A Trail of Ink {52 in 52}

This week in 52 in 52...

A Trail of Ink

The third chronicle 

of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon.

• Format: Paperback
• Number of Pages: 256
• Publisher:  Monarch Books
• Publication Date: 2009
• ISBN: 978-1-85424-954-8
• Author Melvin R.Starr

Last week I shared about one of the best books I have read in a while. This weekend I have completed the sequel as well as the third chronicle in the series.

I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Hugh in this third  chronicle detailing his duties as bailiff.  As with book one and two this chronicle has been written in the first person. Hugh takes us with him as he attempts to unravel the mystery of Master John Wyclif's missing books.

Melvin has once again done a stirling job of taking the reader into 1300's. I enjoyed the two assignments bestowed on him by his employer to find a comely lass and discover the whereabouts of Master Wyclif's books. As always his use of out of the ordinary language is inspiring and entertaining. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to you and your family.

Melvin Starr is an avid student of medieval English and surgery and has written a page turning novel featuring Hugh de Singleton.  Melvin's website hosts a great set of resources and you are able to read the first chapter to whet your appetite for the book.

1. The Unquiet Bones
2. A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
3. The Trail of Ink
4. Unhallowed Ground
5. The Tainted Coin

No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Here is a snippet of what others are saying about this book:

In the words of Stephanie

"A Trail of Ink is a fascinating description of fourteenth century life as Hugh searches for lost books. While that doesn't seem like much today, twenty-two books would have been a fortune for a monk during this time period. While the plot took a long time to pick up speed, once it did, it hooked me completely and I was fascinated and enthralled. With a less than satisfying ending, it did leave off with a tantalizing hook for the next book in the series, Unhallowed Ground, which I am really looking forward to reading. What Mel Starr does so well, however, is make you feel as if you're standing in fourteenth century England, with vivid descriptions and beautiful attention to detail. All in all it was a satisfying read.."

From Mel Starr Publisher's Description-

"So begins another delightful and intriguing tale from the life of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in the medieval village of Bampton, near Oxford, and bailiff of Bampton Castle at the behest of Lord Gilbert Talbot. Hugh sets his cap at the delightful Kate, who proves equally resourceful in the search for the missing books. Some very determined adversaries are out to stop him, permanently if necessary – but are they motivated by greed, or more personal animosity? Then the corpse of a poor scholar, who had tried to sell one of the books, is found in the river: but he had not simply drowned ...."

Book Reviews on the www:

• Vic's Media Room.
• Curling up by the fire.
• Footprints in the butter.
• Mustard Seed.

Buy the book: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle, Fishpond, Koorong, Christian Book, eBook.

Blessings

This post is linking to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.

A Corpse at St Andrews Chapel {52 in 52}

This week in 52 in 52...

A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel.

A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel

• Format: Paperback
• Number of Pages: 256
• Publisher:  Monarch Books
• Publication Date: 2009
• ISBN: 978-1-85424-954-8
• Author Melvin R.Starr

Last week I shared about one of the best books I have read in a while.This week I have completed the sequel and am onto the third book in the chronicle in the series.

I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Hugh in this second chronicle detailing his duties as bailiff.  As with book one this chronicle has been written in the first person and Hugh takes us with him as he attempts to unravel the double mystery before him. Melvin has done a stirling job of taking the reader into 1300's for it's way and wit.  His descriptions of medical procedures are an interesting look into medieval ways. As always his use of out of the ordinary language is inspiring and entertaining. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to you and your family.

Melvin Starr is an avid student of medieval English and surgery and has written a page turning novel featuring Hugh de Singleton.  Melvin's website hosts a great set of resources and you are able to read the first chapter to whet your appetite for the book.

1. The Unquiet Bones
2. A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
3. The Trail of Ink
4. Unhallowed Ground
5. The Tainted Coin

No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Here is a snippet of what others are saying about this book:

In the words of Rebecca

"Wow, what a great book! Mel Starr, the author, has a really great writing style and I enjoyed the book immensely. I liked that the book was written in the first person and I also liked that it’s medieval history. Starr did a phenomenal job with the time period, the language, the religious aspects and the characters while winding multiple mysteries throughout the tale."

From Mel Starr Publisher's Description-

"Alan, the beadle of the medieval manor of Bampton, had gone out at dusk to seek those who might violate curfew. When, the following morning, he had not returned home, his young wife Matilda sought out Master Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of the manor. Two days later Alan’s corpse was discovered in the hedge, at the side of the track to St Andrew’s Chapel. His throat had been torn out – his head was half severed from his body – and his face, hands and forearms were lacerated with deep scratches. Master Hugh, meeting Hubert the coroner at the scene, listened carefully to the coroner’s surmise that a wolf had caused the great wound. And yet ... if so, why was there so little blood?."

Book Reviews on the www:

• Rebecca's Reads,
• Arch Thinking,
• Debbie's Book Bag!, 
• Mini Book Bytes,  
• The Reading Frenzy.

Buy the book: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle, Fishpond, eBook, Koorong, Christian Book.

Blessings

This post is linking to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.

Dutchmans Pudding

Ingredients

Pudding

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon apricot jam
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

Sauce

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 250 grams butter

Method 

Pudding 

• Preheat oven to 180'C
• Cream egg and sugar
• Add vinegar and jam. Mix well.
• Add dry ingredients and mix
• Add bicarb to milk.
• Add to sugar and dry ingredients. Mix well.
• Pour into oven proof dish bake for 20-30 min until golden brown and skewer comes out clean.

Sauce

• Put all ingredients into a pot.
• Bring to the boil.
• Pour over cooked pudding upon removal from oven.

Serve hot or cold. Serve with cream or ice cream.

This is my families favourite pudding.
Blessings
Chareen