Sunday, August 7, 2016

"A Maiden Weeping"

Jeri Westerson is the author of the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series.

She applied the Page 69 Test to A Maiden Weeping, the ninth book in the series, and reported the following:
From page 69:
Hands suddenly grabbed Nigellus from behind and he twisted around, staring into the blunt face of one of the sheriff’s serjeants.

‘You! Come!’

‘But I—’

‘You’re a lawyer, are you not? Don’t deny it, I seen you yesterday.’

‘I shall not deny it. But what would you need with me?’

‘You can write, can’t you? The sheriff’s clerk is otherwise occupied with Sheriff Walcote. Sheriff Loveney will need a clerk.’

‘See here—’

‘Do you argue with me?’ said the serjeant, tightening his grip on his cudgel.

Nigellus swallowed. ‘Of course I will help the Lord Sheriff,’ he said quickly. ‘You need only ask.’ He clutched his leather case tightly to his breast and anxiously set out down Newgate Market, keeping the sheriff in view and another eye on the serjeant behind him, whose club was kept at the ready.
Well, it isn't too representative of the book but we see instead a side character who is trying to help Crispin suddenly getting into his own trouble (how easily it happens in old London town!). Nigellus Cobmartin is my fictional young lawyer who is helping Crispin in the fix he is in, namely being tried for murder. This comes at the end of the chapter. Jack is busy in his own chapters trying to be the "Tracker" he hopes to be someday, my name for a medieval private detective, and investigating the murder that his master is being tried for. Jack's task is daunting, because if he can't do it his master will hang.
Learn more about the author and her work at Jeri Westerson's website and her "Getting Medieval" blog.

--Marshal Zeringue