Sword of Shadows

Crispin Guest Medieval Noir #13

by Jeri Westerson

A quest to find the ancient sword Excalibur quickly turns into a hunt for a determined killer for Crispin Guest.

London, 1396. A trip to the swordsmith shop for Crispin Guest, Tracker of London, and his apprentice Jack Tucker takes an unexpected turn when Crispin crosses paths with Carantok Teague, a Cornish treasure hunter. Carantok has a map he is convinced will lead him to the sword of Excalibur – a magnificent relic dating back to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table – and he wants Crispin to help him find it.

Travelling to Tintagel Castle in Cornwall with Carantok and Jack, Crispin is soon reunited with an old flame as he attempts to locate the legendary sword. But does Excalibur really exist, or is he on an impossible quest? When a body is discovered, Crispin’s search for treasure suddenly turns into a hunt for a dangerous killer.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical Mystery, Historical, 14th Century, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2020

About the author

Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crispin tracks Excalibur! Jeri Westerson’s Sword of Shadows ( Crispin Guest #13) has Crispin Guest, Tracker of London, and his apprentice, Jack Tucker, accepting a job to assist this man in locating ‘Excalibur’, the sword of King Arthur. Crispin’s ‘tracking’ usually has Jack and Crispin attempting to find a religious relic, but the author has them leaving London and going to Cornwall specifically Tintagel, the place where King Arthur was born. As King Arthur is a favorite subject of mine, I was thrilled to read about their ‘case’ as I have been lucky enough to have visited Tintagel twice, and I love it. Crispin has his doubts about their ‘employer’ and ‘Excalibur’, but the price for his and Jack’s services is too good to pass up. Thus, Crispin and Jack are off to find Excalibur. All kinds of impediments arise: Crispin runs into a ex girlfriend, a village where the three ‘treasure hunters’ are staying will not discuss a pagan village located on the other side of a local forest, a dead body is found in the hole where their employer had been digging, but had sealed by it before he left for London, the guards at Tintagel are never where they are supposed to be, and then another dead body appears in the chapel at Tintagel while the three ‘hunters’ are actually digging and looking for Excalibur. But how? They wonder as they were actually in the chapel and did not see a thing. Most curious! It is 1396, and this medieval mystery has The Tracker stumped - for now. And does this ‘legendary sword’ truly exist? 5 stars.

[Red Ink Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sword of Shadows – Jeri Westerson (Crispin Guest Novel)

I was kindly provided with an advanced copy of this book to give an honest reviewed.

The cover and the title of the book intrigued me from the very beginning. I haven’t read anything by Jeri Westerson or any of their previous Crispin Guest novels.

Crispin Guest was a lord and a knight, who fell into disrepute after committing treason against his king, the rightful king of England. In the years since Crispin Guest has had to adjust to his new station in life and work to gain a semblance of a reputation. He is now a tracker of London. Cripsin spends his days tracking down relics, objects and solving various crimes and murders, along with the help of his apprentice Jack.

One day Crispin is approached by a mysterious gentleman with an interesting and an enticing business proposition that sounded too good to be true, Excalibur. This crazy guy claimed he knew where Excalibur was and needed Crispin as protection on the journey. Initially Crispin laughed at him, no one knew where Excalibur was, if it even existed, and if it had existed it was so long ago the chances of it not being pillaged by other treasure hunters, was highly unlikely.

But the amount of gold he promised as payment, Crispin would be a fool to turn that away, insisting on half the amount paid up front, Crispin and Jack set out the mysterious treasure hunter.

Naturally, their search for the famed sword of the legendary King Arthur starts with a murder. So, while trying to find the lost sword of Arthur, Crispin must also try and solve a murder of the man at arms working at Tintagel, the supposed home and birthplace of King Arthur. However, the closer they get to their goal the more mysterious and strange events that start happen in Tintagel. Another man at arms is found dead, Crispin encounters an old friend who is trouble if ever saw it. The village folk are frightened and wary of the druidae nearby in the forests, and it seems they are non to found of Crispin and his poking around.

