The Abbot's Agreement plunges you in the the troubles and turmoils of the 14th century England with a compelling mystery, rich historical detail and all the heavy atmosphere of a medieval world in transition.

In this 7th book in Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton Series, the surgeon-sleuth is making his way towards Oxford when he discovers the young Benedictine not half a mile from the nearby abbey.

"My life would have been more tranquil in the days after Martinmas," he recounts, "if l had I not seen the crows. Whatever it was that the crows had found, lay in the dappled shadow of the bare limbs of the oak, so I was nearly upon the thing before I recognized what the crows were feasting upon. The corpse wore black."

The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity; it is John, one of three novices. He had gone missing four days previously, and yet his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death - the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh's sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him.

Continue the series in the company of this master of both the historical and thriller-mystery novel.