscombe has more than its share of gossips and schemers. It also has Mrs. Sheila Malory, a widow whose gift for judging character and unmasking murderers is as impressive as her knowledge of nineteenth-century literature. Mrs. Malory's sleuthing talents are tested once again when she comes upon the body of one of her friends, a sweet elderly lady. Miss Graham's death by poison is quite convenient for a local doctor of dubious reputation; the dead woman's refusal to move thwarted Dr. Cowley’s plans to build a nursing home. But Mrs. Malory knows that nothing is as simple as it seems, especially when it is revealed that Miss Graham left a considerable fortune. Another suspicious death during a fireworks display further complicates matters. These two very different murders - one furtive, the other violent - can't possibly be related. Or can they?"
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The Last Templar

Michael Jecks

Headline

1995

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Paris, 1307. A Knight Templar weeps as he watches his friends, broken by torture, go to their deaths at the stake. Pope Clement has destroyed the Order, persuaded of corruption within it. All that remains is the desire for vengeance against those who defiled the Order’s name. Devon 1316. Simon Puttock is the newly appointed bailiff of Lydford Castle, but has little experience of violence. A charred body is found in a burned-out cottage, and only the new lord, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, deduces that the victim was dead before the fire began. Together, Simon and Baldwin begin to piece together the events of the man’s last days. Then word comes of another murder, and this time the victim was burned alive."
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The Merchant's Partner

Michael Jecks

Headline

1995

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"When the mutilated body of midwife and healer Agatha Kyteler is discovered in a hedge one frozen wintry morning, it at first appears the lack of clues will render the crime unsolvable - until a frightened local youth inexplicably flees his village and a hue and cry is raised. Sir Baldwin Furnshill, once a Knight Templar, however, has doubts about the boy’s guilt, and enlists friend and bailiff of Lydford Castle, Simon Puttock, in the hunt for a murderer. But what they seek lies somewhere on the darker side of the village of Wefford, beneath layers of jealousy, suspicion, and hatred - and the buried truth could prove fatal to anyone who disturbs it."
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A Moorland Hanging

Michael Jecks

Headline

1996

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"In fourteenth-century Devon, runaway villeins were brutally punished if apprehended by their masters. But when Peter Bruther flees the home of Sir William Beauscyr, he puts himself in the protection of the king by setting up as a tin miner on the moors. And the bailiff of Lydford, Simon Puttock, has to inform an irate Sir William that he has no legal claim on his wayward servant. When Bruther's body is found hanging from a tree, Simon, assisted by the former Knight Templar Sir Baldwin Furnshill, finds himself investigating cold-blooded murder. And there's no shortage of suspects, from Sir William himself, to his feuding sons, to Thomas Smyth, a wealthy tinner who runs a ruthlessly enforced protection racket funded by landowners. The pressure is on Simon and Baldwin to unravel the truth before further violence ensues."
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Death of a Dean

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1996

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"While in Stratford, widow Sheila Malory always stays with her old friend, actor David Beaumont. On this visit she finds him in dire straits: his career is on the skids and his finances are in ruins. Unless he can convince his penny-pinching brother Francis to sell their jointly owned family home in the seaside village of Taviscombe, the bank will repossess his cottage. Francis, Dean of the Culminster Cathedral, does not believe that charity begins at home. He refuses to put the house on the market or provide a loan. Mrs. Malory offers David a place to stay in her own home in Taviscombe so that the two brothers might meet in person to find a solution. Even if Francis can be persuaded to sell, one impediment remains: their ancient and addled nanny has been told that she can stay in the home until she dies. Even after Nana’s sudden death, Francis insists that they hold on to the property. When he dies from consuming high tea laced with poison, the police conclude that both deaths were murder. Unfortunately David is their prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend’s name, Mrs. Malory applies her considerable skills as an amateur sleuth to identify the real culprit. She has seen her share of evil, but even Mrs. Malory is shocked by what her investigation turns up."
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The Only Good Lawyer...

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1997

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Every year solicitor Graham Percy makes a tour of the West Country to visit old friends, and unfortunately for Sheila, her home is one of the tiresome lawyer's ports of call. But Graham's latest stay turns out to be his last, for one morning he is found on the seafront with a fatal stab wound ."
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The Crediton Killings

Michael Jecks

Headline

1997

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Crediton is expecting the arrival of the Bishop of Exeter, Walter Stapledon. A band of mercenaries has arrived in the town under their leader, Sir Hector de Gorsone. Rumours abound that they terrorize travellers, have no respect even for the cloth, and that Sir Hector has seduced a local maid. When Simon and Baldwin attend the Bishop's welcome dinner, they are called to learn that the mercenaries have complained of theft, and then discover the body of a young woman hidden in a chest: the first of the Crediton killings."
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The Abbot's Gibbet

Michael Jecks

Headline

1998

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"With scores of merchants streaming into Devon to participate in the Tavistock fair of 1319, a goodly amount of unlawful activity is expected. No one, however, anticipates a murder. The guests of Abbot Robert Champeaux, former Knight Templar Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford, have been asked by their host to investigate the grisly discovery of a headless corpse by a local butcher. Hunting a killer in the din and bustle of the fair could prove a daunting task, especially with the victim's identity a mystery. But Sir Baldwin and Simon are determined to unravel the complex weave of intrigue, rage, and violence that has brought death to Tavistock -- even if it means courting their own destruction."
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The Leper's Return

