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The Unquiet Bones

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The Unquiet Bones

By: Mel Starr
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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About this listen

First in the medieval whodunnit series set in Bampton, Oxfordshire, during the plague years and featuring a newly qualified surgeon

Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford.

A local lord asks him to track the killer of a young woman whose bones have been found in the castle cesspit. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes.

From there the tale unfolds, with graphic medical procedures, droll medieval wit, misdirection, ambition, romantic distractions, and a consistent underlying Christian compassion.

©2008 Mel Starr (P)2019 by Blackstone Publishing
Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Medieval Mystery

What listeners say about The Unquiet Bones

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Gem.

At last a medieval mystery that's exceedingly well researched, and sufficiently descriptive without rambling on over background minutia. Easily followed and very well plotted. Credible! Plotpoints very clearly and logically illustrated.

The narrator was excellent. The first person dialogue and voice changes were convincing. I really enjoyed looking up the obsolete words used at this time. The medical side is fascinating and equally, the role of bailiff. My view, superior to Sister Fidelma and Cadfael.

The lack of surplus adornment and convoluted spider web plotlines was greatly appreciated. I am turned off by books that unceasingly launch into prose at every opportunity as filling or padding. A great yarn well told, is what I want, and one that is inherently believable and interesting.

The author, in a very simplisic and circumspect way, suceeds in bringing vividly to life the time and place whilst involving the reader intimately with his characters. No razzamatazz, hearts and flowers, action aplenty stuff here, just courtesy, courtly respect juxtaposed with humbly superior yet fallible, sleuthing and investigation.

Highly recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A tale about everything!

Based on reviews I was eager to listen to this book.. and I was not disappointed. A wonderful storyline filled with murder, mystery, history, love, jealousy, betrayal and much more. Narration was excellent. Wonderful cast of characters and a storyline that kept me listening non-stop. Looking forward to the other books in this series.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An undiscovered treasure

I found this book so interesting and rich in history that I could not stop listening until finished. The narrator is excellent and well matched for the genre. I was also pleased to find many of the same historical period by this author so I will not grow hungry for more for a while. Added author to my favourites list.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

For insomnia suffers

Narrator was excellent, story so so. ENTERTAINMENT for insomnia suffers. If you like a mystery with an historical background, you might get a bit excited about this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

I enjoyed the quiet process of finding out what really happened. Great to be taken to life in the Middle Ages.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining

Evokes a time and era effectively with an intriguing mystery. Narrated expertly. Would seek out other’s by this author and narrator.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

The story itself was entertaining, with plenty of twists (some obvious, others not). Unfortunately, I found the narrator ... not really annoying, but rather pompous. He did well with the characterisations, but the general narration put me in mind of a nervous high school student reading out their work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Very enjoyable

I must admit to having misgivings reading other reviews on this book, that perhaps the Christian overtones would not be to my taste however, it was not so They were in keepingQ with the character of the protagonist, and the times the Book was written in wherin illogical and unfair beliefs were not questioned… By an intelligent and questioning mind As the one possessed by the delightful Hugh

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging who done it mystery set in English period drama

Loved it - very engaging. Good characters and plot. Performance was good. I also enjoyed the description of context.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

A well performed book. I enjoyed the historical medical aspects particularly, There are religious overtones (which I enjoy), but do not turn the story into a “Christian Fiction”.
I’ll look for the other books.

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