This is the 3rd book in this series that I have read and I think they just get better and better. I have read several books where John of Gaunt is a prominent figure and it is interesting to see his character in these stories and how he is portrayed. Recommend to anyone who likes history and mystery. ( )

I listened to the audiobook version of this title, which is not listed on this site, and read some of the ebook from my library.
In some ways, I enjoyed it. Crispin is an interesting and relatable character, and little Jack Tucker is such a dear. However, there are various 'holes' in the plot, execution and characterization that bring the rating down.

One of these is the excessive references to torture. Seriously, torture was banned under English common law, except in cases of heresy or treason, so I very much doubt it would have been used as often as the references to it in this story make out.
Also, the Americanisms stood out a lot more in this story, as well as some attitudes and beliefs of Crispin which did not seem to be 'of the time' at all. I understand the author wanted him to be skeptical about relics, but he's supposed to be a fourteenth century person, and the skepticism and irrelgious attitudes are too pervasive. I'm surprised he even believes in God at all.

Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, the story gets rather repetitive and a little implausible after a time. Its one of tose tales in which the author throws every adversity concievable and sometimes inconcievable at the protaganist, and the whole thing gets a bit too wrapped up in its own complexity. Dare I say, over the top?

Finally, as with the last book, the sex scene was not required. It came across as unecessary tittilation, and actually quite gross. The idea that someone in the circumstances Crispin was facing would just be thinking about sex with the nearest girl who offered was implausible enough, and made him look like an irredeemable lecher incapable of relating to persons of the opposite sex in the way normal people do on a daily basis, without wanting to get his clothes off.
Said girl's remark about 'looking for a shaft' in his trousers was really an image I did not need. The scene really lowered the tone of the whole story, and as such, I don't think I shall be listening to anymore audiobooks by this author anytime soon.

The narrator's performance was wonderful, his handling of the voices of different characters very good. ( )

One of my favorites - a mystery right up to the end. ( )

I can't get enough of these books-- the
hero is mesmerizing , brilliant, flawed, and sometimes
broken-- but he does not give up. I'm only hoping
she'll be writing MANY more of these. They'd make
superb films. ( )

Crispin looked up, taken aback. "It would not be the honorable thing to do."
Gilbert snorted. "Your honor. It hasn't gotten you very far."
"If I have not that, then what is left to me?"

Seven years ago (1377) Sir Crispin Guest was duped into being a part of a treasonous Plot against a very young King Richard. The other knights involved in the Plot were executed. Fortunately, for Crispin, his foster father, the duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, pleaded for his life. Instead of death, Sir Crispin was tortured then stripped of his knighthood, his lands, his title and banished from Court. These days he is not feeling so fortunate. Eeking out a living as "the Tracker" (a private detective) in his tiny room which he shares with his young assistant Jack has taken its toll. He's longing for the luxuries and comforts he once had.

In this installment, Crispin is confronted with a dim-witted girl who claims to have killed the French courier in her room, although it's evidently impossible that she could have. For one thing, the man has been dispatched with an arrow and the girl doesn't own nor have access to such a weapon. When Crispin goes to investigate matters further, he finds a much venerated religious relic, the Crown of Thorns, with the courier, that the King of France is sending to the King of England temporarily, a peace offering between the two kingdoms. Crispin also uncovers an assassination plot against the King. Having kept the Crown of Thorns for safekeeping - and leverage - and knowing of the plot, Crispin gambles that if he can foil the plot and return the Crown, he may just garner the favor of the King and regain his reputation and his fortune.

Oh, yes, it sounds so easy doesn't it? Just save the King, return the Crown of Thorns and all will be well. Right? No. Things are a lot more complicated than that and Crispin finds himself in some pretty tight fixes, fixes that make him look less like the hero and more like the villain.

There are enough twists and turns here to make this a page turner; it helps that the end of every chapter is a cliff hanger. This is one of those "what's going to happen next?" stories. It's full of adventure, some of it comical, a very interesting cast of characters, and a subtle hint of the supernatural. There's history to be learned here too as we follow Crispin from the gritty streets of poor London to Court to Westminster Abbey to Newgate Prison and back again. Westerson's writing may be simplistic compared to other writers, but she does a wonderful job of creating a vivid atmosphere and picture of medieval London.

This one is great entertainment, escape and pure fun. Crispin is such a likeable character that not only did I find myself wanting answers to all the mysterious questions, but I was rooting for Crispin (and Jack) the whole way through. ( )