Murder in the Holy City: An 11th century mystery set during the crusades (A Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Mystery Book 1)

In 1097 the Pope appealed to all virtuous and God-fearing men to join the Crusade to wrest Jerusalem from the Infidel. But by 1100, Sir Geoffrey Mappestone is one of the few kings who have survived the harrowing journey, the battle to take the city, and the political infighting over the rule of the kingdom. Upon returning to Jerusalem one day following an exhausting desert patrol, Geoffrey hears screams coming from the house of a Greek baker and discovers that one of his closest friends, a fellow knight, has been murdered in the woman's bedchamber. But this is not the first suspicious death in the city--other knights and priests have also been killed, and all, it is discovered, with the same type of curved dagger with a jewelled hilt. Ordered to investigate the deaths by his liege lord, Prince Tancred, Geoffrey realizes too late that they are somehow part of a plot to topple the most formidable lords from their uncertain hold on power. It is not long before he finds himself drawn into dire straits involving some of the most dangerous men in the city--and learns that his closest friends could also be his deadliest enemies. This first title in the Geoffrey Mappestone series was originally published in the USA in 1998, but has never been available in the UK. Jerusalem, 1100. On returning to the city following an exhausting desert patrol, Crusader knight Sir Geoffrey Mappestone hears screams coming from the house of a Greek baker and discovers that one of his closest friends, a fellow knight, has been murdered in the woman's bedchamber. But this is not the first suspicious death in the city: other knights and priests have also been killed, all with the same type of curved dagger with a jewelled hilt. Ordered to investigate the deaths by his liege lord, Prince Tancred, it is not long before Sir Geoffrey finds himself drawn into dire straits involving some of the most dangerous men in the city?and learns that his closest friends could also be his deadliest enemies This first book in the critically acclaimed 11th century mystery series featuring Sir Geoffrey Mappestone. Jerusalem, 1100. On returning to the city following an exhausting desert patrol, Crusader knight Sir Geoffrey Mappestone hears screams coming from the house of a Greek baker and discovers that one of his closest friends, a fellow knight, has been murdered in the woman's bedchamber. But this is not the first suspicious death in the city: other knights and priests have also been killed, all with the same type of curved dagger with a jewelled hilt. Ordered to investigate the deaths by his liege lord, Prince Tancred, it is not long before Sir Geoffrey finds himself drawn into dire straits involving some of the most dangerous men in the city—and learns that his closest friends could also be his deadliest enemies. In 1097 the Pope appealed to all virtuous and God-fearing men to join the Crusade to wrest Jerusalem from the Infidel. But by 1100, Sir Geoffrey Mappestone is one of the few kings who have survived the harrowing journey, the battle to take the city, and the political infighting over the rule of the kingdom. Upon returning to Jerusalem one day following an exhausting desert patrol, Geoffrey hears screams coming from the house of a Greek baker and discovers that one of his closest friends, a fellow knight, has been murdered in the woman's bedchamber. But this is not the first suspicious death in the city - other knights and priests have also been killed, and all, it is discovered, with the same type of curved dagger with a jewelled hilt In 12th century Jerusalem, occupied by the Crusaders and simmering with intrigue, Sir Geoffrey de Mappestone investigates a series of murders to discover a plot by a Christian faction to grab power. Lots of detail on everyday life and relations between the three faiths, Christian, Jew and Moslem