Season of the Fox by Denise Demming

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: 12th Century England

First Sentence: Blasphemy! Rage drives my feet until I am almost running - disgraceful behavior! - along the red brown track away from that ... hovel.

This novel is the second in the author's Servant of the Crown series.

Our main character, Sir Faucon de Ramis, is a newly appointed coroner.  His duty is to investigate any untimely deaths. to determine if any fines and duties are due to the King.

Sir Faucon doesn't want to only determine if a murder has been committed.  He wants to discover who the culprit is.  Thus he can ensure that the fines and taxes are levied in a fair and just way.

In this novel a young man has been accused of murder.  He is discovered with the body, and with blood on his hands.  When the hue and cry is raised, the young man  makes a mad dash for the church and claims sanctuary.  He has forty days of safety before he can be prosecuted and punished for his crime.

Fortunately, Sir Faucon is in town investigating another death.

Sir Faucon begins to ask questions.  He soon determines that the young man in the church is not guilty.

If he is innocent, then who is guilty?

I enjoyed this book.  The author has an enjoyable easy-to-read writing style.  The characters seem real, and the plot moves forward.

Also, the plot of the book is bracketed with clues from another evil murder.  Sir Faucon  will soon learn about this horrible and evil crime.

Now on to book three.

                                                 
                                                       

Season of the Raven by Denise Domning

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: England in the 12th century.

First Sentence:  "Tonight you sleep with the angels my sweet,"  I tell her and press a kiss to her forehead in blessing.

This novel is the first in the author's Servant of the Crown mystery series.

Sir Faucon de Ramis has recently returned from a crusade to the holy lands.  Back in England is is a second son with few prospects.  He is surprised when is offered the post of Keeper of the Kings Pleas. (Pleas is the plural of plea. )

On his first day in office, He is presented with his first case.  I seems to be an accidental death.  A  drunk miller has died when he fell into his water wheel.  But Sir Falcon discovers evidence that the miller had been stabbed and was dead before he fell.

Sir Faucon is assisted by brother Edmond.  Edmond is a stickler for proper legal protocol and is not afraid to speak his mind.  Often this is a nuisance for Sir Faucon.

With the help of Edmond, Sir Faucon gathers the clues that will help solve the mystery.

He also discovers that there is another set of murders happening.  It may take a long time to to unravel the clues needed to solve this deeper and more nefarious mystery.

I liked this novel.  It was an easy read with believable characters.

Now on to the next book in the series.