A Thomas the falconer mystery
1 primary work • 4 total works
Book 4
In the year 1592, a series of terrible murders is spreading fear across the remote West Berkshire Downs. It is Thomas the Falconer who discovers the connection: all the dead men once sat on an inquest jury. But who is now targeting the former jurymen? And why is the High Sheriff taking such an interest? There are certainly some odd characters on the Downs this springtime, including a flamboyant travelling showman, whom Thomas befriends; and the arrogant mapmaker Christopher Mead, who is assisted by his beautiful daughter Grace. But after a while, even Grace's behaviour arouses Thomas's suspicions...In this, his fourth mystery, Thomas must match wits with a most cunning and elusive adversary. Only after a desperate struggle on the wild downlands is justice finally done, and peace restored once again...
In the turbulent year of 1586, a murder on the Berkshire Downs draws Thomas Finbow, falconer to the wealthy Sir Robert Vicary, away from the peaceful shire he loves. He finds himself on a trail of danger and intrigue, desperately trying to fathom the mystery surrounding his beloved mistress, Lady Margaret. His investigations lead him to the murky, seething underworld of Elizabethan London, where nothing is as it seems. Soon Thomas' own life is in jeopardy as he digs deeper, breaching the rigid barriers of class and risking everything he has. Finally he must pit himself against one of the most dangerous men in England. Death seems bound to result.
In the summer of 1590, Thomas is sent to help Sir Giles Buckridge train a wild - "ramage" - hawk. But the hawk disappears, as does Sir Giles's eldest daughter, Jane, and Thomas is set on her trail. It is thought that Jane may have fled to her cousin, Lady Euphemia, so Thomas calls on her, only to get caught up in still more trouble. Lady Euphemia's house has been torn to pieces, even the ground has been dug up, by a pair of mysterious, ruthless men. Thomas finds himself becoming privy to some dangerous information. And though he doesn't know exactly what the robbers were after, he works out where it is. When it emerges that they are searching for a hoard of Spanish ducats, originally pilfered from under the nose of Sir Francis Drake, the fortunes of Sir Giles and his daughter waver nailbitingly in the balance.