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The Chronicles of Brother Hermitage #19
The King's Investigator
Death in the Tower of London? This could give the place a bad reputation.
In King William’s new London fortress (so new it doesn’t have a tower yet), a dead body lies right outside his chamber door.
This could be murder as the victim is the widely hated Malf; so widely hated, virtually everyone is suspect.
Brother Hermitage, the King’s Investigator must be summoned; the King’s investigator who really doesn’t want to do the job at all anymore.
Fortunately, someone else seems very keen to take over: If you thought Brother Hermitage didn’t know what he was doing, Brother Peter is going to be a revelation.
But murder seems to be a routine feature of court intrigue:
Could it be a result of the dispute between the ghastly Le Pedvin, William’s favourite killer, and Ranulph de Sauveloy, his favourite administrator?
Could it be Malf’s own family, who really can’t wait for him to die until they inherit?
Could it be the Saxon rebels who are hiding in a very peculiar place close at hand?
Brother Hermitage, Wat the Weaver and Cwen have got to find out and as usual, it all goes wrong almost immediately. Find the killer or face the same fate themselves is a familiar old refrain.
But perhaps this time, Hermitage sees a way out. Could he really hand his hated job on to someone else; someone who really wants to do it?
Populated by old familiar faces from most of Hermitage’s nightmares, The King’s Investigator could be the very end….
... Although now we learn there's a Part II - how did that happen? - Look for the imaginatively titled, The King's Investigator Part II
Howard of Warwick’s mission to bring medieval crime comedy to people who didn’t know they wanted it, takes its nineteenth step.
Numerous No 1 Best Sellers, over 100,000 copies out there somewhere and containing more nonsense than a monk’s margin, it looks like it’s here to stay - or is it?
In King William’s new London fortress (so new it doesn’t have a tower yet), a dead body lies right outside his chamber door.
This could be murder as the victim is the widely hated Malf; so widely hated, virtually everyone is suspect.
Brother Hermitage, the King’s Investigator must be summoned; the King’s investigator who really doesn’t want to do the job at all anymore.
Fortunately, someone else seems very keen to take over: If you thought Brother Hermitage didn’t know what he was doing, Brother Peter is going to be a revelation.
But murder seems to be a routine feature of court intrigue:
Could it be a result of the dispute between the ghastly Le Pedvin, William’s favourite killer, and Ranulph de Sauveloy, his favourite administrator?
Could it be Malf’s own family, who really can’t wait for him to die until they inherit?
Could it be the Saxon rebels who are hiding in a very peculiar place close at hand?
Brother Hermitage, Wat the Weaver and Cwen have got to find out and as usual, it all goes wrong almost immediately. Find the killer or face the same fate themselves is a familiar old refrain.
But perhaps this time, Hermitage sees a way out. Could he really hand his hated job on to someone else; someone who really wants to do it?
Populated by old familiar faces from most of Hermitage’s nightmares, The King’s Investigator could be the very end….
... Although now we learn there's a Part II - how did that happen? - Look for the imaginatively titled, The King's Investigator Part II
Howard of Warwick’s mission to bring medieval crime comedy to people who didn’t know they wanted it, takes its nineteenth step.
Numerous No 1 Best Sellers, over 100,000 copies out there somewhere and containing more nonsense than a monk’s margin, it looks like it’s here to stay - or is it?
- GenresMystery
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2020
44 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Howard of Warwick
53 books90 followersHoward of Warwick is but a humble chronicler with the blind luck to stumble upon manuscripts which describe the goings-on of Brother Hermitage and his companion Wat the weaver.
His work has been heard, seen and read, most of it accompanied by laughter and some of it by money. His peers have even seen fit to recognize his unworthy efforts with a prize for making up stories.
There are now eighteen - make that twenty - novels of Brother Hermitage, the most medieval of detectives, loose on the world and they have found considerable success with the buying public.
The most recent outpouring from the scriptorium is The King's Investigator Part II.
Tales of Hermitage continue to flow forth with few checks for accuracy. There are even short stories available for free.
There is a dedicated web page, HowardofWarwick.com.
Messages can be left care of Howard@howardofwarwick.com and Howardofwarwick can be followed on Twitter
There is even tweeting @HowardofWarwick
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 3, 2023
Finis Chronicarum Fratris Hermitagae ??
Is it the end of the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage? It's a quesiton worth asking about this series, as we habitual readers have seen it move from a funny series in the first few books, through being a somewaht serious medieval mystery series where, importantly, the mystery is slved but the criminal is not always brought to justice, to a couple of books wherein the author—or perhaps translator—is beginning to phlosphise on the writing process.
If this is Brother Hermitage's swans song, it ends pretty well, with a satisfying mystery brought to a logical conclusion which, for once, has enough information for even an inattentive reader such as me to solve it at around the same time the investigating monk does. While the humou isn't up to the earlier works', the satisfying interactions between the forces of good and the forces of evil is well handled. The book ends with the possibility of the King's Investigator continuing to investigate in the persons of two characters from The Heretics of De'Ath.
I only hope that this one is worth looking forward to.