This is a historical fiction novel with a good dose of mystery and many interesting twists and turns. Of course, the fact that it is centered around the magical tale of King Arthur, Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table and of course the famous sword – Excalibur, definitely adds to the appeal of the story.

A well written novel that is thoroughly enjoyable!

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tracker expands his investigations!

Tintagel Castle and the sword Excalibur! When I think about it, with all the relics Crispin Guest has either fallen in the way of, or had thrust upon him in his time as the Tracker, of course this is a place he would eventually be led to!
1396, Crispin and Jack run into a stranger, a Cornishman, Carantok Teague, who knew much about Crispin. Carantok, is a seeker of lost artifacts, who had 'permission from the crown to find such diverse treasures across the kingdom as could be found.' That the decree had been signed in 1377 by Edward III, the present king's grandfather did seem to be stretching things just a little, to me and to Crispin.
Nonetheless Crispin and Jack find themselves heading to Cornwall in search of the legendary sword of King Arthur!
A long journey with a few mishaps. On the way they meet up with a musical troupe and then a more perilous situation as they near Tintagel. But as they enter that place, what grabs their immediate attention is the dead body they stumble over.
Tintagel is a place where Druid and Christian ways are paper thin. Crispin and Jack not only are caught up in the thrill of the search for the sword, but now murder. Add to the mix further intrigues associated with mysterious villagers living beyond the forest, disappearing local women, and the appearance of the attractive Kat Pyke, a swindler, and a previous flame of Guest's. We first met Kat in 'Season of Blood.' At that time Kat had said to Crispin, 'You should have a woman. That woman should be me.’ ...and this time? I've always rather liked Kat.
So who has Crispin Guest, ex lord and traitor, now the Tracker become?
He's mellowed and matured in many ways. He's far more accepting and less prone to act the lording he once was, although it's there and flares up occasionally. He reads the words of the philosophers and is thoughtful. Once again we see his integrity. He and Jack's family are enmeshed, forming a new family-like group. Crispin's come far, but still no ongoing female companionship.
I'm still in love with Crispin. I always will be. He's a character that's earned my loyalty and occasional anger. "Crispin who has a hard boiled honourable edge, coating the occasional softness inside." Maybe here lies part of the reason why so many religious and otherwise relics seem to find a path to him.
And Jack Tucker? Jack is now the Tracker's apprentice, father of three with a fourth on the way. I'm just so fond of Jack having seen him grow from a homeless boy who dogged Crispin's footsteps and installed himself as his servant and assistant, to the family man we now know, even with the frustrations and communication problems within his marriage, that are true for all.
Jack and Crispin are real, tried and true characters that I trust and enjoy.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley

[Scott Rezer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sword of Shadows is a another great mystery novel by the fabulous Jeri Westerson involving disgraced Crispin Guest as the Tracker of London and his ever-faithful apprentice Jack Tucker. As his career begins to wind down—after all he is over forty, and not as quick and spry as he once was—Crispin’s life is, for once, not bound up in the mystery of yet another religious relic, but this time a rare and fabled treasure. And one far away from London. It was only a matter of time before the series finally took on the legend of King Arthur since he was quite popular at the time—has there ever been a time when he wasn’t?—and takes us into Cornwall to the ruins of dark and ancient Tintagel Castle. It is a dismal place, wind-swept and damp with sea-spray, a place as distant and remote as can be from London, and yet evil lurks. Even out of his element in London, Crispin and Jack take little time becoming embroiled in a mysterious murder while in the employ of one Carantok Teague, a wandering treasure hunter seeking Excalibur, the sword of the Arthur. Following an ancient riddle, they scour the rocky and desolate jut of land around the castle for the treasure, but as usual, things never go as planned and the mysteries compound as the bodies multiply and complications unwind as they often do in the person of yet another woman, one Crispin knows from the past. And what, if anything, does Excalibur have to do with the murders? Having dealt with too many religious relics—both real and imagined—Crispin is confronted with an ancient treasure that might be more real than anything he has found before—and more life-changing. And who is the old, craggy-faced caretaker of the castle, Marzhin Gwyls? And what about the druw, the rumored descendants of the ancient druids who inhabit the forests of Cornwall around Tintagel practicing the pagan cult? Are they to blame? Crispin Guest would like to know as well.