Michael Jecks

Headline

1998

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Ralph of Houndeslow is the new Master of St Lawrence's, the leper hospital at Crediton. He has the daunting task of seeing to the souls of the inmates. Godfrey of London is murdered, his daughter Cecily assaulted, and the crimes are laid at the door of John of Irelaunde, a known womaniser and conman. Meanwhile feelings against Lepers are growing. A few hotheads are prepared to consider killing all of them. Amidst this gathering storm, Baldwin and Simon must try to prevent wholesale slaughter, and bring the true culprit to justice."
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Dead and Buried

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1998

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"The Taviscombe village fete opens with an attempt on the life of chairwoman Frieda Spencer, and a second attempt succeeds a fortnight later. Her toyboy lover is charged with the killing. Investigator Sheila Malory is not convinced, and is convinced the reasons go back a long time."
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The Moor

Laurie R. King

St. Martin's Press

1998

A Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes novel.

"In the eerie wasteland of Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes summons his devoted wife and partner, Mary Russell, from her studies at Oxford to aid the investigation of a death and some disturbing phenomena of a decidedly supernatural origin. Through the mists of the moor there have been sightings of a spectral coach made of bones carrying a woman long-ago accused of murdering her husband--and of a hound with a single glowing eye. Returning to the scene of one of his most celebrated cases, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes and Russell investigate a mystery darker and more unforgiving than the moors themselves."
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The Sanctuary Seeker

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster

1998

A Crowner John novel.

"November, 1194. Appointed by Richard the Lionheart as the first coroner for the county of Devon, Sir John de Wolfe, an ex-Crusader, rides out to the lonely moorland village of Widecombe to hold an inquest on an unidentified body. On his return to Exeter, the coroner is incense to find that his own brother-in-law, Sheriff Richard de Revelle, is intent on thwarting the murder investigation, particularly when it emerges that the dead man is a Crusader and a member of one of Devon's finest and most honourable families."
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The Poisoned Chalice

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

1998

A Crowner John novel.

"In December of 1194, the well-born ladies of Exeter are not having a good week. First, Christina Rifford, the daughter of a rich merchant, is raped. Then, just months before her marriage, Lady Adele de Courcy is found dead in one of the poorest areas of the city.The common factor is Godfrey Fitzosbern, the local silversmith. But despite Crowner John's suspicions and the vengeful accusations of the families, it is John's duty to protect Godfrey until he can find definite proof of his guilt. Aided by his mistress Nesta, and hindered by his social-climbing wife Matilda and her power-hungry brother, Sheriff Richard de Revelle, John slowly begins to put the pieces together."
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Crowner's Quest

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

1999

A Crowner John novel.

"Christmas Eve, 1194. Sir John de Wolfe gratefully escapes his wife Matilda's party to examine the body of a canon who has been found hanged. Suicide is suspected, but it is soon apparent there's more to this case than meets the eye. As always, John's investigations are hampered by his brother-in-law, Sheriff Richard de Revelle. But when a local lord is killed, John begins to suspect the cases are linked and that Sir Richard's reasons for delaying the investigation may be more serious than his usual acts of petty vengeance. Desperately trying to deflect Sir Richard's plots against him, John is soon at loggerheads with Matilda and even his mistress Nesta. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him far more than the women in his life."
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Single & Single

John le Carré

Hodder & Stoughton

1999

"Why was an English lawyer shot dead in Turkey by his firm's top client? How can a down-at-heel magician in Devon explain the vast fortune that has mysteriously appeared in his daughter's trust fund? With customs officer Nat Brock on the trail, the answers point to the House of Single - once a respectable finance company, now entangled with a Russian crime syndicate. West is pitted against East, and the British establishment against a labyrinthine criminal superpower, in le Carré's searing novel of lives built upon lies."
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Sherlock Holmes: Footsteps In The Fog And Other Stories

Kel Richards

Beacon Books

1999

A collection of three stories.

"The Waters of Death Something ancient and mysterious lurks beneath the inky waters of Loch Ness - where the top secret Bruce-Partington submarine is being tested. What has Sherlock Holmes been called in to investigate? Sabotage by spies? Or something far stranger? Footsteps in the Fog The evil Colonel Sebastian Moran has escaped from a prison for the criminally insane and is hunting Sherlock Holmes - hunting to kill! At the same time Holmes has joined forces with Professor Challenger to solve the mysterious Fog Murders on Baker Street. The Wolfman of Dartmoor Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson return to the treacherous mines and bogs of Dartmoor (where they had encountered the Hound of the Baskervilles). This time they are hunting a local superstition--a man who can become a wolf!"
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Squire Throwleigh's Heir

Michael Jecks

Headline

1999

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Sir Baldwin is preparing for his marriage when he learns that a guest, Sir Roger, Squire of Throwleigh, has died. Herbert, only five years old, is heir. But his mother unfairly blames him for her husband's death. Baldwin is concerned about the boy's lack of protection. When Herbert is killed by a horse and cart in an apparent accident only days later, Baldwin and Simon suspect foul play. They travel to Throwleigh to investigate, and discover a shocking sequence of events and terrible motives."
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Belladonna at Belstone

