I am a fan of the Crispin Guest series and was anxiously awaiting the release of Troubled Bones. The books just keep getting better and better. Crispin Guest is back with his side kick Jack Tucker, the little thief that Crispin takes under his wing in Veil of Lies. Crispin has been summoned to Canterbury by the Archbishop. He is told that there is a Lollard plot a foot to steal the bones of St. Thomas and the Archbishop wants to protect the bones and to also root out any Lollards in their community. But when murder comes to the great Cathedral, Crispin feels he has failed in his duty. But do the murders have anything to do with the bones? Or are the pilgrims secrets the motive?

Jeri Westerson has been a lifelong fan of Chaucer, and it is really very clever how she has worked the characters from the Canterbury tales into the story line. Crispins friend Chaucer is soon in deep trouble and the vindictive Archbishop of Canterbury sees a way to strike out at his enemy the Duke of Lancaster through his friend and servant Geoffrey Chaucer. Crispin knows his friend could not have done this and is compelled to help; and in so doing more of his story is revealed, also his responsibility to a growing Jack becomes more defined.

Jeri Westerson is a gifted story teller and her love of the time period makes for a thoroughly enjoyable light mystery novel.

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This one didn't seem as dark as the last two in the series were. Plus, there wasn't any supernatural aspects to it. Well, that's not entirely correct, there was one instance.

It was a good story and Jack Turner was a great help to Crispin.

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Once again Crispin Guest, known as The Tracker, has been hired to solve a mystery. This one involves the bones of Thomas Beckett which rest at Canterbury. The bishop has received threats and believes that someone is going to steal the bones. Crispin is hired to guard the bones. Unfortunately, a prioress is murdered on his watch and the bones stolen. Crispin had fallen asleep and when he awoke he as struck by an unknown assailant. His charge: Recover the bones and find the murderer. Not an easy task.

When a second murder is committed and Crispin's best friend, Geoffrey Chaucer, is accused of the murders and heresy. He may well die for his beliefs.

As Crispin follows lead after lead to deadends he becomes frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the monks who hired him. And, his sidekick, Jack, has begun to believe that a curse is at work since the dead are descendants of those who killed Beckett. Gradually, piece by piece falls into place and he discovers that the missing bones have nothing to do with the murders.

I'd rate it 3.5 stars because I seem to have trouble getting into this author's work. It seemed to me that this novel even though it is better than the last one I read has so much conversation in the beginning that description and story line remain elusive. However, once I read more the story line developed and I quite enjoyed Troubled Bones. Perhaps, you will, too.

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