Serpent in the Thorns

Crispin looked up, taken aback. "It would not be the honorable thing to do."
Gilbert snorted. "Your honor. It hasn't gotten you very far."
"If I have not that, then what is left to me?"

Seven years ago (1377) Sir Crispin Guest was duped into being a part of a treasonous Plot against a very young King Richard. The other knights involved in the Plot were executed. Fortunately, for Crispin, his foster father, the duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, pleaded for his life. Instead of death, Sir Crispin was tortured then stripped of his knighthood, his lands, his title and banished from Court. These days he is not feeling so fortunate. Eeking out a living as "the Tracker" (a private detective) in his tiny room which he shares with his young show more assistant Jack has taken its toll. He's longing for the luxuries and comforts he once had.

In this installment, Crispin is confronted with a dim-witted girl who claims to have killed the French courier in her room, although it's evidently impossible that she could have. For one thing, the man has been dispatched with an arrow and the girl doesn't own nor have access to such a weapon. When Crispin goes to investigate matters further, he finds a much venerated religious relic, the Crown of Thorns, with the courier, that the King of France is sending to the King of England temporarily, a peace offering between the two kingdoms. Crispin also uncovers an assassination plot against the King. Having kept the Crown of Thorns for safekeeping - and leverage - and knowing of the plot, Crispin gambles that if he can foil the plot and return the Crown, he may just garner the favor of the King and regain his reputation and his fortune.

Oh, yes, it sounds so easy doesn't it? Just save the King, return the Crown of Thorns and all will be well. Right? No. Things are a lot more complicated than that and Crispin finds himself in some pretty tight fixes, fixes that make him look less like the hero and more like the villain.

There are enough twists and turns here to make this a page turner; it helps that the end of every chapter is a cliff hanger. This is one of those "what's going to happen next?" stories. It's full of adventure, some of it comical, a very interesting cast of characters, and a subtle hint of the supernatural. There's history to be learned here too as we follow Crispin from the gritty streets of poor London to Court to Westminster Abbey to Newgate Prison and back again. Westerson's writing may be simplistic compared to other writers, but she does a wonderful job of creating a vivid atmosphere and picture of medieval London.

This one is great entertainment, escape and pure fun. Crispin is such a likeable character that not only did I find myself wanting answers to all the mysterious questions, but I was rooting for Crispin (and Jack) the whole way through. show less

Not a typical historical novel, Serpent in the Thorns is fast-moving, atmospheric, with intriguing characters, especially the sardonic protagonist, Crispin Guest. He's lost his title, his fortune, his land, his position in 14th century England. ...Now he's a "tracker," a finder of lost things -- or people. When a simple-minded serving girl finds a dead man in her lodgings and declares she must have killed him, Guest sets out to find the truth. He uncovers political intrigue along the way. Medieval noir, indeed!

I listened to the audiobook version of this title, which is not listed on this site, and read some of the ebook from my library.
In some ways, I enjoyed it. Crispin is an interesting and relatable character, and little Jack Tucker is such a dear. However, there are various 'holes' in the plot, execution and characterization that bring the rating down.

One of these is the excessive references to torture. Seriously, torture was banned under English common law, except in cases of heresy or treason, so I very much doubt it would have been used as often as the references to it in this story make out.
Also, the Americanisms stood out a lot more in this story, as well as some attitudes and beliefs of Crispin which did not seem to be 'of the show more time' at all. I understand the author wanted him to be skeptical about relics, but he's supposed to be a fourteenth century person, and the skepticism and irrelgious attitudes are too pervasive. I'm surprised he even believes in God at all.

Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, the story gets rather repetitive and a little implausible after a time. Its one of tose tales in which the author throws every adversity concievable and sometimes inconcievable at the protaganist, and the whole thing gets a bit too wrapped up in its own complexity. Dare I say, over the top?

Finally, as with the last book, the sex scene was not required. It came across as unecessary tittilation, and actually quite gross. The idea that someone in the circumstances Crispin was facing would just be thinking about sex with the nearest girl who offered was implausible enough, and made him look like an irredeemable lecher incapable of relating to persons of the opposite sex in the way normal people do on a daily basis, without wanting to get his clothes off.
Said girl's remark about 'looking for a shaft' in his trousers was really an image I did not need. The scene really lowered the tone of the whole story, and as such, I don't think I shall be listening to anymore audiobooks by this author anytime soon.

The narrator's performance was wonderful, his handling of the voices of different characters very good. show less

Second novel in The Crispin Guest series of medieval mysteries featuring Crispin Guest, disgraced knight of England making a living as an investigator. The setting is 1384 England and contains some adult situations and innuendo.

The book starts with Crispin Guest receiving a client at his lodgings. A simple minded kitchen maid who has the problem of a murdered man in her rooms. She asks "The Tracker" to help her. When Crispin arrives at her rooms he finds a murdered French official bearing a valuable religious relic to be presented to England's king, The Crown of Thorns, still in the dead man's possession. Crispin takes the girl and her sister into his protection while he works to discover who is the killer and what is the killer's real show more agenda. This book seems to have everything, a murder, a mysterious religious relic, a potential plot against the king of England, and even a bit of swashbuckling action. A shot at redemption as an added spice is thrown in as well.

The series is referred to as "Medieval noir" but however you classify it I liked it. The main character of Crispin Guest is complex and you begin to believe that he is better off as a person since he was stripped of his knighthood, title and lands. Crispin has a troublesome yet loyal young servant boy (habitual pickpocket) who shines in this tale. Jack is a well portrayed sidekick who can be wise beyond his years when he isn't being chased for stealing. Crispin has learned the value of true friends in the inn-keepers and merchants he associates with since his banishment from the royal court.

The plot moved along at a steady pace and I hated to put it down. At times you think you know where the story will lead - which is deceptive. A few twists that kept me reading and tension was built up expertly. No slow or sagging middle to push through - it sailed along keeping...

Read the complete review here:
http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-serpent-in-thorns.html show less

I can't get enough of these books-- the
hero is mesmerizing , brilliant, flawed, and sometimes
broken-- but he does not give up. I'm only hoping
she'll be writing MANY more of these. They'd make
superb films.

Another entertaining Crispin Guest tale involving a one-time collaborator, French couriers, a holy relic, a couple of servant women and faithful side-kick Jack as they struggle with a plot to kill the King,

This is the 3rd book in this series that I have read and I think they just get better and better. I have read several books where John of Gaunt is a prominent figure and it is interesting to see his character in these stories and how he is portrayed. Recommend to anyone who likes history and mystery.