Bernard Knight
Hardback
Clipper Audio
(2005) |
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The Witch Hunter
Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-doll is discovered hidden under the man’s saddle, a spike driven through its heart...
More details at http://www.wfhowes.co.uk
‘Detection and suspense arc combined n’itli Historical authenticity’ Daily Mail
9 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 13 hrs
Produced by Clipper Audio
Hardback
Clipper Audio
(2003) |
 |
Fear In The Forest
June 1195. A tall, brown mare gallops into the sleepy village of Sigford, its rider dragged by the stirrup, the broken shaft of an arrow protruding from his back. The embroidered badge on the dead man’s tunic identifies him as a senior officer of the Royal Forest. But with plenty of money still in the victim’s purse, the motive is a mystery. When a second forest officer is violently attacked, County Coroner Sir John de Wolfe begins to uncover evidence of a sinister conspiracy. And why is his unscrupulous brother-in-law, the sheriff Sir Richard de Revelle, taking such an interest in the case?
More details at http://www.wfhowes.co.uk
'Crowner John is a splendid character, full of imperfections and faults, but ultimately the triumphing hero ‘of the piece’ London Evening Standard
11 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 14 hrs
Hardback
Clipper Audio
(2003) |
|
The Tinner's Corpse
Crowner John is summoned to investigate the murder of a tin miner. The victim worked for Devon’s most powerful and successful mine owner, Walter Knapman. There seems to be only one motive - to .sabotage Walter’s business. But the tinners have their own laws, and they are none too pleased at Crowner John’s interference. How on earth can Crowner John sort all this out when his own life is in turmoil?
More details at http://www.wfhowes.co.uk
`Detection and suspense are combined with historical authenticity’ Daily Mail
8 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 11 hrs 30 mins
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Audio Tape Clipper Audio (2003) |
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The Grim Reaper
May 1195, and Sir John de Wolfe is called upon to unravel the mystery of a series of murders. A Jewish money-lender, a London harlot, a dissolute priest and a burgess suspected of abusing young boys, are all brutally slain. The common factor is a Biblical text, left at each murder scene, which reflects the alleged sin of the victim. So the killer must be literate and Bible-learned, and in an age where only one percent of the population can read or write this can only mean one thing. The murderer is a priest.
More details at http://www.wfhowes.co.uk
9 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 12 hrs
About The Author
In His Own Words…
Forensic pathologist, barrister and writer, born and spent most of life in Cardiff.
Started life as a farmer, then a hospital laboratory technician, then a medical student. Qualified in 1954, was a regular Army doctor in Malaya for three years during the terrorist Emergency (in a hospital like MASH!) Started forensic pathology in 1959 with Dr Francis Camps in London, became a Home Office pathologist in 1965. Called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1966. Retired in 1996 as Professor of Forensic Pathology in University of Wales, Cardiff.
Consultant to Amnesty, went on missions to Uganda to examine torture victims and to Kuwait at the end of the Gulf War to investigate atrocities. Received the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic pathology.
Now a private forensic consultant, involved in cases all over the world, such as the Vatican banker, Roberto Calvi exhumation a few months ago.
Was the pathologist who recovered all twelve bodies in the Fred West case in Gloucester in 1994.
Began writing as a medical student, was editor of the student magazine, The Leech. Wrote first detective novel in 1961, The Lately Deceased publ. Herbert Jenkins. Then a string of others, Mistress Murder, Russian roulette, Policeman's Progress, Tiger At Bay, Thread of Evidence for Robert Hale and several in Welsh. Numerous foreign language editions.
Wrote non-fiction popular medical books, Murder, Suicide or Accident (Hale) about forensic pathology and Discovering the Human Body, an illustrated history of anatomy and physiology ( Lippincott and Heinemann) Turned to historical novels in '70s, about 12th century Wales, called Lion Rampant and Madoc, Prince of America.
In 1977 wrote biography of Milton Helpern, famous Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, went into five editions and foreign translations.
Turned to radio and television drama, numerous radio plays for BBC and scripts for BBC & ITV, especially S4C. Wrote story-lines for The Expert series for BBCTV, with Marius Goring - then wrote link novel The Expert for Sphere. Wrote scripts for and was technical advisor to District Nurse, Bergerac, etc. Also written ten textbooks of forensic medicine and pathology between 1972 and 1996, including the most widely-used standard textbook in UK, USA and Japan - books mostly published by Arnold (Hodder), Churchill, Blackwells etc. Most recent book (1998) was Lawyers Guide to Forensic Medicine (Cavendish).
Now writing the Crowner John series of historical mysteries for Simon & Schuster's Pocketbooks. Based on the first coroner for Devon in 1194, as I am very interested in and have lectured and written on, the origins of the English coroner and of the much older Chinese coroner - have lectured on the latter in China and Hong Kong.
Three Crowner John novels so far, The Sanctuary Seeker & The Poisoned Chalice (1998) and Crowner's Quest (1999). Contracted for three more, the first to be The Awful Secret early next year. BBC are negotiating for a radio play based on Crowner John.
Bibliography
N.B. dates and publishers in dark red indicate British First Editions. Dates and publishers in black indicate recent reprints.
The Witch Hunter
(Clipper Audio,
2005)
Feb 05
Fear In The Forest
(Clipper Audio,
2003)
The Tinner's Corpse
(Clipper Audio,
2003)
The Grim Reaper
(Clipper Audio,
2003)
The Witch Hunter
by Bernard Knight
