Mel Starr

Dear Readers,

I am writing this review as part of a blog tour for Kregel publishing.  They sent me the book and then asked any of us who received the book to write a review and post it.

I read book #1 of Mel Starr's Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, series, The Unquiet Bones and really really enjoyed it.  I meant to read the next couple that came out, but missed them.  I may have to go back to read them, but not sure if I will ever have time.  

Unhallowed Ground is book four of the series.  They are set in 1300 England, which in and of itself is very interesting to read, but then Mel makes them mysteries besides and that really adds that element that make these books fun to read.  Hugh de Singleton himself is an interesting man, he is really just trying to do his job to the best of his ability.  Because he is the local Bailiff, many people are leery of him.  Because he is also a surgeon, many people like him.  It is a conflict for them, but because he is a good person he is a very likable character. 

When Thomas atte Bridge seems to have taken his own life, the village people are willing to let it go at that and not worry about a murder that did them all a favor.  There is probably not one person in the area that has not had dealings with either Thomas or his brother Henry.  No one's dealings with Thomas were on purpose as he was just an evil man who was always trying to get ahead by cheating/threatening/blackmailing... I think you get the idea.   So Hugh isn't sure he really wants to know who the murderer is. 

That all changes when Hugh and his wife seem to be the target for the murderer.  He thinks that because he is getting close to the answer the murderer is willing to kill to keep that secret.  Is he really getting closer or did he just open a different can of worms? 

Maybe because of the time it is set in, maybe because I really like Mel's characters or maybe just because :-), I really like this series.  It is well written with very interesting characters.  Ones that you almost feel like you could meet walking down the street (of course one of us would be very confused).  Even with a time that is very unusual for us all it has the feel that any one of us could just step right into this story.  I really just plain and simply like this book and its series.

Happy Reading