Medieval Murders

Ray Elkins Mystery #5

by Aaron Stander

Medieval Murders is a prequel to the Ray Elkins mystery series. If you are a reader of the series, you know that the first four books are set in Cedar County, an amalgam of the many lakes, forests, and towns found in northwest lower Michigan. In these books there are references to Ray’s earlier profession- al life when he taught criminal justice at a large Midwestern state university. The plot in Medieval Murders revolves around the deaths of three members of the English department. It’s a younger Ray Elkins, more hair, fewer pounds, but still very grounded.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Thriller, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2011

About the author

Aaron Stander spent most of his adult years in the Detroit area, where he taught English and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife left college teaching positions and moved permanently to their cottage near Traverse City. Aaron is the author ten mysteries set in northwest lower Michigan. He is also the author of numerous articles, stories, poems, and reviews, and the host of Michigan Writers on the Air on Interlochen Public Radio. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time kayaking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

Reviews

[Terrev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 5th book is actually a prequel to the earlier books. I would say that it is the best that he has written to this point. The characters are well drawn and believable (though a bit more sexual than I’ve noticed in my sheltered life) and while the story drew to a close rapidly in the last 15 pages, the conclusion was more satisfactory than his earlier ones.
His companion of many years has died 1+ years and he is still withdrawn and grieving at the beginning of the book. ‘Bout every woman makes or suggests a pass at him; an English professor Jane Arden succeeds and the book ends with him cooking her dinner - a custom from his prior relationship.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty Convoluted

I guessed the killer early on, but then forgot about who I thought it was. It was nice to get more of Ray’s story, since I started reading the books out of order. There was a possible formatting issue with the Kindle edition. In several places the speaker changed within the same paragraph, instead of starting a new one. Since the speaker wasn’t identified by name or by the paragraph indication, I had to reread often to clarify who was talking.

[Sandy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow compared to others in the series.

With wish I could pinpoint what bothered me about this book...it was just too easy to put down. It also was annoying that this book felt way out of sequence. As I had read the first four books I had expected there to be at least one character from them, but no. I don't mind background on the main character, but then finish it off with a tie in to the present. Disappointing.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Series

I like cozy mysteries, nothing to heavy. Interesting characters, enough plot to keep me involved & reading. I will finish the series.

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story involves a younger Ray Elkins, before he was Sheriff of Cedar County, MI. At this time he is the Acting Chair of the Criminal Justice Department Chair at a university in Michigan; although he is presently the Acting Director of the University Police, pending the replacement of the person previously serving in that position. Elkins has police experience (previously served as a Detroit Police officer before earning his Masters Degree).

When Elkins is informed of a possible suicide at the campus Carillon. He meets up with Charlene Pascoe, Head of Investigations who, ten years earlier, was a student of Elkins. Together they must determine if the victim, an English Professor, jumped or fell. Following on the heels of the first death a second English Professor is killed
after being crushed in a tragic car accident. Then, within almost as many days, a third female English Professor seemingly takes her own life by while sitting in her running car, inside her garage. Three female English profs killed in 2 weeks? All from the same department? This has to be more than a coincidence on campus.

An interesting mystery with great depth and some interesting surprises ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Note: Medieval Murders is Book 5 in the Ray Elkins Mystery Series.

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[Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a prequel to the Ray Elkins mystery series. It was set on a campus of an unnamed Midwestern university where Ray was on the Criminal Justice faculty. He had been asked to fill in as chief of campus security till the Dean was able to fill the position. Then three women professors in the English Department die in what seem to be suicides. Ray and his assistant Constance Pascoe have to figure out what's going on. I liked this police procedural with the story giving some background into Ray's life in academia before he became sheriff of Cedar County (though it never told how or why he left leaving me to wonder if there may be another book in the offing!).

[Rick Rapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got several of Stander's books for free, so even though I haven't been overly impressed with his work, I thought, oh, well, they are quick reads. This one is a prequel to his series in upper Michigan. It's the same formula. Protagonist is getting over the loss of a loved one. He gets dragged into the case. He gets seriously injured but makes a miraculous recovery in time to become involved with another woman. (After he solves a series of murders, of course.) The bad guy isn't a total surprise this time, but there seem to be more than a few other viable suspects. It's not an awful book...but it's not inspired, either. A quick read.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody's murdering English professors. There were one or two really annoying ones back when I was in college - I can relate.

I've read several of these now, because they are set in places that are familiar to me and cheap on Kindle. I don't want to give the impression that I think they are particularly interesting or well-written, though, because they are just average genre stuff.

[Tweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take your toys & go home!!!

Am not happy with the direction Rays love interest is headed.
Didn't even suspect the reverend.Do not like the gal next door. She's just looking for a good lay , don't say much for her relationship with her man. Looks like a trouble maker to me. Better steer clear Ray. BAD NEWS..👎
Was good read..Would recommend. Keep up the good work...😃
Tweety🐦🐦

[Mr Anthony P R Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not guess the murder.

