The Merchant’s Partner

The Merchant’s Partner (1995) Michael Jecks

This is the second Knights Templar Mystery, and I’m still undecided about whether I’ll continue the series.

Again, story was good, and I loved all the historical details. However, there remain problems. As with the first book, there are very abrupt changes in point of view. One paragraph were are in one character’s mind, the next paragraph is from another character’s point of view. This is both jarring and confusing, although I didn’t have as many problems with the shifting point of view in this book as I did in the first.

As the writing improved somewhat in this book, I am hoping that the third book will be better, and that at some point an editor grabbed Michael Jecks and made him stop shifting the point of view so abruptly.

As I said, the story was good. Simon is visiting Sir Baldwin, when a the body of a local midwife is discovered. Simon and Sir Baldwin can find no real reason for her death, and must try to make the clues and theories fit together.

As with the first book, I particularly like the cover. I think that they covers do a good job of setting the tone for the books.

I also really liked the historical details. I can see how some people might find that annoying, but I found it interesting, and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest if a book goes off on a tangent and presents an historical lecture. I also appreciate the realism that Michael Jecks adds to the stories, about the stench of the homes in the winter, and how smoky the buildings were, and how insufficient the clothes were at protecting people from the cold. Details like that fascinate me, so I appreciate them in stories.

All in all, the story is good, and the point of view problem isn’t nearly as bad in this book as in the previous. I just have not yet decided whether or not I’m willing to pay $7.50 a book to continue a series that I cannot find used.
Rating: 6/10

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