Jecks, Michael - THE LEPER’S RETURN

[LJ Roberts]

THE LEPER’S RETURN (Historical-England-1320) – VG
Jecks, Michael - 6^th in series
Headline, 1998- UK Paperback – ISBN 0747259518

Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King’s Peace, has his hands full. The town’s leper hospital has a new master and a town suddenly turned violent against the hospital and its residents. Godfrey of London, the town’s most prominent citizen, has been murdered, his daughter and servant attacked. Everyone is quick to place the blame on the local conman and womanizer, John of Irelaunde, but Baldwin doesn’t believe it. He has the help of his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock. Simon and his wife have come visiting, bringing the young woman Jeanne, whom Baldwin hopes to marry. Finally, there is Jeanne’s maid servant, Emma, and an enthusiastic Mastiff “Chops.”

Jecks brings his characters to life with humor, insecurities, determination, and resolve. He presents a view of life in Medieval England that illustrates the role of religion and superstition in people’s lives. Jecks provides a story that is layered and twists satisfactorily along the way. I learned, I laughed, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.