Medieval fiction has never taken my interest in the past. However, in the last couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to read and review two of Mel Starr‘s novels in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon series. Since then, I’ve read the series up to current release, and I hope to read more! What I like most about this series of books is the magnificent detail that goes into the novels. When I can feel the weather, smell what the character smells, and sense the tension that Hugh experiences, that’s the mark of a great book!
The Tainted Coin is the fifth novel in the series. (You can read my reviews of the third and fourth novels.) Hugh de Singleton is the main character. Hugh is a surgeon and a bailiff. Much of his daytime activities revolve around these responsibilities. However, now he also is a father. His beloved Kate and he now have an infant daughter.
The story begins as Hugh makes the discovery of a badly beaten man at a nearby church, where he also discovers that the priest there is a former enemy of his! The enemy, thankfully, is a changed man and helps Hugh in trying to help the beaten man. The injuries sustained are too much for the man, however, and his last words are, “They didn’t get me coin.”
Hugh goes on a quest to find out what happened to the man, who happened to be a chapman selling goods. When the search gets personal, though, Hugh realizes that he must protect his family.
If you would like to read the first chapter of this novel, Mel has a copy that you can read here.
About Mel
Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Spring Arbor High School in 1960, and Greenville College (Illinois) in 1964. He received an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970. He taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel married Susan Brock in 1965, and they have two daughters; Amy (Kevin) Kwilinski, of Naperville, IL, and Jennifer (Jeremy) Reivitt, of Portage, MI. Mel and Susan have seven grandchildren.
I received Unhallowed Ground as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours. My comments and opinions are my own.
