The Abbot's Agreement

By Mel Starr

'Hugh de Singleton is a delight... the well-crafted plot, the excellent period detail and the flashes of humour.' Donna Fletcher Crow, author of The Monastery Murders

"My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the crows. Whatever it was that the crows had found lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the crows were feasting upon. The corpse wore black."

Master Hugh is making his way towards Oxford when he discovers the young Benedictine - a fresh body, barefoot - not half a mile from the nearby abbey.

The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity: John, one of three novices. But he had gone missing four days previously, and his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death: the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh's sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him ...

A new and disturbing puzzle for the medieval surgeon-turned-sleuth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lion Fiction
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781782641100

Mel Starr

Mel Starr is the author of the successful Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton series. He was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, hetaught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years. Since retiring, he has focused on writing full time. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Book preview

My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the birds. But I am an inquisitive sort of man, and the noisy host caught my attention. It is said that curiosity killed the cat. It can prove hazardous for meddlesome bailiffs as well.

I was on the road near Eynsham, on my way to Oxford. I did not travel muddy autumn roads for pleasure, although I thought some joy might follow, but to seek an addition to my library. In the autumn of 1368 I owned five books: Surgery, by Henri de Mondeville; Categories, by Aristotle; Sentences, by Peter Lombard; De Actibus Animae, by Master Wyclif; and a Gospel of St. John which I had copied myself from a rented manuscript while a student at Baliol College.

I sought a Bible, if I could find a fair copy for no more than thirty shillings. Such a volume at that price would not be lavishly illuminated, but I cared more for the words upon the page than some monk’s artistry. If no such Bible was to be had, I would be content with a New Testament, or even a folio of St. Paul’s letters.

When I told my Kate of my intentions she demanded that Arthur accompany me to Oxford. A man traveling alone with thirty shillings in his purse would invite brigands to interrupt his journey, did they know or guess what he carried. Or even if they did not. Arthur is a groom in the service of Lord Gilbert Talbot. A sturdy man, he would make two of me, and has proven useful in past dealings with miscreants. He does not turn away from a tussle, and who would if they generally dispatch any foe? A felon who sought my coins would reconsider if he saw Arthur start for him with a cudgel in hand.

I am Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert Talbot on his manor at Bampton. I am the husband of Katherine, and father of Bessie, now nearly two years old, and, the Lord Christ merciful, will be father to a son, perhaps, shortly after Twelfth Night. Kate is well, so I have hope she will be delivered of our second child safely. Her father, Robert Caxton, is a stationer in Oxford, and ’twas to his shop I intended to go first. That was before I saw the birds.

The road had passed through a wood, then entered fields cultivated by tenants of Eynsham Abbey. No men were at work this day, or not where they could be seen. But within barns and kitchens men and women were at bloody labor, for Arthur and I traveled on Monday, the thirteenth day of November, the time when men slaughter those animals they will be unable to feed through the winter, so that the beasts will rather feed them.

A pair of crows, chattering magpies, and a flock of rooks perched in the bare branches of a large oak, cawing and occasionally flapping from their places to circle down to the ground near the base of the tree. As some birds left the tree, others rose from the earth to alight in the naked branches. This oak was at the very edge of a fallow field where a flock of the abbey’s sheep grazed, unconcerned about the raucous chorus above them. Sheep are not much concerned with anything, being dull creatures.

I reined my palfrey to a stop and gazed at the noisy birds some hundred and more paces distant. Arthur, who had been speaking of the return of plague and his own loss, fell silent and turned in his saddle to follow my gaze.

The man did not remain mute for long. Birds, he said. Somethin’ dead, I’d guess.

I thought the same, and said so. Whatever it is, I added, must be large. A dead coney would not attract so many.

Pig, maybe? Arthur said. Swineherds been settin’ their hogs to pannaging to fatten ’em up.

Could be, but would a pig-man not seek a lost hog before birds could find it?

Arthur shrugged. I dismounted and led my beast to a convenient hawthorn which grew beside the road and proclaimed its presence with many red berries. I tied the palfrey there and set off across the fallow field toward the birds. Arthur followed.

An old ewe raised her head, watched my approach suspiciously, then snorted and trotted away. The flock briefly hesitated, then followed.

Whatever it was that the birds had found lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the birds were feasting upon. And the corpse wore black, which aided the shadowy concealment.

I was but a few paces from the body when the last of the birds, perhaps more courageous than his companions, lifted his wings and flapped to safety in the branches above.

