LitPick Review
Hugh de SIngleton, surgeon and baliff of his small medieval town, has enough on his mind with his pressing duties as town doctor and his new marriage to his wife Kate. When the body of his former enemy, Thomas atte Bridge, is found hanging from a tree, Hugh dutifully investigates the circumstances of his death. As he probes into the history of atte Bridge's dealings, he finds more and more people who had reason to kill him. Soon, Hugh finds suspects for murder among his fellow townspeople and even his friends. Just when it seems that Hugh is getting nowhere, a disastrous event proves otherwise. Along with his faithful wife Kate, Hugh must investigate the death of an enemy, even if it means prosecuting one of his friends.
Opinion:
Unhallowed Ground by Mel Starr proved to be both an educational and engaging read. Layers of facts on medieval life were mixed with insightful character development and plot changes, adding to my enjoyment of reading this book. There were times, however, when the action became a little slow, but overall the novel kept my attention. I especially enjoyed learning about the lifestyles of the rich and poor during the Middle Ages, told from Hugh's inquisitive point of view. Once Hugh identifies atte Bridge's killer, his debate over doing what is right and protecting those he cares about provides an important lesson at the end of the novel. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and mystery lovers, both young adults and adults alike.
