Bernard Knight

Second Crowner story that I've read and to be honest, found it very "samey" to the previous book. Someone dies, Crowner has fallen out with his snobbish wife, who sides with her lying brother; Crowner and Brother in Law argue and shout at each other, then try and double cross each other; Crowner hangs out with his Welsh Mistress; Crowner hero-worships Richard the Lionheart; little bit of investigation; some people are arrested blah blah.[return][return]A few interesting moments, normally the small detail of how people live (washing once a week, bathing rarely) and eating (types of food and drink). But apart from that, did get a little bored with it all.… (meer)

Christmas Eve, 1194, Sir John de Wolfe, recently appointed coronor for Devon, gratefully escapes his wife Matilda's party to examine the body of a Canon who has been found hanged. Suicide is suspected, but it's soon apparent there is more to this case than meets the eye. But when a local lord is found dead, John suspects the two cases may be linked. As he digs deeper, he discovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him more than his job.

This is the third book in this series but the first that I've actually read. Who committed the murders isn't much of a mystery but I'm a sucker for a historical yarn and this is a period of British history that I know virtually nothing about. I found this well paced, de Wolfe an interesting character. Knight has obviously done his homework but doesn't overdo it and I will certainly be looking out for more of the author's books.… (meer)

Book is somewhat dated now having been printed in the 1980s what the history probably accurate. The book doesn't really tell you a whole lot about how the discoveries were made beyond the fact it involved dissection, microscopy, and/or selective removal or observation of accidental removal / damage. A lot of space is devoted to the origin of eponyms which is not particularly interesting. The organization is by body system but within each section it's pretty haphazard. The book is full of nice illustrations but its not worth much more than just skimming the pictures. There's not a lot of great insight into the discovery process itself.… (meer)