A man lay sprawled upon the fallen leaves, dressed in the black habit of a Benedictine. Whether he was old or young I could not tell, for the birds had peeled the flesh from his face nearly to the skull, after plucking out his eyes, which they love most of all. The monk’s nose and lips and cheeks were gone, and he grinned up at us while the birds protested our arrival from the limbs above us.

Holy mother of God, Arthur said, and crossed himself. What has happened here?

I spoke no answer, for I did not know. All that was sure was that a monk, likely of Eynsham Abbey, had died half a mile from his monastery and his corpse had gone undiscovered by all but birds.

The abbey must be informed of this, of course. I told Arthur to return to the road and his horse and hurry to the abbey. There he must tell the porter of our discovery and ask that the abbot or prior come to the place with all haste. I would remain with the dead monk, to keep the birds away, and to learn what I could of his demise.

The monk was not old. He wore no cowl, and I saw no grey hairs upon his scalp. He was not tonsured. Here was no monk, but a novice.

He lay upon his back, arms flung wide, palms up. The birds had been busy there as well. I stood and looked about the place. Few leaves remained upon the trees. Indeed, most had fallen some weeks past. If the corpse was dragged here from some other place the leaves might mark the path. But they lay undisturbed in all directions.

How long had the novice lain here? No fallen leaves covered the youth. But the squabbling birds might have brushed leaves aside. And how long would it take the scavengers to do the injury I saw before me? Not long, I guessed.

I examined the novice’s habit but saw there no mark or perforation or bloodstain which might betray a wound. Perhaps such a laceration was under the body. I would wait to turn the lad until folk from the abbey arrived.

My eyes fell upon the novice’s feet. They were bare, and the birds had not yet discovered his toes. Would he go about in November with unshod feet? Some monks might, seeking penance for a sinful thought or deed, but it seemed unlikely that a novice would do so. If the youth died of some illness or accident, I was not the first to find him. Some other man did, and took his shoes. If the novice was murdered, the man who slew him may have taken more than his life.

It was a loathsome business to turn the faceless head. I thought to see if the back of the novice’s skull might reveal some injury, as from a blow. I found nothing, and as I stood over the corpse I reflected that, if a man was felled by a blow from behind, he would likely fall face first into the leaves.

I heard agitated voices and turned to see Arthur leading half a dozen Benedictines toward me. When near the road they approached at a trot, their habits flapping about their ankles, but as they crossed the field and glimpsed what lay at my feet they hesitated.

Arthur, too, held back, and only one monk came close and stood with me, looking down at the body. He gazed down upon the mutilated features and said softly, ’Tis John.

This monk crossed himself as he spoke, and his fellows did likewise. I saw them exchange glances as they did so. I am not clever at reading faces, but it seemed to me I saw neither shock nor sorrow, merely acceptance of the fact.

Who are you? the monk asked.

I am Hugh de Singleton, bailiff to Lord Gilbert Talbot on his manor at Bampton.

Ah, Abbot Thurstan has spoken of you, and the business of Michael of Longridge and the scholar’s stolen books. When Abbot Thurstan heard this news he would have come, but he is aged and frail and I dissuaded him. We all knew who it must be that you have found here.

Who is it? I asked. You named him ‘John.’

’Tis John Whytyng, a novice of our house. I am Brother Gerleys, the novice-master at Eynsham Abbey. When your man told Stephen Porter of this death, and Abbot Thurstan was told, he sent me.

Had the lad been missing?

Four days. Abbot Thurstan thought he had returned to Wantage.

Wantage?

His father is a knight of that place.

John was not enthusiastic for his vocation? I asked.

Nay. Oh, he was quick enough at his lessons, and seemed to enjoy study. Perhaps too much. But he found no joy in silence and prayer and contemplation, I think.

Too much joy in his studies? What do you mean?

I mean that John was more interested in intellectual pursuits than the meditative life of a monk. The abbey has two other novices, Osbert and Henry. Neither is as clever as John… as John was.

Only three novices at Eynsham? I said.

"Aye. When I was a novice an abbot could pick and choose from lads whose fathers wished to find a place for them in a monastery. Younger sons who’d not inherit, and would have no lands… unless they wed a widow or the daughter of some knight who had no sons.

But now the great pestilence has come a third time, there is much land available, and a habit has less appeal than when I was a youth. John was a handsome lad. Maidens, I think, found him appealing. Although, he added, you’d not know it now.

And he enjoyed the company of a lass?

