The Guilt of Innocents

The Guilt of Innocents (2006) Candace Robb

Set in England in 1372

A river pilot falls into a the Ouse during a skirmish with students (male) from the Minster School. When pulled from the river he is found to have cuts that start bleeding just as head of a competing and rival school comes into his presence.

‘It is natural that you would resent Nicholas for threatening your income.’

John gave an elaborate shrug. ‘The status and funding of St Peter’s School are Chancellor Thomas Farnilaw’s responsibilities. I am merely the schoolmaster. I’ve no cause to resent Master Nicholas. I am glad that Abbot Campian is giving him sanctuary.’

Owen believed John did resent Nicholas, but that his feelings embarrassed him, being of a mercenary nature.

And the boy who was at the heart of the skirmish has disappeared.

This was a very interesting mystery, in which things changed unexpectedly as your perspective changed.

In his mind he felt as if he’d been looking at her upside down all his life, and suddenly he’d been righted and saw that she was the very opposite of all he’d believed her to be. He tried to retrieve his old love, but her smell, her cruelty, her lies kept crowding his head.

I also very much enjoyed the growth of the relationship between Jasper and Owen.

In the space between the hall and kitchen doors, beneath the stars, he paused. ‘He’s my son, there’s no question of that,’ he said. ‘When I thought he was dead—’ His breath caught. ‘If Sir Baldwin hadn’t been there I would have thrust deep into (the man)’s heart and watched him bleed to death.’

As always, there was many little bits about life and religion that were fascinating (to me at least).

He’d feared even imagining ‘the something worse’ because if evil thoughts were sins then thoughts had power, just as charms did.

Folk enjoyed nothing so much as someone else’s trouble except perhaps talking of things they knew nothing about.

I very much enjoyed this series, and this book was especially good. (I didn’t much care for the books set in Wales, where Lucy didn’t make much of an appearance.)
Rating: 8.5/10

Published by Diversion Books

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