Michael Jecks

Headline

1999

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"St. Mary’s Priory, situated on a bleak and miserable moor, is being torn apart by rumours and rivalries. Lady Elizabeth of Topsham, Prioress, struggles to maintain both her position and her community. Sister Margherita, her treasurer, has accused Elizabeth of lascivious disregard, claiming that she has given money needed for essential repairs to the new vicar – a man Lady Elizabeth often sees alone at night. With her support amongst the other nuns growing, and a sister murdered in the infirmary, suspicion falls upon the Priory. Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King’s Peace, and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock are summoned to investigate. With the nuns breaking their holy vows of obedience, chastity and poverty with alarming frequency, and the discovery of a second murder, Baldwin and Simon face their most difficult case yet."
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Fatal Legacy

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

1999

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Amateur sleuth Sheila Malory is once again called into action when an old friend dies suddenly and mysteriously . . .When an old friend invites her to a Writer of the Year party Sheila Malory feels she cannot refuse. And a week later she is thankful she made the effort, for Beth - otherwise known as Dame Elizabeth Blackmore, the popular novelist - dies suddenly leaving Sheila as her literary executor. Among Beth's papers is an unfinished novel telling of a passionate love affair. But something about it convinces Sheila it is autobiographical. Could her friend have been living a double life? And why are members of Beth's family behaving so oddly in their grief? After news reaches her of another sudden death Sheila starts to suspect that Beth's death was no accident."
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Lilies That Fester

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

2000

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Thea Wyatt has only been back in Taviscombe a short while, yet already she has secured a job at the local law firm and has been asked for her hand in marriage. And when Michael Malory announces their engagement to his mother, Sheila couldn't be more delighted. But the fairytale is shortlived. For Gordon Masefield, a senior solicitor at Thea's firm, has died shortly after an altercation with her. And now Thea is the prime suspect for his murder. However, Masefield has no shortage of enemies and when Sheila and Michael start the hunt for the real killer it begins to look as though practically anyone had both the will and the opportunity to kill him."
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The Awful Secret

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2000

A Crowner John novel.

"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."
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The Perfect Daughter

Gillian Linscott

Virago

2000

A Nell Bray novel.

"Verona North had seemed the perfect daughter. She'd surprised her friends by leaving her home in Devon to attend art school in London, but they'd thought it was a normal youthful rebellion which wouldn't last very long. However when she did return home it was to die - pregnant and with her body full of morphine. Her cousin, Nell Bray, isn't wholly convinced she committed suicide and is positive she was not a drug addict. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Nell discovers that she was leading a double-life: on the one hand consorting with a group of bohemian artists and anarchists, and on the other collecting information on suspected 'enemies of the state' for the secret service. Where did her real loyalties lies - with her family, her friends or her paymasters? What did she know which caused one of them to kill her, and who was the father of her child?"
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The Traitor of St. Giles

Michael Jecks

Headline

2000

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"In 1321, the King's favorite, Hugh Despenser, is using his position to steal land and wealth from the other lords. His rapacity has divided the nation, and civil war looms. In Tiverton, rape and murder have unsettled the town, which is preparing for the feast of St. Giles; Philip Dyne has confessed and claimed sanctuary in St. Peter's church. Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and Bailiff Simon Puttock, arrive at Lord Hugh de Courtenay's castle at Tiverton for the feast. When a messenger arrives calling for the coroner, Baldwin and Simon accompany him to view the body of Sir Gilbert of Carlisle, Despenser's ambassador to Lord Hugh. Not far off lies a second corpse - the decapitated figure of Dyne. When Baldwin and Simon are themselves viciously attacked, they know that a sinister force is at large, someone with a powerful motive to kill."
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The Boy Bishop's Glovemaker

Michael Jecks

Headline

2000

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"For Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and Bailiff Simon Puttock, the Christmas of 1321 promises to be one of great festivity. They are to receive the prestigious Gloves of Honor in a ceremony led by the specially elected Boy-Bishop of Exeter. But they soon learn that Ralph, the glovemaker, has been stabbed to death. Then Peter, a Secondary at the cathedral, collapses from poisoning. Sir Baldwin and his colleague must waste no time in solving the riddles surrounding the deaths, but as they dig for the truth, they find that many of Exeter's leading citizens are not what - or whom - they seem to be."
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The Haunting of Torre Abbey: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes

Carole Buggé

Minotaur Press

2000

The Haunting of Torre Abbey was published by Titan Books in 2018 as part of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series.

"Holmes has received a request for aid from Lord Charles Cary, whose family is seemingly being threatened by ghosts in and around the family manor. The manor is Torre Abbey, a twelfth-century monastery in Torquay, Devon, and it has a long history of hauntings. While skeptical of the supernatural, Holmes does believe that the Cary family is in danger-a belief which proves to be horrifyingly accurate when, shortly after they arrive at Torre Abbey, a household member dies suddenly, mysteriously, and seemingly of fright. As strange sightings and threatening apparitions become almost commonplace, Holmes must uncover the secrets of the haunted abbey and the family that lives there if he is to have any hope of protecting the living and avenging the dead. In a case that taxes his wits, and seems beyond the reach of his usual methods, Holmes must grapple with his most deadly and unforgiving foe."
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Delay of Execution

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

2001

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"When Sheila Malory is asked to help out at the prestigious Blakeney's School for Girls, she is simultaneously thrilled and terrified. For her predecessor, Margaret Hood, is a hard act to follow. A powerfully charismatic figure, Margaret inspired fierce loyalty in her select group of pupils - until her sudden death. With her characteristic charm and discretion, Sheila soon becomes a popular member of staff, entertaining confidences from both colleagues and pupils. In doing so she learns that not everyone considered Margaret Hood to be a positive influence on the girls . . . And then a second death shakes Blakeney's foundations. As Sheila delves deeper still she discovers that there are dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of this well-to-do establishment - and no shortage of people with the motive for murder."
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The Tinner's Corpse

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2001

A Crowner John novel.

