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  • The Unquiet Bones

  • By: Mel Starr
  • Narrated by: Steven Crossley
  • Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,157 ratings)

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The Unquiet Bones cover art

The Unquiet Bones

By: Mel Starr
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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Summary

First in the medieval whodunnit series set in Bampton, Oxfordshire, during the plague years and featuring a newly qualified surgeon

Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford. 

A local lord asks him to track the killer of a young woman whose bones have been found in the castle cesspit. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes. 

From there the tale unfolds, with graphic medical procedures, droll medieval wit, misdirection, ambition, romantic distractions, and a consistent underlying Christian compassion.

©2008 Mel Starr (P)2019 by Blackstone Publishing

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What listeners say about The Unquiet Bones

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

Surgeon turned Bailiff hunts killers. Rattled along decently and was a good solid plot. The main character didn’t grab me but but might grow on me in later books.

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Very enjoyable book.

I came across this by chance and gave it a go. The narration was excellent, characters and story was very engaging, looking forward to more books from the author.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed it - a good story and easy listen

Good narration and story. Easy to listen to and intriguing throughout. Fun murder mystery to listen to. Recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great atmosphere

Love the book and the atmosphere it evoked. I warmed to the main character and enjoyed the plot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • TK
  • 13-02-24

Great historical whodunit

I really enjoyed the book. Good plot, loveable characters. The historical context is wonderfully portrayed. Great narration. This is my second book from the series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and engaging

I enjoyed this audiobook.

It was nicely performed, and the reading was done smoothly and at a nice pace.

The story itself was entertaining, although not the most challenging of mysteries, pretty well-researched, with interesting characters, and a good first person narrative. I found Hugh to be an engaging character, an unenthusiastic and not exactly brilliant detective, a bit uncomfortable in many social situations, and a lonely romantic on the quiet. His fixation on food was amusing, and, in a time when famine was common and the range of food available was restricted, a nice touch. His religious faith was nicely included, and it came across as natural for someone brought up in 14th century England. The author had clearly done their research and wove the facts neatly into the story. The way it was written made it "feel" like an old form of English without making me work at following it.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • MO
  • 11-03-22

first time I cane across this author,.

Loved it although slightly predicable in places, will be listening to them the whole seriesl.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Story

Absolutely loved this, written/read in such a way that the tone is met with the era meant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable listen

I wasnt expecting the story to be so intriguing. Not my normal choice but a good story well told

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you like Shardlake, you'll like this

I've read all the shardlake books, and this is a good follow up. I enjoyed the story but had trouble listening to it online, hence I didn't give it full marks.

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