Book Review: The Death Ship of Dartmouth

Reviewed By: Catherine Thompson - RAM

The Death Ship of Dartmouth     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Michael Jecks
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Series: Knights Templar Mysteries # 21
Headline, $34.95 hardcover, 395 pages

A man lies dead in a half-repaired street in Dartmouth. Citizens are willing to call it a drunken accident, especially with their minds occupied with piracy. A cog, the Saint John, owned by a local merchant, has been found burned and adrift, the crew all gone but for one corpse in the hold. The rumour flies around the town that it is the work of the Lyme pirates, long enemies of the sailors of Dartmouth.

Sir Baldwin de Furnshill receives a summons from Bishop Stapledon, a man whom he esteems and has known long. Stapledon wishes to send Sir Baldwin to Dartmouth after a French spy. As Keeper of the King’s Peace, Sir Baldwin is duty-bound to protect the realm, but he has no wish to be drawn into the politics of Edward II and the Despensers. He goes to Dartmouth to seek out his old friend Simon Puttock, now bailiff in the town. Together with the Coroner, Sir Richard de Welles, they are drawn into the intrigues of the town’s merchants and the king’s court. If they fail in their investigation, they will be executed; if they succeed, there will be those willing to silence them forever.

It’s really difficult to sum up the plot of The Death Ship of Dartmouth, because there are about 6 different plot-lines all running at once. That Jecks can keep them all in order, can keep all the plates spinning, as it were, is a testament to his skill as a writer. I admire that, and what he has created in the Knights Templar mystery series. Above all, it’s his characters that carry the story. Each character introduced is as complete as any other.

Catherine Thompson - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Catherine Thompson - RAM