"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?"
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The Tournament of Blood

Michael Jecks

Headline

2001

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"It is 1322, and Lord Hugh de Courtenay's plan to host a tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the money-lenders of Oakhampton. When the defeated knights find themselves unable to pay the traditional ransoms to their captors, they will have only one course open to them—accruing interest by the hour. But when the most prominent money-lender, Benjamin Dudenay, is found brutally murdered a month before the festivities, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves on the trail of a most sinister killer."
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The Sticklepath Strangler

Michael Jecks

Headline

2001

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"As the summer of 1322 brings sun to the Devonshire countryside, it seems that the small village of Sticklepath is destined to remain in darkness. An afternoon of innocent adventure becomes one of gruesome terror when two playmates uncover the body of a young girl up on the moors. The body is that of ten-year-old Aline, who had gone missing six years earlier. When Sir Baldwin Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are called to the scene to investigate, they soon discover that Aline is not the only young girl to have been found dead in recent years. It seems that the villagers have been concealing not only a serial killer, but a possible case of cannibalism. Or, if the rumors are to be believed, a vampire."
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The Grim Reaper

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2002

A Crowner John novel.

"May 1195, and Sir John de Wolfe is faced with a strange series of serial murders, which begins with the suffocation of a Jewish money-lender and proceeds through that of a London harlot, a dissolute priest and a burgess suspected of abusing young boys. The common factor is that an appropriate Biblical text is left at each murder scene, the mode of which reflects the alleged sin of the victim. This means that a literate and Bible-learned killer is involved - which, in an age where only 1% of the population can read or write - can only be a priest. There are at least twenty-five parish churches in Exeter, so the killer could be any one of more than a hundred clerics. Crowner John sets about to discover the identity of the homicidal priest."
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Leonora

Hazel Holt

Macmillan

2002

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"It is twenty years since Leonora Staveley retired from her illustrious career as an investigative journalist to live as a virtual recluse on Exmoor, surrounded only by her beloved animals. With an increasing lack of concern for her own welfare and her house filled to the brim with the clutter and relics of an extraordinary life, no-one was too surprised when the elderly Leonora suffered a fatal bout of food poisoning. But Sheila Malory suspects something far more sinister was involved in the death of her friend. For there are a number of people, including Leonora's brother Vernon and her neighbours the Bamfilde brothers, who had good reason to want this wealthy lady out of the way once and for all. And aside from the obvious suspects, just who was the mysterious young man seen camping near Leonora's house just days before she died . . .?"
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The Devil's Acolyte

Michael Jecks

Headline

2002

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Amidst the myth and folklore of Tavistock, one tale above all others strikes fear into the hearts of the townspeople—that of the murders on the Abbot’s Way. One cold winter, many years ago, a young acolyte led a group of fellow novices in the theft of their abbot’s wine store. Later, consumed by guilt and fear of discovery, he was driven to commit still more crimes. As legend has it, the devil himself meted out his punishment, leading the acolyte and his cohorts to their deaths on the treacherous Devon moors. Now, in the autumn of 1322, it looks as if history is repeating itself. Abbot Robert has found his wine barrel empty, and a body has been discovered on the moors. Furnshill and Puttock are called upon to investigate, but the case seems only to become increasingly complicated. It soon becomes apparent that it’s not just wine that’s missing from the abbey—and that the body on the moors isn’t the last."
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The Mad Monk of Gidleigh

Michael Jecks

Headline

2002

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"As the winter of 1323 descends on Dartmoor, life has never seemed so bleak to the young priest in his isolated, windswept chapel. It is a far cry from the cathedral cities of Europe of which he dreamed as a novice. So who could blame him for accepting some longed-for human contact and companionship when it is offered by the local miller's daughter, Mary? But when Mary and the unborn child she carried are found brutally murdered, it is obvious where the villagers will point the finger of blame. However, investigators Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and Bailiff Simon Puttock soon begin to have their doubts. It becomes clear that Mary was far from the simple village girl she seemed. What exactly was her relationship with the Squire of Gidleigh, Sir Ralph, who is uncharacteristically grief-stricken at her death? Whatever it was, could it be that he himself was responsible for her death? Or perhaps Osbert, the mill-hand whose love she rejected time and again, could withstand his torment no longer? In their search for the truth, Baldwin and Simon unwittingly put themselves in the greatest danger they have ever faced, and by the time the investigation is over, life for themselves and their families will never be the same again."
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Death in Practice

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2003

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Malcolm Hardy, the new partner at Taviscombe's veterinary practice, is not a popular man; but without his money the surgery would have to close. Within a few weeks of starting his new job he seems to have upset most of the town: firing one of his long-serving colleagues; installing his girlfriend as veterinary assistant at the surgery; refusing to treat stray animals for free; accusing another colleague of malpractice as well as being seen out with a married woman. As far as Sheila Malory is concerned there is little to like about the new vet. But despite his unpopularity it is still a shock when Hardy collapses and dies at the surgery. And when the post-mortem reveals that his death was unnatural, suspicion instantly falls on his former colleagues. Could somebody at the practice be a killer? Or might the thoroughly unpleasant Malcolm Hardy have other enemies with murder in mind?"
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Fear In The Forest

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2003

A Crowner John novel.