Aye. So I believe. There is no opportunity within monastic walls to observe whether or not this is so, but he was often incautious when he spoke of fair maids.

Did you send word to his father at Wantage when he disappeared?

The novice-master shook his head. "To what purpose? He was not happy with us, and he’d not be the first novice to reject a calling. We assumed he’d gone home, and that his father would send us word of where he was.

What has caused this death? Brother Gerleys asked. Your man told me that you are trained as a surgeon.

I cannot tell.

The pestilence, you think? Two of our house have been struck down since Lammastide… although none since Michaelmas. We pray daily the sickness has passed. We are now but fourteen monks and thirty-two lay brothers. If plague takes any more we shall not have enough to continue, I fear.

I awaited your arrival to turn the corpse, so you might see it as we found it. I see no sign of struggle or wound; nor is there any sign that the pestilence killed him.

Very well, then.

I knelt beside the body to roll it so as to expose the back. No monk stepped forward to aid me, and when Arthur saw their hesitation he did so in their stead. A moment later the cause of John Whytyng’s death was evident. So I thought.

In his back the novice had suffered several stab wounds. I counted three perforations in his habit. The novice-master saw these also.

Stabbed, he said softly.

I looked down upon the fallen leaves which the corpse had covered, then knelt again to examine the decaying vegetation which had lain directly under the wounds. I stirred the leaves gently, but did not find what I sought.

What is it? Brother Gerleys asked.

There is no blood here. No clots of blood upon his habit, nor upon the ground. If he died here his blood would have soaked the leaves, but there is none. There has been no rain these past four days to wash blood away, and even had there been the lad’s body would have shielded any bloodstains from the wet.

I touched the dead novice’s habit and felt some moisture there. Indeed, the wool was nearly as wet as if he had a day or so earlier been drawn from a river. I lifted the edge of one of the cuts in the wool of his garment. The wound was also clean. Little blood stained either flesh or habit.

What does this mean? Brother Gerleys said.

He died elsewhere, I think, then was moved to this place.

The monk looked about him, then spoke. Why here, I wonder? He was not well hidden, and so close to the road and abbey it was sure he would be found.

Aye, I agreed. Which may mean that whoso slew him did not much care if the novice was found, so long as the corpse was not discovered in the place where the murder was done.

How long has he lain here, you think?

I cannot tell, I shrugged. But there is perhaps a way to discover this.

Brother Gerleys peered at me with a puzzled expression, so I explained my thoughts.

Abbey tenants and villeins would have butchered many pigs in the past days. I had in mind that the novice-master obtain a severed boar’s head and set it upon the forest floor somewhere near this place. Then he could daily visit the skull and learn how long it would take birds to find and devour the flesh to the same extent as the injury they had done to the novice. Brother Gerleys nodded his head, agreeing to the plan.

Two of the monks who accompanied the novice-master had carried with them a pallet. Brother Gerleys motioned to them and they set the frame beside the corpse and rolled the body onto it. This left John’s mutilated, eyeless face upraised again to the sky. One of the monks saw this and retched violently into the leaves. I sympathized. The novice’s ruined countenance brought bile to my own throat.

I knelt beside the corpse again, and touched the black wool of the habit. It was dry, or nearly so. Why was the back of the garment so damp? Dew would wet the upper side of the habit, I thought.

I, Arthur, and Brother Gerleys led the way back to the road and the horses. The monks, of course, had come afoot to the place.

Your man, Brother Gerleys said, told me that you were bound for Oxford when you saw the birds and found John.

Aye. This business has delayed us, but we will still be there by nightfall if we do not dally.

Abbot Thurstan asked that you call upon him. He wishes to know what befell John.

I cannot tell. But you might do as I suggest with a pig’s head and that may tell you how long past the novice was left in the wood.

Abbot Thurstan was an ancient fellow. He was elected to his position when the pestilence struck down Abbot Nicholas nearly twenty years past. It was no longer necessary for the monk to be tonsured fortnightly. He had but a wispy fringe of hoary hairs circling his skull above his ears.

I left Arthur to water the horses and followed Brother Gerleys to the abbot’s chamber while other monks took John Whytyng’s corpse to rest before the church altar.

The abbot’s chamber door was open when we approached, Abbot Thurstan dictating a letter to his clerk. The aged monk saw our shadows darken his door and looked toward us. As he did so I heard the sacrist ring the passing bell.

