The Moorland Murderers

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Pub Date 2 Nov 2021 | Archive Date 31 Oct 2021
Canongate Books | Severn House

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Description

Londoner Jack Blackjack finds himself a stranger in a strange land when he’s accused of murder in rural Devon in this eventful Tudor mystery.

July, 1556. En route to France and escape from Queen Mary’s men, Jack Blackjack decides to spend the night at a Devon tavern, agrees to a game of dice – and ends up accused of murder. To make matters worse, the dead man turns out to have been the leader of the all-powerful miners who rule the surrounding moors – and they have no intention of waiting for the official court verdict to determine Jack’s guilt.

But who would frame Jack for murder . . . and why? Alone and friendless in a lawless land of cut-throats, outlaws and thieves, Jack realizes that the only way to clear his name – and save his skin – is to unmask the real killer. But knowing nothing of the local ways and customs, how is he to even begin? As Jack’s attempts to find answers stirs up a hornet’s nest of warring factions within the town, events soon start to spiral out of control . . .
Londoner Jack Blackjack finds himself a stranger in a strange land when he’s accused of murder in rural Devon in this eventful Tudor mystery.

July, 1556. En route to France and escape from Queen...

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We will consider requests from established bloggers, Acquisition and Collection Development Public Librarians and booksellers in the UK and USA. For Goodreads and Amazon reviewers, we will take into...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781780291222
PRICE US$28.99 (USD)
PAGES 240

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Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

What a thoroughly enjoyable adventure! Michael Jecks returns to his old literary haunts of Dartmoor – Lydford and Oakhampton – but without a Simon Puttock or Baldwin de Furnshill in sight. No, we are a few hundred years after the adventures of the bailiff and his friend, Baldwin, the former Knights’ Templar. The Moorland Murderers is set in the time of the Tudor queen, Mary I, shortly after the Wyatt Rebellion. Closely associated with the queen’s sister, Elizabeth, the book’s hero – if you can call him that – Jack Blackjack, has left London for his own safety. Heading for the Continent via Plymouth, he finds himself caught up in a little bother in Oakhampton and stands accused of murder.

Jack Blackjack is not your typical hero. He can’t stand the sight of blood, tends to get bashed on the head – A LOT – and has a rather high opinion of himself. As The Moorland Murderers is told in the first person, the reader gets a healthy – or unhealthy – dose of Jack Blackjack’s opinions about himself and others. Which make for a highly amusing, light-hearted approach to the serious business of murder.

Michael Jecks has long been one of my favourite authors – ever since I read his first book, The Last Templar, a murder mystery series set in the time of Edward II, many years ago. The Bloody Mary Mysteries are set later, in the Tudor era, but are just as engrossing. Jack Blackjack is not your typical hero. He is a paid assassin who cannot stand the sight of blood and has to outsource his work. He thinks very highly of himself – probably too highly – and has a knack for getting into trouble.

Jack Blackjack is a very likeable chap who is trying to negotiate the way through trying times in the reign of Mary I, when political plotting was at a dangerous high and the counter-Reformation was in full swing in England. In The Moorland Murderers, Jack is trying to get away from the intrigues of London – and becoming implicated in the latest rebellion. He finds himself on the edge of Dartmoor, where regional politics were just as dangerous as in London itself!

With the The Moorland Murderers, Michael Jecks is back in his old haunts. He knows the history and landscape of Dartmoor like the back of his hand. And it shows. Historical authenticity, of life on the Moors, of the clashes between the tin miners and those from the towns and of the suspicion of strangers is evident on every page. The story is fast paced and completely absorbing to read. It is such fun! I smiled and giggled through every page!

I haven’t enjoyed a book so much in ages!

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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This is a welcome return to the haphazard life of Jack Blackjack - he's not your typical hero , having an extremely high opinion of himself , he gets bashed on the the head with great regularity ...........you might ask how he manages to survive these escapades - just read the series it will keep you entertained .

Jack is on the run from the Queen's men and decides to spend the night in an Inn in Devon.
He cannot resist the impulse to play a game of dice ........ a game with disastrous consequences - he is accused of murdering the leader of the powerful miners who rule the surrounding area .
Out of his depth , he doesn't know the people and customs of the area , he realises that he needs to solve the murder himself or his life will be forfeit .

This is another fast paced , murder mystery from the Author full of twists and turns with dashes of humour to lighten the mood .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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