"C12th Devon. Much of the country lies under the iron rule of the Royal Forest laws, with all hunting reserved to the King. The penalty for killing a deer on the King's land is mutilation or death. These harsh laws are rigorously upheld by the King's foresters, notorious for their greed and corruption. June 1195. A tall, brown mare gallops into the sleepy village of Sigford, its rider dragged by the stirrup, the broken shaft of an arrow protruding from his back. The embroidered badge on the dead man's tunic identifies him as a senior officer of the Royal Forest. But, with plenty of money still in the victim's purse, the motive is a mystery. When a second forest officer is violently attacked, Sir John de Wolfe begins to uncover evidence of a sinister conspiracy."
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The Witch Hunter

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2004

A Crowner John novel.

"Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-dolly is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart. Enlisting the help of her cousin, a cathedral canon with an eye to ecclesiastical advancement, the victim's strident widow begins a campaign in the name of the Church against witchcraft and the so-called 'cunning women' who practise it. This escalates until Exeter is divided into two camps and a climate of fear predominates. Still the coroner refuses to get involved - until his beloved mistress is accused of witchcraft. Can Crowner John unearth the real culprit and save Nesta from the hangman's noose?."
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The Silent Killer

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2004

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"When widower Sidney Middleton is found dead in his cottage from carbon monoxide poisoning, Sheila Malory is deeply disturbed. The old man had seemed in good health and the ageing wood-burning stove, cited as causing the fatality, had just been serviced. Sheila’s suspicions that this was no accidental death just won’t be quietened. Sidney had always seemed a pleasant, unassuming gentleman. So Sheila is shocked when, at the old man’s funeral, she encounters outright hostility. Then Sheila uncovers some rather shocking information about the deceased…information that paints him in a very different light and leads her to ask how many people might have borne him a grudge?"
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The Tolls of Death

Michael Jecks

Headline

2004

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"After their gruelling journeys to Galicia and Scilly, Baldwin and Simon are at last back on the English mainland, dumped unceremoniously when their shipmaster partakes of his cargo and almost wrecks the ship. Eager to get home, Baldwin and Simon set off on horseback but only get as far as Cardinham on Bodmin Moor. Here, they are detained by the castellan who requires their help to solve two murders on the estate. The first victim is a widow, found dead with her two children. The second is Serlo, the Miller, who has recently been discovered embezzling castle money taken in tolls. As Baldwin and Simon begin a double investigation, they must look beneath the village friendships and family loyalties to find an evil killer and secure Cardinham's safety."
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The Chapel of Bones

Michael Jecks

Headline

2004

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"Forty years ago, Exeter Cathedral close was the scene of a vicious ambush. Afterwards, the bodies left lying in their blood bore witness to the conflicts tearing at heart of the Cathedral itself. Today, in 1323, more deaths have occurred. Is the first an accident? The second is surely not. Murder is again polluting the Cathedral close, but this killer will not be easily caught. The victim, Henry Potell, was feared by many, and held secrets that some wished to keep hidden... For Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock, events become increasingly mysterious. Who among Henry Potell's companions knows the truth about his death? What first appears to be a matter of lust or greed soon grows more troubling as Baldwin becomes aware of the ominous Chapel of Bones, built long ago in reparation for a terrible murder."
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No Cure for Death

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2005

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Something peculiar is going on at the Group Medical Practice in Taviscombe. Sheila Malory can’t help but feel it may be linked with the unexpected arrival of Dr Morrison. Arrogant and cold-mannered, his alleged misdiagnosis of a local patient who later died has made him the focus of village rumour. When Dr Morrison is found dead, apparently murdered, it is assumed to be a random act of violence. However Sheila Malory is not convinced. Had Dr Morrison been involved in some sort of dangerous business in London. Or did someone local have a motive for wanting him out of the way?"
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Figure of Hate

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2005

A Crowner John novel.

"Exeter, 1195: At a local jousting day, there's a serious altercation between Hugh Peverel, lord of Sampford Peverel, near Tiverton, and a stranger by the name of Reginald de Charterai. Two days later, Hugh's body is found in a barn, stabbed in the back. Is de Charterai to blame? The county coroner, Sir John de Wolfe, soon finds plenty of other suspects for the killing of the almost universally hated Hugh Peverel. All three of his brothers had a motive: two for the succession and the third to steal Hugh's attractive young wife, Beatrice. It's no secret that Beatrice herself detested her adulterous husband, as did his mother-in-law, Adelina. Another suspect is Godwin Thatcher, a Saxon villager whose two sons were hanged some months earlier, being arbitrarily sentenced by Hugh at his manorial court. Then there's the manor reeve, Warin Fishacre, who harboured a deep grudge against his master for taking the virginity of his daughter, Maud, just before her marriage. With so many suspects to choose from, Sir John is confronted with one of the most difficult cases of his distinguished career."
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The Butcher of St Peter's

Michael Jecks

Headline

2005

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"When a merchant in Exeter hears an intruder in his home one night, his first thought is to conceal his adulterous lover. But then he witnesses a sinister figure stooping over the bed of his only child, a figure who seems to almost vanish into thin air. Two years on and the identity of the intruder has become common knowledge: the idiot of the city who lost his own children many years ago, and who seems doomed to wander the town searching for them. But when a boy then disappears, suspicion immediately falls on him. The local constable is determined to solve the mystery, as his own son disappeared some years ago and he always suspected the fool. Sir Baldwin is asked to follow a lead to the manor of Bishop's Clyst to try and find out what has happened. While he is there a body is found under the stone bridge - the body of a boy, but not the one who recently went missing."
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The Tainted Relic