The abbot swayed to his feet as Brother Gerleys announced my presence. It took some effort for the abbot to do this, and I was cognizant of the honor. An abbot need not rise from his chair when a mere bailiff calls upon him.

Abbot Thurstan coughed, looked from me to the novice-master, then spoke. It was John? he said.

Aye, Brother Gerleys replied.

The abbot crossed himself and sat heavily. I thought as much. A clever lad, with much to recommend him, taken, but the Lord Christ leaves me here.

I thought to myself that the Lord Christ had little to do with the novice’s death, but held my tongue.

Was it the pestilence? the abbot continued.

Brother Gerleys looked to me.

Nay, I said. The lad was struck down by a dagger in the back.

Abbot Thurstan was silent for a time, then replied, I would not wish for any man to die of plague. I have seen the agony in which the afflicted die. But I had hoped that the death was not the work of some other man’s hand. When plague first visited this house nearly twenty years past I saw Brother Oswalt try to rise from his bed and flee the infirmary, thinking he could escape his torment if he could leave the abbey. I thought perhaps John, crazed by pain, might have done likewise.

Had the youth given sign that he was ill? I asked.

Nay, Brother Gerleys said.

The pestilence can slay a man quickly, the abbot said, but so will a blade.

I wish you success in discovering the felon, I said.

The abbot looked from his clerk to the novice-master and then to me. I remember, he said, when you discovered ’twas a brother of this house who stole Master Wyclif’s books. We have no man so skilled at sniffing out felons.

Has Eynsham no bailiff or constable?

A bailiff. But Richard is nearly as old as me. He sees little and hears less. He is competent for the mundane duties of a bailiff, but seeking a murderer will be beyond his competence.

I saw the direction this conversation was taking and sought to deflect its path.

I am bound for Oxford, I said, and hope to arrive before nightfall. The days grow short, so I need to be on my way.

I am sorry to delay your travel. The abbot coughed again. You have business in Oxford?

I intend to make a purchase there, and then return promptly to Bampton. My wife will give birth to our second child soon after Twelfth Night and I do not wish for her to be alone any longer than need be.

Ah… certainly. But, I saw in his eyes that the elderly monk’s mind was working, could you not spare us a few days to sort out this calamity? Surely your purchase can wait, and there is a midwife of Eynsham who could be sent to Bampton to attend your wife ’till this matter is settled. I will pay the woman from abbey funds. What is it you wish to obtain in Oxford?

A Bible.

Ah, Lord Gilbert must regard your service highly.

He is liberal with wages to those whose service he values, I agreed.

As am I. In our scriptorium there are many brothers who are accomplished with pen and ink. Brother Robert and Brother Bertran are particularly skilled. The abbey has no important commissions just now. If you will set yourself to discovering the murderer among us I will put the scriptorium to work upon a Bible. Abbot Thurstan coughed heavily again. You will have it by St. John’s Day, or soon thereafter.

The youngest son of a minor Lancashire knight, as I am, learns frugality at an early age. I have become modestly prosperous, but not so that I would willingly forgo the saving of thirty shillings. I stood silently before the abbot, as if considering his offer, but I knew already that I would accept.

If I am unable to discover the murderer, what then?

The Lord Christ, the abbot said, "commands only that we strive to do His will. He does not demand that we always succeed. So I ask only for your best effort. If you give the abbey that it will suffice. You will receive your Bible.

I will command all who live in the abbey, monks and lay brothers, that they are to assist you in whatever way you need. The abbot’s frail shoulders were once again wracked with deep coughs.

Very well. But I must return to Bampton to tell my Kate of this alteration in my plans. When will you send the woman to keep my wife company ’til this matter can be resolved? And will she accept your commission?

Agnes is a widow, and since the pestilence too few babes are born in Eynsham to provide her a livelihood. She is unlikely to refuse my offer. I will send her tomorrow.

So it was that Arthur and I returned to Bampton that day, and I spent the evening sitting upon a bench before the hearth with my Kate, considering who might wish to slay a novice and why they would do so.

My employer, Lord Gilbert Talbot, had departed Bampton three days after Michaelmas, bound for Goodrich Castle. He traveled only with his children. Lady Petronilla had died in the late spring. The pestilence has claimed several others in Bampton and the Weald since then.

I pray each evening that the curse would spare my house and family. And as of November the Lord Christ has seen fit to honor my plea. Others have surely made the same request, but death visited their houses anyway. Is the Lord Christ more pleased with me than with others who have seen spouses and children die? This cannot be, for no man outside a monastery is more saintly than Hubert Shillside, but his wife died in great agony a fortnight before Lammastide.