Sword of Shadows is a but different from the other Crispin Guest mysteries, one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Ms. Westerson’s unique tales never grow old.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sword of Shadows is the 13th in the Crispin Guest series of medieval mysteries, but I didn’t really have any trouble figuring out the story and who the major players were. Possibly because there only appeared to be three characters carried forward from earlier books; Crispin himself, former knight and now Tracker, basically an investigator for hire in medieval London, his apprentice Jack and Kat Pyke, a woman thief and love interest of Crispin’s who can only be described as trouble with a capital T.

Hired by a treasure hunter to search for the legendary sword Excalibur, Crispin and Jack arrive at Tintagel’s ruins with their client to discover a body already waiting for them. The dead man appeared to have no shortage of enemies, including a half-dozen local women all of whom thought he planned to marry them, but Crispin can’t shake the suspicion the crime is tied to the search for the ancient relic. WIth suspicious locals, angry guards, a nearby village of pagans trusted by nobody, and expert thief and former flame Kat all viable suspects, Crispin and Jack must find the killer before they strike again… and find Excalibur before it disappears again into the mists of time.

Crispin comes across as tired and cynical, a man who’s been dealt a lot of hard blows in life and sometimes can’t quite believe none of them have knocked him down yet. A good bit of the story is told from the perspective of the fiercely loyal Jack, almost as competent an investigator in his own right now as his master.

The story reads as pretty believable for the time period; hardscrabble for most, but people are still people. Social climbing, romantic rivals, family dymanics; there are some things which are human nature even in different centuries. The one thing that didn’t read true to me was the pagan village; considering how deeply the Church was enmeshed in England at the time I really don’t see it having been allowed to survive unmolested so long. And I really didn’t like the way the druidae were portrayed in the story. It was demonising and unnecessary. For that, I’m knocking a star off a historical mystery I otherwise very much enjoyed. Four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sword of Shadows earns 5+/5 Legendary Swords...Epic, Engaging!

Jeri Westerson, author of standalone favorite “Roses in the Tempest,” has quite the talent to create a compelling medieval environment with realism and relevance. I question whether she has lived the era in a previous life. It is London in the year 1396, and Crispin Guest (disgraced lord, now Tracker) with his apprentice Jack Tucker (not a young scamp anymore), have been engaged by Carantok Teague (treasure hunter) in an epic journey searching for the legendary sword Excalibur. Crispin isn’t sure of his employer or the existence of the sword, but no one would pass up such a generous fee. Together they travel to Cornwall and Tintagel Castle, the birthplace of King Arthur, but the journey is fraught with many challenges, competitors, dead bodies, druidae in the forest, and an ex-girlfriend. Westerson’s writing style is well-paced and well-developed written in a third person narrative; rich with descriptive language and dialogue an entire environment is depicted well with various settings from London to Cornwall and the castle to the forest, variety of characters from endearing to suspicious and from innocent to guilty of murder, intriguing predicaments, and a clever conclusion that make for a marvelous read. I am new to the series, but I was never at a disadvantage; more than enough references are made to keep newbies engaged and long time fans eager for more. From newbie to fan, I totally recommend this thirteenth book, Sword of Shadows!

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Severn House thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Crispin and Jack are hired by a treasure hunter, Carantok Teague, to accompany him to Cornwall and find Excalibur. There are a couple of murders to solve. Kat Pyle shows up with a group of players - she has, um, met Teague before and has treasure on her mind as well. At one point she is kidnapped by Druids to be a sacrifice for their festival and has to be rescued. Oh, and yes, they find Excalibur and Crispin talks to Merlin.

But most importantly for Crispin and Jack, they earn loads of money and Teague actually gives them 2 horses! Treasure, indeed!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m saddened to hear that there will only be one more book in this series. Crispin Guest is a character I’ve become invested in after more than a dozen adventures in which he’s changed and grown - his development is as intriguing as the mysteries he’s solved.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Jeri Westerson's Crispin Guest series, so when a new one is released, I'm sure to read it as quickly as possible. Her newest one, Sword of Shadows did not disappoint.

