Title: The Easter Sepulchre (The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon #13)
Author: Mel Starr
Pages: 240
Year: 2020
Publisher: Lion Fiction
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
It is Passover in the village of Bampton, and part of the job of a church sexton is to guard the sepulcher where the host and a crucifix are stored until Easter Sunday. Hugh is awoken early Saturday morning with the news that one of the sextons has abandoned his post and cannot be found. Hugh organizes a search and a body is discovered. Hugh is called to put his mystery-solving skills to work when another sexton is falsely accused. He first must determine if the victim was a thief and killed by a fellow thief, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Is the man falsely accused really innocent? Hugh must perform the tasks of following clues and visiting/revisiting the people nearby or anyone knew the victim.
Another body is discovered with Hugh no closer to finding the culprit responsible for the first murder, but Hugh doesn’t give up. He continues his questioning and investigating between trips to Oxford with his trustworthy companions, Uctred and Arthur, as well as discussing the case with his wife to get her perspective. While investigating, he comes across a poor, mute holy man who gives his help whenever needed and provides Hugh with information that might be useful. Hugh doggedly perseveres and eventually gets justice for the victims.
I enjoy historical mysteries, so this series is on my “must read” list. The details of everyday meals, clothing, jobs, social structure are interesting to me. I also enjoy Hugh’s observances of the human character, or lack thereof, which are sometimes humorous and sometimes more philosophical. Thanks Mel for an interesting series! I look forward to Hugh’s next mystery to give me the chance to travel back in time to 14th century England!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Watching over the Easter Sepulchre is a privilege and in Bampton the priests take turns. However when Odo, the clerk, is not at his vigil the churchmen are worried and call in Hugh. Hugh discovers some spots of blood on the floor and suspects foul play but when the body of Odo is discovered in the church he knows this is murder. Soon another clerk is found dead and Hugh is investigating more deaths.
Starr has written a lot of novels about Hugh de Singleton, a medieval baliff, surgeon and detective. They are very easy to read, not too long-winded and the plots are simplistic yet satisfying. Starr prides himself on his research (particularly about medieval food it seems) and the books are well-grounded in the era and also in the geographical region around Oxford. Whilst these are not the most complex novels they are comfortingly familiar and a pleasant read. ( )