It is Lord Gilbert’s custom to spend each winter at Goodrich, leaving Bampton Castle in September, while roads are yet firm. Although he mourned Lady Petronilla’s death, he saw no reason to change his practice. So I, his bailiff in Bampton, was left to see to the manor and castle in his absence. Most of his retainers – knights, squires, pages, valets, and grooms – departed with him, leaving but a few grooms and pages under my authority to maintain the fabric.

I had looked forward to a peaceful winter, with but three concerns: one common to all Englishmen – keeping warm; the others, that my Kate be safely delivered of a healthy babe, and that the pestilence leave Bampton with no more deaths. Perhaps a woodcutter might mistake his toes for a log, or some man slip and fall upon the ice come January, but generally winter is a peaceful time, when men do not seek a surgeon’s services, and would, as in any season, prefer to avoid a bailiff’s attention.

Arthur is one of Lord Gilbert’s grooms, who remains at Bampton Castle when

Reviews for The Abbot's Agreement

[medievalgirl-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5-4 stars

It’s been eighteen months or so since I read my last Hugh de Singleton novel, and I have to admit, despite some of the (entirely legitimate) comments made by other reviewers, this was one of my personal favourites.
Provided expectations are not placed too high, its generally quite good- of course there is no high drama, political intrigue, and little in the way of real action or tension, but this is not something the series generally contains.
Those expecting such things (or a series to the level of another Cadfael) may be disappointed. The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton are a more slow-paced with the occasional foray into Medieval Medicine and surgery which I for one appreciate as someone personally fascinated with the subject.

I personally enjoyed the descriptions of life in and the working of a medieval Benedictine monastery, some of the other descriptions of social life, the impact of the Black Death and the exploration of some of the religious beliefs and ideas of the period. The story did perhaps drag a little in places, and Hugh is certainly not the sharpest tool in the barn, but generally the story was compelling enough that I wanted to read on. There is something endearing about Dear Hugh, despite his occasional failings a sleuth, and even Arthur, his burly bodyguard.

My only major gripe in terms of the plot-line was a serious contradiction given about the evidence of the night the murder was committed. Without meaning to give too much away it was early on stated that there was no moon on that night- and later that there was a full moon and a cloudless sky allowing persons to see clearly. This is not presented as an error, or seemingly even remembered, and for mystery buffs, might be considered a heinous fax pas- and perhaps the solution was a little obvious. Yet for all that, those seeking a ‘light’ mystery with sound historical content, or a clean read with a Christian flavour may be satisfied.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

[victoriajz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an Early Reviewer book and enjoyed it quite a bit. I had not known of Mel Starr or his Singleton series, but even after several months [my review being late], the book stays with me. The story here is intriguing and the character of Hugh is likable and interesting. What I liked most about the book was the reality of the investigative methods used. After all, we are in medieval England and deciding the time of death or the circumstances takes observational skill and deduction. Which is what de Singleton has. I also enjoyed the mix of the venal and decent religious persons and other characters. How no person is precisely one type or another. This was a good introduction to Starr's works and I'll be reading more.

[aya8herron · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Things are not as they should be at tranquil Eynsham Abbey. On his way to Oxford, Hugh de Singleton, surgeon, happens upon the mutilated body of a young Benedictine novice. At the nearby abbey, Hugh learns of a lad who has been missing for four days. Upon further examination of the body, Hugh discovers 'twas not the plague that did him in, but murder. To Hugh's dismay, the abbot commissions him to uncover the culprit in exchange for a Bible. Although the abbot only asks for his best effort, Hugh soon questions his decision to accept. The investigation takes several complicated twists and turns as Hugh seeks a killer and uncovers a sinister secret hidden within Eynsham Abbey.The Bottom Line: The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon are one of my favorite mystery series. In the 7th installment, Hugh's character continues to evolve as both his family and his responsibilities grow. Like the previous books, this is written in the first person in the form of a journal. This quick read touches on darker topics than previous books, and author Mel Starr includes plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing. My only complaint is that this installment is too short; I'm already looking forward to the next one. Readers of medieval mysteries and Christian fiction will want to give this series a try. Those new to the series will find ample backstory included without having to read the books in order. A glossary of medieval terms and maps are included.