Learnt quite a lot about minor universities and inter departmental rivalries. Had no initially realised it was an early Ray Elkins book. Probably prefer the later ones.

[Adam Mahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome prequel

I liked the other books in the series and was excited to learn about this one. Reading about his past was a great look into his days before being sheriff. He's always been so calm and level headed in the face of adversity and mystery.

[Betty Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Interesting Read

Thus was different from the other books in this Series. Ray Elkins was young and employed first as a teacher them head of Campus Police. Solved several murders so it was a busy story!

[Nanette Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray, Ray, Ray…

Can I just say: I really enjoyed this book. I liked the back story…how he moved on from Ellen. I don’t know if I wasn’t following as well as I should have, but I was surprised at who the killer was and why the killings.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting prequel

I like that the killer was not an obvious choice, however, it does seem to leave something hanging. I don’t like the fact this book makes the main character seem like an impotent slut puppy. This was not as good as the others in the series.

[CM Vician · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good setup novel for the others in the series. Still very nice to read a local author, with reasonable details from the local area, although obfuscated nicely in fictional names, etc. Good to read, and quick.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. I'm enjoying this author and his main character. Check him out if you haven't already.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This prequel to the series just wasn't as interesting as the previous 4 books in the series.

[Geraldine R. Gaugler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading

I very much enjoyed reading this book. I liked the way the characters were developed, and was happy that the ending solved the crime and tied up the lose ends.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like like I was reading about a completely different Ray Elkins before the story unfolded a little more and hints at an older Ray Elkins I came to know within the first few books

[Sydney K Dornbush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting setting

This story set in an University twists psychology, religion,and behavior of an English department in a twisted thriller Held my interest throughout

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book predates Elkins time as sheriff and goes back to his life in Academia.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book

Ray is at it again solving murders and learning to adjust to his new life. What a great book and interesting characters.

[Rhyllis Bignell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of sequence, returns to the beginnings of Ray Elkins life set at a college where there is a murderer on the loose. I prefer his police procedural books.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. I have read several in this series and it was interesting to go back to his roots and see where he was before MI. It was a solid mystery with engaging characters.

[Scott Kalas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying the Ray Elkins series and since the Kindle are cheap plowing through them rather quickly.

MM being a prequel was interesting twist. It it would have been interesting if it there was a more direct connection to his becoming Sheriff Elkins.


Love a good mystery but one story line that is getting old is Elkin's 'lady friends'. It beginning to get old seems like he's had a new romance every story and the lady's who aren't the object of his interest wish they were. Be nice to see Ray settle down with one women and do life with one women.


Stander seems to going out of his way to interject the romance for the female readers. I guess I'm an old fuddy duddy but being married to the one women I love and desiring no other is the best romance I can think of. I wish more of the characters in mystery novels were one romance charcters.

[Nancy]

Medieval Murders is a prequel to the Ray Elkins mystery series. If you are a reader of the series, you know that the first four books are set in Cedar County, an amalgam of the many lakes, forests, and towns found in northwest lower Michigan. In these books there are references to Ray s earlier professional life when he taught criminal justice at a large Midwestern state university. The plot in Medieval Murders revolves around the deaths of three members of the English department. It s a younger Ray Elkins, more hair, fewer pounds, but still very grounded.

The murderer is the priest who counseled the women and had affairs with them.

[David Ketelsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Stander has a very plain and direct voice. His writing fits his central character, Ray Elkins, who has a methodical approach to solving crime. He's all about hitting the streets--as well as bell towers and steam tunnels--to get the information needed to apprehend criminals. The approach might be too slow for some but I found it relaxing and enjoyable. I liked this book enough so that I'm going to read Shelf Ice, another of Stander's Ray Elkins crime novels next.

[Deb Novack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medieval Murders is not what you would expect it to be . The murders are actually in modern day at a college, all all the deaths are from the English dept,medieval studies. These murders are made to look like suicides and accidents. Ray Elkins and Char Pascoe are the college police that are investigating the cases. I thought the story-line was good and I loved the characters.

You will never guess who did it but please read it, this was a good who done it.

[Elizabeth Harless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not great

For some reason I found this book of the series very hard to get into. Usually I read straight through, but this one I almost had to force myself to finish. I just didn't find the characters as engaging as the ones in the other books. I missed the camaraderie and interplay present in the others. That said, it is well plotted and well-written, just not quite up to his other books.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Ray Elkins series! Most of these are set in Northern Michigan in the heart of the area I love. This one was a little different, because it was a prequel to his other books. This one is not set in Northern Michigan. Mr. Stander has a great way of keeping you guessing until the end as to Who Did It.