Jeri Westerson brings the story of Crispin Guest, London’s Tracker, to a close in a medieval historical novel that brought tears to my eyes. Anyone who has followed Crispin’s story will be filled with regret, but will also cheer as the story culminates in The Deadliest Sin. For fifteen books, Westerson has told the story of the disgraced knight forced to live by his wits on the streets of London.
By February 1399, Crispin is in his mid-forties. He lives with Jack Tucker, his apprentice, and Jack’s growing family in the Shambles. The pair continue to investigate murders and crimes in London, so the Lady Prioress at St. Frideswide Prirory hires them to investigate the murders of two nuns.
It’s not an easy case because the Prioress Drueta Rowebern won’t allow the men in the nuns’ dormitory. Crispin is appalled to learn the state of the murders. One nun was found near the pigsty with food stuffed down her throat. The second one was smothered, wrapped in blankets from all the others. But, when screams send him running to the church, and he sees the condition of the third body, he begins to understand. This nun has coins coming out of her mouth. And, all three bodies are reflections of the painting in the church that depicts the Seven Deadly Sins.
As Crispin and Jack investigate, they learn the deaths are connected to an earlier death, that of the nun responsible for the apothecary. But, everyone says Dame Audrey died of a fever. When Crispin’s former lover, Philippa, and her son volunteer to help in the case, and Philippa is attacked, Crispin starts to suspect there’s more to this case than anger. Gravedigging, confrontational nuns, and additional crimes help Crispin and Jack wrap up the case.
However, The Deadliest Sin also represents the conclusion to the historical storyline of the mystery series. Crispin Guest is a disgraced knight, stripped of his rank, his lands, his honor, for plotting against Richard II. Guest was always a Lancaster man. In February, 1399, John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, is dying, and Guest is allowed at his bedside. Lancaster was Guest’s mentor, the man who raised him from the age of seven, although he was forced to deny him because of Crispin’s treason. In fact, Richard II has banished Lancaster’s son, Henry. By the time Crispin and Jack have concluded their case, Henry is in London after marching through England. How will Crispin Guest be treated if there is a new Lancaster king on the throne?
Westerson skillfully wraps up the series with the elements that have been essential in these mysteries, Guest’s life as London’s Tracker, an interesting case involving the religious life and even missing relics, and the historical elements. It’s sad to leave Crispin Guest behind, but there are triumphant moments for London’s Tracker.
Jeri Westerson’s website is http://JeriWesterson.com
The Deadliest Sin by Jeri Westerson. Severn House, 2021. ISBN 9780727889713 (hardcover), 224p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley in order to review the book for a journal.
Also a great inventor of recipes! We are friends on FB.
Is she, Carolee? I didn’t know that.
I have become master of the sugar free, low carb diabetic baking. Desserts, pizza crust…I am on it!
Aww, that’s awesome of you to mention. Cheers!
It always seems, for me, to come down to the writing with historical mysteries. Is it good? How would you compare these to Stephen Saylor’s Roman mysteries with Gordinius the Finder?
Yes, it’s very good writing, Rick. I’m afraid I can’t compare it to Saylor’s Roman mysteries. I never read those because the time period never interested me.
I have thought about trying this series for years. I should do that. Have you read all of them?
I haven’t read all of them, Tracy, and I regret that, because Crispin’s life changes over the course of the series. I’ve read the second or third, some in the middle, and the most recent one. I really like him and his apprentice, and I wish I’d read the rest of the books. I would definitely start with the first one, and you can decide then where you want to go.