Blood Lance: A Medieval Noir (The Crispin Guest Novels)

Blood Lance represents the fifth outing of Crispin Guest, disgraced medieval knight. (He was stripped of his title and lands for plotting to replace King Richard II with John of Gaunt, Crispin's surrogate father.

Crispin now roams the mean streets of 14th century London, eking out a living as "The Tracker" - finding goods and people who've gone missing. Sometimes, the odd murder and holy relic come his way.

This time he witnesses a body plummet from London Bridge. Crispin fishes the man from the river, but he's already suspiciously dead. The rest of the plot involves a knight from Crispin's past, a beautiful armorer's daughter, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, and the legendary Spear of Longinus (said to have pierced the side of Jesus). The action culminates in a cinematic joust on London Bridge.

I've read all five Crispin Guest books to date. Here's what I love about Blood Lance and the series in general (beyond Crispin himself, who's the perfect flawed knight):

1. The creative melding of detective noir and medieval lore.

This may not seem like an obvious pairing at first, but consider the elements of a noir tale like Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon - the scrupulous, down-on-his luck detective, the lady in trouble, the search for a murderer and/or missing item.

Where did these come from? On some level, the Arthurian cycle and the quest for the Holy Grail - knight, damsel in distress, search for a person and/or a sacred object. Jeri Westerson has just put them back where they began.

2. The descriptions of medieval London.

I feel I'm right there, walking those urchin and offal-strewn streets with Crispin. The journey's half the fun.

3. The damsel in distress.

She's not always blond, but I always think, "Crispin, not again. You know she'll break your heart or your thick skull." He never learns (once a knight, always a knight) and the damsels always surprise.

Jeri Westerson knows Los Angeles and its detective noir tradition well. She cleverly ports the genre to medieval London and takes you on a rare adventure. If you like knights in shining armor, mysticism, mayhem, and the occasional dead body, you'll love Blood Lance and the whole series. Highly recommended.

(Disclosure: I won an advanced reading copy of Blood Lance by entering a contest on Jeri Westerson's blog. I'm desperately hoping for the same good fortune on Crispin's next outing!)

I just finished the 5th book in the Crispin Guest series and it was well worth the wait! The first reviewer did an excellent job describing the book and the events that take place, I can only add that this series is a perfect blend of murder, mystery, human frailty, and honor. The author just knows how to put it all together in to an exceptional package.
Be sure to read the first four books in the series before starting book five, because all the characters build upon each other from book to book.
You will not be disappointed...I promise!

If you love mysteries, if you love history, or want to escape the mundane for a while then read Blood Lance. Crispin Guest and Jack are fantastic characters that the reader really cares about. After you read the book you just want to go on and on with their lives. I wonder what they are doing now? I really want Crispin to have a nice life. He has suffered and yet this one time knight never loses his sense of honor. He is a survivor and when he has a few coins in his pouch I am happy for him. Now, I won't know what is happening to him until the next book comes out. I will be the first in line to buy it.

Jeri Westerson puts the reader right there on the mean streets of 14th century England. As a medieval history buff I really appreciate the historical accuracy of what she writes and the way she weaves historical personalities into the stories. It is as if she takes a historical moment in time and then sets her characters in the middle of it and even though they are fictional it is all very real. Wonderful well rounded characters and clever plots make these books so enjoyable.

If you have never read the Crispin Guest books start now. You don't have to start with the first one but once you read one you will want to read the others. I plan to go back to the first book and read all of them again. Yes, they are that good. I usually pass my books on to others but these I keep because even though I've read them I know I will enjoy them again. I am not a scholar but I enjoy well written, well researched mysteries and these rank with the best. I hope they will keep on coming.

Let me say, I greet each new book in the Crispin Guest series with great excitement and joy. I anticipate great pleasure, a good story, lots of action, thoughtfulness in an imperfect but very attractive hero, and a marvelous visit to 14th Century London. Westerson describes a street brawl as well as she helps her hero ponder where he is in his life. Crispin, in his job as The Tracker, the finder of things and people, has plenty of opportunity to do do both. The relationship with his rapidly growing Apprentice, Jack, has Crispin flummoxed, but at the same time, is the source of comfort to Crispin. The mystery is good, the setting superb, and a wonderful visit to a time that was harsh as well as grittily political. The only sorrow I have is that it will be a long wait until the next Crispin guest appears.

