{Kregel Blog Tour} Unhallowed Ground The Fourth Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon by Mel Starr

Book Description:  Thomas atte Bridge, a man no one likes, is found hanging from a tree near Cowleys Corner. All assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh and Kate find evidence that this may not be so.

My Review:  Having read A Trail of Ink by Mel Starr I was anxious to read Unhallowed Ground, the Fourth Chronicle (book) of Hugh de Singleton.  

Master Hugh is now married to the lovely, Kate.  And to be quite honest as I read this book I kept thinking of Sherlock Holmes and his great sidekick, Watson.  

Kate is quite observant and even though she brings items to Master Hugh's attention she never usurps him in the investigation.

Now, Thomas atte Bridge, has been found hanging from a tree.  Dead.  But no one liked him...for he was as mean as an old alley cat.  However, Master Hugh finds evidence that Thomas did not hang himself...Thomas was murdered!  Now to just prove it!

This is not a book for the faint of heart!  Mel Starr does an excellent job of describing primitive medical practices and the instruments used.

This is a wonderful mystery full of suspense where Lord Gilbert Talbot tries to discover who murdered Thomas.  Thomas had so many enemies that this is no easy task.  Throughout this skillfully written medieval mystery Master Hugh is attacked and his arm is nearly cut off, his pregnant wife fears for her life and their home is set on fire.  But why?

This is one of those suspense reads that takes the reader back in time. The language, the food and the primitive surgical instruments all attest to a well thought out, extremely well written read with an ending that leaves us waiting for the next in this series.

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

Meet the author: 

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

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

Paperback
Price: $14.99
Publisher: Monarch imprint of Lion Hudson

Published:September 2011
ISBN:978-0-857-21058-6