[michigantrumpet_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A chilly Autumn 1368 in Bampton, England finds surgeon and bailiff, Hugh de Singleton, happily contemplating his possible acquisition of a Bible, soon to expand his library to six(!) books. Sadly, his journey to an Oxford bookseller is soon disrupted by the foul discovery of the corpse of a young man. It takes little to determine the unfortunate young man had been a novice at a nearby Abbey. What remains -- at Abbot Thurstan's request -- is to discovery the identity of the loathesome murderer. Does evil lurk within the Abbey .... Or without? A fast moving mystery, replete with ample Medieval detail and vocabulary. There is a handy glossary for those unfamiliar with terms such as 'reredorter' and 'pannaging.' This is the seventh in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, but do not be put off if this is your first introduction to the series. I haven't read the other, it had no trouble picking up with the action. An enjoyable read.

[mizroady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I cannot get enough of Mel Starr! His books are amazing! Sometimes writer’s books will be extremely similar in many ways, but not Mr. Starr. Each book I have read is so varied in the plot and characters, plus there is always something new I learn historically. It is like historical lessons about the 1300’s and super entertaining murder mysteries rolled into one! I am absolutely fascinated by Master Hugh’s practice of medicine during that time, and also challenging aspects of day to day living. It is obvious the author has done his research with his vivid descriptions and the detailed imaginary he brings to life through his writing. I appreciate especially how clean and wholesome his books are. Master Hugh plans to make a quick trip from his home in Bampton to Oxford to buy himself Bible he had long wanted. The only other Scripture he had was the book of John which he had copied by hand. He had 30 shillings with which to purchase it which would be the equivalent to over $800 today! Incredible considering most homes now have a minimum of 1 -3 Bibles. Arthur, the Sylvester Stallone of grooms, was going with him for protection. Hugh especially wanted to hurry back as his wife was expecting their second child soon.As they near an Abbey his attention is drawn to a large group of noisy birds feasting on something. He and Arthur stop to investigate and make a gruesome discovery. A novice from the Abbey lay dead and his face destroyed beyond recognition by the hungry fowl. After reporting the body to the Abbey, Hugh is ready to continue on his journey. Abbot Thrustan is weak and frail, and very persuasive. Knowing of Master Hugh’s skills he asks him to find the murderer. He offers to pay for and send a midwife to stay with Hugh’s wife Kate and also to give him a Bible for free. The latter Master Hugh and his pocket book can’t refuse.While medicine, science and crime investigation in this era are minimal, Hugh Singleton more than compensates by making astute use of every faculty at his disposal. Even upon finding the body he was paying close attention to clues others would miss. He was a shrewd judge of character and could discern body language and attitudes of others with astonishing accuracy. His keen sense of humor and sharp mind bring the story even more to life. Anxious to collect his Bible and return home, he is discouraged by the lack of clues and the few leads he does have coming to a dead end. I even shared in his disappointments and even began to wonder how he would ever solve this murder. As his investigation progresses he not only finds himself and Arthur in danger, but uncovers even greater hidden crimes. Every time I was sure I knew who was guilty, new evidence would appear and the plot would change! Until reading this book I knew little about the lives of monks in medieval England. I found it quite intriguing and never realized how restrictive and ritualistic their abbey life was. One of my favorite parts of the book was Hugh’s primitive practice of medicine; it is always a different medical situation. Once again I was surprised the striking difference between healing then and today. I can’t imagine suffering as people did with so little to help them. This book is filled with excitement, mystery, surprises, history, and faith. An exceptional book written by one of the best historical fiction writers of our time!I received this book free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[sarah_bailey-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As I sit and look at my bookshelves I see all the Bibles that I own, KJV, ESV, NKJV, NIV and so on so when Hugh’s latest chronicle starts it reminds it hasn’t always been so easy or inexpensive to own a Bible – as Hugh is setting out to buy at least a New Testament and if not that, then at least those written by Paul. Of course, he and Arthur become side tracked with the sighting of birds overhead which tells Hugh that there is something dead, he sets off to find a young novice who has been murdered. The Abbot makes a deal – find who did the murder and Hugh will get his Bible as payment. I’ve read the others (not the 1st and 2nd, yet) in this series and I think this has been my favorite so far, it was truly a page turner and kept me up late reading, which kept my mind from other things. The whodunit isn’t easily figured out, at least it wasn’t for me, and I enjoyed that – just when I thought Hugh and I had figured it out there was another twist to the plot that threw us both off course.Of course I also enjoy the historical aspect of the story and the medical complexities that met Hugh as he traveled around trying to find a murderer. Hugh is ahead of his time in things like letting wounds open to the air instead of keeping them covered for best healing. Of course, there is the descriptions of food, which at times doesn’t add to the plot but I think makes the story much more realistic.The other part of the book I enjoyed was the discussion between the dying Abbot (who knew one could die from a broken hip) and Hugh about purgatory and why would we need that to cleanse us when Christ already completed the work? This of course has the archdeacon labeling Hugh a heretic and he is arrested. I won’t give away much more about the book because honestly if you enjoy medieval history, historical or just a good clean (meaning no cussing, s**, etc) mystery then this is a great book.