I've known Jeri (author) for several years and finally getting through my stack of "to read" books. I'm half way into the book and thoroughly enjoying the characters and stories. Had to re-prioritize my books and put her books to the top. Thrilled that the books are 4, 5, and 6 out of 9 - I'll enjoy more medieval adventures of Crispin Guest. For voracious readers, you'll enjoy the nice balance of exposition and dialogue. Moves at a steady pace and characters are intriguing, well developed, and as I'm getting to know the main character he is complex. A fun read. Reminds me why I like reading books.

Oh, Crispin! I wanted to punch him in this one several times. But I don't want to give anything away.
The character of Chaucer continues to intrigue and the 'disgraced' knight was a great secondary character. Jack the apprentice was amusing, reminding me of several young men I know. What I enjoyed most about this novel was all the knights and sword fights. Very medieval!!! Crispin continues to be an awesome hero, but also a shattered soul. I love learning more about him in each novel.

If you've previously missed out (as I had) on Jeri Westerson's Crispin Guest, a disgraced medieval knight, now The Tracker, a medieval version of a private detective, you will want to remedy this mistake. Westerson writes "medieval noir" with a sense of humor and a solid base of history. You will not see the betrayals coming as the plot twists and the characters delight.

Blood Lance, fifth in the Crispin series, opens with Crispin crossing London on a cold October night after curfew, sick with a bad cold and trying hard to avoid the Watch, who will demand bribes or worse. While he runs smack into the Watch and we get to see his skill as a fighter even without a sword and knightly armor (which Westerson has tried out first hand), that encounter serves as prelude to the real drama: a man falling into the Thames from one of the upper windows of one of the houses on the bridge. That Crispin unhesistantly plunges into the freezing river to try to save the victim is a measure of the man. That he refuses to believe the man was committing suicide and begins to investigate, a measure of his skill as The Tracker. But he isn't prepared for the high level complicity in this murder--the sort of noblemen and royalty that view him as a traitor. There are some womanly complications in the mix also. Crispin's lack of wisdom about women is something even his apprentice Jack can point out. And where does his old friend Geoffrey Chaucer fit in? (Yes, the same Chaucer who wrote The Canterbury Tales.) Crispin, despite his doubts about God, often has the knack of ending up protecting sacred relics, and there's a particularly dangerous relic in this book also--if Crispin can find it. Crispin inspires fierce loyalty in his friends (a lucky thing with enemies like his). Pick up a copy of Blood Lance or an earlier Crispin adventure and join his fan club.

Other Crispin Guest titles by Jeri Westerson:
Veil of Lies
Serpent in the Thorns
The Demon's Parchment
Troubled Bones

I've read the entire Crispin Guest series, and this is the best one so far (by a slim margin--they're all excellent). In addition to the usual murder and mystery, Crispin really gets to dig into some of the question marks in his life--his relationship with Geoffrey Chaucer (complicated), his history with women (ditto), and what he really thinks about these mysterious relics that keep crossing his path.

The highlights of this story, however, are the rapidly maturing Jack Tucker--who is now in the habit of telling Crispin when he's screwing things up, thus making their conversations all the more enjoyable--and the appearance of the mysterious and mercurial Sir Thomas Saunfayl, Crispin's former comrade in arms and now the victim of an affliction we readers would recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder. Seeing this disorder through medieval eyes is a fascinating experience as Crispin contemplates the meaning of courage and cowardice, and Sir Thomas throws himself into the mad scramble for the Spear of Longinus, which he believes will make him invincible in battle.

Almost as welcome is Crispin's decision to finally teach Jack how to use a sword ... and best of all is the way the Jack and Thomas threads tie together in the trial-by-combat joust on London Bridge that serves as the novel's finale. Yeah. That sword on the cover? They ain't kidding. I won't spoil what Crispin does at the novel's climax, but OH MY GOD. It is glorious and surprising. I read these novels for the characters, not the mysteries, and so I'm no judge of the murder and mayhem, but for anyone who's fallen in love with this fourteenth-century Philip Marlowe and his world, Blood Lance is well worth your time (and money).

