"a trail of ink" by mel starr

Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert, travels to Oxford to woo the beautiful Kate Caxton. While there, he learns his friend and mentor Master John Wyclif has been robbed. The thief took twenty-two of Wyclif's precious books, and Hugh promises to help Wyclif find the perpetrator. Along the way, Hugh must also deal with a hostile rival for Kate's attention, and as he gets closer to solving the mystery of the stolen books, he finds his very life may be at stake.

Let me start right off by saying this book isn't for everyone. It takes place in the 14th century, it's not a romance (though Hugh does fall in love), and it doesn't move very quickly. Those three facts combined would usually keep me far away from a book. However, the longer I read A Trail of Ink, the more I enjoyed it. I especially liked author Mel Starr's writing style. Told in first person, the story reads like a journal--or as though the reader is sitting with Hugh, listening to him relay the story. I often found myself chuckling at Hugh's descriptions and asides.

The historical aspects seem quite accurate (at least to someone who doesn't normally read historical fiction!), and I greatly appreciated the glossary provided at the beginning of the book which explained some of the terms I was unfamiliar with.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who would be interested in a look at pre-Reformation England. You can buy it here. If you want to see what other bloggers are saying about this book, go here.

As is usual of a Litfuse tour, there's a contest!

Kregel Publishers is graciously donating a $50 Amazon.com gift card for the Litfuse Blog Tour Contest! All you have to do to enter is either tweet (see TWEET THIS below) or share the book on Facebook using this link: http://ow.ly/45c2k

TWEET THIS: A Trail of Ink by Mel Star. An excellent medieval whodunit. RT for a chance to win a $50 GC to @amazon! http://ow.ly/45c2k #litfuse (and be sure to use the hashtag #litfuse to be entered into Amazon.com gift certificate drawing and no need to email that you tweeted - we'll be able to track it via the hashtag.)

FACEBOOK THIS: A Trail of Ink by Mel Star. An excellent medieval whodunit. Share on your wall for a chance to win a $50 GC to @amazon! http://ow.ly/45c2k
(email info@litfusegroup.com to let us know you 'shared'.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."