Guest is what is known as a finder, who searches for objects and people in London during Richard II's reign. He seems to be always successful but not without twists and turns, fights and battles.

This latest, the thirteenth Guest departs London to Cornwall in search of Excalibur. It was interesting and entertaining in its unique setting.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there,” or so the saying goes. And that’s certainly true in the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series, of which Sword of Shadows is the lucky, or unlucky, 13th book.

They may DO things differently in 1396 A.D., but that doesn’t mean that human beings are actually any different, either better or worse, than they are in 2020. Or than they were at the time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, whether that was the quasi-medieval era as later chroniclers made it, the latter part of the Roman occupation of Britain, as historians claim it, or a magical period of myth and legend as written in the chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth – the only version that would have been extant in Crispin’s time.

King Arthur shouldn’t be relevant, as Crispin deals in facts and motives, evidence and crimes, in the real world. But he also needs to keep a roof over his head and food in his belly. While he is best known as the “Tracker of London”, solving crimes and righting miscarriages of justice, sometimes he takes other work.

So this tale begins. A gentleman “treasure hunter” feels that he is on the track of Excalibur. While the sword may be shrouded in myth and legend, Carantock Teague believes that he has found clues to the fabled artifact’s location – that Excalibur is hidden somewhere near Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, purported to be the site of King Arthur’s birth. Teague hires Crispin – and Crispin’s apprentice Jack – to come with him to Cornwall and help him search for it. And to guard him if he finds it.

The pay is too good to turn down, even with a wet, cold, miserable fortnight’s journey to Tintagel by horseback to start it off.

But once there, the search for the sword is complicated by the discovery of not one but two extremely recent corpses. Meanwhile, Crispin’s sometime quarry and occasional lover, Kat Pyle, has arrived in this remote spot to either bedevil Crispin, nab the treasure before he can, or make some other mischief.

Knowing Kat as he does, Crispin can’t help but wonder if the answer is “all of the above – and more.”

The question is whether it is only Crispin’s heart at risk – or his life.

Escape Rating A-: Sword of Shadows was a terrific read. It was a return to a series that I’ve picked up off and on over the years and always enjoyed. It dipped into a legend that has always fascinated me, the Matter of Britain, or as it is better known, the tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. And it was also a reminder of journeys of my own, as I read the first three books in this series, Veil of Lies, Serpent in the Thorns and The Demon’s Parchment, on a Caribbean cruise, back when such things were possible. This series was among the first things I read on my then-new Nook. How time flies.

That being said, although there were nostalgic elements attached to this story for me, I don’t think they are necessary to enjoy this book. If you love historical mystery, this is one of those series where the author has meticulously researched every detail, and the reader feels as if they are walking beside Crispin whether on the streets of London or exploring the caves on the Cornish coast. This is a series where you not only feel the feels, but you also smell the smells – good and bad.

It is a series where some prior knowledge is probably helpful, but does not have to be exhaustive. I haven’t read the whole series, just dipped in here and there, and enjoyed the journey back to England during the reign of Richard II, during the opening stages of what history would call the Wars of the Roses.

This particular event in Crispin’s life is a bit different than the usual stories in this series as it takes Crispin out of the London that he has come to call home and out into the country, far away from not just his home but from any place with which he is familiar. Crispin has become a creature of London, a man of the city, that’s where his reputation and his living are.

In Tintagel he is a complete outsider, and has to do his job of tracking the murderer – or murderers – in a place where he is not well-known, where his current reputation is of no help but his long-buried past as a traitorous knight is still remembered. He knows no one, but he still has a job to do – even if it’s one that he isn’t getting paid for.

At the same time, he is teased and tormented by the search for Excalibur and the legends surrounding it. In the end, catching the murderer, as difficult as it is, turns out to be easier than letting go of the search for the sword. The myths that are wrapped around the hilt of Excalibur have caught better men – and many, many searchers – before Crispin, and have continued to do so after, inspiring creators century after century. The way that Excalibur fades into the mists of Cornwall in this story feels right – and sends a chill up the spine at the same time.

