A Trail of Ink

From the first page of A Trail of Ink I was quickly, and delightfully, transported back to Oxford of 1365. The scholar John Wycliffe has had 20 precious books stolen and Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and baliff for Lord Gilbert Talbot is on the case. He follows a twisted trail to track down the culprits and the books while at the same time wooing a stationer's daughter, Kate Caxton.

Mel Starr has written of a down-to-earth hero, with a quiet, steadfast faith, great sense of humour and a love of good food. The dialogue is written with a taste of mediaeval speech, but not too much to be distracting or difficult. Instead it helps to place the reader in the period and adds a charming, interesting variance to our accustomed modern speech.

A show more Trail of Ink is the third in the series of Hugh de Singleton. I've already ordered the first two so I can spend more time in the company of the appealing Hugh and I'm looking forward to the recently released fourth, Unhallowed Ground. show less

I received this as an ER book some time ago, but when I realized it was the third book in a series, I went back to get the first two books; I'm glad I did. Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff, is a rather diffident, modest character. As a detective, he's less given to brilliant flashes of insight than he is to a dogged persistence in asking questions and keeping watch until the evildoer shows his hand.

One particularly interesting aspect of the depiction of Hugh is that, despite his modesty, the reader can see that he is "a man of parts" by the reaction of others to him: the friendship of John Wyclif, the trust imposed by Lord Gilbert in Hugh by making him his bailiff, and the preference shown to him by Kate, the stationer's show more daughter, whom he's busy courting when not trying to find Wyclif's stolen books.

Starr rarely misses a step in writing about the medieval period, and the reader gets a feel for the importance of religion in everyday life; the monotony of the diet of the lower classes and such groups as scholars, especially as contrasted with the multiple courses and elaborate cuisine enjoyed by the aristocracy; and the limits of medieval medicine (actually, it's more efficacious in these novels than it probably was in reality, as infection seems to play less of a role that it would have historically).

One litmus test for me is whether, when I finish a book, I want to pick up the next book in the series. Starr's series passes with flying colors--I can't wait to read the next book! show less

A Trail of Ink: The Third Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon is a wonderful addition to the series that Mel Starr has been carefully building. Hugh de Singleton is an easy to understand, intriguing protagonist as a man who has survived two outbreaks of plague in medieval England, became a surgeon due to an inheritance, and seeks a wife to warm his bed. He has also managed to become a bailiff (sort of a cop) due to action in the previous books and this is why he is put to work finding stolen books for his former professor in medieval Oxford. He also works on getting a wife but crosses a knight when they court the same woman. From page one, you are put into the action and join Hugh in his every thought and deed and the book is done show more before you know it. Hugh reminds me of Precious Ramotswe in his manner but the book is entirely in Hugh's voice. I will be looking for the fourth chronicle thanks to Mel Starr's wonderful writing that brings the Middle Ages to life in beautiful fashion with colorful characters to boot. show less

This was a very well written medieval mystery set in 14th century Oxford. The main character is Hugh de Singleton who is both surgeon and bailiff. While in Oxford to seek the company of Kate, a woman he hopes to marry, Hugh learns of a theft of books. His friend, Master John Wyclif has collected twenty two books over the course of his lifetime. He is distraught to find them missing and is delighted when Hugh is commissioned by Lord Gilbert to assist John is retrieving his missing books.
In his search for the missing books, Hugh meets some very determined adversaries who are out to stop him, permanently if necessary. Later, a young scholar who attempted to sell one of the missing books, is found floating in the the river. What starts out show more as a case of missing books, suddenly seems to take a turn for something much more complicated and dangerous. Kate, also steps in to help Hugh in his quest to solves the mystery. The sooner they do, the sooner they can get married.
This was an excellent mystery with lots of research by the author to make the timeframe authentic and intriguing to read. This is the third chronicle in the Hugh de Singleton series, but the first I had read. I had no trouble reading it out of order and really enjoyed this mystery. show less

I must admit I am a huge fan of historical fiction especially mysteries and intrigue, but "A Trail Of Ink" by Mel Starr was my first foray into the midieval time period. I wasn't sure how I would like the time period but I actually loved it!

