The Medieval Murderers
Mayhem, murder and medieval magic, that’s what is promised by the formation
of the Medieval Murderers, a group within the Crime Writers’ Association
which has banded together to speak at events up and down the country.
The Medieval Murderers are a mixed team which span probably the most
exciting periods of English history, but they also write in very different
styles and about the areas which inspired them. All rely on careful plotting
and detailed characterisation, but that’s only a part of their story.
Susanna Gregory, before taking up the pen, was a police officer. She changed
career and took a PhD at Cambridge, which spurred her interest in the
university’s history and led to her setting down on paper the Chronicles of
Matthew Bartholomew, a physician living in Cambridge in the period
immediately after the Black Death.
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Michael Jeckswas a computer salesman until beginning his Templar series.
Now he can finance his main interests: walking over Dartmoor, reading about
medieval England and daydreaming. His books describe life among the peasants
of Devon during the period of almost continual civil war under King Edward
II.
Michael Jecks - The Devil's Acolyte
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A little before him, historically, was Ian Morson, whose Falconer series
delighted him because at last instead of lending books to people while he
worked in the library service, he was able to earn money from people
borrowing his books! Now he lives and works in Cornwall, writing in a
variety of genres.
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Finally, in the late twelfth century, there is Bernard Knight, a prolific
writer of books and who also writes scripts for TV and radio. He has made
good use both of his fascination with the medieval system of Coroners, and
his own experience as a senior Home Office Pathologist and Professor of
Forensic Pathology, in his Crowner John series.
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This is the team. All successful writers in their own right, they give talks and sit as panels for libraries, clubs and associations - and speak to writing groups about getting into print and what the life of a modern writers is really like! They can also perform as a ‘reduced, medieval English murder company’, spanning two centuries in the space of an hour, including a coffee break!
All are committed to the support of the library service and helping schools motivate children to read and write.
For further information or requests for The Medieval Murderers to appear, please call Mike Jecks on 01 837 840 589. Alternatively, Email: Mike Jecks - mail@michaeljecks.co.uk. .