The Witch Hunter

Crowner John Mystery #8

by Bernard Knight

It is 1195, and when a wealthy mill-owner falls dead across his horse, Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, declines to hold an inquest. The man was considerably overweight, had been complaining of chest pains, and showed no signs of injury. A clear-cut case of death from natural causes. But events take a sinister turn when a straw doll is discovered hidden beneath the man’s saddlebag, a thin metal spike piercing its heart. Convinced that her husband’s death was caused by an evil spell, the victim’s strident widow begins a campaign against witchcraft and the so-called “cunning women” who practice it. Soon Exeter is in turmoil, a hysterical mob is on the loose, and several local women are in danger. Still, the coroner declines to get involved—until his own mistress falls under suspicion. Can Crowner John discover the real cause of the merchant’s death, unearth the culprit, and save his beloved Nesta from the hangman’s noose?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, Historical Mystery, Crime, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Aka Bernard Picton.

Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, (born 1931) became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. He has been writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries.

In addition, he has written scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the forensic series The Expert starring Marius Goring, in the 1970s. He has contributed to many other textbooks and has edited several medical journals - he was Managing Editor of Elsevier's Forensic Science International, the leading international publication in the field.

Currently, he is a founder member of The Medieval Murderers, a select group of historical crime-writers within the Crime Writers' Association, who give presentations at literary festivals, libraries and bookshops, to promote their work amongst the public. He is also one of the non-fiction judges for the annual 'Dagger' Awards of the Crime Writers' Association and a regular reviewer of crime books for the Internet site Tangled Web.

He was born and lives in Cardiff and as well as being a doctor, he qualified as a barrister and was awarded the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic medicine. In the 1950s, he served as a Regular Army medical officer in Malaya during the terrorist campaign, in a military hospital which he compares with 'MASH'.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man falls off his horse, dead from an apparent heart attack. Until an effigy is found amongst his possessions which starts a period of mass hysteria relating to witchcraft. Crowner John is unbelieving and sets off to find out the real culprit. There's more mayhem with the sheriff and the death of a semi regular character. This series is always a good read and provides some decent escapism.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read that many historical mystery type books before but have read a lot of historical novels. The setting for this book is Exeter in 1195, and the historical detail is brilliant, in the ale houses, cathedrals and manor houses, with the different trades and townsfolk the customs and suspicions of ordinary people. The mystery element is not over complicated - and in a sense there isn't much of a mystery as the reader knows more at times than Crowner John. Much more interesting is the idea of a kings coroner investigating some of the deaths that come before him. There are several refrences made to things which must have occured in previous books, but enough background is given that it all hangs together well and makes sense to a reader coming to these books as I did for the first time. Well written and very readable, i will be looking out for more books in this series.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part was slow but it got quite exciting just past mid book..Happily for me! Crowner John's nemesis, the sheriff his brother in law has committed the final crime and he is now banished.

Those poor women who were victimized as witches were the downside, however that was the times and such a harsh era.

Rereading the whole series.. 6 more..Love it..

[Scotty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably my least favorite of Knight's series. The setup (nefarious people starting a witch hunt for their own ends) is stale and contrite and no new life was breathed into it here. There isn’t even much of a mystery and the finale lacked all tension. I still find the historically accurate elements of the story interesting, however, and that kept me from delivering 1 Star.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a total sceptic, I think I must have spent all my time, while reading this story, either gritting my teeth, as to the pure ignorance of people in the 1190's, or being fascinated as to the way in which both the Church, and the State, ran things then.

I sometimes feel that things haven't improved a whole lot more nowadays - although lip-service is paid to the equality of women, worker's rights, and a whole host of other 'improvements' to the working man - and woman's - lot in life now, so I'm very grateful that I live now, and not then.

I really do enjoy reading these books, despite my mixed feelings about the subject - especially this one, for some reason, and I really do have a soft spot for Crowner John and his underlings, despite their appalling behaviour, and thoughts, but there are times I could throw whatever book I happen to be reading, right across the room! Lol

But, in this particular story, I feel that Bernard Knight really hit the spot, where portraying life for both the rich, and the poor, for the Church, and for the State, are concerned and, as much as it all appalls me, I couldn't help but be fascinated by it all - and I know that, given that human nature doesn't really change that much, there are the same things going on now, as there was then - you just have to pick up a newspaper, or look online, to see that.

I think that, what keeps my interest in this series so much, is the way that Crowner John does his work consciensiously, with honesty and with, if not heart, then at least with charity - something that would be a rarity for those in power then (and now, come to think of it!). I also love the fact that John always tells the jurors what to say, and makes sure they stick to that, too!

It makes me wonder if modern-day Coroner's do the same! Lol

I have to admit, with the ending of this book, I can't wait to read the next installment: Figure of Hate, in order to see if the format of the books will change, or not!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I like the Crowner John series - really, I do. This one just fell really flat for me. Crowner John mysteries should offer two things: first, a murder mystery set in 1190s England, and a slow meta-plot that moves between the novels in the series. You don't need to have been reading from book one to enjoy - the meta-plot is barely in the background.

The mystery in this book wasn't. From the first chapters the reader knows who did the crime, and we then just watch John stumble around trying to figure out if a crime has been committed and then solve it. The crime starts a witch hunt (which is historically accurate), and that takes up much of the book, but the "plot" is 'John is powerless to stop it,' which just spins along for most of the book. It really felt like the non-mystery wasn't going anywhere.

For most of the book, the meta-plot has some snippits in the background, and I really thought I could see the reset button being slammed from a mile away. What got the rating, for me, to 3/5 from 2/5 is that the reset button wasn't slammed in the way I thought it would be. In this sense, the book is okay because there's some advancement in the meta plot. That said, there really isn't much in the way of character development in this book.

The novel simply exists. I like the series, but this was really forgettable.

[Leanne London · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been the first novel I have ever read by Bernard Knight, and didn't know that it was a series before purchasing it.

Nevertheless, I decided to read it first and enjoyed the aspect of adapting real historical fact alongside fiction, which is highlighted in the historical note section and historical postscript.

The characters were brought to life in turbulent times, and the unique way Bernard Knight incorporated explanations of the law and societies back in 1195 into the storyline added to the understanding for me, or else I would be lost.

This book highlights the darkest parts of human nature, even more so back when there were little in terms of scientific explanations, and blame being put on the most vulnerable in society when things go wrong.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed the previous 7 books in this series. This one started very slowly. I was a bit disappointed. Then suddenly, half way through, it burst into life and was a really fast paced, nail biting read! The ending was superb - it made up for what to me was a slow start.
This features the mistrust of women who administer potions to help with various ailments. A couple of men died suddenly and they’d taken these potions. Some of the Bishops started a panic, calling these ladies witches and demanding they be hung. Crowner John fought against the Bishops, who were inciting the crowds to riot and kill the “witches” themselves.
To write any more would spoil the excitement of the “witch hunt”, but I did enjoy this book and I’m looking forward to reading book 9!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It feels very much like a procedural drama that happens to be in the middle ages. It sets up and describes the setting and world in wonderful detail.

The way Knight showed how superstition and hysteria turns people into monsters and how mob mentality can destroy was well done.

The story gives just enough detail about previous books that you don't need to read them (this was my first one) to understand this, but it never felt like a 'previously on' full summary that would be annoying for people who have read the other books.

While the end began to drag, the middle was intense and harrowing.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Witch Hunter

An important man dies suddenly while riding his horse near an inn. Under his saddle a small ebony is found with a small small spike through its chest. Was this man killed by witchcraft or was it something else? John must determine the truth. A church canon, Gilbert Dr Bosco, goes out hunting witches or cunning women. Lies are told and other murders take place. A mob hangs a suspected cunning woman on the city wall. A treasure is found in a field. Who owns it? Gwyn is charged with stealing part of the treasure. There is arson and a woman burned to death. Can Crowner John sort through all the details and save his friends? I enjoyed the book.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good historical mystery, not too complex but clearly a lot of research and effort t to stay as close as possible to what we know of the period.
Based in 1195 Exeter it tells of one of the first big witch hunts in Britain with a good range of believable and human characters.
I didn't realise this was part of a series when I picked it up and will now go back to book 1, but I didn't feel out of the loop reading this as a stand alone novel.

[Own Timis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost gave Crowner John #8 a three star review as I felt the first two thirds were a bit slow and I was at times a bit confused as so many different names were thrown around. However the last 100 pages turned it round and I couldn't put it down. A very satisfying ending and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the next book.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable romp at a now familiar slow pace, having read several of his books. The witchcraft theme prior to the hysteria of the 1400s etc is quite interesting and novel and begs the question why did it take off in later years as much as it did. Enjoyable read.

[MARTIN JOHN CORFE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of Bernard Knights books a terrific page turner which keeps you gripped from the start. Enjoy the historical facts and explanation of terms at the start and notes at the end.

[Ambre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay!! So glad at the end result!! Not putting in spoilers lol

[Fiona BookDragon4Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Takes place way WAY back. Easy to follow and I like the characters.

[Pamela Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Formidable cast of characters

The Eighth book in the excellent Crowner John Mysteries does not disappoint gathering pace right up to the very end

[Paul Charles Radio Show · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best I have read in the series - 7.5/10
Full of drama and the author deftly and skillfully brings the era alive.

[Ak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series! Unfortunately, I can’t get my hands on the next book and it will probably drive me into a state of madness.

[Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look into the early mania that saw the brutal deaths of so many women. Very well done and very plausible.

[PurplePrimula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life is too short to slog through a book you're not enjoying when there is such a vast amount of hugely enjoyable books out there. Therefore I'm throwing in the towel here. One star because I couldn't finish it.

This book did have the fact that it's ultimately a crime novel against it, and I have no interest in those at all. I thought the fact that it was a historical setting, which I otherwise enjoy, would be a redeeming factor, but this was not the case. On top of that, I discovered, well after starting it, that this is actually book 8 in a series! It's okay, though, because I didn't come across anything that confused me. I think it's just a series of standalones with the same cast of characters and very roughly linked together so that it isn't necessary to read them in order.

My primary problem with this book was that I was just bored. So bored I kept check how far I'd got compared with how much was left. The plot seems to be moving very slowly and about 25% in, the witch hunting referred to in the title was only just beginning to begin. 25% of the protagonist refusing to consider that someone else might be right. Adding to the boredom is the lack of mystery. The person who ordered the murder has already revealed himself saying that he first attempted poisoning his victim by paying an apothecary to mess with the medicine the victim bought there, and when that took too long consulted a witch. So we know who was behind it all. We knew that WAY earlier than 25% in, so I'm not even considering it that much of a spoiler. What remains is to figure out who the witch in question was, and as it's unlikely to be any of the handful of female characters we've met (Protagonist's wife, their maid, his mistress, victim's widow and their daughter) I can't really bring myself to care. Given how opposed to the very idea of witchcraft the protagonist is, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out he actually ends up helping her. Bit like how he pretty much released a convicted criminal with only a token punishment that everybody knew, protagonist included, would never be carried out, not as one might expect to save the man from the gallows, but because he knew it would irritate the sheriff whom he doesn't got on with (either).

Second, I didn't like any of the characters. It's all well and good to make sure your protagonist isn't a complete saint, because this is annoying, but when you then give him so many flaws that he becomes unlikable, it's also a problem. I found him unlikable. This guy doesn't seem to get on with anybody other than his mistress and his colleagues, and he never ever seemed to be willing to listen to someone else's opinion or even cooperate towards a common goal with someone. Perhaps this would have been less of a problem if I'd read the previous seven books as then I would have known the characters quite well by now, but I don't know if it really would have made that much of a difference.

[Spuddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#8 Crowner John historical mystery set in late 12th century Devon. A local tradesman falls over dead of an apparent apoplexy while riding his horse, in front of witnesses. But the man's widow insists that he was done to death by a witch's spell, the witch having been hired by her husband's arch enemy, who has been trying unsuccessfully to talk him into selling his lands off. A corn dolly effigy with a pin in its heart is found in the man's saddle bag, but even before that little artifact is discovered, the widow insists that Crowner John be notified to hold an inquest. Sir John thinks it's all a bunch of hogwash and denies her claim, and because the widow is a friend of his harpy-like wife Matilda, hears no end of complaint about it over the next few days. And when the widow's cousin Gilbert, a canon in one of the local churches, begins preaching against witchcraft and exhorting the church to actively stifle the "pagan ways" they've passively condoned by looking the other way, the whole city of Exeter gets stirred up, with several local "wise women" in danger of being condemned by the church or harmed by the townspeople.

Crowner John is still reluctant to get involved, although his brother-in-law Richard de Revelle, the sheriff, has jumped on Gilbert's bandwagon. But when John's own mistress, Nesta--the proprietor of a local inn--comes under a cloud of suspicion, then he begins to feel an urgent need to get to the bottom of the original death, if only to show that the man was killed by very earthly means and thus dispel the furor in the town.

A typical entry in the series, which I mostly enjoyed--certainly for the atmosphere and sense of time and place. Knight does a wonderful job of invoking the mores and culture of the times, as well as the sights, sounds and (often not so nice) smells. I have to admit though that sometimes the author tends to overuse certain words or phrases in description of his characters. For example, Crowner John, who is rather taciturn and crabby, often will "snap" or "bark" or "growl" when he's speaking. His brother-in-law, somewhat of a dandified popinjay, tends to "bray." At times it's enough to make me grit my teeth a bit--but certainly not enough of a problem to stop me from reading on in the series.

[Cornelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first of all have to state that I did not know that this book was part of a book series. I therefore was very suprised to be introduced to the characters and story in a way that allowed me to get to like the characters and find my way into their histories without realising that these histories already appeared in earlier books (I realised halfway through the book that it was part of the series).

I really enjoyed reading the book, after having dealt with witch hunting in literature and history at university, and even though it was hard for me to get to like the protagonist at the beginning, I slowly started getting warm with his honesty and thoughtfulness.

Nevertheless, the book had some issues that need to be addressed.
As it was already mentioned, many things such as descriptions were repeatedly mentioned, which sometimes made it hard for me to enjoy reading. At some parts I found myself skipping descriptions, just scanning them for important new information (which I most often only do when I am reading something completely uninteresting). Additionally, I was just waiting for the things that are described in the summary of the book to show up at the very beginning and was therefore disappointed to find one of the major turns of the book already being described in the summary of the back of the book (though it is not really the book's fault per se but that of the cover). That was why I took one star from my rating.

The other star was taken because I found the ending quite unspectacular and was a bit taken aback by the fact that some open iends were completely left open. They are probably contínued in the next book, but I just missed the fact that (SPOILER!!) Nesta and her inn weren't even mentioned one time in the end. Was she really safe with the family? What about the depressive wive? etc.
Even though I'd have liked to answer this question I will probably not buy and read the followig book. Maybe after some time I'll think about it in another way but now I just do not like to continue or even start this series from the very beginning.

[Jules Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

The eighth in a crime fiction series set in the twelfth century, following the cases of Crowner John, a knight who has been appointed as the first coroner of Devon by Richard the Lionheart. This was the first I'd read, and will be the last even though I have another in the TBR pile, because it was a Did Not Finish for me.[return][return]Even though the elements of the story should have been a draw for me, I found it hard to get into, and the lead character hard to like. Things came to a head for me with the scene where it becomes clear that Sir John ignores his wife in favour of not one but multiple mistresses. It may be historically accurate, and the author was at pains to then tell us that John's marriage was a failure but that neither party was at fault, it having been a political marriage that both were forced into by their families -- but that's the problem for me. Having shown us a miserable marriage where John's wife seems to be an unreasonable shrew, Knight then tells us rather than shows us what the problem in the marriage is. I don't find infidelity an appealing characteristic in a lead character unless it's carefully grounded, and while this may have been partly to do with my coming in several books in, it focused my attention on the real problem I had with the book -- too much telling and not enough showing for my tastes, and both in the wrong places. After three chapters, I wanted to know the end of the story, but not enough to read the chapters in between. So not a complete failure, but not a series to add to my reading list.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workaday mp3

Read By: Paul Matthews
Year of Recording: 2004
Year Book Published: 2004
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: W.F.Howes - Clipper Audiobooks
Series Name: Crowner John
Position in Series: 08
Abridged: No
Total Duration: 12hrs 52mins

blurb - Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest
as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a
straw-dolly is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart. The victim's stident wife declares her
husband's death to have been the result of an evil spell, cast at the behest of a rival mill-owner who wants to acquire his
business. Enlisting the help of her cousin, a cathedral canon with an eye to ecclesiastical advancement, the widow begins a
campaign in the name of the Church against witchcraft and the so-called 'cunning women' who practise it. This escalates until
Exeter is divided into two camps and a climate of fear predominates. Still the coroner refuses to get involved - until his beloved
mistress is accused of witchcraft. Can Crowner John unearth the real culprit and save Nesta from the hangman's noose?

[Niffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and felt I could empathise with the main character if I kept in mind the context and time period of the book, for example I was not shocked by his blase attitude to two particular murders, although I myself would have been much more outraged! My only (quite large) niggle with the writing style is the blatant foreshadowing and repetition of certain facts which are peculiar to the historical period - useful to know, but we know now, there's no need to tell us 2, 3, 4 times!
I didn't realise when buying this book many years ago (not sure why it took me so long to read it) that it was number 8 in a series, and looking at the blurbs of the others only two really appealed, his troublesome brother in law seems to crop up too often in most and I would be wary of plot repetition.
I feel I'm coming across quite negative here, but I did enjoy the book, and generally thought the writing flowed well and the pace did not slow too much in the middle, which is what I tend to find in a lot of historical mystery novels.
I also felt that it did not drift from the historical period, you got a good sense of England in the late 12th century, with the underlying political restlessness.
I would hesitate to recommend this until I have read the others in the series, as I have a feeling there may be better offerings from Bernard Knight..!

[Wayne Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't really say much that I haven't said with previous Crowner John novels in the series. If you're working your way through the series then by book 8 you know what to expect from the main characters and the story. As always the historical background is the most interesting part, and reading about the attitudes to wise women and how they could suddenly be turned on as witches is very sad - however I did find it very convenient that Nesta suddenly happens to be one of these women when it hadn't really been alluded to in the previous novels. John's feud with the Sheriff really comes to a head in this book and it will be interesting to see if it leads to any changes in the hierarchy of the Castle in the next one.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series alternates between like and really like for me, there is always some element that keeps me from enjoying some as much as others and in this case it was the Crowners dithering over solving the mystery and the witch craft accusations.
I'm sure it must have been typical for the religious to be such a large part of everyday life and for some to use it to their advantage, but I got tired of the mob and the lack of action from those who could have done something.

[Sorcha]

8th book in a series, and fairly standalone, so you dont feel you've lost out by not reading the others before.[return][return]Not the worst - or best - book I've read based in the Dark/middle ages. What I was very aware of was the foreshadowing that cropped up on a regular basis, and which was unsubtle enough to be noticeable. The story progressed happily enough despite this however.

[Tom Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book about the stern Coroner. Politics has never been far from the surface in the previous books but in this it seems to step forward a little further. An enjoyable read that takes the readers affection for some of the support characters in the previous books and uses it to wrench up the tension.