Review – The Abbot’s Agreement

Mel Starr in his new book, "The Abbot's Agreement" Book Seven in the Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series published by Monarch Books returns us to Oxford in 1368 for another mystery involving the intrepid bailiff and surgeon. From the back cover:  "My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the crows. Whatever it was that the crows had found lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the crows were feasting upon. The corpse wore black." Master Hugh is making his way towards Oxford when he discovers the young Benedictine – a fresh body, barefoot – not half a mile from the nearby abbey. The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity: John, one of three novices. But he had gone missing four days previously, and his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death: the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh's sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him . . . An Abbot is the leader of an abbey and he decides that Master Hugh should investigate the murder of one of his novices. All he was doing was passing through to go home. He really doesn't know anyone but that is going to change quickly. Now Hugh has to go through the possible suspects with all their motives to figure out which one of them did it.  "The Abbot's Agreement" is a very exciting book that will keep you engrossed in the characters as well as life in England in the 1300's.  I have become a huge fan of Mel Starr and am fantastically pleased with his creation: Hugh de Singleton.  These mysteries that he gets involved with are complicated and thoroughly enjoyable.  I think Mel Starr is an extremely talented writer who really knows how to tell a story that will grab you and keep you flipping pages until you find out who did it. I am already looking forward to the next book.