The author claims that Crispin’s story is coming to an end. His next outing, Spiteful Bones, will be his next-to-last adventure. Normally I’d say that I couldn’t wait to read his next book, but knowing that his journey is coming to an end means that I’ll be happy to wait a bit. I’ll be sad to see him go – but I hope it will be into a happy and successful retirement. We’ll see.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 Stars
Sword of Shadows is the thirteenth in the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir mystery series and I will be perfectly honest in saying that it was my least favourite Crispin Guest novel so far. I have been following this series since the first book, Veil of Lies, was published back in 2008 and have enjoyed Crispin's journey from traitorous knight to renowned Tracker. I thought the plot was far weaker than in previous books and unlike many others, I was not necessarily happy to have a certain previous character return.

When I learned that this book was the second last book in this series, it made a lot more sense to me as it really felt like this book was leading up to something else considering all the self-reflection that Crispin was going through. Because of this, I felt like he was 'off' his game and missed important things in his investigation that would have been easy for him to spot. I have always like how the author included relics in her stories and the search for Excalibur definitely caught my interest. Gosh, who hasn't gone through a King Arthur phase in their life? And then a second one? Just mention Cornwall and my heart starts beating faster.

I did think the plot was quite a bit weaker than in previous novels. I usually flip through pages because the suspense is so high, but not in this one. Now that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot going on, but while it was convoluted, it didn't mesh as well as it usually does. And figuring out the murderer was quite easy, not something I am used to with these books so I was a bit disappointed as I was looking forward to some good red herrings and didn't quite get them.

But, this author has an amazing ability to describe life during the fourteenth century in vivid detail and pays attention to small details which I appreciate. And I love the fact she focuses on everyone while so many novels focus on the wealthy and the nobility. There was quite a bit of focus on Crispin's past in this one, much more than usual, which makes me wonder what she has in store for our Crispin in the last book of the series.

Sword of Shadows was an okay read, but definitely not as good as previous books in this series. The mystery was not as tight as usual and I was not really excited to have a certain character from the past re-appear, but it is what it is. It was interesting take on Arthur's story and as always, the author includes little tidbits of historical information in her books about treasure hunting and the laws from the time period, which is always fascinating. I will definitely be sorry to come to the end of this series. For those of you who are new to Crispin Guest, this book could be read as a stand alone, but I do highly recommend you start from the beginning to really flesh out the main characters and understand what drives Crispin Guest. It is an interesting tale.

https://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.c...

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crispen Guest is known as the Tracker of London, but his latest adventure takes him to Cornwall. Hired by Carantok Teague to provide protection and assist in a search for Excalibur, Guest is skeptical that Teague can succeed but his payment would allow him and his servant Jack Tucker to live comfortably for a while. Teague is a treasure hunter working under a decree given by Edward III allowing him to seek treasure throughout the kingdom, forfeiting all gold to the crown. Although Edward has been dead for some time, he uses this decree to protect his activities. In his searches he obtained parchments that point to Tintagel castle as Excalibur’s resting place.

Tintagel has fallen into disrepair and is overseen only by a caretaker and several men-at-arms. Shortly after their arrival the body of one of the men-at-arms is found in an area where Teague has been searching. As the Tracker, Guest is asked to investigate, leaving Jack to assist Teague. Their tasks are complicated by the arrival of a troupe of entertainers. One member of the troupe is Kat Pyke, a thief who Guest has encountered in the past. With the hunt for Excalibur and the untimely death, Guest knows that her appearance is no coincidence.

This is a story of myths and legends that has Guest encountering druids with their pagan rites and Marzhin Gwyls, who introduces himself as a caretaker. Guest is the only one who has seen Marzhin Gwyls, who questions the search for the sword and seems intimately acquainted with its’ history. Jeri Westerson makes life in England’s villages come to life and gives her readers a mystery that is informative and entertaining. This is a story that will enchant fans of historical fiction. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn house for providing this book for my review.

[Franca Pelaccia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sword of Shadows is the thirteenth installment of the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series. In this book, it’s London 1396 and the Tracker of London, Crispin Guest, and his apprentice Jack Tucker are hired by Carantok Teague, a treasure hunter with special permission from the crown to locate valuable relics. Carantok has a map that will lead them to Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur. The three set out for Tintagel Castle in Cornwall only to find the body of a castle guard in a crypt instead of the sword and then another guard a couple days later. For Crispin, the search for the sword takes back seat to discovering the murderer. His search, however, is filled with one complication after another, including how his old flame Kat Pyke, a thief and scam artist is involved, the first victim’s many female conquests, and a hidden and possibly dangerous Druid village.

Although Crispin tries to play it down, he is a disgraced knight, whose reputation always precedes him. His lack of funds drives him to a job, but his sense of right and wrong and his much-too-soft spot for the sorrowful story always take precedence over money and endear him to the reader. He has a paternal attitude toward Jack, which he masks, but it extends to others, including the first victim’s jilted conquests whom he scolds in order to set straight. As much as he’d like to ignore his heart and conscious, he can’t, and the predicaments he finds himself in are often amusing and entertaining.

Sword of Shadows is a fun, sometimes rambling, but enjoyable whodunnit with a likable and sympathetic hero who doesn’t want to be, amusing secondary characters, plot twists, and since it is a story of a legendary sword, a touch of the mythical.

Reviewed for the Historical Novel Society

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is #13 in the Crispin Guest series and works well as a stand alone. I am still playing catchup but couldn't wait to read this latest mystery because it centers around Excalibur, King Arthur, Merlin and Tintagel. It is one of my all time favorite locations. This visit back to 1396 was not to be missed.
Crispin and his apprentice Jack make a stop at the swordsmith and make the acquaintance of Carantok
Teague, a man from Cornwall who, it is revealed is in search of treasure. He searches for the famed Excalibur and one thing leads to another and Crispin and Jack agree to join him in his quest. The money offered was enough to make up their minds. Crispin and Jack had no way of foreseeing murder as part of their plans. Between the search for the famous sword and tracking down a killer lurking in the castle, Crispin is reunited with a woman from his past, Kat Pyke. What role does she play in this tale of lost treasure and murder?
This has become one of my favorite historical series and I will be sorry when I have finally read the entire stack of Crispin books. The characters of Crispin Guest and Jack are very real to me and the time period comes alive with great detail. The mystery left me satisfied and ready for another book.
My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a devoted fan of Geri Westerson's since reading the first book in the Crispin Guest series, i.e., The Veil of Lies through her latest, Number 13. I've not only purchased all of her books, I've read & re-read them as I became intrigued, not only with the mystery itself, but with all the incredible details of what life was like in 14th Century London & the developing & enduring relationship between the 2 main characters. I expected to like Sword of Shadows most of all since it took place in Cornwall, the site of King Arthur's birth at Tintagel & I've been a huge fan of books about him forever, starting with The Once & Future King.

Alas, The Sword of Shadows was an unexpected disappointment. Besides the main characters who seemed adrift in Cornwall, there were so many secondary characters with unpronounceable names in unpronounceable towns that I became distracted trying to remember who was whom & where they were. There seemed to be multiple plots as well; it was like reading with a twisted skein of string with loose ends all over the place. Excalibur notwithstanding, I'm looking forward the the next - & last - Crispin Guest Mystery.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