Is it the end of the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage? It's a quesiton worth asking about this series, as we habitual readers have seen it move from a funny series in the first few books, through being a somewaht serious medieval mystery series where, importantly, the mystery is slved but the criminal is not always brought to justice, to a couple of books wherein the author—or perhaps translator—is beginning to phlosphise on the writing process.
If this is Brother Hermitage's swans song, it ends pretty well, with a satisfying mystery brought to a logical conclusion which, for once, has enough information for even an inattentive reader such as me to solve it at around the same time the investigating monk does. While the humou isn't up to the earlier works', the satisfying interactions between the forces of good and the forces of evil is well handled. The book ends with the possibility of the King's Investigator continuing to investigate in the persons of two characters from The Heretics of De'Ath.
I only hope that this one is worth looking forward to.
June 28, 2020
Another winner from our master of comedic medieval murder mysteries! Hermitage and the gang are summoned by King William himself to investigate a murder just outside his personal chambers. We get to renew friendships (and not so friendly-ships) with folks we've met before. The dreaded More the Ferryman has migrated to London and we get to meet his very More-like family. Things get interesting when Hermitage, Wat, and Cwen are accused of the murder and treason despite having been 100 miles away in Derby when the deadly deed occurred! It's an exciting tale with a big surprise at the end. Not to be missed by Hermitage fans. Enjoy!
June 29, 2020
I don't believe it. I don't WANT to believe it. But I guess all good things come to an end. Hermitage has been wanting to not be the King's Investigator from the beginning, and this book "allegedly" ends it. It's a delightful review of all of the previous investigations, and the reappearance of a few of the previous characters (including the redoubtable boatman, More). We get Hermitage's "aha" moment at the end. But honestly. Can the story of Hermitage, Wat and Cwen really end here? C'mon Howard! Really?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2020
I'm Not Pleased, But I'm hopeful
Yes, I can see that it can't go on. As Hermitage grows, he's not the same monk. My sides were sore from laughing throughout book 1, The Heretics of D'Ath, and the delight continued through so many more. My wish is that Nicodemus and Athan continue great work as The King's Investigators. I don't imagine these two would disappoint in their new roles.
Yes, I can see that it can't go on. As Hermitage grows, he's not the same monk. My sides were sore from laughing throughout book 1, The Heretics of D'Ath, and the delight continued through so many more. My wish is that Nicodemus and Athan continue great work as The King's Investigators. I don't imagine these two would disappoint in their new roles.
June 29, 2020
Please not the end.
Another masterpiece from the quill of Howard of Warwick, gut-bustingly funny from start to finish but please, please, please don't let it be the last we read of Brother Hermitage (funny name for a monk, that,). And what of Wat and Cwen? Will they, won't they? And possibly more of More and the other Mores?
Another masterpiece from the quill of Howard of Warwick, gut-bustingly funny from start to finish but please, please, please don't let it be the last we read of Brother Hermitage (funny name for a monk, that,). And what of Wat and Cwen? Will they, won't they? And possibly more of More and the other Mores?
June 28, 2020
Another triumph
Wonderful, laughing aloud as I was reading this. Familiar characters, some older friends and some even older ones as well as what I'm sure will be new ones. If you loved all the rest you will also love this one. Happy reading.
Wonderful, laughing aloud as I was reading this. Familiar characters, some older friends and some even older ones as well as what I'm sure will be new ones. If you loved all the rest you will also love this one. Happy reading.
September 8, 2020
It’s probably time for “Howard” to bring this 19-book series to an end. (He keeps mentioning 19!) There’s no real character development from book to book. Enjoyable very light reading at a low cost — but he’d really have to work at it to refresh Hermitage & Friends.
September 10, 2020
Another cracker tale from Hermitage and the gang! The hint seems to be that this will be the final installment in this series of very fine reads? I sincerely hope this is not the case! These books have all been laugh out loud funny and totally engaging! Love the characters!
September 15, 2021
Entertaining
An extremely amusing and entertaining read that made me chuckle on several occasions. The Ferryman More and his family are well written into this chronicle of sleuthing incompetence by Brother Hermitage and his unwilling assistants.
An extremely amusing and entertaining read that made me chuckle on several occasions. The Ferryman More and his family are well written into this chronicle of sleuthing incompetence by Brother Hermitage and his unwilling assistants.
June 26, 2020
Laugh out loud funny
Always entertaining. Poor Brother Hermitage all he wants is a quiet life. What does he get? Read it and find out.
Always entertaining. Poor Brother Hermitage all he wants is a quiet life. What does he get? Read it and find out.
June 26, 2020
Best Hermitage book yet. Lots of laughs. I hope that it's not going to be the last one. Perhaps we can follow him as his life takes a new turn?
August 8, 2020
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
This story is an excellent tome in the Hermitage Chronicles. But Harold! Say it ain’t so!!! A great way to end but really?
This story is an excellent tome in the Hermitage Chronicles. But Harold! Say it ain’t so!!! A great way to end but really?
August 22, 2020
Interesting ending
I’ve enjoyed the series and I hope we see new adventures for the trio. They bring humor and a wry wisdom to the solutions.
I’ve enjoyed the series and I hope we see new adventures for the trio. They bring humor and a wry wisdom to the solutions.
September 6, 2021
very funny and entertaining. I have been feeling 'unnder the weather', and reading this book has kept me going.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews