Veil of Lies

A Crispin Guest Medieval Mystery, Book 1

By: Jeri Westerson

Narrated by: Noah James Butler

"A disgraced knight earns a meager living as a private inquiry agent in 1383 London" in a series debut that "will appeal to mystery and history fans alike" (Kirkus Reviews).

Accused of treason and stripped of his knighthood, Crispin Guest has survived on the gritty streets of London by reinventing himself as The Tracker, an investigator for hire who can locate lost objects and uncover secrets. When the merchant Nicholas Walcote hires Guest to investigate his young wife Philippa for adultery, he discovers an underground world of danger and dirty dealings. Philippa is indeed hiding something—but she's not the only one. Walcote himself is rumored to possess a holy relic so powerful that some would even kill for it.

To get to the truth about the mysterious Walcotes, Guest must contend with his nemesis, Sheriff Simon Wynchecombe, as he becomes entangled in a strange world of superstition, seduction, and murder.

With vivid period detail and a complex, thrilling story, Veil of Lies was a finalist for the Macavity and Shamus Awards.

©2015 Jeri Westerson (P)2022 Tantor

Not My Cup of Tea

Perhaps I'm unforgivably old fashioned, but I still expect a murder mystery to be about clues and reasoning out the puzzle. Not so here. There is a murder, but it is almost inconsequential to the plot, and the solution is obvious. This is a modern adventure yarn masquerading as a "Medieval Mystery." There's your standard troubled hero, plucky love interest, slimy nemesis and far more violence than mystery. The narrator is competent if a bit overly dramatic. I won't be listening to any more of this series.

Fun Read

The main character Crispen Guest dishonorably discharged knight grew on me. A freelance investigator, witty and struggling to fit into his lower status, still needs to avoid the gallows and lay low while saving the realm. Some of the narration was off putting. Narrator does a nice job with main character though.

Character insight and I am satisfied with my short answers and don’t want to count out 15 words!

Historical data about daily life and living conditions. ok and quit controlling answers to 15 words. I write enough to show my appreciation! And the damn screen jammed!!!!

Surprised at how much I liked this

Crispin was an irascible, flawed MC that grew on me as the story progressed. The first half necessarily dragged a bit as we get to know disgraced, former knight Crispin, eking out a rough living by tracking things; he’s the 14th century version of the private eye, skulking about to catch his client’s spouse having an affair. He couldn’t surrender his upper-crust snobbery, even for the few friends he’d gained in the stews, and that made for some fascinating conflicts.

As a murder mystery, this was a little too “the butler did it” elementary. However, the murder itself springboarded into international factions, crosses and double crosses, a number of fight scenes, and a frenemy relationship with the local sheriff that I hope continues to evolve with the series. Oddly, this reminded me of Indiana Jones, perhaps because of the hunt for a religious artifact rumored to have tremendous power … or perhaps because of scruffy, perpetually accosted Crispin.

I think what really sold me on this, however was the narration. His female voicing wasn’t the greatest, but everything else, especially the accents, was sublime.

check you like the narrator before purchase

i couldn't get past chapter 8 in spite of the fact that the story seems a good one. the narrator has a whole bowl of plums in his mouth...this is posh accent so pawwwsh that it becomes unlistenable. check before purchasing.