London 1396 ~ From London to Tintagel in Cornwall... in search of mythical King Arthur's legendary sword, Excalibur, following their client's treasure map... while they may also be enticed by the romance and mystique of Camelot... their destination was Castle Gorlois, Arthur's childhood home where he was also conceived by deception via Merlin's Magic that transformed Uther Pendragon into Ygraine's husband while her true husband, the Duke of Cornwall, died in battle. From then on, misfortune was heaped upon Uther until his death by poison and the castle fell into neglect over the passage of time. It was also believed that the Romans did not completely eradicate the Druw and that their remnants still inhabit Cornwall's deepest woods where they still practice the old ways. Upon uncovering the entrance to Teague's dig, the hunters found the dead body of one of the castle's men~of~arms, coshed in the head... and the night before, at their last stop on the village inn, they also encountered the unrepentant Wily Wanton Deceitful Swindler, Kat Pyke, presently styling herself as a musician to a troupe of traveling players. She had also met Teague months before and somehow managed to be ahead of them in Cornwall. The Trackers both had their hands full... what with hunting treasure and hunting a murderer. In that lonely bleak and forgotten outpost by the turbulent sea, some men deal with their isolation in different ways... character would out in such an environment surrounded by buried ancient Roman forts and graves full or historical objects as well as wealth... as what happened to the murderer and his two victims. As for Excalibur, Guest held it for a moment... tested its balance... swung it... closed his eyes and had visions of Arthur's life... felt the gentle tap on his shoulder as King Arthur knighted him... the others who held the sword apparently did not see or feel anything mystical that side of the paranormal experience that Guest had. Crispin Guest was also the only one among them who had an interaction with the Sword's Guardian or caretaker who firmly maintained to him, when he demanded it, that the Sword must stay in Tintagel for it was not Teague's to own. Only those who were worthy could find the Sword... and Teague was, after all, one of those abominable and ignominious characters reviled by History ~ a grave robber.

P.S. ~ I think in Chapter 20 ~ 'love triangle' is Contemporary American. Origin ~ Early 20th century; earliest use found in La Crosse (Wisconsin) Tribune according to Google.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been an absolute joy following Crispin and Jack. In each book, they evolve and grow, both in their personal growth and in their working relationship. I love the dynamic between them and how they never feel static or stale as characters (a pet peeve of mine). Here, Crispin is hired to find a relic, but not just any relic, it is a hunt for Excalibur. Carontok Teague hires them to help him find the sword in the castle of Tintagel. As always, there is murder, intrigue, and a mystery to solve. I won't give away anything else, but I didn't want to put the book down while reading it. From bringing the setting to life, to the natural flow of the dialogue and the pacing - Jeri Westerson has created another engaging and thrilling Crispin Guest book. I highly recommend it.

[Joanna Arman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting installment in the ongoing series. I appreciate that it was set in a different location than London, and the way in which Jack is coming into his own more an more all the time. He is not so much an apprentice and more like an adoptive son of Crispin.
The mytery featuring a treasure hunter was intereresting, although I did get the impression that some parts of the plot were a bit of a ripoff of The Wicker Man, with a "pagan" village.

Kat to me still seems a bit out of place in this story. More of a modern woman shoehorned into the Medieval setting as a "love interest". I don't think she was necessary.

Thanks to Severn House publishihng for approving my request for this titile. All opinions are my own and this did not influence my review.

[Christianne Swearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical period detail and characters that I've grown to love over the years. A disgraced knight because he participated in a rebellion against the 10 year old new king in the late 1300's, Crispin Guest had his land and titles taken away but was allowed to live. He becomes a "tracker" in London - basically a private detective - who hunts down missing items and people and solves murders. He slowly regains the respect of the people of London, as well as eventually the king, through his honorable and clever work. The author is promising one more final book in the series.

[Daniel Buckley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was my least favourite of all the Crispin Guest novels, I can't tell if it was because of the characters who just felt "off" or because of the weak plot. Perhaps it was the combination of both. As a result, this was the first book in the series that didn't grip me and that I just wanted to finish to have it done.

Having said that, if you are a fan of Cirspin then you will read this book regardless. If you are not, well you have 12 other great books in the series to read before you get to this one!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crispin Guest and his apprentice Jack are hired by a merchant to travel with him to Cornwall, specifically to Tintagel Castle to aid him in uncovering a legendary sword Carantok Teague swears is hidden there. But when they arrive at the castle, they encounter a murdered knight killed in on of the holes Teague had dug on an earlier visit. And when a troupe of players arrive, the plot thickens, another murder happens, pagans abound and Crispin and Jack have their job cut out for them. Will they manage to solve the murders and still find the sword or will the murder escape? A fun read read!