**I was given a copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mel Starr never ceases to impress. His 7th book in The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, The Abbot’s Agreement, just might be his best novel yet. Starr is the master of creating a puzzling mystery set in Medieval England. I highly recommend this book for lovers of mystery fiction, whatever the setting.Hugh de Singleton, bailiff for Lord Gilbert Talbot, is on his way to purchase a Bible in Oxford. Accompanying him is the loyal and physically dominating groom, Arthur, a handy person to have while traveling the roads of England in the 14th century. But before they travel very far, they discover the remains of a novice at the local abbey, and the old and frail Abbott persuades Hugh with the promise of a free Bible to stay and find the felon. Hugh, ever mindful of his growing family and his decreasing purse, agrees.There is a lot to love about Starr’s mystery series. His characters are always believable and well-drawn. Hugh is especially complex. An intelligent man, bound by the culture and wisdom of his day, he endeavors to find truth in his cases and also in his understanding of God and man. Medieval England comes to life as seen through Hugh’s first person narrative. Hugh may be constrained by the limited scientific knowledge of he day, but he makes up for it with his wit and inventiveness. In The Abbot’s Agreement, Hugh cleverly discovers the how and where of the crime, yet the who and why remain a mystery. In this, human behavior becomes the main focus of the investigation.Master Hugh is also a man of deep faith. He longs to read the Bible for himself, rather than having others tell him what it says. His study of the Scripture leads him to an understanding that bordered on what those of his day believed heretical. I loved Hugh’s explanation of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, an idea that many today struggle with as well. Other heretical ideas are also explored — ideas that still seem alive and well in today’s modern world.While The Abbot’s Agreement can be read as a standalone, I recommend that you start at the beginning. Hugh is a wonderful character and this mystery series is one of the best I have read.Highly Recommended.Audience: Adults.(Thanks to Kregel and Lion Hudson for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[sarahss-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Abbot’s Agreement is from Mel Starr’s Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton. Actually it is the 7th book, which I did not realize. (I try not to choose a book from the middle of a series. I feel that there is normally a sense of loss not starting from the beginning with the characters and seeing them grow through their experiences.) I did not have time to read the first six before ;) , but the book worked out as my first book from The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton. There was a few small references that I assumed were from Master Hugh’s previous adventures written in the other chronicles.The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton series is set in medieval England with the main character of Hugh de Singleton, a surgeon and bailiff to Lord Gilbert. The Abbot’s Agreement starts out with Hugh traveling to Oxford to purchase a Bible. He travels with Arthur, a groom in the service of Lord Gilbert. (From my reading of this book I also assume that Arthur has been involved in the other adventures.) The body of a young novice from the nearby Eynsham Abbey is found on their journey and changes Hugh’s plans dramatically. The abbot from the abbey asked Hugh to look in to the crime in exchange for the brothers to make him his Bible. …Is this agreement worth it?! Mel Starr includes a glossary at the beginning of the book just in case his readers aren’t familiar with the medieval terms. I read through it before I started the novel to give me a little bit of background information. I have not read any books set in the medieval times! However, I found it very tedious to go back and forth while I was reading the story. Therefore I stopped using it for the most part and I was able to follow the story and enjoy it. I did get lost in some of the titles and names. I enjoyed seeing how Master Hugh investigated a crime in this time period, without all the technology of today. My favorite part of the book was the humorous exchanges between Hugh and Arthur when Arthur “helped” a with a couple guys who weren’t as cooperative!! While it was an interesting and entertaining read, I’m not sure I will check out the beginning of the chronicles. Maybe later…right now I would rather read a book in a setting that is easier for me to step into as a reader.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[19anne44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an Early Reviewer.This book is the seventh in the "Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon' none of which I had read before, but this book did not require prior knowledge of the series to follow the plot and appreciate the character of Hugh. Occasional mentions of events in earlier books made me want to go back to read them. Hugh, who is the surgeon and bailiff of Lord Gilbert Talbot, is on his way to Oxford with his servant, Arthur, when circling crows cause him to investigate their interest only to discover a novice monk who has been stabbed to death. Arthur is sent to notify the monks at the closest Benedictine monastery of Eynsham Abbey. The Abbot requests Hugh, with Lord Gilbert's permission, to find the murderer and promises that his monks will copy a Bible for Hugh in return.Why was the murdered novice outside the Abbey at night when he should not have left the abbey or even had a key? In the process of investigating Hugh interviews the local townspeople and travels further afield, at some risk to himself, to the novice's family home.Something else is very wrong in the Abbey and when the elderly Abbot is pushed and falls finding the murderer becomes part of a larger and more urgent problem which affects the very existence of the Abbey.There is a very helpful glossary at the beginning of the book as well as a map of Eynsham Abbey. I would recommend this book, and probably the whole series, to historical fiction lovers especially those who enjoy medieval historical novels.