This story is set in the town of Oxford England, where Hugh de Singleton is trying to solve the mystery of his friend John Wyclif's stolen books. Twenty-two books in all have been taken, and two of them are borrowed books from a friend of John's. The books were stolen right out of Master Wyclif's room while he was out to supper. Hugh is also interested in Kate Caxton, a stationer's daughter. So Hugh jumps into solving the mystery as he also tries to to win Kate's favor.

While this story was a bit show more hard for me to get into in the beginning, it soon took off transporting me back to medieval England. The author rolls together mystery, suspense, and murder together to make the story a satisfying read. I did find myself turning to the glossary provided in the front of the book because of some of the words used during the time period. "A Trail Of Ink" is the third book in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work, although I do wish I had read the first two books in the seriesThe ending provides a teaser for the next book in the series titled "Unhallowed Ground", which I look forward to reading.

Book provided by Litfuse and the publisher for review. show less

When Hugh de Singleton, bailiff of Bampton, learns that his friend John Wyclif's library has been stolen (all 20 books, plus 2 borrowed from someone else), he is given leave to stay in Oxford to search for and recover Wyclif's books. Happily for Hugh, this will give him an opportunity to court Kate Caxton, the woman he hopes to marry. He is dismayed to learn that he has a rival for Kate's affections. Will Hugh solve the mystery of the missing books and win the heart of the woman he loves?

This is the third book in a series featuring Hugh de Singleton, and it was my first exposure to the series. Historical mysteries are my favorite genre, and I'm pleased to have another series to add to those that I follow. While Hugh isn't as quick show more witted as the protagonists in some series, his companions have complimentary strengths, and they work well together. My one complaint is that this book refers in too much detail to events in the two previous books in the series and gives away spoiler information about their plots and the culprits of the crimes investigated in those books. I'll need to wait a while to read those books and hope that I forget what I learned about them from this book.

While regular readers of Christian fiction will recognize the publisher as a Christian publishing firm, the Christian content is incorporated so naturally into the story that it will not turn off other readers. Recommended for both historical fiction and Christian fiction enthusiasts.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. show less

A Trail of Ink has a little bit of everything that makes this series enjoyable, mystery, a colourful and detailed historical backdrop, and some interesting descriptions of Medieval surgery, medicine and other aspects of life. In this novel, there is even a hint of Romance, with Hugh courting Kate Paxton, the stationers’ daughter he met in the last novel. Unwittingly, he also gains himself and enemy, an initially a love rival in the form of Sir Simon Trillowe son of the Sheriff of Oxford who causes problems in the later books
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This third installment focuses on the relationship between Kate and Hugh, and of course he has a mystery to solve as Doctor John Wycliffe has had all his books stolen. An event which causes Hugh’s friend and show more mentor some distress- he was a scholar who relied on his books after all. Hugh employer Lord Gilbert Talbot's encouragement to find a wife gives Hugh the perfect excuse to stay in Oxford, and help Master Wycliffe. Of course, Hugh soon falls into trouble as Sir Simon Trillowe is literally willing to go to any lengths to get him out of the way- and it is all the harder to deal with him as his father holds the authority of Sheriff.

Yet the frequency and nature of nefarious plots do harm to or do away with our hero seem to be getting a little implausible. How many times can someone break into his room or his house at night, ambush him in the street, kidnap him, or attack him, and he just narrowly escape? It does seem to be getting to be a little bit of a worn out formula now and perhaps a tad predictable.

I also had a few issues with Hugh himself in the story. For instance, when he is thrown into jail on false charges and facing execution (begging the question of whether a member of the gentry classes actually could be treated thus), he prays in desperation as he can think of no way out, but, when the situation is resolved, he is not depicted as grateful or thankful to God for apparently answering his prayers.
Instead he whines. Also, his lying does get a bit much after a while, especially when there would be other ways to deal with the situation, and his automatic assumption that he is not as bad as others, or that God won’t mind. The ending also seemed a little but rushed, resolved very quickly seemingly without much explanation of the motives of those involved.

Altogether A Trail of Ink is an enjoyable mystery story and light read that does not rely on gory murders (in fact this event does not happen until over halfway through the book), in a fascinating and well-researched setting. The said, the elements of the story which can be repetitive, formulaic and predictable were a shortcoming, which could perhaps prove problematic if the series continues. show less