I won this book from the GoodReads first reads program.

[b: Blood Lance|7539750|The Blood Lance|Craig Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328693453s/7539750.jpg|9806493] is the fifth book in the Crispin Guest series. Having read this book without reading the rest of the series, I can confidently state that it reads fairly well on its own. Previous books plots are delved into only briefly, and with ample explanation to allow a new reader time to understand the context. While it would have been nice to have read up to this point, it isn't fully necessary to do so.

The mystery is fairly solid, the characters intriguing, and the history of the time decently thorough. It was a delight to see the world brought into sharp relief in a way my (limited) reading of historical fiction commonly has failed to do. Knights were as corrupt as any other class, though they're commonly put on a pedestal. The issue of PTSD in a knight, and his attempts to reconcile it, were also quite well done, I felt.

In the end, I felt the book could have been a bit tighter. The mystery was easy to solve in some respects, and for that I felt a lower rating was necessary. The clues were too obvious, though the fact that Crispin knew the answer and wrestled with it made up for that to a minor degree. The historical aspect was good, but a bit more background may have helped set the context of the story better in regards to the upcoming War of the Roses. ( )

Great book - loved the ending! ( )

Stubborn, honourable and fallible--that Crispin, endearing and true!

It's London 1836. Trudging home in the dank mist of a moonlit night Crispin Guest attempts to rescue a man he witnesses falling into the Thames. The man's death turns from an apparent suicide to murder. Once again The Tracker turns his keen eye towards solving the mystery. Friends from the past appear, Lancaster is abroad, Geoffrey Chaucer is involved and power struggles swirl as a special council is appointed by Parliament to investigate King Richard's expenditure.
Once again a relic is involved. This time it is 'The Spear of Longinus, the Holy Lance; the spear that pierced the side of our Lord...on the cross.' It was believed to make the user invincible. As the Lord Abbot Nicolas says to Crispin, 'You have come to me...asking about this relic and that, ..Haven't you ever pondered why the Almighty has graced you with their care?'
And surely this is a question for us to ponder about Crispin beyond the measure of this tale.
Another exciting, reflective tale of this knight turned investigator, always on the edge of poverty, and his endearing sidekick Jack. And of those friends who surround him in The Shambles, ever offering assistance and care.
A great read and as always I am enamoured of Crispin and have already preordered the next novel, Shadow of the Alchemist: A Medieval Noir. ( )

Nice historical mystery; ( )

Another tale of the adventures of Crispin Guest and Jack Tucker. After seeing a body fall from a window into the Thames, Crispin and Jack become involved in an investigation of the murder, a search for a relic and defence of an old freind's honour. Entertaining and enjoyable as always. ( )