Historical mysteries are among my favorite sub-genres. The historical mystery satisfies two jones at once: a puzzle to solve and a lesson in history. One of the best historical mystery series I have read are by Jeri Westerson. She calls them "Medieval Noir," and they have all the qualifying elements of noir.[[ASIN:1250000181 Blood Lance: A Medieval Noir (Crispin Guest)]][[ASIN:0312580126 Veil of Lies: A Medieval Noir]][[ASIN:B0058M75K8 Serpent in the Thorns: A Medieval Noir (Crispin Guest Novels)]][[ASIN:1410437000 The Demon's Parchment (Crispin Guest Medieval Noir)]][[ASIN:0312621639 Troubled Bones: A Medieval Noir (Crispin Guest Medieval Noir)]]

Crispin Guest is her protagonist. Having been stripped of his knighthood by Richard II, he must make his living in a less than hospitable 14th century London. Using his intelligence and skills, he has become known as The Tracker, because they didn't have detectives back then. Not unlike Sam Spade, Guest has his flaws and his lost loves. Still, though betrayed by his aristicratic cohorts and the legal system, Guest never loses his sense of honor.

In Blood Lance, released this last October, his investigation revolves around London Bridge. In fact, the story begins with someone "jumping" off the bridge from one of the many shops. Being a chivalrous man, Guest jumps in to save him. When Guest and his side-kick/apprentice, Jack Tucker, realize the man was murdered before plummeting into the Thames, the plot races toward a remarkable climax. If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to wear armor, or what it's like to joust for your life, you'll not be disappointed.

I learn something in every book in the series. Like all of the series, a holy relic is involved, and Guest is beginning to wonder why these valuable items keep coming into his life. In the back of all her books, Westerson explains the significance of each relic as well as the politics and intrigues of the era. The attention to detail never fails.

During his adventures, Guest bumps elbows with many historical figures. His friend and counselor, Abbot Nicholas of Westminster Abbey fame, Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry Bolingbroke, etc. Even the Sheriffs of London are authentic persons of the era.

As a writer, what I take away from the Guest series is a tight plot, memorable characters in exciting situations and satisfying outcomes. I have trouble putting these books down and have, more than once, stayed up reading long into the night. I like spending time with Crispin Guest and Jack Tucker, and I root for them when the odds catch up with them. Another element to pay attention to is research. Thorough research ensures a satisfied following, and obviously Westerson knows her medieval London.

Read them. For enjoyment and for a study in constructing mysteries. And learn something about history while you're at it.

I have read all five of the Crispin Guest mysteries, stumbling upon the first one by accident and then pre-ordering and looking forward to the arrival of each of the others. Yes -- the series is THAT strong, and shows tremendous potential for continued growth.

In this outing, former knight Crispin Guest -- who committed treason, was pardoned, and occasionally wonders whether still being alive is all that much of a good thing -- finds himself entangled in a murder mystery most cleverly set on London Bridge. Author Westerson, who has a firm grasp of the history of London, chooses this most intriguing locale and then exploits its many possibilities as the plot develops. And as in previous volumes, Crispin finds himself entangled with a holy relic -- quite a challenge for a character who isn't quite sure that he believes in anything or anyone any longer.

Is this LA noire transported to medieval London? Well, maybe it was for the first book. But by this fifth volume author Jeri Westerson has transcended any genre restrictions and evolved a character that really stands alone as a singular creation. Crispin is very human, with doubts and fears and a clear realization of what he had once and will never have again. A man of his time, he is highly aware of his loss of status and his vulnerability in dealing with those who know of his past. Still, he has reinvented himself as "The Tracker" -- known across London as a finder of objects and solver of problems, earning the respect of a good many people -- but never quite rebuilding his self-respect.

Crispin is so attractive because he is so human. He is flawed and talented and lost and strong all at once. And Westerson adds many small human touches that makes Crispin an even more realized character: throughout much of this book, for example, he suffers from a bad cold, just as we might. He meets old friends who have done better than he has and is bothered by feelings the memories stir up. He loses a dear friend and mentor and feels lost, while he continues to mentor young Jack Tucker by educating him in his letters as well as in the "tracking" trade. He worries about growing older in a world where the skills of battle he trained in are of no use to him. But to his credit, Crispin never confuses what might have been with where he is now.

Westerson takes this intriguing character and sets him into action against the background of medieval London. She incorporates historical figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer and various court figures,but since she created Crispin's background so skillfully, these characters fit the narrative flow, avoiding the "a cat may look at a king" nonsense that appears in a lot of historical fiction as milkmaids and traders and foot soldiers find themselves thrown in with royalty, etc.

Blood Lance is the fifth in a line of good reads, and I hope far from the last. I look forward to pre-ordering and reading the next in the series.