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are nearing the end of the adventures of Crispin Guest, disgraced lord and knight, self-created Tracker of London. In this tale, Crispin and his apprentice Jack Tucker are hired by Cornish treasure hunter Carantok Teague to assist him in finding a long lost sword. It turns out to be none other than Excalibur that Teague seeks. Crispin is, of course, skeptical, but takes the job as he needs money, as always. Teague leads them to Tintagel, the fabled birthplace of King Arthur, to seek the sword. While there, two men in the castle guard are murdered, and Crispin is sidetracked from the search for the sword to investigate the deaths. Along the way, he encounters Kat Pyke, his one-time lover, as well as a host of young women jilted by one of the murdered men, and a hidden village in the forest full of Druids. Exactly what Crispin needs to have an interesting time.

Anyone who knows me at all knows I have a particular soft spot for Arthurian legend. Mixing that in with one of my favorite historical fiction series is like human catnip to me. The murder investigation element of the story takes a fairly normal course, and certainly not all is as it first appears. The Arthurian element was fun because who hasn’t thought about that sword in the stone or of where its final resting place might really be? I did feel that the Arthurian sections were not as well fleshed out as the rest, but that just adds to the mystery a bit. And the surprise at the end was a delight.

Jack is grown now and Crispin is letting him take the lead on a variety of tasks that he wouldn’t have before. It is good to see Jack grow from a mischievous young boy to an honorable, dependable man. If she wanted to, Westerson could easily continue her medieval noir novels with Jack as the protagonist and new Tracker, with Crispin making cameo appearances. I think she has no such plans, but it is still fun to consider, as well as the final story in the series. I know how *I* hope Crispin’s tale ends, but we shall have to wait and see what Ms Westerson thinks about it!

Strongly recommended!

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds #DDRevs

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series improves with each instalment and this one was no exception.
I fell in love with the Trucker and his adventures some times ago and this one was great and different from the others.
It was a gripping and entertaining read as usual and the setting, the characters and the plot are as great as usual.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, al opinions are mine.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crispin is hired by a treasure hunter to help him in his search for Excalibur. Carantok Teague is sure it is at the crumbling Tintagel Castle. But nothing quite goes as planned. Crispin runs into an old flame, who is also a thief. And one of the very few guards at the castle is murdered. Since he was a philanderer, at first it appears that may have been the motive — or was it? Another very interesting and enjoyable book in a favorite series. Highly recommended.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crispin Guest and his apprentice Jack Tucker are convinced to join a treasure hunter in Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, to search of Excalibur. While in the neighboring village of Treknow, a former flame shows up, complicating matters, as does the murder of one of the castle's man-at-arms. And there's a druid settlement in the nearby forest. This book was great fun, and I enjoyed it very much.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really wasn't my favourite Guest book... I'm not sure if it was too much about his relationship with Kat (was that really something that needed to be wrapped up?) or because it was so much "i'm not worthy because I betrayed my oath and can't forgive myself" - either way, it just didn't' work for me.

[Linda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is one of her best. And, as always, the history and legends involved seem spot on. Not only did I feel immersed in the history and culture, but I was totally surprised by the outcome.

I don't want this series to end, but I realize that eventually it must. I will cherish every memory of Crispen Guest and his side-kick, Jack Tucker.

Nicely done, Ms. Westerson.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the afterword, the author insinuates that the Crispin Guest series is approaching its end and I'm sad to say I would agree that it's time to wind it down. The storylines are tending to follow similar paths and (I know it's a little thing), but the characters constantly referring to every female they meet as "demoiselle" is getting VERY annoying.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crispin Guest and his loyal 'Tracker' apprentice, Jack Tucker, are hired to help search for the sword of swords, Excalibur, in the wilds of Cornwall. Does a dead body found along the way have any connection? What about the lothario who made many promises to many women? Or the strange pagan village deep in the forest?

[patricia tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. I dont usually give a book 5 stars unless it is outstanding, and this isnt. however, I feel a certain loyalty to the books and characters, and there really isnt anything I can say I didnt like.