"Deeds of Darkness" by Mel Starr

Most of the Christian fiction I'm aware of is geared toward women. (Maybe this is just because I seek out what I like, and what I like is romance and women's fiction, but I'm positive that more Christian fiction books are written with women as the intended audience.) That's where Mel Starr's Hugh de Singleton books are different—they're inspirational medieval fiction, but they're not romance, and they're written from a male perspective. While this isn't something I'd normally gravitate toward, I find these books to be a breath of fresh air.

"Lucifer's Harvest" by Mel Starr

I always look forward to the next installment in Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon. These books are unlike any others I've read, and I love them!

"ashes to ashes" by mel starr

Mel Starr continues his delightfully charming Hugh de Singleton series with Ashes to Ashes.

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The morning after the festivities of Midsummer's Eve, the villagers of Bampton make a grisly discovery

Master Hugh, Kate, and their children attend the Midsummer’s Eve fire. The next morning Hugh hears the passing bell ring from the Church of St. Beornwald, and moments later is summoned. Tenants collecting the ashes to spread upon their fields have found burned bones.

Master Hugh learns of several men of Bampton and nearby villages who have gone missing recently. Most are soon found, some alive, some dead. Master Hugh eventually learns that the bones are those of a bailiff from a nearby manor. Someone has slain him and placed his body in the fire to destroy evidence of murder.

Bailiffs are not popular men; they dictate labor service, collect rents, and enforce other obligations. Has this bailiff died at the hand of some angry tenant? Hugh soon discovers this is not the case. There is quite another reason for murder . . .

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In Ashes to Ashes, Hugh de Singleton, bailiff to Lord Gilbert, is called upon to investigate a mysterious death. Though the death at first seems fairly straightforward, Hugh soon learns that there's more to the story, and he seeks to uncover a murderer. Along the way, he faces danger himself—and he finds several opportunities to use his skills as a surgeon.

The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton are unique novels—I don't know of any other inspirational novels set in the Middle Ages that feature a male protagonist. It's such an interesting perspective, one that I love returning to time and again. I find Master Hugh to be such a likeable and compelling character. Ashes to Ashes is written as though it's Hugh's journal, and I love his asides, as well as the foreshadowing. I also love the descriptions of the medical procedures he performs. While Ashes to Ashes isn't a high-stakes novel (one never doubts that Hugh will be fine, and his family is never in any danger), it does feature an intriguing mystery that keeps the pages rapidly turning. 4 stars.

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Read my reviews of other Mel Starr novels.

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Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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.”

"the abbot's agreement" by mel starr

Master Hugh is back in the next delightful installment of Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton series.

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A new and disturbing puzzle for the medieval surgeon-turned-sleuth

Master Hugh de Singleton is making his way toward Oxford when he discovers the corpse of a young Benedictine not half a mile from the nearby abbey.

The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity; it is John, one of three novices. He had gone missing four days previous, and yet his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death—the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh’s sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him.

With realistic medical procedures of the period, droll medieval wit, and a consistent underlying sense of Christian compassion, the seventh in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton will delight medieval history and crime fiction fans alike.

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Mel Starr's books are unlike anything else I've ever read. If you'd told me several years ago that one of my most anticipated reads each year would be about a bailiff/surgeon in 14th century England, I'd have laughed in your face. Yet here I am, each January, devouring the next Hugh de Singleton novel.

The Abbot's Agreement is just as enjoyable as the previous books in the series. When Hugh discovers a dead body on the way to Oxford, he is soon swept into a murder mystery ... and the investigation takes him in a direction he doesn't expect.

This novel takes place largely in an abbey, and I found this glimpse into 14th century Christianity fascinating. I've noticed in previous novels that Hugh doesn't always hold to the teachings of the church, and this disregard comes to a head in The Abbot's Agreement, landing Hugh in a tough spot. Watching Hugh get out of that scrape (because of course he must) is quite enjoyable.

As in the previous novels, The Abbot's Agreement is written as if it's Hugh's journal, complete with foreshadowing and asides, which makes the reading incredibly engaging. I loved The Abbot's Agreement, and I'm already looking forward to next January when I can read Ashes to Ashes. 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the other Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton novels.

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Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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.”

"rest not in peace" by mel starr

About the book (from the publisher): Master Hugh, surgeon and bailiff, is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle. Sir Henry—with his current wife, a daughter by a first wife, two knights, two squires, and assorted servants—has outstayed his welcome at Bampton.

The next morning, Sir Henry is found dead, eyes open, in his bed. Master Hugh, despite shrill accusations from the grieving widow, is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death . . . which had nothing to do with the potion.