The Medieval Murderers

Simon & Schuster

2005

Medieval Murderers: Simon Beaufort, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Philip Gooden

"July, 1100. Jerusalem lies ransacked. Amidst the chaos, an English knight is entrusted with a valuable religious relic: a fragment of the True Cross, allegedly stained with the blood of Christ. The relic is said to be cursed: anyone who touches it will meet an untimely and gruesome end. Several decades later, the Cross turns up in the possession of a dealer, robbed and murdered en route to Glastonbury. Investigating the death, Bernard Knight's protagonist, Crowner John learns of its dark history. In Oxford in 1269, the discovery of a decapitated monk leads Ian Morson's academic sleuth William Falconer to uncover a link to the relic. In 1323, in Exeter, Michael Jecks' Sir Baldwin has reason to suspect its involvement in at least five violent deaths. Thirty years later, several suspicious deaths occur in Cambridge - and, once again, the tainted relic has a crucial part to play. Finally, it's despatched to London, where Philip Gooden's Nick Revill will determine its ultimate fate."
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The Elixir of Death

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2006

A Crowner John novel.

"1195. Prince John plots to seize the throne from his brother, Richard the Lionheart - and in his wicked schemes he is supported by King Philip of France, who offers to help John financially by sending him a mysterious alchemist, a Mohammedan named Nizam, who claims to be able to transmute base metals into gold. But the ship which was transporting Nizam and his retainers to the Devon tin mines is found wrecked off the south Devon coast, its crew savagely slaughtered. Shortly afterwards, Sir Peter le Calve, a Norman knight living near Exeter, is foully murdered, being part-crucified and beheaded, his head stuck on the rood screen of the cathedral. It's up to Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, to find a motive and connection between the killings."
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A Friar's Bloodfeud

Michael Jecks

Headline

2006

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"March 1323: in the rural idyll of Iddesleigh, a gang of men break into the home of Bailiff Simon Puttock's servant and attack his family. When word reaches Simon, he and Sir Baldwin de Funshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, hurry to the home, finding it burned to the ground and the bodies from within already buried. Could this be the result of a tragic accident, or is a darker force at work? As Baldwin and Simon attempt to uncover the truth, it quickly becomes clear that a terrible evil lurks in the land, and that the pain and bloodshed are far from over."
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The Death Ship of Dartmouth

Michael Jecks

Headline

2006

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"It is 1324, and a disastrous autumn looms large. In Dartmouth, a man is found lying dead in the road, but the inhabitants of this little haven dismiss his death as a drunken accident. Their attentions are turned to more worrying matters—piracy. A ship, the St. John, has been discovered, half-ravaged and the crew missing, in an attack that bears all the hallmarks of the supposedly disbanded Lyme Pirates. Could this be the beginning of a vicious onslaught, or is something even more sinister happening? Sir Baldwin Furnshill has been warned of spies reaching the great traitor Roger Mortimer. If this is true and messages are reaching Mortimer, civil war in England is inevitable. And so the Kingdom’s most powerful and ruthless men demand that Baldwin and Bailiff Simon Puttock uncover the truth, and quickly. This is to be the most important investigation of their lives—fail and they will be executed, succeed and there will be others ready to silence them forever."
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The Malice of Unnatural Death

Michael Jecks

Headline

2006

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"1324. The kingdom is in an uproar. Roger Mortimer—once the king's most able commander, now his most hated enemy—has escaped from the Tower and hired an assassin to murder the monarch. Others have the same idea. In Coventry, a special assassin has been hired: a necromancer by the name of John. But just as his plan begins to succeed, the plot is uncovered. John must escape to a smaller city: Exeter. And when the bodies of a local craftsman and the king's messenger are found in Exeter's streets, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, are asked by the Bishop to find the murderer. The dead messenger was carrying a dangerous secret, and the Bishop is desperate that it not be discovered. Baldwin and Simon are reluctant to get involved, but political pressures are growing, and the two must find the murderer before he strikes again. But when murderers use magic, no one is safe."
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Sword of Shame

The Medieval Murderers

Simon & Schuster

2006

Medieval Murderers: Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Philip Gooden

"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."
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Death in the Family

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2006

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Slowly I began to understand fully the horror of what had happened to that family, and the extent of Bernard's responsibility for it. More than ever, when I thought of the irreparable damage he'd done to so many people, I felt, with Veronica, glad that he was dead. Bernard Prior was never popular with the rest of his family. And when his second cousin, Sheila Malory, is warned that he is visiting members of the Prior family in order to research their genealogy, Sheila considers it nothing more than a bore. However, what seems like an innocent pastime soon turns into something more sinister. When Bernard dies in suspicious circumstances, family secrets start to emerge. It appears that Bernard's death is not as straightforward as it seems; while he is known as a bore and a bully, there is nothing to indicate any motive for cold-blooded murder. But someone clearly wanted him dead, and Sheila begins to realise that his research into their family history may have turned up more than a collection of old photographs. Never one to let sleeping dogs lie, Sheila takes it upon herself to discover the truth behind Bernard's demise. What secrets lie buried in the family past? And what will happen to those who try to uncover them?"
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The Noble Outlaw

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2007

A Crowner John novel.

