Cup of blood : a Crispin Guest medieval noir prequel

When a corpse turns up at his favorite tavern, Crispin Guest � disgraced knight turned detective - begins an inquiry. But the dead man turns out to be a Templar knight, an order thought to be extinct for 75 years, charged with protecting a certain religious relic which is now missing. Before he can begin to investigate, Crispin is abducted by shadowy men who are said to be minions of the French anti-pope. Further complicating matters are two women: one from court with an enticing proposition, and another from Crispin�s past, dredging up long-forgotten emotions he would rather have left behind. And as if all that weren�t enough, a cunning young cutpurse by the name of Jack Tucker has insinuated himself into Crispin�s already difficult life. The deeper Crispin probes into the murder, the more it looks like the handiwork of an old friend turned adversary. With enemies from all sides, Crispin has his hands full in more than murder in this intriguing prequel to the acclaimed series. Praise "Jeri Westerson is an original, and her "medieval noir" novels starring Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight turned investigator, are unique and fresh. CUP OF BLOOD starts like a clap of thunder and expands to include the long-banished Knights Templar and other 14th-century skullduggery, and Crispin maintains his standing as one of today's (and yesterday's) most engaging private eyes. I loved it!" -- Timothy Hallinan, author of the Poke Rafferty Bangkok thrillers and the Junior Bender mysteries. Westerson continues to provide unusual historical detail, offbeat characters and a well-integrated puzzle.� � Kirkus on Shadow of the Alchemist "Another riveting tale of honor and heroism, grounded in period detail.� �Richmond Times-Dispatch on Blood Lance �The Agatha Christie�like solution will please puzzle buffs, while series fans will welcome the author�s efforts to further flesh out the lead and his apprentice, Jack Tucker.� �Publishers Weekly on Troubled Bones About the Author Los Angeles native and award-winning author Jeri Westerson writes the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Noir mysteries. Her brooding protagonist is Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight turned detective on the mean streets of fourteenth century London, encountering thieves, kings, poets, and religious relics. Her books have garnered nominations for the Shamus, the Macavity, the Agatha, Romantic Times Reviewer�s Choice, and the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award. Jeri is president of the southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is a former vice president of the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime. When not writing, Jeri dabbles in gourmet cooking, drinks fine wines, eats cheap chocolate, and swoons over anything British. www.JeriWesterson.com In this prequel, Crispin Guest has his hands full in more than murder: his abduction, two women, a young cutpurse and a friend turned adversary. When a corpse turns up at his favorite tavern, Crispin Guestd̄isgraced knight turned detective--begins an inquiry, but the dead man turns out to be a Templar knight, an order thought to be extinct for 75 years, charged with protecting a certain religious relic which is now missing. Before he can begin to investigate, Crispin is abducted by shadowy men who are said to be minions of the French anti-pope. Further complicating matters are two women: one from court with an enticing proposition, and another from Crispin?s past, dredging up long-forgotten emotions he would rather have left behind. And as if all that weren?t enough, a cunning young cutpurse by the name of Jack Tucker has insinuated himself into Crispin?s already difficult life. The deeper Crispin probes into the murder, the more it looks like the handiwork of an old friend turned adversary. With enemies from all sides, Crispin has his hands full in more than murder in this intriguing prequel to the acclaimed series When a corpse turns up at his favorite tavern, Crispin begins an inquiry, but the dead man turns out to be a Knight Templar, an order thought to be extinct for 75 years, charged with protecting a certain religious relic which is now missing. Before he can investigate, Crispin is abducted by shadowy men who are said to be minions of the French anti-pope. Further complicating matters are two women: one from court with an enticing proposition, and another from Crispins past, dredging up long-forgotten emotions he would rather have left behind. And as if all that werent enough, a cunning young cutpurse by the name of Jack Tucker has insinuated himself into Crispins already difficult life. The deeper Crispin probes into the murder, the more it looks like the handiwork of an old friend turned adversary. With enemies from all sides, Crispin has his hands full in more than murder.