Falconer's Crusade

Falconer's Crusade is a pretty pallid attempt at historical crime fiction. Set in 13th century Oxford, during the Second Barons' War, it follows the university master William Falconer as he attempts to solve the murder of a young woman. Morson seems to confuse bundles of quirks and unusual characteristics with three-dimensional characterisation. There is no inner life to Falconer or his new student Thomas, and the murder mystery isn't complex enough to compensate for that deficiency.

Perhaps for those with only a slight interest in medieval history, the setting will be enough to appeal, but this medievalist found it weakly drawn and with more than a couple of moments that made me say "... huh?" A book is central to the mystery here, for show more example, but I'm not sure how any of the characters could have recognised what it was so quickly as it would surely have been written in Occitan. I also wish people would stop with the whole "medieval people thought the world was flat!" idea, because it's second in frustrating misapprehensions only to "the early medieval period was a Dark Age." show less

This is a pretty short mystery to read through. Looks can be deceiving though. Despite being short, it’s packed in with some heavy duty stuff.

The setting for example. Very rich in detail and gives you a sense on how it was back then in William Falconer’s time. Add in some political intrigue, a Jewish Quarter, and some rioting and it gets pretty exciting. I really can’t get over how great the setting is. It’s so descriptive you can feel the darkness and the dampness that permeates throughout the novel. Morson also does an excellent job to stay close to historical accuracy here in this novel as well. Forensic pathology is frowned upon, and you even get to see Falconer try on a strange contraption that looks a lot like Medieval show more opera glasses at the time. :)

The plot is pretty straight forward although there is not much of a secret mystery element in it. The suspect list is not extensive (thankfully! You’ll see why as you read further into this review) and when revealed it’s not much of a surprise or an a ha! Moment. There isn’t much personality to the characters except Falconer and his student Thomas. Thomas is a particular dolt. A Farmer boy who managed to be gifted and chosen to study and be a Scholar, well, for all the idiotic moves he makes, you have to wonder how the University chose this guy to let him attend their school. He fumbles and stumbles at the worst times and always manages to get himself into some life threatening situations (and doesn’t learn from it). It was funny the first few times, but after a while it gets annoying and you want to slap this boy upside the head. (You don’t deserve Hannah’s attention, you twit).

I’m going to assume it will get better with other books in this series, and this one serves as an introduction to the series. Since I really do love the historical aspect I will stick with this series and see where it takes me. Historical mystery lovers will love the setting and theme of this book, the mystery part, not so much. show less

Master William Falconer tinkers with bird skeletons in a vain attempt to understand the princeples of flight in 1264 while Simon de Montfort prepares to challenge the authority of Henry III. Things are uneasy in Oxford and theres a lot of politics making some very strange bedfellows.

When a servant girl is savagely murdered and Thomas Symon is a serious suspect as well as Falconer's student he feels it necessary to investigate and what he finds brings in heresy and a lot of politics.

It's an interesting read, full of interesting characters and the politics are quite detailed.