"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."
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The Manor of Death

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2008

A Crowner John novel.

"When an unidentified body is discovered in the harbor town of Axmouth, the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe is summoned to investigate. The manner of the young man's death is a matter of some dispute, but it was clearly no accident. In the ensuing murder investigation, Sir John is frustrated by what appears to be a conspiracy of silence among the seamen and townsfolk. There are many inhabitants of Axmouth who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that the shocking truth behind the death remains hidden. Sir John will need courage, cunning, and determination if he is to solve the case and escape from the town with his life."
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A Time to Die

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2008

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Life in Taviscombe, Devon, ambles along at its own pace. Sheila Malory is being kept busy by her relations, particularly her god-daughter and granddaughter who have gone horse-mad at the local stables. Run by glamorous couple Jo and Charlie Hamilton, she a former leading lady and he, a once Olympic standard equestrian, the stables seems to be a fine business - but is all as it seems? When a series of tragic 'accidents' cast a shadow over the stables and the town Sheila, never backward in coming forward, determines to investigate."
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Mrs. Malory and Any Man's Death

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2009

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Sheila Malory has her reservations when she is asked to research the history of the village of Mere Barton, as it brings her into close contact with miserly Annie Roberts, a controlling woman who's much resented by her fellow villagers. Not even the local rector has a good word to say about her. When Annie suffers a fatal bout of self-inflicted food poisoning, there is more relief than grief around the village. However, as Sheila continues to work on the local history, she begins to wonder if Annie's death was as accidental as it first seemed? "
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Crowner Royal

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2009

A Crowner John novel.

"London, 1196. At the command of Richard the Lionheart, Sir John de Wolfe has left his beloved West Country for the Palace of Westminster, where he has been appointed Coroner of the Verge. But with the king overseas, embroiled in a costly war against King Philip of France, Sir John is dismayed to discover that the English court is a hotbed of greed, corruption and petty in-fighting. The murder of one of the palace clerks, stabbed in broad daylight and thrown into the River Thames, leads John to suspect that there's a conspiracy underway to overthrow King Richard. And with the visit of the dowager Queen Eleanor fast approaching, the new Coroner must risk his life to prove his suspicions are right, root out the traitors within and prevent a national catastrophe"
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No Law in the Land

Michael Jecks

Headline

2009

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"King Edward II is furious when he learns that his wife Queen Isabella has defied him and remains in France with their son. As the unfortunate messengers of this unhappy news, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and his friend, bailiff Simon Puttock, are instantly dismissed from court. Returning to their homes in Devon, the pair are shocked to find that outlaws now hold sway in the land and the chaos escalates as the bodies of two clerics are found among a party of travellers."
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The Sacred Stone

The Medieval Murderers

Simon & Schuster

2010

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Simon Beaufort, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden

"1067. In the desolate wastes of Greenland, a group of hunters discover a strangely-shaped meteor which has fallen from the sky. At first, the mysterious 'sky-stone' seems to bring them good luck, healing a lame boy and guaranteeing a good catch of furs. But violence and murder soon follow in fortune's wake, as the villagers fight and struggle amongst themselves to get control of the precious stone. Over the next six hundred years, the Sky-Stone falls into the hands of crusading knights, the wicked Sheriff of Devon, a group of radical young kabalists, the dying King Henry III and a band of travelling players. Each time, the stone brings treachery, discord and violent death to those who seek to possess it."
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A Plague of Heretics

Bernard Knight

Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books

2010

A Crowner John novel.

"With the city of Exeter ravaged by an outbreak of the 'yellow plague', Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, must divide his time between visiting his brother Willam who has been struck down by the disease, and dealing with a series of brutal murders which appears to be linked to a revival of heresy in the city. When some of the cathedral canons begin a crusade against this danger to the Church, Sir John is accused of being too sympathetic to the heretics, bringing him into conflict with the ecclesiastical authorities. As the situation worsens, the coroner finds himself having to seek sanctuary in order to save his skin. Can he survive long enough to unmask the real killer?."
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The Baskerville Legacy: A Confession

John O'Connell

Short Books

2011

A revised edition was published by Short Books in 2012 with the title Baskerville: The Mysterious Tale Of Sherlock's Return

"Dartmoor, 1900. Two friends are roaming the moors: Arthur Conan Doyle the most famous novelist of his age who has recently killed off his most popular creation, Sherlock Holmes; and Bertram Fletcher Robinson Holmes aficionado and editor of the Daily Express. They are researching a detective novel, a collaboration starring a new hero, set in the eerie stillness of ancient West Country moorland, and featuring a monstrous dog. They already have a title... London, 1902. The Hound of the Baskervilles is published, featuring Sherlock Holmes back from the dead. Conan Doyle and Fletcher Robinson have not spoken for two years and the book is credited to just one author. It will become one of the most famous stories ever written. But who really wrote it? And what really happened on those moors, to drive the two friends apart?"
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The Case Of The Grave Accusation: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure

Dicky Neely

MX Publishing

2011

"A century after the publication of The Hound of the Baskervilles, the relevance of both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson is jeopardised. Their creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is accused of stealing the narrative for 'the supreme adventure' from a friend called Bertram Fletcher Robinson. Worse still, it is also alleged that Sir Arthur committed adultery, blackmail and murder in order to conceal his act of plagiarism. The stage is now set for the return of Holmes and Watson to Dartmoor in Devon!"
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Mrs. Malory and a Necessary End

