The Unquiet Bones by Melvin Starr Series: The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon #1
on January 1, 2008
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 252
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
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Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, he feels no real calling—despite his lively faith—and he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris, and then hanging his sign in Oxford.
Soon after, a local lord asks Hugh de Singleton to track the killer of a young woman whose bones have been found in the castle cesspool. Through his medical knowledge, Singleton identifies her as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith.
The young man she loved—whom she had provoked very publicly—is quickly arrested and sentenced at Oxford. But this is just the beginning of the tale.
Fourteenth century Oxfordshire, England is brought to life as a cunning “cold case” mystery is investigated by an inexperienced young surgeon new to his appointment, but savvy in observation and analyzing the case. Historical scholar, Melvin Starr was a new to me author, but I was eager to plunge into the mystery he penned. His writing style, winning main character, historical descriptions, and plot draw a rousing ‘Huzzah!’ from me.
As first in series, The Unquiet Bones introduces the fourteenth-century historical setting of Oxford and a portion of rural Oxfordshire as well as a wry-humored, well-educated young man who shocked his gentry relations by leaving off training to be a clerk for the fascinating occupation of surgeon. Hugh made the surprising decision to extend his medical studies to a training time in Paris where he studied under some innovative medical practitioners who taught him more than the average English surgeon coming out of medical school received. Spending his meager inheritance and his time on such an endeavor proves providential for his future it so happens.
Hugh receives a good employment offer from the visiting lord he healed after a bone break. Lord Gilbert hired him to become surgeon for his castle people and peasants on his lands including the local village of Bampton where Hugh sets up his surgery. Hugh is content healing the locals, compassionate to their needs and situations, and devotes as much attention to their health as he does his new employer. When bones are discovered in the castle cesspit, Lord Gilbert insists that with the Bailiff post empty and the Oxfordshire sheriff too distant, Hugh is the only person remotely qualified to investigate the death for identity and cause of death- and, eventually, find justice for the remains.
My buddy reader pointed out that we were in for an interesting read because the book started with a five-page glossary of medieval terms and a map of the Bampton area. And, she was not wrong. Melvin Starr wrote a cunning mystery, but nestled in a well-drawn, colorful medieval world describing locations, Hugh’s surgeon work and life, life of all social strata around Hugh, historical backdrop, village life, castle life, religious thinking, practice and customs- all so that my imagination could easily picture the cold, stark wintry days and how daily survival tough on the wealthiest of those times let alone the poor peasants living from hand to mouth.
Hugh himself is a fabulous character full-fledged and engaging with interesting complexities to him. He’s new to his work, but has a natural confidence paired with a sense of duty and proportion that keep him level-headed and good at what he has chosen to do. He trained with the leading minds of the day including being influenced by famous real-life figure, John Wyclif and Paris physicians so he was something of an anomaly coming from relatively humble gentry, but capable of being conversant at the upper table in Lord Gilbert’s hall or his salon and free-thinking on topics such as religion, social class, superstition, and his own medical field.
I was glad there were close descriptions of his work as a surgeon and even his form of forensic investigation. He was feeling his way as an investigator and had to make mistakes and learn as he went.
Hugh does have a thought to romance, but this is backburner much of the book especially since the only time the romance was forefront, the climax of his investigation hit. The mystery resolved well and The Unquiet Bones did a good job of blending series introduction with a steadily paced and interesting plot. This is a series, The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon , I will definitely be continuing and I can recommend it to those who enjoy medieval era murder mystery particularly with a strong historical element.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Sophia this sounds like it has a trifecta between character, setting and story. Sounds like a win, I haven’t read this author yet either.
It sure did for me, Robin. I was glad my buddy reader recommended it. 🙂
Very interesting. I didn’t know what to think after seeing the cover, but I didn’t expect a medieval surgeon murder mystery! Thanks.
Yeah, that fake foot catches the eye in an unsettling way. And, I have no idea what it has to do with the story other than maybe its a medieval fake foot?
This sounds amazing! I love the setting and it sounds a bit unique. I will have to pick this one up. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, with him being a surgeon and crime solving in the medieval times, I thought it was unique, too.
That sounds like an interesting investigation to find who the bones belonged to and why they were found there.
Yeah, the cold case situation working for clues from just the bones was fascinating.
Adding to my TBR
Yay, glad to put you onto it, Carole!
Hmm, the cover is a bit creepy, but I guess if there is a murder in the story that works? Glad you enjoyed this one, sounds really interesting! Great review!
Yeah, that fake wooden foot is startling. 🙂