European medieval crimes and mysteries

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

There are so many medieval mysteries it's not funny. I used to have to carry a list with me when I went to the library so I could remember them all (which sadly, I've lost or this would be much longer).

Susanna Gregory has an excellent series of novels set in Medieval Oxford revolving around the university there, with a crime solving doctor named Mathew Bartholomew. Also a newer series staring a clerk which is also excellent. She's probably my favorite medieval mystery author.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Gregory

Candace Robb has a series staring Owen Archer, who is a former archer turned sleuth in 14th century England. Also has another series with a woman detective in the 13th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candace_Robb

Michael Jecks has a very long running one about an ex-Templar who solves mysteries. 30 of them. They can contain some very graphic violence at times, including a few passages that I certainly wish I could forget. But if you aren't sensitive, they're really good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jecks

Maureen Ash also has a series about a Templar that solves mysteries. Has an awkward writing style, but she's improved a lot since her first novel

Peter Tremayne has a series about a crime solving Nun in 8th Century Ireland (highlights the conflict between Celtic Christianity and Roman Catholic). I like this a lot, but then again, I'm like 1/8 Irish.

Margaret Frazer also has a crime solving nun series, this 600 years later in England. Didn't like it much, but she has a smaller series about a jester (or player) that solves crime. Joliffe.

Ian Morrison has the Falconer series, which is actually about a protege of Roger Bacon that solves crimes. Okay, but didn't like the main character much.

By contrast, John Pilkington has a series where an actual falconer is the detective.

Bernard Knight has the Crowner John series, about a medieval coroner. (He's a real life coroner)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowner_John_Mysteries

There's Paul or P.C. Doherty that has been mentioned. He writes a crazy number of books, a few in Egypt but mostly in medieval Europe. The Hugh Corbett series is my favorite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Doherty

Kate Sedley has the Roger the Chapman series, basically a guy that goes from town to town selling things. Very good.

Pat MacIntosh (Scotland), Alys Clare, C.J. Sansom, Mel Starr (a rather unmedieval pen name) also are ones I've read, but didn't like that much.

That's far from all, but I think that covers most of the ones I've read.

One more

Ariana Franklin - 12th century Italian female doctor who solves mysteries in England

Great information, did anyone else read a book from the "Crowner John" series?

[vice-versa]

Originally Posted by RolandD

Try Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Not really a mystery, but lots of intrigue.

As stated in my first post : already read

As for the Justin de Quincy serie, I was unable to find the firsts of the serie in ebooks (too old ?)

[Belfaborac]

Originally Posted by Linton

Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco

Originally Posted by vice-versa

I thought at this one, but can't read Italian and my Latin's to bad (I prefer to read in the language the book was writen, translations being... translations). I have seen the film though and it was a great time

If you set that rule in stone, you'll lose out on a huge number of fantastic books. Translations can be so-so, or at times even downright bad, but generally they're not. I've read Name of the Rose in both Norwegian and English and enjoyed it equally in both languages.

Also, if Medieval mysteries is what you want, then it is easily the best book within the genre. Ellis' Cadfael books (as an example) are enjoyable enough, but Eco's Name of the Rose is a true masterpiece.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Also, if Medieval mysteries is what you want, then it is easily the best book within the genre. Ellis' Cadfael books are enjoyable enough, but Eco's Name of the Rose is a true masterpiece.

I completely agree. The Brother Cadfael books are a fun read; "Name of the Rose" is a work of genius - a true masterpiece.