The Demon's Parchment

Crispin Guest Medieval Mystery Series, Book 3

By: Jeri Westerson

Narrated by: Noah James Butler

The Tracker pursues mystical documents said to conjure demons while hunting for a monstrous killer in this medieval mystery with "an appealing noirish air" (Booklist).

Since losing his knighthood, Crispin Guest has reinvented himself as an investigator for hire known as the Tracker. But his reputation will once again be put to the test with his latest case. Jacob of Provençal, a Jewish physician at the king's court, is missing a set of documents that he claims contain the power to bring forth a dangerous demon.

Meanwhile, it seems a monster has already been unleashed on the city. Vulnerable street children are being abducted and murdered, their mutilated bodies the only clues left behind. With the help of his orphaned servant, Jack, it is up to Crispin to unravel the grim tangle of mystery and murder.

This third installment of the Crispin Guest Medieval mysteries was nominated for a Romantic Times Award and was a finalist for the Macavity Award.

©2010 Jeri Westerson (P)2022 Tantor

Brilliant

I’m hooked. Deeply hooked by this series. The narrator was first rate. Can’t wait to listen to the next book.

Pride before, and after, the fall

Three books in and de-knighted Crispin is still entrenched in his upper-crust prejudices, looking down upon the lower class to which he now belongs and chafing at calling his once-equals m’lord. This installment also brings in the English prejudices against the Jewish and Crispin unsurprisingly finds himself suspicious of “the Jew,” his sulky son, and the entire Jewish community. Listening as Crispin’s pride and ingrained attitudes clashed with reality and exposure to the lesser classes, cultures, and religions is one of the things that sets this period procedural above the usual medieval detective tales.

There’s a few other formulas that separate this series. There’s more knives and fisticuffs than the standard detective tale. Books 1 - 3 involved murder connected with a religious (and perhaps magical) artifact. And, instead of a fellow Watson, there’s twelve year old pickpocket turned apprentice Jack to provide added punch. Put it together with the phenomenal narration and this is an excellent 14th century murder mystery series.

⛔️ This particular mystery involves sexually abused and murdered boys, religious persecution, and upper-crust predation on the lower classes. It’s generally off screen and not too graphic.

the gayness

too bad the author had to interject her own weird views. up to that point it was a decent story.