Michael Jecks is known as the master of medieval mysteries, with KING OF THIEVES the 26th title of his popular Knights Templar series. In 1325 the King of England sends his son to Paris under the protection of the Bishop of Exeter, to save his kingdom from humiliation at the hands of the French.
Sir Baldwin and Bailiff Puttock join the guard, but in Paris there have been two murders linked to the shadowy "King" of thieves.
When the Bishop is accused of murder, his simple diplomatic mission becomes a test of courage and loyalty, in the face of an assassination plot that will change the course of history. And Baldwin and Simon must find the killer before disaster overcomes Europe.
Historical Novels Review calls Jecks latest book "a page-turning masterpiece that will keep the reader totally gripped until the very last page. Highly recommended." Publishers Weekly predicts that the novel's "stirring intrigue and a compelling cast of characters will continue to draw accolades."
A fascination with medieval history was Jecks' inspiration behind the Templar series, which is based upon the disastrous reign of King Edward II (1307-1327). England had just been trounced in a dispute with the French which led to the confiscation of all the English territories in France. Queen Isabella was sent to France to negotiate their recovery, because she was the sister of the French King. She arranged a truce, provided that her son went to pay homage to the French for the English territories. But, unknown to the English, Isabella detested her husband's regime, and once her son was with her, she kept him and refused to return to England. This is the start of KING OF THIEVES, which reaches the dramatic conclusion of Edward II's rule. "My books are ruthlessly historically accurate," says Jecks, "with the events depicted taken from actual cases.
But this is not ancient, dead history: my stories are modern, gritty
thrillers that happen to be set in the past." The author adds, "But
history is only the backdrop. My interest lies in how people reacted,
especially in Paris, where most of KING OF THIEVES is set. I have taken
the true history of criminal gangs in France to demonstrate the
brutality of a medieval city, never far beneath the thin veneer of
humanity, beauty, and chivalry."Jecks achieves historical accuracy by going back to original records of the period. "Because I spend a huge amount of time with the coroners' rolls and the records of the courts, my storylines are given to me. Much of my work is spent making sure I have the finer details correct, and making the stories read like fast, modern thrillers, not tedious historical lectures."
Life is busy. Reading was always high on Jecks' list of things to do, although less so now. "With two young kids, there's less time! But I walk several miles every day on Dartmoor with my dogs. I love music of almost any form, camping on the moors, cycling, playing the fiddle and melodeon spectacularly badly, Morris dancing, brewing beer, wood-working, and I'm a keen photographer." (www.flickr.com/photos/Michael_Jecks).
Michael Jecks gave up a career in computing to write the Templar series. He has been Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association, founder of Medieval Murderers, and organiser of the CWA Debut Dagger competition, helping novice authors to win their first contracts. He has judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for three years, and is a regular broadcaster and speaker. You can find him at http://www.michaeljecks.co.uk
Contributing editor Sibylle Barrasso is the author of Dark Waters. She was a finalist in the "St. Martins Press Best First Private Eye Novel Contest," received an award from Sue Grafton at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, and was a contributing author of Bad Boys and Bad Girls in the Badlands, a critical anthology about mysteries set in the Southwest.