The sixth tale following Hugh de Singleton, Rest Not in Peace is sure to find its place among fans of detective and medieval historical fiction.

My take: Each year, I look forward to reading the next in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton. Each book is written as though it's Hugh's journal, containing foreshadowing, witty asides, and hopes and fears—just as a real journal would. I also love the glimpses into medieval medicine, as Hugh is both a surgeon and bailiff. (Though I must admit, sometimes the medical procedures are so graphic that they make me cringe!)

Rest Not in Peace provides the entertainment I have come to expect from author Mel Starr. The stakes aren't as high in this book, as Hugh's life isn't threatened as it is in some of the previous books, but it is no less enjoyable. I will admit that I missed the presence of Hugh's nemesis Sir Simon Trillowe, and I hope that a new antagonist will make an appearance in future novels!

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the Hugh de Singleton novels A Trail of Ink, Unhallowed Ground, and The Tainted Coin.

About the author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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.”

"the tainted coin" by mel starr

About the book (from the publisher): It is the autumn of 1367. Master Hugh is enjoying the peaceful life of Bampton when a badly beaten man is found under the porch of St. Andrew's Chapel. The dying man is a chapman—a traveling merchant. Before he is buried in the chapel grounds, an ancient, corroded coin is found in the man's mouth.

Master Hugh's quest for the chapman's assailants, and his search for the origin of the coin, begins to make progress—but there are men of wealth and power in league with his old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, who wish to end his search . . . permanently.

But Master Hugh and his assistant, the groom Arthur, are determined to uncover the thieves and murderers, and the source of the chapman's coin. They do, but not before they become involved with a kidnapped maiden, a tyrannical abbot, and a suffering monk—who needs Master Hugh's surgical skills and in return provides clues that assist Hugh in solving the mystery of the tainted coin.

My take: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton are a joy to read! The Tainted Coin picks up approximately a year after the events in Unhallowed Ground. Hugh, his wife Kate, and their daughter are enjoying a peaceful existence until murder and mayhem once again cross Hugh's path.

I love the way Starr writes these chronicles—as though Hugh is writing in his journal. This allows him to throw in humorous asides and foreshadowing as one would tend to do in a real journal. One of my favorite lines in the whole book is from the first page, and it gives a glimpse into the dry humor present throughout the book: "Children are a blessing from God, but not when they awaken before dawn and demand to be fed."

As I read, I was especially delighted to find that Sir Simon Trillowe would once again be involved in the plot. Sir Simon is a loathsome man, and each time he is mentioned, Hugh can't help but reference Simon's sadly misshapen ear, adding a welcome bit of levity to the story.

And it wouldn't be a Hugh de Singleton novel without a gruesome description of a medieval surgical procedure ... something I look forward to and yet cringe at when I'm reading about it! (In this case, it involved a facial fistula. A Google image search will quickly fill you in if you don't know what that is.)

While The Tainted Coin is the fifth book in this series, you could easily pick it up without having read any of the previous novels. It provides an informative glimpse into the 14th century while entertaining the reader with a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

Read an excerpt.
See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of books three and four: A Trail of Ink and Unhallowed Ground.

About the author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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.”

"unhallowed ground" by mel starr

Surgeon and baliff Hugh de Singleton is happily living at Galen House in Bampton with his bride Kate when his former nemesis Thomas atte Bridge is found hanged. Though the death is quickly ruled a suicide, Hugh suspects foul play. The problem? Nearly every man in Bampton had reason to dislike atte Bridge, and Hugh is reluctant to suspect any of his friends. When Hugh's life is threatened, however, he realizes that if he, Kate, and their unborn baby are to live in peace, he must uncover the circumstances behind atte Bridge's death.

My take: I loved this book! It is not a particularly fast read (at least if you want to understand it—it takes place in the 14th century and contains lots of terms I was unfamiliar with ... thank goodness for the glossary!), but it is an enjoyable one. It is written as though it's Hugh's journal, and as such, he includes humorous asides and foreshadowing comments that I found quite enjoyable. It also provides insight into the state of medicine in the 14th century, and the description of cataract surgery was particularly interesting and squirm-inducing.

I greatly enjoyed unraveling the mystery along with Hugh, and it was quite nice to see some villains from the last book receive their comeuppance! (If you read A Trail of Ink, be sure to watch for the description of Sir Simon's ear...)

I read and reviewed A Trail of Ink—the third book in this series—last year, so I was prepared to enjoy Unhallowed Ground. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed, and I look forward to reading the fifth book, The Tainted Coin, when it releases.

I give Unhallowed Ground 5 out of 5 stars! If you'd like to read an excerpt, go here.


About the Author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  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.”