Hazel Holt

Nal Obsidian Mystery / Berkley

2012

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"When Sheila Malory fills in for a friend at a local charity shop in the quiet English town of Taviscombe, she's happy for the change of scene. It will give her a chance to deal with interesting books, meet new people, and above all, work for a good cause! Still, not everything at the shop is so appealing. The ill-tempered, officious store supervisor, Desmond Barlow, runs the shop as a tyrant. That is, until Desmond is found stabbed to death in the shop, and Mrs. Malory puts her impeccable sleuthing skills into play. Unfortunately, it seems that Desmond was disliked by pretty much everyone. In a town full of suspects, Mrs. Malory must go behind closed doors and delve into a slew of small-town secrets if she wants to discover a killer who is far from charitable."
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Crowner's Crusade

Bernard Knight

Severn House

2012

A Crowner John novel. A prequel to the series.

"1192. Returning from the Holy Land at the end of the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart, King of England, Sir John de Wolfe, a Devon knight, finds England simmering with rebellion. Discovering a body washed up on the shores of the River Exe, its throat cut, Sir John deduces that he was a king’s courier. Tasked by Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar, to find out why the man died and who killed him, Sir John de Wolfe finds himself drawn unwillingly into affairs of state.  His new career as a king’s coroner is about to begin . . ."
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City of Fiends

Michael Jecks

Simon & Schuster

2012

A Knights Templar novel featuring Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock.

"It's 1327 and England is in turmoil. King Edward II has been removed from the throne and his son installed in his place. The old man's rule had proved a disaster for the realm and many hope that his removal may mean the return of peace to England's cities. Keeper of the King's Peace Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock had been tasked with guarding Edward II, but they have failed in their task and now ride fast to Exeter to inform the sheriff of the old king's escape. In Exeter, the sheriff has problems of his own. Overnight the body of a young maid has been discovered, lying bloodied and abandoned in a dirty alleyway. The city's gates had been shut against the lawlessness outside, so the perpetrator must still lie within the sanctuary of the town. When Baldwin de Furnshill arrives, along with Sir Richard de Welles, a companion of old, he is tasked with uncovering the truth behind this gruesome murder. But, in a city where every man hides a secret, his task will be far from easy."
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For The Love of Old Bones

Michael Jecks

Sharp Books

2012

A short story collection. Baldwin de Furnshill features in at least one of the stories.

"Death and deceit stalk the bleak moorlands of medieval Devonshire in this captivating collection of short stories from the acclaimed author Michael Jecks."
The contents are:
  • The Coroner’s Tale
  • For The Love Of Old Bones
  • The Amorous Armourer
  • A Clerical Error
  • Dance Of Death
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Death is a Word

Hazel Holt

Allison & Busby

2014

A Mrs. Malory novel.

"Eva Jackson is Rosemary's cousin ('umpteen times removed') and she has moved back to her childhood home in Taviscombe after the untimely death of her beloved husband Alan. As is the way of the village, Eva has been pounced upon by the local charities, and it is during a coffee morning that she mentions to Sheila Malory that she fears Alan might have died an unnatural death... Sheila is intrigued and sets out to find out more. But when Eva's body is discovered after a supposed insulin overdose, Sheila wonders if the killer might still be at large in the charming Devon countryside."
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A Rustle of Silk

Alys Clare

Severn House

2016

A Gabriel Taverner novel

" Introducing physician-sleuth Dr Gabriel Taverner in the first of an intriguing series of mysteries set in early 17th century Devon. 1603. Former ship's surgeon Gabriel Taverner is attempting to re-establish himself as a country physician in rural Devon. But it's not easy to gain the locals' trust, and a series of disturbing incidents, increasing in menace and intensity, convinces him that at least one person does not welcome his presence. Called out to examine a partially decomposed body found beside the river, Gabriel discovers that he has a personal connection to the dead man. Teaming up with Coroner Theophilus Davey to find out how the man died, Gabriel uncovers some darker aspects of the lucrative silk trade which operates from nearby Plymouth. The more he finds out, the more frighteningly apparent it becomes that the people closest to him have been keeping dangerous secrets."
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Return to Reichenbach

Geri Schear

MX Publishing

2016

"When a half-naked man is found gibbering on the moor, Sherlock Holmes uncovers a series of bizarre murders. At their heart lies a shadowy figure known only as The Sorcerer. He can talk to the dead, they say. He can bend any will to his own. Even a will as formidable as the detective's. The investigation leads from Dartmoor to Ireland and, ultimately, back to one of the most terrifying scenes of his career. Can Holmes survive the Reichenbach Falls a second time? From the author of A Biased Judgement: The Sherlock Holmes Diaries 1897, Return to Reichenbach is the third in the Sherlock Holmes and Lady Beatrice series."
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The Case of the Snow-White Lady: Halloween Sherlock 1

Liz Hedgecock

White Rhino Books

2017

"Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are summoned to Dartmoor by an old schoolfriend of Watson’s, Bill Holcombe. His sixteen year old daughter Amelia, who died a month previously, has been seen wandering the village at night. Witnesses swear that she catches animals and sucks their blood. The whole neighbourhood fears the ‘Snow-White Lady’, and Holcombe is desperate to prove she is not a vampire. The great detective's famous scepticism is put to the test in a mystery where boundaries blur between the living and the dead."
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Last updated December 2018