Reviews
Praise for Serpent in the Thorns:
“Appealing…Crispin’s derring-do is distinctly entertaining.” –Kirkus Review
“Readers who can’t get enough of medieval historicals will snap this one up.” –Library Journal
“Westerson’s second medieval mystery to feature former English knight Crispin Guest works …as a suspense novel.” –Publisher’s Weekly
“Westerson’s noir-influenced historical mystery boasts a strong cast of characters and makes good use of period details, from broad background on England’s numerous wars with France to the particulars of daily life in fourteenth-century London. This makes an excellent choice for mystery and historical-fiction lovers.” –Booklist
“My favorite kind of historical novel–one that makes me feel I am there–sights, sounds, smells and all. Jeri Westerson has managed to create a complex character in Crispin, who nevertheless remains true to his time.” –Rhys Bowen, Author of the award-winning Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries
“(Serpent in the Thorns is) even more exciting than ‘Veil of Lies,’ the first in the series.”–Richmond Times-Dispatch
“This second outing for Guest is every bit as solidly plotted and historically deft as the first.” –The Globe and Mail
“Teens who like their hero with more devotion to justice and honor than to common sense, are going to love this novel. There are gripping scenes of escape, vivid descriptions of everyday life, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.” –School Library Journal
“On one hand, it’s a work of historical fiction, playing on the usual medieval themes of pride and honor and written in such fabulous detail that you’ll almost be able to feel the chill in the air and smell the stench of the well-worn streets of the Shambles, where Crispin lives. On the other hand, though, it’s also a hard-boiled mystery, complete with some of the best elements of good pulp fiction: murder, corruption, a flawed hero, and a wayward woman. It’s a clever combination—and it makes for a wildly entertaining read.” –Nights and Weekends
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Praise for Veil of Lies:
“Brimming with medieval atmosphere, blessed with an elaborate plot and interesting characters, Veil of Lies shows great promise. And Westerson displays the skill of a writer who has mastered her subject and has used that knowledge to create erudite entertainment.”
—Richmond Times Dispatch
“A medieval Sam Spade, a tough guy who operates according to his own moral compass and observes with detached humor…this book is pure fun.”
—The Boston Globe
“…One of the more interesting aspects of this authentic-feeling tale is the dichotomy between Crispin’s acceptance of his new, lowly status and his inability to even think of himself as anyone other than a knight who could never fall in love with a commoner, even as his feelings for his client grow stronger. This is a strong first novel by California journalist, Jeri Westerson, who is a frequent blogger and an ardent enthusiast of all things medieval.”
—Mystery Scene Magazine
“Veil of Lies is labeled a Medieval Noir and I have to say that it is truth in advertising at work. Westerson’s character Crispin Guest is the 1300’s equivalent of Mike Hammer and that is not praise I use lightly…Westerson combines a encyclopedic knowledge of the middle ages with an obvious love for the hard boiled genre and adds a classic mystery telling ability to create what is one of my favorite reads of the year. I look forward to more from this wonderful new talent.”
—Crimespree Magazine
“Westerson takes the reader on a fine ride of a read, with her lone knight of the mean streets…The reader is likley to want more of this Crispin Guest. Much More.”
—Mystery News (four quills)
A “promising debut…an entertaining read that makes the prospect of sequels welcome.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“…This first installment in a planned series, introducing a conflicted hero and delving into the grim lives of ordinary people in medieval times, will appeal to mystery and history fans alike.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“…This authentically detailed medieval mystery has an intriguingly dark edge that will appeal to fans of both historical fiction and noir.”
—Booklist
* “…Brimming with historical detail and descriptions of life in 1383 London, Westerson’s mystery debut is a brilliant tale of survival in a hostile environment, where anything can lead to death. Fans of medieval mysteries will put this on their reserve list. Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Veil of Lies marks a spectacular debut! Westerson’s ‘medieval noir’ page-turner sports vigorous plotting, robust characters, and superb scholarship. An utterly beguiling alchemy of Canterbury and Connelly. The Crispin Guest series scores a bulls-eye on the first shot. The stuff of legend!”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“Jeri Westerson’s Veil of Lies is a great read, through and through. Her finely wrought portrait of gritty Medieval London is imbued with great wit and poignancy, establishing Crispin Guest as a knight to remember.”
—Cornelia Read, author of A Field of Darkness
“Westerson has full command of prose, plot and the historical detail of 14th Century London.” —Mystery Lovers Bookshop
*Editor’s Choice at The Historical Novel Society Review.
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