[bug_girl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via the LT Early Reviewer Program.I've read several other books in this series, so I was excited to get the next one free! This one is a bit different--most of the action takes place inside a monastery, so...well. It's a bit more "what did he know and when did he know it" rather than fast-pacing and adventure.These are first person mysteries set in 1300s, and the author lets you see the clues clearly before letting the narrator come to the conclusions. That's fun if you like to try to puzzle things out yourself; there are some annoying narrative spoilers, though. Religion is a major theme in the book (duh), which can read as a bit heavy handed to a modern reader that isn't terribly devout. A nice solid little medieval mystery in a decent series. A quick read, and nice diversion. Note that women are pretty much absent in this novel, other than something to fight over.

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just received the first book The Unquiet Bones a couple weeks before this one to read for review. So I've read the 1st and 7th book and I have to say this looks to be a very good series. I can't wait to read the other 5 books!Hugh is on his way to Oxford to buy a Bible when he spots crows on the edge of a field. He discovers it's a novice from the nearby monastery. The Abbot persuades Hugh to find the culprit. The Abbot offers to have a Bible copied for him as payment. It is a hefty fee and so Hugh accepts. He does have second thoughts when he is accused of being a heretic and was arrested.Hugh travels the countryside trying to find the murderer and follows a few false trails. Great book can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[lostinalibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas had I not seen the birds. But I am an inquisitive sort of man, and the noisy host caught my attention... It is said that curiosity killed the cat. It can prove hazardous for meddlesome bailiffs as well."It is the year 1368 and Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff, is on the road near Eynsham, heading to Oxford where he hopes to purchase a Bible. However, when he discovers the body of a young Benedictine monk and the abbot of the nearby Abbey asks him to investigate, how can he refuse especially when he is offered a Bible as payment.He soon discovers that things are not what they seem or should be at the Abbey. When the abbot falls or is pushed down the stairs and Hugh is accused of heresy, he has only a few days to disprove the claim and find the killer if he is to escape prison or worse. But the further he searches for answers, the more clear it becomes that there are many in the Abbey who do not want this particular mystery solved.The Abbot’s Agreement is the seventh in the Hugh de Singleton series by author Mel Starr. It is a well-written and well-researched portrayal of the period. The pace is rather slow and there is very little action which many might find off-putting but, for anyone who is more interested in the historical rather than the mystery side of the novel (and I include myself here), this is a fascinating look at life in the Middle Ages.

[mitchma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another installment with our Everyman hero Hugh de Singleton. Hugh is journeying to Oxford to purchase his own copy of the Bible; however, he and traveling companion Arthur discover the bird-ravaged body of a novice from the local abbey. Abbot Thurstan entreats Hugh to forego his journey to Oxford and investigate the murder in return for his own monk-produced copy of the Bible. When Hugh accepts, his troubles are just beginning. What circumstances caused the murder of the arrogant novice? Was it romantic intrigue or political intrigue? Will Hugh be able to complete his investigation, or will he be held in prison or worse for heresy?

[kaulsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It wasn't the best or most novel fiction (really stretching to get in that pun), but I will probably read another in the Hugh de Singleton series. The author, Mel Starr, is a retired history professor. I lend credence, therefore, to the vocabulary he presents and to the life and times he sets his characters alight in.Most of his characters were flat and one-dimensional. But the two on-going characters (Hugh and Arthur) were well rounded. I'm sure each volume in the series will add traits until they become my friends.